Is it raining now in New York?
Sunny
9 JulNo upcoming precipitation for the next hour.
Last update: 21:00, 9 Jul 2026
Free to download * Essential from $0.83 * Prices vary by region and promotions.
- App Only
Track up to 20 locations
Home, office, kids' school - all at once, no switching tabs.
- App Only
Alerts for each of them
Get notified 15 minutes before rain - while you can still change your plans.
- App Only
Widgets on your home screen
Live radar without opening the app - on your lock screen or home screen.
Rain in New York: What You Need to Know
New York receives its most impactful rain during June–August (convective) and September–October (tropical peak) and March–April (nor'easters), and the New York rain radar shows what a standard forecast cannot: exactly which streets are in the path of an incoming cell and how many minutes remain before it arrives. A hyperlocal radar is the practical tool for anyone navigating New York's weather — from commuters on the freeway to outdoor event organizers to residents near MTA subway floods when rain exceeds 1.75 inches per hour.
The geography that shapes New York's rain risk comes from year-round events; Hurricane Ida remnants (2021) set Central Park hourly rain record; MTA subway floods when rain exceeds 1.75 in/hr; Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023) caused second subway shutdown. When intense cells develop, they approach primarily from southwest up the Hudson, and the local terrain concentrates runoff into MTA subway floods when rain exceeds 1.75 inches per hour rapidly. Standard 12-hour forecasts cover the broader region; a live radar shows the cell boundary at 250-meter resolution — the neighborhood-level distinction that changes whether you leave now or wait 30 minutes.
RainViewer pulls live NEXRAD data from KOKX (Upton NY), updated every 4–6 minutes. The map shows the exact storm position and movement vector over New York, New York, including direction arrows showing whether a cell is tracking toward the city center or moving away. What the live map reveals that no forecast can: whether the cell building to the southwest will reach your specific block in New York or dissipate before arrival.
Rain by Season in New York
Peak rain season (June–August (convective) and September–October (tropical peak) and March–April (nor'easters))
New York's highest-risk weather window aligns with June–August (convective) and September–October (tropical peak) and March–April (nor'easters), when year-round events drives the most intense precipitation events. This is when MTA subway floods when rain exceeds 1.75 inches per hour is most likely to cause disruption and when the radar is most operationally valuable for anyone planning outdoor activities, managing outdoor venues, or commuting through flood-prone corridors in New York.
Transition months
The weeks before and after the main rain season bring unpredictable conditions in New York — storm intensity varies widely, and forecast models are least reliable during these transitions. Outdoor activities, construction schedules, and event planning in New York are most vulnerable to unexpected weather during the seasonal transition windows.
Drier season (January–February)
During January–February, New York sees its lowest rain probability. Outdoor events, construction, and recreational activities proceed with reduced weather risk. Some residual risk remains from coastal storms and nor'easters, but New York is most reliably dry during this period.
Why You Need a Rain Radar in New York
New York Flood-Zone Residents and Property Managers
New York's MTA subway floods when rain exceeds 1.75 inches per hour can rise rapidly during intense rain events. A live radar showing an intense cell approaching from southwest up the Hudson gives residents and property managers 20–30 minutes to move vehicles, prepare drainage systems, and alert household members before conditions become dangerous.
Commuters and Highway Drivers in New York
Rain events in New York can close roads and create dangerous driving conditions with minimal warning. Checking the radar 20 minutes before departure reveals whether an incoming cell will clear before your route or whether a 30-minute delay will mean dry roads — a practical decision that saves time and reduces flood-crossing risk on New York's most weather-sensitive corridors.
Outdoor Recreation and Event Planning in New York
New York's outdoor venues, parks, and recreational areas are directly exposed to the seasonal rain events that characterize New York's June–August (convective) and September–October (tropical peak) and March–April (nor'easters) weather window. A live radar check 30–60 minutes ahead tells event managers and outdoor enthusiasts whether to proceed with outdoor plans or prepare for disruption.
Global Finance And Media Hub Operations in New York
New York's global finance and media hub sector operates facilities and transportation networks sensitive to weather disruptions. Rain events that cause road closures, reduce visibility, or create safety hazards for outdoor workers are most actionable with 20–30 minutes' advance warning from a live radar — enough time to shelter workers, delay vehicle dispatches, or alert logistics teams before conditions deteriorate.
