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Weather & Climate in Petersham, MA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Petersham experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 70°F in July. The area gets 246 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 47.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 60.4 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37. The city sits at an elevation of 1,098 feet.
Temperature
24°F Jan (-5°C)
70°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 47.2°F |
| 13% below US avg | |
| January Average | 24°F (-5°C) |
| July Average | 70°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 246 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,098 ft (335 m) |
| Area | 1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 205/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 42.4910°N, 72.1872°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Franklin County County |
| Nearest Airport | Worcester Regional (ORH) 22 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 37.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 60.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 33.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 93.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
27 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.8.
| Jan 27, 2025 | 9 km SE of York Harbor, Maine | M3.8 | 147 km | 11 km |
| Oct 2, 1994 | 6 km W of Hardwick, Massachusetts | M3.7 | 18 km | 10 km |
| Oct 6, 1992 | 1 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire | M3.4 | 105 km | 5 km |
| Jan 12, 2015 | 0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut | M3.3 | 86 km | 5 km |
| Oct 2, 1994 | 1 km NW of Hardwick, Massachusetts | M3.3 | 15 km | 10 km |
| Jun 16, 2000 | 5 km NE of Granville, Massachusetts | M3.3 | 68 km | 10 km |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 2 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire | M3.2 | 105 km | 5 km |
| Mar 11, 2020 | 0 km SSW of South Glens Falls, New York | M3.1 | 148 km | 13 km |
| Jan 10, 1999 | 2 km ENE of Merrimac, Massachusetts | M3.1 | 106 km | 2 km |
| Mar 22, 1996 | 2 km NE of Bristol, Rhode Island | M3.1 | 118 km | 12 km |
| Jan 10, 1999 | 1 km NNE of Merrimac, Massachusetts | M3.0 | 105 km | 2 km |
| Jan 27, 2000 | 3 km WNW of Fremont, New Hampshire | M3.0 | 100 km | 1 km |
| Mar 23, 1992 | 5 km SE of Hill, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 120 km | 5 km |
| Sep 28, 2002 | 2 km N of Wilton, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 56 km | 5 km |
| Mar 21, 2016 | 4 km ESE of Warner, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 93 km | 7 km |
| Oct 11, 1990 | 5 km NNE of The Pinehills, Massachusetts | M2.7 | 147 km | 13 km |
| Oct 13, 1999 | 2 km E of Littleton Common, Massachusetts | M2.7 | 62 km | 2 km |
| Feb 15, 2018 | 0 km SE of East Kingston, New Hampshire | M2.7 | 107 km | 7 km |
| Sep 30, 1991 | 0 km SSE of Bedford, New Hampshire | M2.7 | 74 km | 4 km |
| Aug 14, 2014 | 6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut | M2.7 | 130 km | 4 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
2 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 104 mph | 138 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 1 | 86 mph | 83 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
256 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 104 fatalities, 2,004 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Oct 3, 1979 | EF4 | 79 km | 11.3 mi | 3 |
| Jun 9, 1953 | EF4 | 3 km | 34.9 mi | 94 |
| Jun 1, 2011 | EF3 | 64 km | 37.6 mi | 3 |
| Jun 22, 1981 | EF3 | 13 km | 7.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 29, 1974 | EF3 | 79 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 13, 1971 | EF3 | 44 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1970 | EF3 | 18 km | 35.4 mi | 1 |
| Aug 20, 1968 | EF3 | 84 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| May 20, 1963 | EF3 | 46 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1954 | EF3 | 68 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1953 | EF3 | 50 km | 28.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2023 | EF2 | 92 km | 9.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 28, 2014 | EF2 | 96 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 11, 2006 | EF2 | 19 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2002 | EF2 | 89 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | EF2 | 63 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1997 | EF2 | 88 km | 3.7 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1997 | EF2 | 58 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1997 | EF2 | 92 km | 4.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 10, 1979 | EF2 | 20 km | 9.7 mi | 2 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
2 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: EAST MOUNTAIN (964 acres, 2021).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2021 | EAST MOUNTAIN | 964 | 84 km |
| 2005 | THE RANGE | 760 | 44 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°F (-5°C) | 3.4 in | |
| February | 23°F (-5°C) | 3.0 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 32°F (-0°C) | 3.5 in | |
| April | 43°F (6°C) | 3.7 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 4.0 in | Wettest |
| June | 63°F (17°C) | 3.9 in | |
| July | 70°F (21°C) | 3.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 68°F (20°C) | 3.9 in | |
| September | 60°F (16°C) | 3.5 in | |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 3.6 in | |
| November | 40°F (4°C) | 3.9 in | |
| December | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.7 in |
Petersham has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 23°F in February to 70°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.9 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (3.0").