Rochester, New York Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Rochester weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——84°56°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——88°61°+4°
- SaturdayJun 6Showers50%0.19″72°63°-16°
- SundayJun 7Drizzle37%—73°60°+1°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——75°51°+2°
- TuesdayJun 9Partly Cloudy——81°58°+6°
- WednesdayJun 10Clear13%—82°60°+1°
AQI 28 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI down 9 over the last 6 hours (steady decline since this morning).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 3:49 AM
- Moonset
- 1:00 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Rochester at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 15°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: May 5 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Rochester
SPC has placed Rochester in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
- DAY 3MRGLMarginal Risk
Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | — | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | — | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July ranks as Rochester's warmest month with mean temperatures around 72°F, while January stands as the coldest at roughly 26°F. Precipitation follows a different pattern, peaking in July at 3.6 inches and reaching its lowest point in February with 2.1 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 2.5″ | 7 |
| February | 27° | 2.1″ | 6 |
| March | 35° | 2.5″ | 6 |
| April | 47° | 3.0″ | 7 |
| May | 59° | 2.9″ | 7 |
| June | 68° | 3.4″ | 7 |
| July | 72° | 3.6″ | 6 |
| August | 71° | 3.3″ | 6 |
| September | 64° | 3.2″ | 7 |
| October | 52° | 3.2″ | 8 |
| November | 42° | 2.8″ | 6 |
| December | 32° | 2.7″ | 8 |
Regional context
Rochester falls within the warm-summer humid continental climate region, sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal rhythms, and growing conditions with other cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: New York, NY, Brooklyn, NY, Queens, NY, Manhattan, NY, Bronx, NY.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the emergence of ruby-throated hummingbirds as they return from southern wintering grounds to establish territories around Rochester's gardens and woodland edges.
Apple blossoms typically peak in early May across the region, their white and pink flowers signaling the transition from spring's cool nights to warmer growing season temperatures.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Rochester?
- Spring's final frost usually occurs around mid-May in Rochester, while the first fall frost returns around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Rochester?
- July stands as the wettest month, delivering about 3.6 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's annual total of roughly 35 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Rochester?
- July typically brings the year's highest temperatures, averaging about 72°F.
- What is the coldest month in Rochester?
- January registers as the coldest month, with average temperatures around 26°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Rochester?
- Cool-season vegetables like peas and lettuce can be planted around the time of the last spring frost in mid-May, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Rochester get?
- Rochester experiences about 81 rainy days annually on average.
- What hardiness zone is Rochester?
- Rochester's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperatures; the USDA's online ZIP code lookup tool provides the current official zone designation.
Climate
Rochester, New York experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate. Winter temperatures in January hover near 26°F, while July brings averages of 72°F — creating a 46°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 35 inches, distributed across roughly 81 rainy days throughout the year.
Geographic factors drive the local climate patterns: latitude at 43.2°N, nearby large water bodies, and elevation all influence growing conditions, frost timing, and daily weather variations.