A stormy week will give way to a long holiday weekend with mostly mild and dry weather across New York state, according to the National Weather Service.
After several weeks of rainy and stormy weather — including several EF1 tornadoes that touched down across the state in the past week — many New Yorkers are ready for a calmer forecast to mark the unofficial end of summer.
Fortunately, the forecast is looking mostly dry for Labor Day weekend, according to the Weather Service.
Labor Day weekend forecast in cities across NY
Forecasts are subject to change. Conditions were current as of Friday, Sept. 4.
- Rochester: Saturday — Sunny, high near 71; Sunday — Mostly sunny, high near 69; Monday — Sunny, high near 73.
- Buffalo: Saturday — Sunny, high near 75; Sunday — Mostly sunny, high near 73; Monday — Sunny, high near 76.
- Syracuse: Saturday — Mostly sunny, high near 73; Sunday — Sunny, high near 73; Monday — Sunny, high near 75.
- Binghamton: Saturday — Mostly sunny, high near 70; Sunday — Mostly sunny, high near 68; Monday — Sunny, high near 70.
- Albany: Saturday — Mostly sunny, high near 77; Sunday — Mostly sunny, high near 75; Monday — Sunny, high near 78.
- Poughkeepsie: Saturday — Mostly sunny, high near 79; Sunday — Mostly sunny, high near 74; Monday — Sunny, high near 77.
- New York City: Saturday — Sunny, high near 79; Sunday — Mostly sunny, high near 74; Monday — Sunny, high near 77.
What are the best and worst times to drive for Labor Day weekend 2026?
If you're hitting the road for Labor Day weekend, avoid traveling Friday afternoon and early evening, according to transportation data and insights provider INRIX. Drivers leaving Saturday should
hit the road early, while Sunday is expected to see minimal traffic throughout the day.
For those returning home Monday, leaving as early as possible can help avoid heavier afternoon traffic.
Best times for departing
- Friday, Sept. 4: Before noon; after 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 5: Before 10 a.m.
Worst times for departing
- Friday, Sept. 4: 2 to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 5: 1 to 5 p.m.
Best time for returning
- Monday, Sept. 7: Before noon
Worst time for returning
- Monday, Sept. 7: 2 to 5 p.m.
Where are the most popular Labor Day destinations?
Seattle topped AAA's list of the 10 most popular U.S. destinations for Labor Day weekend travel in 2026, followed by Orlando, Boston, Denver and New York City.
Here's AAA's full list:
- Seattle, Washington
- Orlando, Florida
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Denver, Colorado
- New York, New York
- Chicago, Illinois
- Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Atlanta, Georgia
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Labor Day weekend 2026 forecast for New York: Weather, best travel times
