August will be predictably hot. April can do anything it pleases, including snowing and/or feeling like August. I never think that either the weather so far in a year or the weather the previous year is much of a predictor. I would classify this year as normalish for the last couple of months, and last year as mild, but someone may disagree with me.

I have been a longtime resident of NYC and my weather comment- completely unpredictable. In the last three years we have had a tornado, blizzards and a devasting huricane. In between we have had periods of great weather. Pick a week and cross your fingers. (And I've picnicked in April in Central Park, plenty of times)

Personally, I'd rather take my chances in April than risk unpleasantly hot and humid weather in August. I can bundle up and still enjoy being outside (or at least getting place to place) more easily than I can enjoy being hot. But that may just be me.

IMHO August is almost always hellish (at least to me) and I would much prefer cool and rain to 95 and humid.

However, in early April there won;t be many flowers and trees will only be in bud - not in leaf - so the Park won;t look like much. And yes, you can get chilly weather - and possibly even a little snow, but with layers will be fine. IMHO much better to tour under those conditions than when all you want to do is sit in an AC room.

And as pointed out - in April you may get 50s and sunny every day.

In two weeks time in April, you could experience every type of weather. I'd go for April.

This is how unpredictable the weather is in April - a few years ago we were there for the weekend in mid-April and it was freezing and raining. In fact, one day the weather turned out so beautiful in the afternoon, we went for a walk in the park. Went away for two days and came back and it was sunny and 70 the rest of the week.

I am tending to agree with your views and besides it is a better period for us to take time off from work, so we are more or less deciding on April. Will keep fingers crossed for good weather!

Thanks very much!

we did a summer trip to New York and DC in late June/early July just this past summer. It was unusually hot while we were there and with the humidity it really could be harsh. The kids are troopers but with all that heat emanating up from the concrete buildings and the asphalt, it is not pleasant.

Go with April. Bring an umbrella and a variety of clothes. If we had the option, I would have done it in a heartbeat.

You are so right about the heat...even at 7 pm you can feel the heat radiating from the concrete sidewalks!

The past few summers in NYC have been so hot. Subway trains have a/c but platforms where you wait do not.Our usual long walks were curtailed too. The heat really crimps one's style. April sounds better with a child.