Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Buffalo, New York Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Buffalo weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Buffalo, NY
Saturday, July 4 at 1:56 PM
80
°
Clear
Feels like
86°
Humidity
71%
Wind
12 mph
Sunrise
1:42 AM
Sunset
4:57 PM
Buffalo, NY
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastBuffalo, NY: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 68 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a 26% chance of precipitation at 4 PM.
L 68°H 85°
Buffalo, NY
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Drizzle
    26%
    —
    85°71°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    12%
    —
    80°68°-5°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Drizzle
    53%
    0.07″
    71°64°-9°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Heavy Showers
    37%
    0.59″
    71°63°0°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    —
    —
    81°62°+10°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Drizzle
    34%
    0.07″
    74°65°-7°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    48%
    —
    80°69°+6°
Buffalo, NY
Next 24 hours · Mild now
64°76°88°12p6p12a6anow 78°high 85°low 68°PRECIP %
Buffalo, NY
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
222° · steady
Direction
SW
222°
Sustained
12
mph
Gust
15
mph
Peak 24h
32
avg 10
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 10 · pk 32 @ 8:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 169SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze holding from the sw.
Buffalo, NY
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
991.6
0.0 mb in 3h · steady · 29.28 inHg
Now
991.6
mb
3h
0.0
mb
12h
-0.1
mb
24h
-1.1
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 990–992
9859909951000STORM|RAIN-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW992.4990.3991.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Buffalo, NY
Air quality
47
AQI
Good
→+1 in 6h▲Peak ~90 @ 11 PM

AQI 47 (Good), driven by Ozone. Ozone at AQI 95 now. With UV 7.0 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 63 around 1 PM.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
9.0μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
134μg/m³
UV IndexHigh
7.0

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 95 now. With UV 7.0 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 63 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 95
UV peak
7.0 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 63

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.0 µg/m³, PM10 at 10.0 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.90
Wind
breezy
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

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).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Buffalo, NY
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
13%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
43.2mi
UNLIMITED
61 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
17:56 UTC · Buffalo, NY · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
17:56 UTC · Buffalo, NY · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Buffalo, NY
Satellite · infrared · animated
Buffalo, NY
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Buffalo, NY
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:08 AM
Sunrise
1:42 AM
Daylight
15h 15m
Sunset
4:57 PM
Civil dusk
9:33 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Buffalo, NY
The moon
Waning Gibbous
80% illuminated
Moonrise
11:13 PM
Moonset
10:15 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Buffalo, NY
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Buffalo at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 11°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: May 3 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 14201, 14202, 14203, 14204, 14206, 14207, 14208, 14209 +21 more

16-Day Forecast — Buffalo

  1. Sat85°71°26%
  2. Sun80°68°12%
  3. Mon71°64°53%
  4. Tue71°63°37%
  5. Wed81°62°7%
  6. Thu74°65°34%
  7. Fri80°69°48%
  8. Sat75°60°22%
  9. Sun76°56°22%
  10. Mon75°56°31%
  11. Tue72°55°24%
  12. Wed76°59°29%
  13. Thu79°65°21%
  14. Fri84°69°16%
  15. Sat80°69°23%
  16. Sun78°67°19%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Buffalo

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 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 — Buffalo

SPC includes Buffalo in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

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.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Annual cicada buzz begins, peaking in the heat of the day.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
April——
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radisheslettuce, peas, radishes
Junelettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
October—winter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Buffalo's warmest month is July (~73°F mean) and its coldest is January (~24°F). Rainfall peaks in July (3.8 inches) and bottoms out in February (2.5 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January24°2.6″23
February25°2.5″19
March34°3.2″20
April46°3.6″19
May56°3.5″18
June67°3.6″17
July73°3.8″17
August72°3.4″17
September65°3.5″15
October54°3.2″15
November40°3.5″20
December30°3.1″22

Regional context

Drawing on NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Buffalo's January averages 24°F and July 73°F — 48°F apart — while precipitation totals roughly 39.5 inches over some 221 days.

No season owns Buffalo's rain: July reaches 3.8 inches across 16.8 days and February keeps 2.5 inches on 19.2, an even spread through Buffalo's year. That even rhythm groups Buffalo with places like Sloan, NY, Kenmore, NY and Eggertsville, NY.

The cool-season window in Buffalo starts at late-May, when nights stop freezing — think kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. In Buffalo, warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, basil — wait two weeks past Buffalo's frost date. It shuts near early-October, when freezes return to Buffalo and tender plants need cover. Within Buffalo, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Buffalo's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Sloan, NY, Kenmore, NY, Eggertsville, NY, Lackawanna, NY, Williamsville, NY.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the return of ruby-throated hummingbirds to Buffalo gardens, their arrival coinciding with the blooming of native honeysuckle.

Lilac bushes reach peak bloom across the city in mid to late May, filling neighborhoods with their distinctive fragrance.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Buffalo?
In Buffalo, expect the last spring frost near mid-May; Buffalo's first autumn frost comes around mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Buffalo?
July is the wettest month in Buffalo, about 3.8 inches on average; the year totals roughly 40 inches.
What is the warmest month in Buffalo?
July is Buffalo's warmest month, averaging about 73°F.
What is the coldest month in Buffalo?
Buffalo bottoms out in January, with a mean near 24°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Buffalo?
Time tomatoes in Buffalo for two weeks after mid-May; peas and greens start at Buffalo's frost line.
How many rainy days does Buffalo get?
Buffalo records around 221 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Buffalo?
Buffalo's hardiness zone tracks its winter low; with January near 24°F, check the USDA ZIP map for the exact zone.
What is the 10-day forecast for Buffalo?
Buffalo's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Buffalo?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Buffalo in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Buffalo?
Current conditions for Buffalo and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Buffalo forecast updated?
The Buffalo forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Buffalo?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Buffalo are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Buffalo?
The next few days in Buffalo's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Buffalo, New York occupies a warm-summer humid continental zone, with January means near 24°F and July around 73°F — a 49°F swing.

In a typical year Buffalo records about 40 inches of precipitation on around 221 days.

The 49°F gap between Buffalo's summer and winter, at 42.9°N, shapes Buffalo's frost calendar.

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ZIP codes in Buffalo

  • 14208
  • 14209
  • 14202
  • 14203
  • 14201
  • 14206
  • 14207
  • 14204
  • 14220
  • 14222
  • 14211
  • 14210
  • 14213
  • 14212
  • 14215
  • 14214
  • 14216
  • 14205
  • 14233
  • 14240
  • 14263
  • 14264
  • 14267
  • 14269
  • 14270
  • 14272
  • 14273
  • 14276
  • 14280

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.