By John C. Zaher, Co-Publisher
Is it me, or does the weather just suck this spring?
Maybe it’s my expectations. We’ve all been conditioned by that old saying — “April showers bring May flowers.” But lately, it feels more like April and May showers bring June heat and humidity, with the weather transitioning almost overnight from winter to summer. With the exception of a few beautiful days, spring on Long Island has been a frustrating mix of grey skies, damp weekends, and fleeting glimpses of warmth.
Feeling fed up, I decided to stop complaining and look at the facts. Using data from Long Island MacArthur Airport (KISP) over the past ten years, I asked ChatGPT to help me break it all down — specifically the average temperatures and number of rainy days in April, May, June, September, and October.
I expected to confirm what I already believed: that spring was getting worse and that fall had quietly become the most pleasant season of the year. But the truth was more nuanced.
🌡️ By the Numbers
| Year | April Avg Temp (°F) |
April Rainy Days | May Avg Temp (°F) |
May Rainy Days | June Avg Temp (°F) |
June Rainy Days | Sept Avg Temp (°F) |
Sept Rainy Days | Oct Avg Temp (°F) |
Oct Rainy Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 50.2 | 12 | 58.3 | 11 | 67.1 | 9 | 65.2 | 9 | 55.3 | 10 |
| 2017 | 51.0 | 11 | 59.0 | 10 | 68.0 | 8 | 65.8 | 8 | 56.0 | 9 |
| 2018 | 49.5 | 13 | 57.8 | 12 | 66.5 | 10 | 64.5 | 10 | 54.5 | 11 |
| 2019 | 50.8 | 10 | 58.6 | 11 | 67.3 | 9 | 65.0 | 9 | 55.0 | 10 |
| 2020 | 51.5 | 9 | 59.2 | 10 | 68.4 | 8 | 65.5 | 8 | 55.5 | 9 |
| 2021 | 52.0 | 11 | 60.0 | 9 | 69.0 | 7 | 66.0 | 7 | 56.0 | 8 |
| 2022 | 52.5 | 10 | 60.5 | 8 | 69.5 | 6 | 66.5 | 6 | 56.5 | 7 |
| 2023 | 53.0 | 9 | 61.0 | 7 | 70.0 | 5 | 67.0 | 5 | 57.0 | 6 |
| 2024 | 53.5 | 8 | 61.5 | 6 | 70.5 | 4 | 67.5 | 4 | 57.5 | 5 |
| 2025 | 53.2 | 12 | 63.4 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
☀️ What the Data Tells Us
Turns out, I wasn’t completely wrong. Spring has gotten warmer — average April and May temperatures have ticked up by about two degrees since 2016. But the number of rainy days hasn’t changed much. In fact, May 2025 had rain on about one-third of the days, right in line with historical norms.
Where I was off was in my assumption that spring has been getting worse overall. Statistically, it’s better — just not noticeably better. It still doesn’t feel like spring when your weekends keep getting washed out.
What did surprise me, though, was how good September and October have become.
September is now only about three degrees cooler than June, and it often has the same number of rainy days or fewer.
October is about four degrees warmer than April, and drier by nearly every measure.
And while June has long been Long Island’s most pleasant weather month, September is giving it a serious run for its money.
A New Kind of Seasonality
Sure, there’s the occasional hurricane that makes landfall in the fall and wipes out our weather for a day or two — but most of the time, fall weather here is outstanding. Think low humidity, comfortable 70s, and clear skies.
If we’re being honest about what makes Long Island great, it’s not just the beaches and barbecues of July — it’s also harvest festivals, vineyard tours, and apple-picking weekends in a flannel shirt.
So, no, I don’t think I’ll ever truly love our soggy, unpredictable spring. But if we’re serious about local tourism and lifestyle planning, it’s time we give fall its due. Extend the beach season. Promote autumn escapes. Celebrate September and October as the peak of Long Island living.
Because from June through October, we might just have one of the best climates in the country.