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Weather & Climate in Boston, MA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Boston experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 265 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 53.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 26.8 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37. The city sits at an elevation of 13 feet.
Temperature
37°F Jan (3°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 52.8°F |
| 2% below US avg | |
| January Average | 37°F (3°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 265 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Area | 89.6 sq mi (232.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 13,735/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 42.3386°N, 71.0183°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Suffolk County County |
| Nearest Airport | General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS) 2 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 37.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 93.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 70.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 95.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
30 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.7.
| Oct 16, 2012 | 5 km W of Hollis Center, Maine | M4.7 | 143 km | 16 km |
| Jan 27, 2025 | 9 km SE of York Harbor, Maine | M3.8 | 89 km | 11 km |
| Oct 2, 1994 | 6 km W of Hardwick, Massachusetts | M3.7 | 104 km | 10 km |
| Oct 6, 1992 | 1 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire | M3.4 | 119 km | 5 km |
| Jan 12, 2015 | 0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut | M3.3 | 98 km | 5 km |
| Oct 2, 1994 | 1 km NW of Hardwick, Massachusetts | M3.3 | 99 km | 10 km |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 2 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire | M3.2 | 119 km | 5 km |
| Mar 22, 1996 | 2 km NE of Bristol, Rhode Island | M3.1 | 74 km | 12 km |
| Jan 10, 1999 | 2 km ENE of Merrimac, Massachusetts | M3.1 | 56 km | 2 km |
| Jan 27, 2000 | 3 km WNW of Fremont, New Hampshire | M3.0 | 75 km | 1 km |
| Jan 10, 1999 | 1 km NNE of Merrimac, Massachusetts | M3.0 | 56 km | 2 km |
| Jul 22, 2003 | 72 km NNE of Provincetown, Massachusetts | M3.0 | 110 km | 10 km |
| Jan 8, 1998 | 52 km ENE of Rockport, Massachusetts | M2.9 | 99 km | 25 km |
| Jun 7, 2010 | 29 km SE of York Beach, Maine | M2.9 | 95 km | 10 km |
| Sep 28, 2002 | 2 km N of Wilton, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 83 km | 5 km |
| Mar 23, 1992 | 5 km SE of Hill, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Mar 21, 2016 | 4 km ESE of Warner, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 120 km | 7 km |
| Mar 9, 2008 | 25 km SE of York Beach, Maine | M2.8 | 93 km | 0 km |
| Oct 13, 1999 | 2 km E of Littleton Common, Massachusetts | M2.7 | 42 km | 2 km |
| Mar 9, 2020 | 50 km ESE of Old Orchard Beach, Maine | M2.7 | 143 km | 12 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
4 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 1 | 75 mph | 262 km |
| 1996 | Edouard | Category 1 | 81 mph | 296 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 104 mph | 52 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 1 | 86 mph | 155 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
167 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 100 fatalities, 1,336 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 9, 1953 | EF4 | 96 km | 34.9 mi | 94 |
| Jun 22, 1981 | EF3 | 85 km | 7.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 29, 1974 | EF3 | 34 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1970 | EF3 | 95 km | 35.4 mi | 1 |
| Jun 9, 1953 | EF3 | 65 km | 28.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1953 | EF3 | 70 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF2 | 76 km | 9.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 28, 2014 | EF2 | 7 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2008 | EF2 | 93 km | 50.5 mi | 1 |
| May 21, 2006 | EF2 | 66 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1997 | EF2 | 96 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1986 | EF2 | 73 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 10, 1979 | EF2 | 91 km | 9.7 mi | 2 |
| May 3, 1976 | EF2 | 89 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 9, 1972 | EF2 | 94 km | 9.7 mi | 0 |
| Jul 21, 1972 | EF2 | 50 km | 7.6 mi | 0 |
| Aug 28, 1970 | EF2 | 83 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 17, 1968 | EF2 | 84 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 18, 1967 | EF2 | 42 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 31, 1966 | EF2 | 64 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
1 wildfire (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: THE RANGE (760 acres, 2005).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2005 | THE RANGE | 760 | 55 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37°F (3°C) | 4.0 in | |
| February | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.4 in | Coldest |
| March | 37°F (3°C) | 4.0 in | |
| April | 47°F (8°C) | 3.7 in | |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 3.4 in | |
| June | 67°F (20°C) | 3.4 in | |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 3.5 in | |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 3.6 in | |
| October | 53°F (11°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 4.1 in | Wettest |
| December | 32°F (0°C) | 3.9 in |
Boston has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 29°F in February to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.4 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.1") and July the driest (3.3").