Hillcrest has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain
A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Hillcrest at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Hillcrest’s climate
Read from where Hillcrest sits among New York’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
36 inches of snow, 49 of rain and melt
October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 118 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 188 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 19 and the first by October 23.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Hillcrest averaged 2.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.6°).
A bigger shift than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
What a year in Hillcrest feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Living with Hillcrest’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
188 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 19 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 23.
About 36" a winter over 9 days with an inch or more, most in January.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 87% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 14 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 85°.
The nicest months are May, June, August, September and October.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →Hillcrest and its neighbors
Ramapo has the coldest January nights next door (20°) and Clarkstown the hottest July afternoons (85°). Tap a town to see its climate.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
How Hillcrest compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in New York.
Hillcrest weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 21° | 3.5" | 11.1" | 10 | 19° – 36° |
| February | 40° | 22° | 2.8" | 7.1" | 8 | 18° – 37° |
| March | 48° | 29° | 4.0" | 9.6" | 9 | 33° – 48° |
| April | 61° | 39° | 3.9" | 0.4" | 11 | 45° – 55° |
| May | 71° | 49° | 3.9" | 0 | 12 | 56° – 65° |
| June | 79° | 59° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 66° – 72° |
| July | 85° | 64° | 4.4" | 0 | 10 | 69° – 78° |
| August | 83° | 62° | 4.6" | 0 | 10 | 68° – 76° |
| September | 75° | 55° | 4.5" | 0 | 8 | 63° – 70° |
| October | 64° | 44° | 4.6" | 0 | 10 | 49° – 61° |
| November | 52° | 35° | 3.7" | 0.5" | 9 | 38° – 48° |
| December | 42° | 26° | 4.2" | 7.0" | 10 | 27° – 45° |
| Year | 61° | 42° | 48.6" | 35.7" | 118 |
Heating and cooling a home in Hillcrest
87% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 18° to 37°. June is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Hillcrest’s climate
What is the coldest month in Hillcrest?
January, with a typical high of 37° and a low of 21°.
What is the hottest month in Hillcrest?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 64°. About 14 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Hillcrest get?
About 36 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Hillcrest?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 23, and the last spring frost by April 19.
What is the rainiest month in Hillcrest?
October, with 4.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Hillcrest.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Hillcrest itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at West Point, NY (18 mi, snow) and Wanaque Raymond Dam, NJ (15 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.