The best times to visit Ithaca for ideal weather are

May 14th to October 7th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Ithaca Travel Info

Weather in Ithaca

Temperature

Average temperatures in Ithaca vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 49th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Ithaca, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 83°F (28.3°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 59.7°F (15.4°C) at night.

Ithaca Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Ithaca Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Ithaca Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Ithaca Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Ithaca Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 31 23.1 15
Feb 30.9 22.8 14.9
Mar 42.9 32.7 23.9
Apr 58.1 45.6 34.8
May 71 58.4 46.7
Jun 77.2 65.4 54.6
Jul 81.5 69.6 58.6
Aug 79 67.4 57
Sep 73 61.1 51.1
Oct 60.6 50.1 41.4
Nov 48.4 39.1 30.8
Dec 37.8 30.6 23.6

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan -0.6 -4.9 -9.4
Feb -0.6 -5.1 -9.5
Mar 6.1 0.4 -4.5
Apr 14.5 7.6 1.6
May 21.7 14.7 8.2
Jun 25.1 18.6 12.6
Jul 27.5 20.9 14.8
Aug 26.1 19.7 13.9
Sep 22.8 16.2 10.6
Oct 15.9 10.1 5.2
Nov 9.1 3.9 -0.7
Dec 3.2 -0.8 -4.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Ithaca are January, February, and then March. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around late January. For example, on the week of January 22nd there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early to mid August with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of August 6th.

When can you find snow in Ithaca? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Ithaca.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Ithaca (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 3% 0 0.3
Feb 5% 0 0.6
Mar 7% 0 0.8
Apr 9% 0 1
May 8% 0 1.2
Jun 14% 0 2.2
Jul 15% 0 2.7
Aug 17% 0 2.5
Sep 11% 0 1.9
Oct 10% 0 1.3
Nov 8% 0 0.9
Dec 12% 0 1.1

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 3 0 0.8
Feb 5 0 1.5
Mar 7 0 2
Apr 9 0 2.5
May 8 0 3
Jun 14 0 5.6
Jul 15 0 6.9
Aug 17 0 6.4
Sep 11 0 4.8
Oct 10 0 3.3
Nov 8 0 2.3
Dec 12 0 2.8

 

Humidity and Wind

Ithaca has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is April (54.2% relative humidity), and the most humid month is September (71.4%).

Wind in Ithaca is usually calm. The windiest month is February, followed by December and January. February’s average wind speed of around 8.3 knots (9.5 MPH or 15.4 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid February where average top sustained speeds reach 17 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Ithaca.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 8.1 Gentle breeze 15.1 Significant breeze
Feb 8.3 Gentle breeze 15.6 Significant breeze
Mar 7.8 Gentle breeze 14.6 Significant breeze
Apr 7.9 Gentle breeze 15.1 Significant breeze
May 6.1 Light breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
Jun 5.2 Light breeze 11.8 Significant breeze
Jul 4.7 Light breeze 10.9 Significant breeze
Aug 4.6 Light breeze 10.8 Gentle breeze
Sep 4.9 Light breeze 11 Significant breeze
Oct 6 Light breeze 12.2 Significant breeze
Nov 7.2 Gentle breeze 13.5 Significant breeze
Dec 8.2 Gentle breeze 14.9 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 63.8%
Feb 62.1%
Mar 58.9%
Apr 54.2%
May 58.2%
Jun 68%
Jul 66.6%
Aug 69.5%
Sep 71.4%
Oct 68.5%
Nov 63.4%
Dec 70.3%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Ithaca?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Ithaca, NY, US is July, followed by August and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Ithaca in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 31.4 in November means 31.4% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Ithaca Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 76.7°F (24.8°C) and 32.4°F (0.2°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 2 to 3 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the most precipitation with 4 to 5 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Ithaca, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 78.3°F (25.7°C) and 42.8°F (6°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 2 to 3 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Ithaca to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 38.6°F (3.7°C) and 27.5°F (-2.5°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 1 to 4 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Ithaca, NY, US