Best time to visit United States

United States in this dataset covers 10 cities with distinct NASA POWER grid cells (plus nearby cities that share a cell). Annual rainfall among those cities runs from 256 mm in Phoenix to 1312 mm in New York City. The monthly-average temperature swing is 11.0–26.1°C depending on the city.

United States is not one climate: the cities here include a continental climate with a wide temperature swing; a humid subtropical climate; a Mediterranean pattern: dry summers and wetter winters.

Regional contrasts in United States

The hottest peak in the sample is Phoenix in July (33.9°C). The coldest monthly average is Chicago in January (-2.6°C). New York City takes the most rain (1312 mm a year, wettest in December); Phoenix takes the least (256 mm).

Warmest-month averages in the set range from 22.6°C to 33.9°C. Use the city pages for the month-by-month table; this page is the contrast between places.

Best months by region

Drier cities: typical hottest-month average 28.1°C and about 409 mm of rain a year. Best-scoring months — Phoenix (April, May, and October); San Diego (July, August, and September); Los Angeles (June, July, and September); San Antonio (April, May, and October).

In-between rainfall: typical hottest-month average 25.3°C and about 1091 mm of rain a year. Best-scoring months — Dallas (May, September, and October); Chicago (July, August, and September); Philadelphia (June, August, and September); Manhattan (July, August, and September).

Wetter cities: typical hottest-month average 26.6°C and about 1280 mm of rain a year. Best-scoring months — Houston (April, May, and October); New York City (July, August, and September).

Chicago in United States

Chicago sits at 41.85°, -87.65°. It is a continental climate with a wide temperature swing. August is the warmest month at 22.6°C (high 25.1°C); January is the coolest at -2.6°C (low -5.0°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 25.2°C.

The wet season runs from April to August. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are July, August, and September. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 2,664,452. The wettest month is May (117 mm, 13 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (48 mm).

Dallas in United States

Dallas sits at 32.78°, -96.81°. It is a humid subtropical climate. August is the warmest month at 30.2°C (high 36.2°C); January is the coolest at 7.0°C (low 1.0°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 23.2°C.

The wet season runs from May to June. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are May, September, and October. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,326,087. The wettest month is May (116 mm, 12 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is July (56 mm).

Houston in United States

Houston sits at 29.76°, -95.36°. It is a humid subtropical climate. August is the warmest month at 29.6°C (high 35.0°C); January is the coolest at 10.6°C (low 5.0°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 19.0°C.

The wet season runs from May to December. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are April, May, and October. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 2,314,157. The wettest month is October (128 mm, 10 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is February (70 mm).

Los Angeles in United States

Los Angeles sits at 34.05°, -118.24°. It is a Mediterranean pattern: dry summers and wetter winters. August is the warmest month at 24.5°C (high 30.7°C); December is the coolest at 12.8°C (low 7.7°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 11.7°C.

The wet season runs from December to February. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are June, July, and September. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 3,820,914. The wettest month is February (75 mm, 6 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is June (1 mm).

Manhattan in United States

Manhattan sits at 40.78°, -73.97°. It is a continental climate with a wide temperature swing. July is the warmest month at 24.0°C (high 28.9°C); January is the coolest at -2.1°C (low -6.1°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 26.1°C.

Rain falls in every month; the year still totals 1236 mm. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are July, August, and September. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,487,536. The wettest month is October (122 mm, 10 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (81 mm).

New York City in United States

New York City sits at 40.71°, -74.01°. It is a continental climate with a wide temperature swing. July is the warmest month at 23.7°C (high 26.2°C); January is the coolest at 1.0°C (low -1.5°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 22.7°C.

Rain falls in every month; the year still totals 1312 mm. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are July, August, and September. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 8,804,190. The wettest month is December (133 mm, 10 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is February (95 mm).

Philadelphia in United States

Philadelphia sits at 39.95°, -75.16°. It is a continental climate with a wide temperature swing. July is the warmest month at 24.5°C (high 29.7°C); January is the coolest at -0.8°C (low -5.1°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 25.3°C.

Rain falls in every month; the year still totals 1226 mm. The three highest-scoring months for a visit are June, August, and September. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,573,916. The wettest month is July (124 mm, 14 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is January (78 mm).

Phoenix in United States

Phoenix sits at 33.45°, -112.07°. It is a humid subtropical climate. July is the warmest month at 33.9°C (high 40.8°C); December is the coolest at 11.9°C (low 5.2°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 22.0°C.

Rainfall totals 256 mm, heaviest in August (34 mm) and lightest in June (2 mm). The three highest-scoring months for a visit are April, May, and October. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,650,070. The wettest month is August (34 mm, 8 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is June (2 mm).

San Antonio in United States

San Antonio sits at 29.42°, -98.49°. It is a humid subtropical climate. August is the warmest month at 30.0°C (high 36.1°C); January is the coolest at 10.8°C (low 4.5°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 19.2°C.

Rainfall totals 780 mm, heaviest in May (100 mm) and lightest in February (36 mm). The three highest-scoring months for a visit are April, May, and October. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,526,656. The wettest month is May (100 mm, 10 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is February (36 mm).

San Diego in United States

San Diego sits at 32.72°, -117.16°. It is a Mediterranean pattern: dry summers and wetter winters. August is the warmest month at 24.0°C (high 30.2°C); December is the coolest at 13.0°C (low 8.6°C). The gap between those monthly averages is 11.0°C.

Rainfall totals 269 mm, heaviest in February (55 mm) and lightest in August (4 mm). The three highest-scoring months for a visit are July, August, and September. That ranking uses the same 22°C / low-rain / 60% humidity score as the city pages. Population in the GeoNames record is 1,404,452. The wettest month is February (55 mm, 7 days with at least 1 mm); the driest is August (4 mm).