Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Boston enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 305 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 47.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 6.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 31 feet.
Temperature
39°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
58.8°F
9% above US avg
January Average
39°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
305 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
31 ft (9 m)
Area
2.6 sq mi (6.6 km²)
Population Density
61/sq mi
Coordinates
37.6039°N, 75.8437°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Accomack County County
Nearest Airport
Newport News/Williamsburg International (PHF) 48 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.2"
24% above US avg
Snowfall6.6"
Wettest Month (Mar)4.06"
Driest Month (Apr)2.80"
Air Quality
AQI Median
35.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
81.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
87.3 / 100
Community Resilience
75.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
4 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.0.
Oct 2, 2010
10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia
M3.0
150 km
19 km
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
79 km
1 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
84 km
11 km
Apr 29, 2000
3 km N of Glen Allen, Virginia
M2.5
146 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
15 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2019
Dorian
Category 2
98 mph
228 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
156 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
244 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
52 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
272 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
243 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
98 mph
193 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
271 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
92 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
168 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
170 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
171 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
61 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
104 mph
100 km
1981
Dennis
Category 1
75 mph
291 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
194 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 106 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 30, 2023
EF3
83 km
4.5 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
91 km
46.9 mi
2
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
99 km
18.0 mi
0
Aug 6, 1993
EF3
65 km
2.9 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF3
86 km
2.5 mi
0
Nov 2, 1966
EF3
89 km
0.1 mi
0
May 3, 2021
EF2
75 km
4.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
94 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
43 km
15.6 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
67 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
46 km
2.8 mi
0
Sep 4, 1999
EF2
79 km
1.0 mi
0
Aug 6, 1993
EF2
95 km
2.5 mi
0
May 2, 1989
EF2
58 km
5.0 mi
0
Aug 3, 1988
EF2
85 km
0.2 mi
0
Aug 31, 1983
EF2
91 km
0.2 mi
0
May 11, 1981
EF2
74 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF2
79 km
0.5 mi
0
Apr 25, 1975
EF2
74 km
0.1 mi
0
Oct 2, 1973
EF2
14 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
BESTPITCH
7,743
88 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
90 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
89 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
91 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
86 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
87 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
87 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
89 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
89 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
86 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
85 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
90 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
91 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
91 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
91 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
86 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
96 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
87 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
86 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,260
89 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
39°F (4°C)
3.5 in
Coldest
February
40°F (4°C)
3.3 in
March
47°F (8°C)
4.1 in
Wettest
April
55°F (13°C)
2.8 in
Driest
May
64°F (18°C)
3.4 in
June
73°F (23°C)
3.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.0 in
Warmest
August
76°F (25°C)
3.9 in
September
71°F (21°C)
3.2 in
October
60°F (16°C)
3.0 in
November
51°F (11°C)
3.0 in
December
43°F (6°C)
3.4 in
Boston has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 39°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 40.8 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.1") and April the driest (2.8").