NYC & DC in August - just how hot is "hot"?
 

I will be in the US for 4 weeks in August. Everyone has warned me that it will be really hot in NYC and DC. I've looked at a weather site, but it only gives a monthly average temperature, not daily historic maximums.

Just how hot is "hot" as you guys describe it? One poster told me it could be 80 - 95 F everywhere I go. Well, to me 80 is not hot, but 95 is a bit uncomfortable for walking around.

Is it more the humidity that is an issue? (I'm used to dry heat)

I'm no meteorologist, but would have thought a city that has snow in winter, surely couldn't get too hot in summer? That's how it works in Australia anyway.

That's not how it works in the US. Here temperate means hot as hell in the summer and below zero in winter.

NYC and DC in the summer both tend to be very humid - which makes the heat much more uncomfortable. DC is considerably worse than NYC - and while you may have highs in the low 80s - you can also have temps in the upper 90s for several days in a row (NOT the whole summer). It usually hits 100 at least once during the summer.

NYC is usually 3/4 degrees cooler than DC - but since it is a denser city - and all the concrete pulls in the heat druing the day and reflects it back at night - you can often feel that you are melting. Again, normal highs would be in the 80's - but we usually have 5 or 6 days in a row in the upper 90s and hit 100 at least once almost every summer.

I live in the DC area. August is hot and humid (only July is worse). If you look at the historical numbers, the average August temp is 86 F. The record high in August is 106 F. You can most certainly expect that you will encounter 90 F days if you are here for the entire month.

Speckles:

Yes, the 80 to 95 range is about right. In DC, it would be reasonable to figure around 85-90 most days, and it's usually pretty humid. I guess it matters what you're used to, but it's really not that bad. New York is typically a little cooler than DC, since it's about 200 miles to the north. Maybe figure 80-85 most days in NYC.

80/95 may be typical of August, but it can be close to 100 on several summer days in either city. Add in the humidity and the concrete building effect a previous poster mentioned and it can seem very hot. The other thing to consider is how much time you spend outside -- while you are touring either city, you are likely to be outside quite a bit. The other thing that seems unbearable in NY is the subway. While *most* subway cars themselves are air conditioned, the platforms/stations are not only *not* air conditioned, they have extra heat from the trains. Something to keep in mind.

The smell in NYC in the summer is like nothing you'll ever experience or soon forget.

In NYC, things start to cool down in mid-August because the days are getting shorter and the nights are cooler so the pavement can cool off. A daily high of 95 would extremely unusual in NYC after early August; in fact the record high temp for August 18 in NYC is 94 and the average high is 82.

I would recommend that if possible you start with your northernmost city (NYC?) and work southward. As noted above, humidity is definitely more of an issue in DC than NYC. Because of that, almost every building in DC has central air conditioning.

You can get daily history, maximums, etc. at wunderground.com. Search on the city, then click on the tab halfway down the page that says "Detailed History and Climate" under History & Almanac. Pick a date and then there's a column titled "Record" for the high and low temps.

Essentially every indoor space in either city has AC - including subways and buses. And, IN NYC at least, cab drivers are required to turn up their AC if you ask. You only need to worry about the heat outdoors.

The problem with the subway in both places - but worse in NYC since the subways are much older and tunnels/stations smaller - is that all of the hot air in the trains in blown out into the tunnels/stations - which make them much hotter than outside. I must admit that I won;t take the subway in the summer - but buses or cabs instead.

Don't let anyone kid you. NY in August is HOT and STICKY. It may feel like it's cooled down to someone who lived through July, but in the abstract, it's still hot and humid!

Like everyone else has said--hot means hot and sticky and uncomfortable. You should also be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms. You'd think that would relieve some of the humidity, and cool things down, but it doesn't seem to help much!


On the plus side, there are lots of free outdoor events in NYC at that time, and locals often take end of summer vacations, so the city does empty out a bit on weekends.

Thanks all. It sounds like the humidity will be my biggest enemy. I'm not used to it at all.

A couple of suggestions. Be sure to drink enough and always carry a bottle of water with you - it's esy to get overheated if you're not used to it. Also consider some sort of hat or visor for a little shade if you're going to be outside all day.

And one good way to cool off a little is out on the water - the (free) Staten Island ferry, the ferry to Liberty/Ellis Islands, one of the Circle Line tours - or even the commuter boats to Queens or New jersey.

Well, I started out in Baltimore (born and bred), then near DC for four years of college. Hated the heat and humidity.

I've been in New England (New Hampshire for the last 20 years) and what a relief!

My high school reunion is always in July. Awful! Every time I attend, never again I tell myself. Even though you go from air conditioned building to air conditioned car to air condition building, I'm always drenched with perspiration in between.

It was hilarious when my brother got married in August. As the wedding party got into a receiving line, everyone had already jumped into their cars and turned on the air conditioning.

We only visit New York before the middle of June or after the middle of September now. The heat radiating off the buildings and sidewalks and walking where you can't find shade is just brutal while out and about. Enjoying the open air double decker buses is impossible with the sun shining down on you and the humidity. When you go inside, it's frigid and you need a sweater. So, it's a constant battle - going inside to cool off, then back outside to warm up.

My niece is getting married June 21st near DC and I am not looking forward to the weather. At least we know the humidity will subside as we drive north to home.

I was in NYC for 5 days at the end of August 2006. I am from D.C., and even I thought I was nuts for booking a hotel in NYC in August. BUt a rain storm blew in the 1st day I was there, lots of wind, and it was very cool the entire time! I mean very cool, as in I was cold w/goosebumps in a summer top outside at the Botanical Gardens three days into the trip. I went into the gift shop and tried to buy a sweatshirt but no luck. It was uncomfortably cold. I know it was a freak thing but it happened w/this big storm, it rained off and on and was very windy. Maybe you'll get that lucky.

We had a fairly temperate summer in D.C. last summer 2007. Not too many severe heat spells. Much nicer than usual.

Really, emd? I remember there being quite a few times last summer in DC when it felt absolutely gross downtown - perhaps it wasn't consistently as hot, but there were long stretches of pretty hot weather and thick humidity. And I'm from NC, so I was surprised at how sticky it was.

The weather, however, can be managed. I just wouldn't plan on being outside for long stretches in the heat of the day when it's gross. Plan to be a nice air-conditioned museum instead.