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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
In the Niagara Falls area, the climate is
continental, with very cold winters and warm summers. Although we are on the 43rd parallel, the winter weather is cold because the North American landmass cools down a lot in this season, and outbreaks of polar air masses are frequent, to the point that the waterfalls can even freeze partially on colder winters.
The daily average
temperature ranges from -3.6 °C (25.5 °F) in January to 22.3 °C (72 °F) in July.
Precipitation amounts to about 880 millimeters (34.7 inches) per year and is well distributed over the seasons. In fact, weather fronts can affect this area in every month because of the continual clash between warm and cold air masses; in summer, when they are less frequent, thunderstorms can erupt in the afternoon, adding more rain, so much so that summer is as rainy as autumn, at least in quantity. Here is the average precipitation.
In
winter, from late November to March, precipitation occurs mainly in the form of snow (there are on average around 50 days with snowfall per year).
Snow normally covers the ground from mid-December to early March. In a year, about 185 centimeters (72 in) of snow fall; sometimes it can snow already in October, and in spring, still in April. In winter, real snow storms can occur, accompanied by gusts of
blizzard.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to around -18 °C (0 °F). In February 2015, it dropped to -25 °C (-13 °F), while in January 1996, it dropped to -26 °C (-15 °F).
However, given the unstable weather, the temperature can exceed freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) even in winter, and in these periods, snow can melt and it can even rain.
Spring, from mid-March to May, is an unstable season, characterized by sudden changes in temperature: initially cold in March, with frequent snowfalls and frosts, it advances gradually, with the first warm days but also the return of cold weather; it is still quite cold on average in April, and becomes mild in May, when the first afternoon thunderstorms occur.
Summer, from June to August, is warm and quite sunny, although there is a moderate amount of cool and cloudy days, with some chance of rain, while in fine weather, thunderstorms can erupt in the afternoon. Sometimes, hot periods can occur, with highs around 34/35 °C (93/95 °F). In July 2005, the temperature reached 36 °C (97 °F).
Autumn, from September to mid-November, is initially pleasant, with many sunny days, during which the temperature exceeds 25 °C (77 °F): these periods, called Indian summer, occur in September, but sometimes also in October. As the weeks pass, however, the temperature decreases rapidly, weather disturbances become more frequent, and the first cold days occur.
The amount of
sunshine in the Niagara Falls is overall good in summer, and acceptable in May and September. It is not high in the other months, and it's quite scarce from November to February, when the sun shows up rarely.
The
falls are formed by the confluence of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, at the border between the US state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario. There are two waterfalls: the
Horseshoe Falls, the largest ones, at the border between Canada and the United States, and the smaller
American Falls, a short distance from the former and entirely in the U.S. territory. The two falls are separated by
Goat Island. The
American Falls are actually divided into two, since at their side there are the smaller
Bridal Veil Falls, which are separated from them by
Luna Island.
The waters flow northwards, in fact, Lake Erie, in the south, is located at about 170 meters (555 feet) above sea level, while Lake Ontario, in the north, is located around 100 meters (325 ft) below. However, the actual jump is about 30 meters (100 ft) in the American Falls (at least compared to the rocks below) and approximately 52 meters (170 ft) in the Horseshoe Falls.
The large cities closest to the falls are Buffalo, NY, Usa, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lake Ontario and Lake Erie are very cold in winter, when the waters approach the freezing point, while in summer, they become almost acceptable for swimming, at least for those who do not suffer from the cold, especially in August, when they reach 22 °C (71.5 °F).
Best Time
The
best time to visit the Niagara Falls runs from mid-May to late September. In midsummer, in July and August, not only the waterfalls are very crowded, but also there may be hot and muggy days, so this period can be excluded if you cannot stand the heat (although the heat can be positive when you approach the waterfalls and get wet from the spray).
You can therefore choose May and September. In May and early June, it can still be a little cold, and in any case, you have to take into account the possibility of rain and of temperature swings.
In the first half of October, it can be cold, but you can admire the trees taking on their spectacular autumn colors, while in spring, you can see flowers blooming in the nearby botanical garden.
In winter, during the coldest periods, you can admire the spectacle of the partially frozen waterfalls.
