Ithaca, New York has a four-season climate. The fall is spectacular, with the leaves changing color and the annual Apple Harvest Festival taking place in Downtown Ithaca. Winter arrives in late November and usually exits sometime in March. Spring is lovely, with open-air farmers markets and flowers in bloom. Summer is beautiful. Temperatures in the low 80s encourage students who stay on campus to enjoy the surrounding gorges, waterfalls, and lakes.

Average daily highs in the middle of January and February hover around 31-33 degrees Fahrenheit and the monthly snowfall from December through March ranges from 10-16 inches. If "cold" is 60 degrees for you, these numbers might seem a bit chilly, but they're typical of what is found in other northeastern cities. Life doesn't slow down in the winter at Cornell! Students who want to enjoy the wintry surroundings can take advantage of Cornell Outdoor Education's courses and gear rental program for skiing and snowshoeing. Those who prefer to stay indoors have plenty of options, as our campus is home to the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, several fitness centers, the Helen Newman Bowling Center, the Cornell Cinema, and a variety of cozy dining rooms, cafes, and coffeehouses. 

To learn more, visit our Life at Cornell website and explore the Visit Ithaca website.