Mohawk Valley - NY06

The climate of New York’s Mohawk Valley is generally representative of humid climates in the northeastern United States, but within the division, topography plays a large role, leading to a wide range of microclimates. The division is adjacent to the St. Lawrence Valley storm track, and commonly sees cold air masses approach from the west and north. As with much of the Great Lakes region, weather patterns can vary greatly over the course of a week, especially during the fall and spring. Summer temperatures are seldom depressing to humans, and summer nights are typically cool enough to provide relief from mid-day heat. Winters are cold, but not usually extreme or particularly dangerous. Rain and snow are typically delivered by air masses from the Gulf of Mexico or cyclonic systems along the Atlantic coast. Precipitation is relatively well-distributed throughout the year, with most falling during warmer months and in thunderstorms. Snowfall is highly variable based on elevation and proximity to Lake Ontario. Lake effect snow has a significant but not overwhelming impact at the western end of the division, but tapers off dramatically to the east where the results are often limited to increased cloudiness.