Overview:
Albany is located on the west bank of the Hudson River some 150 miles north of New York City, and 8 miles south of the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. The river-front portion of the city is only a few feet above sea level, and there is a tidal effect upstream to Troy. Between the Helderberg escarpment and the Hudson River, the valley floor is gently rolling, ranging some 200 to 500 feet above sea level. East of the city there is more rugged terrain 5 or 6 miles wide with elevations of 300 to 600 feet. Farther to the east the terrain rises more sharply, reaching a north-south range of hills 12 miles east of Albany with elevations ranging to 2,000 feet.
Albany is primarily continental, but it is subjected to some modification by the Atlantic Ocean. The moderating effect on temperatures is more pronounced during warmer months than in winter when outbursts of cold air sweep down from Canada. In warm seasons, temperatures rise rapidly in the daytime, while falling rapidly after sunset. Occasionally there are periods of oppressive heat up to a week or more in duration. Winters are usually cold and sometimes fairly severe. Maximum temperatures are often below freezing and nighttime lows are frequently below 10ºF. Snowfall in the area is variable and flurries are frequent during the winter. Most of the rainfall in the summer is from thunderstorms.
State/ Province ID: NY
Station ID: W00014735
Directory Name: ALBANY_AP_HCN_NY_W00014735
Elevation: 95.10m