Moving from Los Angeles to New York City
A climate comparison of two homes: California to New York. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your last spring frost moves from December 31 to March 26, 280 days earlier.
Los Angeles, CA to New York City, NY
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring frost | December 31 | March 26 | 280 days earlier |
| Frost-free season | 365 days | 244 days | 121 days shorter |
| Coldest month | 56F in December | 34F in January | 22F colder |
| Warmest month | 79F in August | 79F in July | 0F hotter |
Moving from Los Angeles to New York City reshapes the home year. Winters get 22F colder. Summers get 0F hotter. Your growing season is 121 days shorter. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
What changes about the house
- Heating: expect a longer or deeper heating season. Service the furnace or boiler before the first cold snap, and budget for higher heating bills.
- Cooling: hotter peaks make air conditioning or shading more important. Check attic insulation and window sealing so the house does not trap heat.
- Garden: a longer frost-free season opens more crop choices and succession sowings. Raised beds warm earlier in spring.
- Garden: a shorter season favors transplants, short-season varieties, and cold frames. Wait for soil to warm before direct sowing.
Season by season
Spring starts earlier
Your last spring frost moves from December 31 to March 26, 280 days earlier. Start planting and outdoor prep sooner.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 79F in August to 79F in July. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winters turn harsher
Winter coldest month goes from 56F in December to 34F in January. Budget for more heating, snow removal, and ice-dam prevention.
Tools for both places
Moving from Los Angeles to New York City, answered
What is the biggest climate change from Los Angeles to New York City?
Your last spring frost moves from December 31 to March 26, 280 days earlier. That is the largest shift in the 30-year climate record.
How are these numbers computed?
From official 30-year climate normals at the nearest station to each place: Van Nuys Ap near Los Angeles and Laguardia Ap 72503 near New York City. They are planning averages, not forecasts; local microclimates can run a week or two off the station record.
Does the comparison work in reverse?
Yes. Open the comparison tool and swap the two places; the deltas reverse direction but the match score stays the same.
Method and sources
Temperatures and frost dates are from the 30-year climate normals at Van Nuys Ap (near Los Angeles, CA) and Laguardia Ap 72503 (near New York City, NY). Canadian data is from Environment and Climate Change Canada; United States data is from NOAA NCEI. These are planning averages, not forecasts. See the methodology page for the full calculation.