In July, typical afternoon highs at Times Square run around 87°F (hot). Mid-afternoon sun stands about 58° high, and the sun is up from 5:37 AM to 8:25 PM. Expect long stretches in open sun, with shade pockets near structures.
See live sun & real shadows here →| January | 33°F |
| February | 38°F |
| March | 53°F |
| April | 62°F |
| May | 68°F |
| June | 82°F |
| July | 87°F |
| August | 82°F |
| September | 76°F |
| October | 64°F |
| November | 51°F |
| December | 37°F |
Expect long stretches in open sun, with shade pockets near structures. See real building shadows over satellite imagery for any time of day: https://isthereshade.com/?anywhere&at=40.7575,-73.9858
Around 8:25 PM local time in mid-July (it shifts through the year). Sunrise is about 5:37 AM.
Times Square · New York, NY. Data: exact sun position; climate normals from historical weather; live forecast on the interactive view.
Times Square is a canyon of tall buildings, and that geometry, more than any tree or awning, controls where the sun falls. The plazas and crossings sit on open pavement, but the towers on every side throw long shadows that shift through the day, so half the square can be shaded while the other half glares. In July, with afternoon highs around 87°F, knowing which side of the street holds the shade is the difference between a comfortable stop and a sweaty one.
In high summer the sun rises around 5:37 AM and sets near 8:25 PM. By 3 PM it stands 58 degrees up and sits to the west-southwest at about a 241-degree bearing. In a street canyon this steep, that means the buildings on the west and south sides cast shade across the pavement toward the east and north. As a rule of thumb through the afternoon, the eastern sidewalks and plazas fall into shadow first while the western-facing surfaces stay lit. Cross to the shaded side and you can move through the square without ever standing in direct sun.
The bright open plazas, where the crowds gather to look up at the screens, are the exposed hot spots at midday, with the sun high and little overhead to break it.
At around 87°F, a summer afternoon in Times Square is warm rather than dangerous, and the constant building shade makes it easier than an open plaza of the same temperature. The heat that does build here comes from the crowds and the pavement radiating stored warmth, so the shaded sidewalks feel markedly better than the sunlit center. Carry water on a hot day and use the shaded side of the street as you move. If you would rather see the square without the harsh overhead sun, early morning is quiet and largely shaded, and the evening brings both lengthening shadows and the lights the place is known for.
For a look at how the surrounding towers shade the pavement at your planned hour, open the satellite shadow view.