December how cold is it
 

OK, I know that we cannot predict the weather. But my wife, daughter and I are native Floridians, who want to spend a few days in New York December 26-30th. We want to walk around the city and take in the sights. Do a little shopping and see some of the museums.

So how cold does it get?
I do not mind the cold, but my wife gets cold real easily. Heckwe are from Florida where it is 85 December 25th.

chances are it will be pretty darn cold. You just never know what you're going to get, but plan on it being COLD. Probably in the 30s, but you just never know. Windshield factor also plays a rold (could be 35 but with the wind feels like 30). or you could get a great stretch of miraculously glorious days.

Assume it will be cold and windy.
It could be 20F, 30F or 40F.

On the average, in December, it is 30 degrees cooler in NYC than in Miami, but cold will not keep you from walking around town if you are dressed properly. Bring plenty of layers, gloves, and a hat that covers your ears. Also, bring long underwear, or be prepared to buy some.

It will probably be damp and windy in addition to cold. Daytime highs cuold be in the low 40's - or could be in the 20's. If you get a real cold spell it can be zero at night.

If you plan on being outside for more than a couple of minutes (and esp at night and/or on the water) you need:

heavy winter coat
hat
scarf
gloves
warm sweater plus layers
warm pants (cords or hevy jeans)
waterptoof shoes or low boots

(A lot of snow is unlikely, but sleet or some snow is certainly possible - a couple of yers ago on Christmas we had 10").

Frankly, there are very few days (only if temps are 10 or below) when I'm ot comfortabel walking around the city for fairly long periods of time. (And no - not wearing long underwear - which can be stifling once you go indoors.)

But then I find FL unbearably hot except in Jan/FEb.

So - I guess it's what you're used to.

I agree with nytraveler. Unless it's windy, which can really make things uncomfortable, a cold, sunny 20 degree day is still ok. but, i guess it's what you're used to.

My experience with native Floridans is that they do not do well with northern winter temps. Make sure that your wife has a high quality cashmere scarf to fight off the winds. At least it is New York and not Chicago, which is *really* cold! :)

You will not be outside all the time, of course, but be prepared to shiver, based on what you are accustomed to.

It is normally very cold in December in New York.

It'll be cooooooollld. There'll be snooooow. It will freeeeeze. Then it will thaaaaw. There will be puddles/lakes at every crosswalk. Then it will become ice. The wind will blow in your face. Tears will come to your eyes. You'll have 2nd thoughts. But that's NYC. You will have a great time. And stories to tell when you get back to the southland.

Bring layers of clothing but don't miss NY at Christmas time.

It will be very cold and very crowded.

A few years ago I was in Miami for Christmas and visited the Everglades. I got bitten several times by mosquitoes.

Give me cold anyday.

:)

For reference my friend from Australian visited me in NYC a few years in March, and while she wasn't suffering, she was uncomfortable and commented on how "cold" it was at 40-45 degrees F.

This reminds me of my trip to SF in August, when one night it was a little chilly, but not cold (to my mind). Saw a family of Australians walking around in full-length winter coats, hats, scarves, mittens, etc. It was around 50 degrees, my ideal temperature!

Just dress for it with the suggestions here, and prepare your head for it and you'll be fine.

Remember! You can BUY anything you need to fend off the:
Cold
Rain
Snow
Wind

In any of a thousand upscale and discount stores in NYC.

And if you want to pass up the stores, the "Street Vendors" will help you "accessories"!!

And by the time you come you will have "real bargains" on the shelves as the retailers try to recoop a very poor Holiday buying period!

The proble is that by the time you come many of the stores will be featuring resort wear - and anything left of winter stuff will be very picked over. If you don't have any winter clothes you can wait and buy things here. But, that won;t work for shoes 0- whcih MUST be broken in - since typically in NYC you walk a LOT. (No malls, no places to park - everything is foot or subway - or cab if your feet give out.)

We often walk 4 or 5 miles after Sunday bruch - to work off the calories. Don;t mind the cold - but won't do it if it's more than 75.

I was in NYC around 1st of Dec 07 and it was FREEZING (low 30s) don't know if this was typical or not. There are underground tunnels with food and shops under Rockefeller Center which I didn't discover until a later trip in June. Wish we had known of them in Dec. They would be a good place to sit down and warm up. NYC is an awesome place, enjoy!

While low 30's is literally freezing - it's perfectly normal for that time of year. And nights are frequently in the low 20's or teens.

But if you dress properly - it's not really an issue. (Just have a look at al the people ice skating at all the outdoor rinks.

Thank you everyone.

I will break out the Lands End Catalog and give it to my wife for her to buy those items she needs.

Thank you for all of the responces

I have been to NYC during Dec. and it is cold, very cold. We recently spent a winter in Argentina and as Californians we were miserable. We came prepared, bought heavy winter jackets from LL Bean, bought gloves and hats in Buenos Aires, but we just were not comfortable. The cold air seemed to penetrate our bodies and our faces froze. Also, my husband caught a whopper of a cold, since winter is cold/flu season and once indoors, there is no escape from the sneezes.But even given the cons of visiting a cold climate when you are not used to it, I would do it. Tell your wife to get a hat, it really helps fend off the cold, since so much heat escapes through the head. Even with the misery of the cold weather , I would go, given a chance to visit NYC it would be worth it. Who knows, you might be lucky and have unseasonably warm weather. Good luck.

I grew up near NYC, have lived in Boston for 30 years. I hate the cold. No amount of clothing will make me comfortable and still be mobile. I have walked around NYC in December-Jan-Feb and been close to tears from wind and cold. Absolute misery for me. I know others will consider this over-reacting, but that is how awful that cold makes me feel. And even if it is not especially windy, you get gusts between the buildings that make it worse.

Wait until spring or go now.