The East End year turns on light and weather more than on any calendar of events. Daylight at Bridgehampton runs from 9 h 16 min in mid-December to 15 h 06 min in mid-June, and the average low in January is 23°. This almanac lists what repeats every year, month by month: weather normals, computed daylight, and dates set by statute or by a public agency. It leaves out one-off events, which go stale. To test a month before you commit to it, read try a winter first.
Daylight through the year
The earliest sunset comes around December 9 at 4:21 p.m., well before the solstice. The latest sunrise in standard time comes around January 4 at 7:14 a.m. On the winter solstice the sun rises at 7:10 a.m. and sets at 4:24 p.m., a day of 9 h 14 min. On the summer solstice it rises at 5:17 a.m. and sets at 8:24 p.m.
Weather: three stations, three climates
Bridgehampton is the most complete South Fork record here: a long-running climate station that also records snow.
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39° | 23° | 4.0" | 7.2" |
| February | 40° | 24° | 3.6" | 8.6" |
| March | 46° | 30° | 4.9" | 6.0" |
| April | 55° | 38° | 4.3" | 0.8" |
| May | 65° | 47° | 3.6" | – |
| June | 75° | 57° | 3.9" | – |
| July | 81° | 64° | 3.2" | – |
| August | 80° | 62° | 3.9" | – |
| September | 73° | 56° | 4.8" | – |
| October | 63° | 45° | 4.7" | – |
| November | 53° | 36° | 3.8" | 0.1" |
| December | 44° | 28° | 5.0" | 4.1" |
Montauk Airport shows what the ocean does at the tip of the island. January lows there average 28° against 23° at Bridgehampton, and Gabreski Airport in Westhampton, inland, averages 20°.
| Month | High | Low | Precip. |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 28° | 3.6" |
| February | 41° | 28° | 3.2" |
| March | 46° | 33° | 4.2" |
| April | 55° | 41° | 3.7" |
| May | 64° | 50° | 3.2" |
| June | 74° | 60° | 3.5" |
| July | 80° | 66° | 2.8" |
| August | 80° | 66° | 4.0" |
| September | 73° | 60° | 3.6" |
| October | 63° | 51° | 4.2" |
| November | 54° | 42° | 3.9" |
| December | 45° | 34° | 4.3" |
How to use the almanac
Each month page pairs a table of normals with the dates that recur: seasons set by the state, permit years set by towns, and statutory dates such as the school budget vote. The cost of living section shows how many homes are lived in during the months in between. Pick a month below.
- JanuaryThe coldest month: normals, mid-winter daylight, county archery season, ticks and seals.
- FebruaryThe snowiest month on the normals, the party-enrollment deadline and the first long evenings.
- MarchDaylight saving time begins, the East Hampton permit year and bay scallop season both close on March 31.
- AprilEast Hampton's recycling permit year restarts April 1, evenings pass 7 p.m. and the snow ends.
- MaySchool budget votes on the third Tuesday, winter leases end at Memorial Day and the heating season closes.
- JuneThe longest days of the year, hurricane season begins June 1 and the summer rental season starts.
- JulyThe warmest and driest month on the normals, with nearly fifteen hours of light.
- AugustLate-summer normals, shortening days, and the weeks before Labor Day turnover.
- SeptemberLabor Day ends the summer lease year and starts the winter rental season.
- OctoberArchery season starts on county land, the state heating season begins and the sun sets before 6:15.
- NovemberDaylight saving time ends, bay scallop season opens and sunset arrives before 4:35.
- DecemberThe shortest day, the earliest sunsets and the wettest month at Bridgehampton.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly Bridgehampton (USC00300889), Montauk Airport (USW00054780), Westhampton Gabreski Airport (USW00014719).
- NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory, solar calculation equations
Checked October 2026. Rules, fees and hours change; confirm with the office or operator before you act.