Visitors and Travelers Passing Through New York
Travelers arriving at or transiting through New York by road or air benefit from live radar during the June–August (convective) and September–October (tropical peak) and March–April (nor'easters) risk window. Checking the radar before airport departures, highway on-ramps, or outdoor tourist activities in New York gives visitors the same advance information that local residents rely on — without needing to know the city's specific flood-prone roads or weather patterns by memory.
RainViewer Radar Coverage in New York
RainViewer aggregates radar data for the United States from the NEXRAD network operated by NOAA's National Weather Service — 160 WSR-88D stations covering the contiguous US, Alaska, Hawaii, and US territories. Data updates every 4–6 minutes as each station completes its scan cycle. RainViewer processes and displays NEXRAD data at up to 250-meter resolution, preserving the raw scan data rather than smoothing it into regional averages. For New York, New York, the primary NEXRAD source is KOKX (Upton NY), providing hyperlocal radar coverage across the area.
New York Rain Radar: Frequently Asked Questions
- Does New York flood when it rains heavily?
Yes — New York's MTA subway floods when rain exceeds 1.75 inches per hour creates documented flood risk during intense rain events. Year-round events means that rainfall runs off rapidly into drainage channels and low-lying streets. Avoiding mta crossings and low underpasses during active radar cells reduces flood risk significantly.
- When is New York's rainy season?
New York's primary rain season runs through June–August (convective) and September–October (tropical peak) and March–April (nor'easters), when year-round events drives the most active weather. The driest period is typically January–February, when outdoor activities and travel planning carry the lowest weather risk.
- Why is rain in New York so hard to predict precisely?
New York's rain character is shaped by year-round events, which creates localized precipitation patterns that vary significantly across the city. A forecast covers the broader New York region; a hyperlocal radar at 250-meter resolution shows the actual cell position over New York in real time, updated every 4–6 minutes from KOKX (Upton NY).
- Is there a live rain radar for New York?
Yes — RainViewer displays live NEXRAD data for New York at up to 250-meter resolution, updated every 4–6 minutes from KOKX (Upton NY). The map shows current precipitation, storm movement direction, and a 2-hour nowcast — so you can see whether the cell approaching from southwest up the Hudson will reach New York or change track before arrival.
- How quickly do storms move through New York?
Storm speed varies, but most convective cells affecting New York move at 20–40 mph, giving 15–30 minutes of advance warning when a cell appears on the radar 10–15 miles away. Stalling systems — which bring the most severe flooding — are visible on radar as cells with little lateral movement over New York's watershed.
- Can I get a rain alert before storms reach New York?
RainViewer Essential sends a rain alert 10–15 minutes before precipitation reaches your saved location in New York. Set an alert for your home, workplace, or outdoor venue — the alert fires when radar confirms rain approaching your specific pin, not just a general New York area warning.
- How accurate is the rain radar for New York?
NEXRAD radar data from KOKX (Upton NY) is updated every 4–6 minutes and processed at up to 250-meter resolution — significantly more precise than standard weather app forecasts. For New York, this means the radar can distinguish whether rain is falling in one neighborhood while an adjacent area remains dry, a distinction that is common during New York's primary rain season.
- What should I do when the New York rain radar shows a severe cell approaching?
When the radar shows a fast-moving intense cell (deep red or purple colors) approaching New York from southwest up the Hudson, allow 20–30 minutes to complete outdoor tasks, move vehicles from flood-prone areas near mta corridors, and ensure outdoor workers or guests are aware. Most New York convective cells clear within 45–90 minutes, so waiting out an approaching cell is often the practical choice.
Track Rain in New York in Real Time
New York's MTA can rise within 30 minutes of an intense cell — the radar gives you the window a forecast cannot.
A forecast tells you rain is likely. The radar tells you the cell is approaching from southwest up the Hudson and will reach New York in 18 minutes.
Your weather app says storms likely for New York. RainViewer shows the cell is 8 miles from New York center and arriving in 12 minutes.
Track rain in New York — free Upgrade to Essential for alerts, forecasts, and full radar history
2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices
see exactly when rain will reach your neighborhood in New York
Rain alerts before arrival
set an alert for your specific location in New York before the next storm
Direction arrows on the map
New York storms arrive predominantly from southwest up the Hudson; arrows show the exact track
48 hours of radar history
scroll back to understand where the last storm's heaviest rain fell in New York
Multiple locations
track your home, workplace, and key outdoor venues in New York simultaneously
RainViewer
