We're Californians planning our 40th anniversary trip. Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region look awesome. We can go anywhere from the last week of April to the first two weeks of May. What's the weather likely to be? Is this too early to go? We're hikers and want to be outside much of the time. Some rain doesn't bother us but we would choose to go to this region another time if the spring is too rainy.
Thanks for the advice!
Ithaca last week of April/early May - likely to be rainy?
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Weather is very unpredictable in this part of the country. There is no rainy season per se. I would choose the 2nd week of May. The weather could be lovely for hiking. It's normally in the 60's or low 70's that time of the year. Try to fit in a day at Letchworth State Park, which is west of Ithaca.
the last five years, those weeks have been great... dry with sunny weather in the 50s and 60s... perhaps climate change
HOWEVER... past weather has produced snow, heavy rain, 30s and 40s into the first week of May... so there is a risk...
If you enjoy nature, consider starting in the Niagara Falls area and driving through to Letchworth State park and on to the Finger Lakes... a preferred path is along Rt 20 across the top of the Lakes and then south along the Lakes to Watkins Glen State Park and Ithaca,Corning, and the wine region...
Rain is not the problem - but that is still early spring - and chilly/cold temps are still an option. Also at that time of year most lowers are not blooming yet and the trees won;t start to have leaves until mid May or so.
Obviously you can have rain at any time - it's not seasonal in NYC (although we tend to get the worst thunderstorms in July and August along with high temps).
Great information. Sounds like the second week of May is the first week we should consider. Frustrating, as our anniversary is April 14. In some previous posts folks recommended the Southwest, but I much prefer the Finger Lakes area. Maybe June is the best month? We'd like to avoid rain as much as possible, but also see wildflowers. Guess the blooming season is later than here in the SF Bay Area in California. nytraveler, garyt22 and KathyK...thanks so much for your prompt responses. For Ithaca, think we also want to avoid some of the Cornell busy periods. Lots to think about!!
Then skip the last weekend in May - graduation, and the second weekend in June - reunion. !
sf7307, thanks for the Cornell information. Just what I wanted to know. Leslie
You will see more leaf coverage in the second week of May. Everything should look nice and green. Late April things can still be budding in this area. Very hard to predict the rainfall any time of the year in NY. Having said that - May is a wonderful time to be in NY.
Ithaca College commencement is May 19. Ithaca is a small town. I would not want to be there either commencement weekend. If you go towards the end of May (when there will be more wildflowers) you could spend the week in Ithaca and head to Letchworth State Park for the weekend. The Glen Iris Inn is right at the park and is lovely.