lang="EN-US">Winters are cold and damp, and prevailing wind patterns
that blow offshore minimize the moderating effects of the Atlantic Ocean; yet
the Atlantic and the partial shielding of the Appalachians keep the city warmer
in the winter than inland North American cities located at similar or lesser
latitudes such as Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. The average daily
high temperature in January, the area's coldest month, is 38.3 °F
(3.5 °C); however, winter temperatures can occasionally reach as low as
0 °F (−18 °C), and January temperatures have reached the low 70s
(Fahrenheit). Spring and autumn are unpredictable and can range from chilly to
warm, although they are usually mild with low humidity. Summers are typically
warm to hot and humid, with an average daily July high temperature of
84.1 °F (28.9 °C). Nighttime conditions are often exacerbated by the
urban heat island phenomenon, while daytime temperatures exceed 90 °F
(32 °C) on average of 17 days each summer and can exceed 100 °F
(38 °C). Extreme temperatures have ranged from −15 °F (−26 °C),
recorded on February 9, 1934, up to 106 °F (41 °C) on July 9, 1936.
The city receives 49.7 inches
(1,260 mm) of precipitation annually, which is fairly spread throughout
the year. Average winter snowfall for 1981 to 2010 has been 26.7 inches
(68 cm), but this usually varies considerably from year to year.
Hurricanes and tropical storms are rare in the New York area, but are not
unheard of and always have the potential to strike the area. Hurricane Sandy
brought a destructive storm surge to New York City on the evening of October
29, 2012, flooding numerous streets, tunnels, and subway lines in Lower
Manhattan and other areas of the city and cutting off electricity in many parts
of the city and its suburbs. The storm and its profound