The following data was recorded at Niagara Falls International Airport, in New York State.
Niagara Falls - Climate data
In Niagara Falls, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of
-3.6 °C, that of the warmest month (July) is of
22.3 °C. Here are the average temperatures.
Niagara Falls - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -7.5 | 0.4 | -3.6 |
|---|
| February | -7.2 | 1.2 | -3 |
|---|
| March | -3.4 | 6.1 | 1.3 |
|---|
| April | 2 | 13.6 | 7.8 |
|---|
| May | 8.4 | 20.7 | 14.5 |
|---|
| June | 14 | 25.5 | 19.8 |
|---|
| July | 16.7 | 27.9 | 22.3 |
|---|
| August | 16 | 27 | 21.5 |
|---|
| September | 11.9 | 23.2 | 17.6 |
|---|
| October | 6.1 | 16.2 | 11.2 |
|---|
| November | 0.6 | 9.3 | 5 |
|---|
| December | -3.9 | 3.5 | -0.2 |
|---|
| Year | 4.5 | 14.6 | 9.55 |
|---|
amounts to
880 millimeters per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from
55 millimeters in the driest month (February) to
85 millimeters in the wettest ones (July, September, October) Here is the average precipitation.
Niagara Falls - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 65 | 18 |
|---|
| February | 55 | 15 |
|---|
| March | 60 | 13 |
|---|
| April | 80 | 13 |
|---|
| May | 80 | 13 |
|---|
| June | 75 | 11 |
|---|
| July | 85 | 11 |
|---|
| August | 70 | 10 |
|---|
| September | 85 | 10 |
|---|
| October | 85 | 14 |
|---|
| November | 75 | 13 |
|---|
| December | 70 | 16 |
|---|
| Year | 880 | 158 |
|---|
There are on average around 2075
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Niagara Falls - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 3 | 95 |
|---|
| February | 4 | 115 |
|---|
| March | 5 | 155 |
|---|
| April | 6 | 180 |
|---|
| May | 8 | 250 |
|---|
| June | 9 | 270 |
|---|
| July | 9 | 280 |
|---|
| August | 8 | 250 |
|---|
| September | 6 | 180 |
|---|
| October | 5 | 155 |
|---|
| November | 3 | 90 |
|---|
| December | 2 | 60 |
|---|
| Year | 5.7 | 2075 |
|---|
Niagara Falls - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-3.6 °C, with a minimum of
-7.5 °C and a maximum of
0.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-26.2 °C in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12 °C. However, it reached
18 °C in January 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20 kph.
February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-3 °C, with a minimum of
-7.2 °C and a maximum of
1.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-25 °C in February 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11.5 °C. However, it reached
21 °C in February 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.1 kph.
March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.3 °C, with a minimum of
-3.4 °C and a maximum of
6.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14 °C. However, it dropped to
-22.3 °C in March 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
27.2 °C in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
17.6 kph.
April is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.8 °C, with a minimum of
2 °C and a maximum of
13.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10 °C in April 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in April 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
17.1 kph.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.5 °C, with a minimum of
8.4 °C and a maximum of
20.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.4 °C in May 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
33.9 °C in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
14.7 kph.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.8 °C, with a minimum of
14 °C and a maximum of
25.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
4 °C in June 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
35 °C in June 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
13.9 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.3 °C, with a minimum of
16.7 °C and a maximum of
27.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7 °C in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
36.1 °C in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
13.5 kph.
August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.5 °C, with a minimum of
16 °C and a maximum of
27 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7 °C in August 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
35 °C in August 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.5 kph.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.6 °C, with a minimum of
11.9 °C and a maximum of
23.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
-1 °C in September 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
33.9 °C in September 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.2 °C, with a minimum of
6.1 °C and a maximum of
16.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in October 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
29 °C in October 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.5 kph.
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5 °C, with a minimum of
0.6 °C and a maximum of
9.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7 °C. However, it dropped to
-13.9 °C in November 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
23.9 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.3 kph.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.2 °C, with a minimum of
-3.9 °C and a maximum of
3.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20.6 °C in December 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13.5 °C. However, it reached
22.2 °C in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.4 kph.