Visiting Ground Zero in winter

How cold is New York in winter?

Average highs are about 44°F in December and 39°F in January, with lows near or below freezing.

The National Weather Service's Central Park normals (1991 to 2020) are the best guide. Lower Manhattan sits by the water, and the wind can make it feel colder than the number. January is the coldest month.

The plaza has no shelter apart from the trees. Ten minutes standing still at the pools while a guide talks is when the cold gets you, not the walking.

Source: NWS New York Central Park almanacs for December, January and February, 1991-2020 daily normals averaged by month.

What time does it get dark at Ground Zero in winter?

Between 4:30 and 4:40 p.m. from late November to early January, and about 5:10 p.m. by early February.

Daylight saving time ends on 1 November 2026, and sunsets drop to about 4:30 p.m. through most of December. By 1 February 2027 sunset is around 5:10 p.m., and by 1 March about 5:45 p.m. Sunrise is after 7 a.m. from early December to early February.

The Memorial stays open until 8 p.m., and the pools after dark are moving in their own way. Do the guided walk in daylight, though: the FDNY Wall, St. Paul's Chapel and the details in the stone are hard to see at night.

Do Ground Zero tours run in rain and snow?

Yes. The walks run rain or shine. The Memorial and Museum can close without notice in severe weather.

The All Access 9/11 Experience listing says the tour "operates rain or shine" and that "a large portion of this tour is outdoors, so please dress appropriately". Guides adapt: a July guest wrote that their guide "incorporated inside ALOT" on a hot day, and the Oculus and St. Paul's Chapel give cover in winter too. Every tour on this site has free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so watch the forecast two days out.

Storms are another matter. The Museum's visitor guidelines reserve the right to close "due to severe weather or other causes, as needed, and without advanced notice". In late January 2022 a winter storm closed both the Memorial and the Museum for a day while crews cleared nearly 15 inches of snow from the eight-acre plaza, the Museum reported.

The walk, skip-the-line Museum entry and One World Observatory in one booking. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

★ 4.9 · 5 hours · from $109

Explore the All Access 9/11 Experience → Tour details

Is One World Observatory worth it on a cloudy day?

Not on a low-cloud day. Check the forecast that morning and pick a clear one if you can.

Winter brings some of the clearest, sharpest days of the year, and some of the greyest. The Observatory's own page says there are no refunds or rain checks, and only "in rare cases of zero visibility" can you ask for a voucher for another date within 14 days. Partial cloud does not count.

One September guest on the All Access tour summed it up: the observation deck "was cloudy", and they saved it for another day. Book the Observatory ticket with free cancellation and decide the day before. For sunset, the Observatory recommends a ticket at least an hour before; in December that is about 3:30 p.m. More in our Observatory and Memorial guide.

What should you wear for a winter walking tour of Ground Zero?

Warm layers, a hat, gloves you can use a phone in, and waterproof shoes. Leave big bags at the hotel.

You stand still more than you walk. Wear a thermal layer under a proper coat, and shoes that cope with slush on the plaza paving. Gloves with touchscreen fingertips save you taking them off for every photo.

Inside the Museum it is warm. Coat rooms on the Concourse Lobby level and the Pavilion Auditorium level take coats and large items, and the Museum requires you to store large bags, backpacks and large umbrellas there. Bags are limited to 19 x 17 x 8 inches, says the visitor guidelines page. A small backpack is fine.

When is the best time of day to visit Ground Zero in winter?

The outdoor part from late morning, the Museum after lunch, and the Observatory before sunset if the sky is clear.

Late morning gives you the warmest hours outside. Then go underground: the Museum takes two to three hours, and you come out as the light fades. The All Access day follows that order by design, walk first, Museum second, Observatory last. For a shorter day, the walk with One World Observatory skips the Museum and takes about three hours.

Holiday hours are in our holiday hours post, and the free evening slots in the free admission post.

Frequently asked questions