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New York City in February
Photo: Ziegler

New York City · Best time to visit · February

New York City in February

Cold and fairly dry, quiet at the main sights, about 11 hours of daylight. Weather, crowds and what to expect · updated 2026-11-01

Good time to visit
8°C / 46 °F
Average high
1°C / 33 °F
Average low
9days
Rain ≥ 1 mm
10.7h
Daylight · sunset 17:30
Good. February is the coldest month, with afternoons around 6 °C, snow possible and the Lunar New Year parade bringing colour to Chinatown on a Sunday.

01Weather

New York City weather in February

Afternoons in February average 7.7 °C (46 °F) and nights cool to 0.6 °C (33 °F). The month brings about 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain spread over roughly 9 days. Compared with January it is 2.4 °C warmer; March is 3.3 °C warmer again.

-7°-2°3°8°7°-0°7°0°9°2°1102028
Average high and low in early, mid and late February (ERA5 daily data)

What the averages hide

In a typical FebruaryValueWhat it means
Warm afternoons (90th percentile)14 °C / 58 °Fone day in ten is at least this warm
Cool afternoons (10th percentile)2 °C / 35 °Fone day in ten stays below this
Cold nights (10th percentile)-4 °C / 25 °Fone night in ten is colder than this
Days above 30 °C (86 °F)0.0per month, average 2016–2025
Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F)14.4frost mornings per month
Days with snow cover9.1snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month
Chance of rain on any given day28 %at least 1 mm
Hottest / coldest February day 2016–202524.4 °C / -13.3 °Cextremes in the ten-year record
-10°-5°0°5°10°15°20°25°30°35°40°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average daily high and low by month (°C)

02Daylight

Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day

DateSunriseSunsetDaylight
1 February07:0517:1310.1 h
15 February06:4917:3010.7 h
28 February06:3117:4511.2 h

Daylight grows by about 66 minutes over the month. Times are local (America/New_York).

03Crowds

How busy New York City is in February

quiet  The main sights are quiet in February. What drives it:

  • Presidents' Day weekend
  • Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown
  • Fashion Week
  • Valentine's Day

04Public holidays

Public holidays in February 2027

DateHoliday
15 Feb 2027Presidents Day

On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.

05Events

What's on in New York City in February

Every year in February

EventWhenType
Lunar New Year ParadeFebruary, Chinatownparade
New York Fashion WeekFebruary and Septemberfashion

07Packing

What to pack for New York City in February

  • a winter coat, gloves and a hat
  • thermal layer for early mornings
  • waterproof shoes
  • a compact umbrella for occasional showers
  • gloves: frost on about 14 mornings

08Editor's notes

What the numbers don't tell you

February is the coldest month, with afternoons around 6 °C, snow possible and the Lunar New Year parade bringing colour to Chinatown on a Sunday. Presidents' Day weekend and Valentine's Day push rates up briefly. Fashion Week fills certain hotels in mid-February. Otherwise it is excellent value, and the Westminster Dog Show and the NBA All-Star weekend in some years fill specific nights.

Rain or snow falls on about nine days. Restaurant Week continues into early February. Daylight passes ten and a half hours by month-end. The Statue of Liberty ferries run with no queues. Broadway shows are easiest to book. For the unpredictable month with St Patrick's Day and the first blossoms, see March.

09Compare

New York City month by month

MonthHighLowRain daysSun hCrowdsVerdict
January5 °C-1 °C8–moderateGood
February8 °C1 °C9–quietGood
March11 °C3 °C8–moderateGood
April16 °C8 °C8–busyGood
May22 °C13 °C9–busyExcellent
June27 °C19 °C9–very busyGood
July31 °C23 °C8–very busyMixed
August29 °C22 °C8–busyExcellent
September26 °C19 °C6–busyExcellent
October20 °C13 °C7–busyExcellent
November13 °C6 °C7–very busyMixed
December8 °C1 °C10–very busyOff-season

Not sure about February? See the best time to visit New York City.

10Elsewhere

February in nearby cities

11FAQ

New York City in February: your questions

Is February a good time to visit New York City?

February is a good month to visit New York City. Daytime highs average 8 °C (46 °F), rain falls on about 9 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are quiet.

What is the weather like in New York City in February?

Expect cold days around 8 °C (46 °F) and nights near 1 °C (33 °F). One February in ten brings afternoons above 14 °C, and one in ten stays below 2 °C.

Does it rain a lot in New York City in February?

February brings about 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain over roughly 9 days, which is fairly dry by New York City standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 28 percent.

What should I wear in New York City in February?

Pack a winter coat, gloves and a hat, thermal layer for early mornings, waterproof shoes.

Is New York City crowded in February?

The main sights are quiet in February. Main drivers: Presidents' Day weekend; Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown; Fashion Week.

What time does it get dark in New York City in February?

Around the middle of February the sun sets at about 17:30 and rises at 06:49, giving 10.7 hours of daylight.