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Weather & Climate in New Bedford, MA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
New Bedford experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 74°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 52.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 18.1 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 72 feet.
Temperature
39°F Jan (4°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 53.6°F |
| 1% below US avg | |
| January Average | 39°F (4°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 265 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Area | 20.0 sq mi (51.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 5,037/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.6613°N, 70.9379°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Dukes County County |
| Nearest Airport | New Bedford Regional (EWB) 1 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 37.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 16.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 26.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 99.7 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
20 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.7.
| Oct 2, 1994 | 6 km W of Hardwick, Massachusetts | M3.7 | 134 km | 10 km |
| Jan 12, 2015 | 0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut | M3.3 | 81 km | 5 km |
| Oct 2, 1994 | 1 km NW of Hardwick, Massachusetts | M3.3 | 131 km | 10 km |
| Mar 22, 1996 | 2 km NE of Bristol, Rhode Island | M3.1 | 26 km | 12 km |
| Jan 10, 1999 | 2 km ENE of Merrimac, Massachusetts | M3.1 | 131 km | 2 km |
| Mar 12, 2002 | 52 km E of Chatham, Massachusetts | M3.0 | 134 km | 1 km |
| Jan 10, 1999 | 1 km NNE of Merrimac, Massachusetts | M3.0 | 131 km | 2 km |
| Jul 22, 2003 | 72 km NNE of Provincetown, Massachusetts | M3.0 | 145 km | 10 km |
| Mar 10, 1992 | 2 km SW of Napeague, New York | M2.8 | 121 km | 10 km |
| Sep 28, 2002 | 2 km N of Wilton, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 149 km | 5 km |
| Sep 30, 1991 | 0 km SSE of Bedford, New Hampshire | M2.7 | 150 km | 4 km |
| Feb 15, 2018 | 0 km SE of East Kingston, New Hampshire | M2.7 | 140 km | 7 km |
| Oct 11, 1990 | 5 km NNE of The Pinehills, Massachusetts | M2.7 | 43 km | 13 km |
| Oct 13, 1999 | 2 km E of Littleton Common, Massachusetts | M2.7 | 107 km | 2 km |
| Aug 14, 2014 | 6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut | M2.7 | 134 km | 4 km |
| Jan 13, 2015 | 2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut | M2.6 | 79 km | 9 km |
| Apr 22, 1996 | 3 km NE of North Westport, Massachusetts | M2.6 | 11 km | 5 km |
| Jan 23, 1990 | 3 km NNW of Boxborough, Massachusetts | M2.5 | 108 km | 5 km |
| Jun 7, 2002 | 3 km NNW of Hopedale, Massachusetts | M2.5 | 76 km | 5 km |
| Jan 21, 2000 | 3 km W of Fremont, New Hampshire | M2.5 | 149 km | 2 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
5 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2021 | Henri | Category 1 | 75 mph | 252 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 1 | 75 mph | 193 km |
| 1996 | Edouard | Category 1 | 81 mph | 236 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 104 mph | 48 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 1 | 86 mph | 157 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
100 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 65 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 9, 1953 | EF3 | 89 km | 28.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF2 | 55 km | 9.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 28, 2014 | EF2 | 82 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1986 | EF2 | 44 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 28, 1970 | EF2 | 8 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 18, 1967 | EF2 | 35 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 20, 1963 | EF2 | 99 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 25, 1958 | EF2 | 97 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 11, 1958 | EF2 | 98 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Nov 21, 1956 | EF2 | 60 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Dec 18, 1951 | EF2 | 47 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 26, 2024 | EF1 | 33 km | 0.6 mi | 0 |
| Jun 26, 2024 | EF1 | 50 km | 8.6 mi | 0 |
| Sep 13, 2023 | EF1 | 75 km | 1.6 mi | 0 |
| Sep 13, 2023 | EF1 | 54 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Sep 13, 2023 | EF1 | 65 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF1 | 98 km | 2.7 mi | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF1 | 48 km | 7.6 mi | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF1 | 57 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 2023 | EF1 | 8 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
1 wildfire (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: NOMANS AERIAL RX (546 acres, 2008).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2008 | NOMANS AERIAL RX | 546 | 46 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39°F (4°C) | 4.3 in | |
| February | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.9 in | Coldest |
| March | 38°F (3°C) | 4.5 in | |
| April | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 in | |
| May | 57°F (14°C) | 3.7 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 3.7 in | |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 3.3 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 71°F (22°C) | 4.2 in | |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 44°F (7°C) | 4.6 in | Wettest |
| December | 34°F (1°C) | 4.5 in |
New Bedford has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 30°F in February to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 48.8 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.6") and July the driest (3.3").