New York weather: What's the temperature in Rockefeller Center tonight? Christmas tree lighting update

New York City is set to flip the switch on one of its most iconic holiday traditions tonight as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit up

Updated on: Dec 4, 2025, 07:47:08 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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New York City is set to flip the switch on one of its most iconic holiday traditions tonight as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit up. Several top celebrities, including Brad Paisley and Michael Bublé, performed at the ceremony, which was hosted by Reba McEntire. Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, New Edition, and Carly Pearce were the other performers.

People look out of the window during the 93rd annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony, Wednesday (AP)

The official lighting is expected just before 10 PM local time.

The night also celebrates a milestone: the 100th anniversary of the Radio City Rockettes, who are marking the occasion with a special performance.

Where is the Christmas tree?

The tree stands at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, between West 49th and West 50th streets. The easiest subway stop is 47–50 Streets–Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F and M lines.

Inside This Year’s Tree

This season’s Norway spruce was cut on Nov. 6 in East Greenbush, New York, and arrived in Manhattan two days later.

Key details:

Height: ~75 feet

Weight: 11 tons

Age: More than 60 years

Lighting: Over 50,000 LED bulbs

Topper: A Swarovski crystal star

As has become tradition, the tree will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity after the season.

Road Closures and Security

Huge crowds came to the Rockefeller Center, prompting extensive NYPD security measures. Several roads were closed:

46th–52nd Streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

Rockefeller Plaza from 48th to 51st Streets

Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue from 46th to 52nd Streets

Visitors should expect heavy congestion and plan ahead.

What is the temperature in Rockefeller Center tonight?

Current temperature at Rockefeller Center: 0°C (32°F)

Feels like: -3°C (27°F)

Wind: light breeze 2 m/s from the southwest

Precipitation: 0 mm – clear skies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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