WeatherArchive / Compare cities / New York vs Washington, D.C.
New York vs Washington, D.C. weather: climate comparison
Washington, D.C. is the warmer of the two, averaging 57°F (14°C) over the year against 54°F (12°C) in New York. New York is wetter, with 46.2 in (1172 mm) of precipitation a year to Washington, D.C.'s 45.5 in (1157 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 12.1°C New York
14.0°C Washington, D.C. - Annual precipitation
- 1172.4 mm New York
1156.6 mm Washington, D.C. - Rainy days a year
- 120 New York
120 Washington, D.C. - Sunshine per day
- 8.7 h New York
8.9 h Washington, D.C.
Month by month
| Month | New York | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3.5°C | 5.9°C |
| February | 5.0°C | 8.1°C |
| March | 9.4°C | 12.8°C |
| April | 15.4°C | 18.8°C |
| May | 20.7°C | 23.5°C |
| June | 25.9°C | 28.6°C |
| July | 29.0°C | 30.9°C |
| August | 27.9°C | 29.6°C |
| September | 24.1°C | 25.9°C |
| October | 17.8°C | 19.7°C |
| November | 11.6°C | 13.4°C |
| December | 6.3°C | 8.2°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | New York | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 12.1°C | 14.0°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 29°C | Jul · 31°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -4°C | Jan · -2°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 33°C | 33°C |
| Annual precipitation | 1172.4 mm | 1156.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 120 | 120 |
| Wettest / driest month | Mar / Nov | Jul / Nov |
| Average sunshine per day | 8.7 h | 8.9 h |
In short: Washington, D.C. is the warmest overall (14.0°C mean); New York gets the most precipitation (1172.4 mm a year); Washington, D.C. is the sunniest (8.9 h a day on average); Washington, D.C. has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: New York 40.4°C (2025-06-24), Washington, D.C. 41.1°C (2012-07-07). Record low: New York -23.8°C (1996-02-05), Washington, D.C. -23.3°C (1996-02-05).
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (CC BY 4.0). Values are ERA5 reanalysis model data on a ~9–25 km grid, not readings from a weather station, so a single town’s thermometer can differ by a few degrees and local showers can be missed. Monthly means of daily ERA5 values, 1996–2025, for the grid cells nearest New York (40.74, -74.04) and Washington, D.C. (38.91, -77.07).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in April, when Washington, D.C. runs 6°F / 3°C warmer, and narrowest in November (3°F / 2°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in October: New York gets 0.8 in (21 mm) more on average.
Add a third or fourth city, or swap in any other place, in the full comparison tool. For one city in depth, see the New York climate and Washington, D.C. climate pages.
Compare New York or Washington, D.C. with another city
Questions people ask
Is New York warmer than Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 57°F (14°C) against 54°F (12°C) in New York (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, New York or Washington, D.C.?
New York, with about 46.2 in (1172 mm) of precipitation a year and 120 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 45.5 in (1157 mm) and 120 days in Washington, D.C..
Which is sunnier, New York or Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. averages more sunshine: 8.9 h a day against 8.7 h. Sunshine duration is modelled from cloud cover.
How reliable is this comparison?
Both cities use the same 30-year reanalysis, so differences are consistent. Absolute values describe a grid cell several kilometres wide and can differ by a degree or two from the airport station.