Best time to visit Ithaca
The best time to visit Ithaca is May and September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Ithaca, New York, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -0.2 °C / 32 °F | -7.2 °C / 19 °F | 71 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 0.8 °C / 33 °F | -7.3 °C / 19 °F | 72 mm / 2.9 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 6.3 °C / 43 °F | -2.8 °C / 27 °F | 85 mm / 3.3 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 3.3 °C / 38 °F | 101 mm / 4 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 20 °C / 68 °F | 9.4 °C / 49 °F | 91 mm / 3.6 in | best month |
| June | 24 °C / 75 °F | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 107 mm / 4.2 in | good month |
| July | 26.8 °C / 80 °F | 17.1 °C / 63 °F | 98 mm / 3.9 in | good month |
| August | 25.3 °C / 78 °F | 16.1 °C / 61 °F | 98 mm / 3.8 in | good month |
| September | 21.9 °C / 71 °F | 12.3 °C / 54 °F | 95 mm / 3.7 in | best month |
| October | 15.3 °C / 60 °F | 6.8 °C / 44 °F | 109 mm / 4.3 in | good month |
| November | 8.2 °C / 47 °F | 0.7 °C / 33 °F | 75 mm / 3 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 2.6 °C / 37 °F | -3.4 °C / 26 °F | 97 mm / 3.8 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: best
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May, September
- Good
- June–August, October
Why these months
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 20 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, precipitation 91 mm / 3.6 in, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, average daily low 9.4 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 68%.
Against: wet days 13.1 days.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 24 °C / 75 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, precipitation 107 mm / 4.2 in, days with heavy rain 3.3 days, average daily low 14.1 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 71%.
Against: wet days 12.6 days.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 28.4 °C / 83 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, average daily high 26.8 °C / 80 °F, precipitation 98 mm / 3.9 in, days with heavy rain 3.3 days, average daily low 17.1 °C / 63 °F, relative humidity 72%.
Against: wet days 12.2 days.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.5 °C / 80 °F, average daily high 25.3 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 98 mm / 3.8 in, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, average daily low 16.1 °C / 61 °F, wet days 11.2 days, relative humidity 74%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.9 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 21.9 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 72%, precipitation 95 mm / 3.7 in, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wet days 9.8 days, average daily low 12.3 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 77%.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 63%, feels like (high) 13.2 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.3 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 109 mm / 4.3 in, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, average daily low 6.8 °C / 44 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 13.7 days.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: good
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–May, September
- Good
- June, October
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.2 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 101 mm / 4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 66%, daylight per day 13.4 h, average daily low 3.3 °C / 38 °F, feels like (high) 10.2 °C / 50 °F, days with heavy rain 3 days, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 14.4 days.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 20 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 91 mm / 3.6 in, feels like (high) 19 °C / 66 °F, average daily low 9.4 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, daylight per day 14.6 h, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: wet days 13.1 days.
June · good
In its favour: average daily high 24 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 107 mm / 4.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, daylight per day 15.2 h, average daily low 14.1 °C / 57 °F, days with heavy rain 3.3 days, feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: wet days 12.6 days.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 21.9 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 95 mm / 3.7 in, feels like (high) 21.9 °C / 71 °F, average daily low 12.3 °C / 54 °F, wet days 9.8 days, share of daylight that is sunny 72%, daylight per day 12.5 h, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
October · good
In its favour: average daily high 15.3 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 109 mm / 4.3 in, feels like (high) 13.2 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 6.8 °C / 44 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 63%, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, daylight per day 11 h, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: wet days 13.7 days.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Bristol Mountain Ski Resort, 81 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -4.6 °C | -3.6 °C | 2.3 °C | 10.2 °C | 19 °C | 24.6 °C | 28.4 °C | 26.5 °C | 21.9 °C | 13.2 °C | 4.7 °C | -1.4 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.9 days | 2 days | 2.9 days | 3 days | 2.7 days | 3.3 days | 3.3 days | 3.1 days | 2.6 days | 3.4 days | 2.2 days | 3.2 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 7 am | 2 pm | 8 pm | 7 pm | 2 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 3 am | 10 am |
| Sunshine per day | 5.2 h | 6.3 h | 7.7 h | 8.8 h | 10.4 h | 11.3 h | 12.1 h | 11 h | 9 h | 6.9 h | 6 h | 4.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 75% | 71% | 66% | 65% | 68% | 71% | 72% | 74% | 77% | 76% | 73% | 77% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 4.6 µg/m³ | 5.8 µg/m³ | 6.5 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 14.1 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 4.8 µg/m³ | 4.6 µg/m³ | 4.9 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 8.6 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ | 12.2 µg/m³ | 14.1 µg/m³ | 21.9 µg/m³ | 17.6 µg/m³ | 14.2 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.