Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Boston, Massachusetts Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Boston weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Boston, MA
Saturday, July 4 at 3:06 PM
92
°
Mostly Clear
Feels like
94°
Humidity
42%
Wind
13 mph
Sunrise
1:13 AM
Sunset
4:24 PM
Boston, MA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastBoston, MA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 73 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 73°H 93°
Boston, MA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    16%
    —
    93°77°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Light Drizzle
    —
    0.01″
    77°69°-16°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Drizzle
    61%
    0.02″
    73°62°-4°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Rain
    65%
    0.81″
    63°60°-10°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    40%
    —
    70°59°+7°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    17%
    —
    90°60°+20°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    46%
    0.01″
    90°68°0°
Boston, MA
Next 24 hours · Hot now
HOT 90°68°83°98°12p6p12a6anow 92°high 93°low 73°PRECIP %
Boston, MA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
W
271° · steady
Direction
W
271°
Sustained
13
mph
Gust
18
mph
Peak 24h
22
avg 9
Beaufort · 4 · MOD BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 9 · pk 22 @ 1:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 188SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A fresh breeze drives the w-bound air across the harbor.
Boston, MA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1006.6
-0.9 mb in 3h · falling · 29.72 inHg
Now
1006.6
mb
3h
-0.9
mb
12h
-0.5
mb
24h
-0.7
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1007–1008
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1007.71006.61006.6
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure giving way — clouds thicken and rain edges closer.
Boston, MA
Air quality
57
AQI
Moderate
↑+14 in 6h

AQI 57 (Moderate), driven by Ozone. AQI up 14 over the last 6 hours (gradual rise). Ozone at AQI 50 — peak already passed at 1 PM under partly cloudy skies. Levels should ease through evening.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
5.7μg/m³
PM 10Good
6μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
107μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
2.6

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 50 — peak already passed at 1 PM under partly cloudy skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 50
UV peak
2.5 at earlier today
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 50

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 5.7 µg/m³, PM10 at 6.4 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.89
Wind
breezy
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³400
Boston, MA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
32%
MOSTLY CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
92.3mi
UNLIMITED
118 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
19:06 UTC · Boston, MA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
19:06 UTC · Boston, MA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Boston, MA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Boston, MA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Boston, MA
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:39 AM
Sunrise
1:13 AM
Daylight
15h 11m
Sunset
4:24 PM
Civil dusk
8:59 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Boston, MA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
79% illuminated
Moonrise
10:42 PM
Moonset
9:44 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Boston, MA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Boston at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 23°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 30 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 02108, 02109, 02110, 02111, 02113, 02114, 02115, 02116 +8 more

16-Day Forecast — Boston

  1. Sat93°77°16%
  2. Sun77°69°9%
  3. Mon73°62°61%
  4. Tue63°60°65%
  5. Wed70°59°40%
  6. Thu90°60°17%
  7. Fri90°68°46%
  8. Sat86°67°31%
  9. Sun73°65°16%
  10. Mon67°63°24%
  11. Tue82°62°26%
  12. Wed87°63°25%
  13. Thu87°66°36%
  14. Fri93°67°30%
  15. Sat96°72°35%
  16. Sun91°75°30%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Boston

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Boston

SPC has placed Boston in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Annual cicada buzz begins, peaking in the heat of the day.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
April——
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radisheslettuce, peas, radishes
Junelettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
October—winter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Boston tops out in July (~74°F) and dips lowest in January (~28°F), with December wettest at 5.1 inches and July driest at 3.5 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January28°3.9″13
February30°3.6″12
March38°4.5″15
April49°4.3″14
May59°3.6″12
June68°4.2″14
July74°3.5″12
August73°3.7″12
September65°4.0″13
October53°5.0″17
November43°4.0″13
December34°5.1″17

Regional context

Boston's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 28°F Januarys with 74°F Julys — a 46°F swing. About 49.4 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 164 days a year.

Boston's precipitation spreads evenly: December peaks at 5.1 inches on 17.0 wet days, while July holds 3.5 inches over 12.0 — no month dominates Boston's rain calendar. That lines Boston up with places like Cambridge, MA, Somerville, MA and Quincy, MA, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

By late-May the frosts ease in Boston, opening the season for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Hold Boston's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Boston's last frost. Boston's window closes around early-October as overnight lows return below freezing. In Boston, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging Boston's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Cambridge, MA, Somerville, MA, Quincy, MA, Chelsea, MA, Everett, MA.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the emergence of mayapple umbrellas unfurling across woodland floors throughout the Boston area.

Spring peepers begin their evening chorus in March as temperatures climb above freezing consistently.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Boston?
In Boston, expect the last spring frost near mid-May; Boston's first autumn frost comes around mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Boston?
December is the wettest month in Boston, about 5.1 inches on average; the year totals roughly 49 inches.
What is the warmest month in Boston?
Boston peaks in July, when the mean runs near 74°F.
What is the coldest month in Boston?
January is Boston's coldest month, averaging about 28°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Boston?
In Boston, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-May; Boston's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Boston get?
Boston records around 164 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Boston?
Since January in Boston averages 28°F, Boston's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Boston?
Boston's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Boston?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Boston in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Boston?
Current conditions for Boston and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Boston forecast updated?
The Boston forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Boston?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Boston are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Boston?
The next few days in Boston's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a warm-summer humid continental zone, Boston, Massachusetts swings from 28°F in the heart of winter to 74°F at midsummer — a 46°F arc.

Rain and snow bring Boston roughly 49 inches a year across approximately 164 measurable-precipitation days.

Boston's 46°F range, set by its 42.3°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Boston.

All cities in Massachusetts →

ZIP codes in Boston

  • 02120
  • 02121
  • 02122
  • 02124
  • 02125
  • 02126
  • 02127
  • 02128
  • 02129
  • 02210
  • 02215
  • 02467
  • 02119
  • 02118
  • 02111
  • 02110
  • 02113
  • 02115
  • 02114
  • 02116
  • 02199
  • 02134
  • 02136
  • 02135
  • 02133
  • 02132
  • 02131
  • 02130
  • 02203
  • 02205
  • 02163
  • 02108
  • 02109
  • 02112
  • 02117
  • 02123
  • 02137
  • 02196
  • 02201
  • 02206
  • 02211
  • 02212
  • 02217
  • 02222
  • 02241
  • 02283
  • 02284
  • 02293
  • 02297
  • 02298

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.