Climate - Hamptons (New York)

The climate of the Hamptons is continental, with cold winters and warm to hot summers.
The term Hamptons refers to the southeastern part of Long Island (on the peninsula called South Fork), east of New York, and includes locations such as Westhampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Easthampton and Montauk. There are beaches, small islands and bays.
The climate is similar to that of New York, although it is a little colder in winter and a little cooler in summer. The easternmost part, on the other hand (see Montauk), being surrounded by water, is a bit milder in winter, so much so that the average January temperature is 0.9 °C (33.6 °F), therefore above freezing.
We are in an area where different air masses collide: the cold ones coming from Canada and the warm ones coming from the Gulf of Mexico. The result is an unstable climate, with waves of bad weather alternating with clear and sunny days. The wind blows frequently as well.
In Bridgehampton, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -0.7 °C (31 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 22.2 °C (72 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,265 millimeters (49.8 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 80 mm (3.1 in) in the driest month (July) to 125 mm (4.9 in) in the wettest ones (March, December). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is cold: the average temperature is close to freezing, but cold spells, during which the temperature can drop to about -10/-15 °C (5/14 °F), are not rare. The wind chill can make the air feel colder than it actually is.
Snowfalls are frequent, and sometimes can be abundant. In Bridgehampton, 68 centimeters (27 inches) of snow fall annually.
On other occasions, the wind can blow from the south, bringing some mild days, with highs around 12/15 °C (54/59 °F). There are also clear and sunny days, with cold nights, and daytime temperatures mild or in any case acceptable.

In spring, from March to May, the weather continues to be unstable: the first warm days alternate with the return of cold weather. In March, it can snow, and this can sometimes happen still in early April. But already in April, the temperature can sometimes exceed 20 °C (68 °F). By May, the average temperature becomes pleasant, although there can still be cool days, or even a little cold and rainy. The temperature rises more slowly than on the continent due to the influence of the ocean, which is still cold in this season.

Summer, from June to August, is warm to hot and sunny, with some rainy days and some afternoon thunderstorms. There can be hot and muggy periods, even though the heat is less intense than in New York. For example, in July 2011, when the temperature at La Guardia airport hit 40 °C (104 °F), in Westhampton Beach and Montauk it hit 36.5 °C (97.5 °F).

In autumn, from September to November, temperatures gradually decrease. In the second half of October, the first cold days may occur. November is by now a cold month, during which the first snowfalls may occur. There is a moderate amount of rainfall also in this season.



The temperature of the Atlantic Ocean ranges between 5 °C (41 °F) and 22 °C (72 °F). The sea is a bit cool even in summer, however, you can try swimming from July to September. Here are the average sea temperatures.

From June to October, Long Island can be affected by hurricanes or their remnants. The period in which they are most likely is from August to October. Generally, hurricanes arrive weakened at these latitudes, although they can interact with mid-latitude depressions. In September 1938, the New England hurricane hit Long Island when it was still Category 3, causing severe damage.

Best Time

The Hamptons can be visited from June to September, as it is generally not too hot, and in any case, it is not as hot as in New York. Besides, you can always go to the beach.