Is The Weather Bad In Boston Right Now?
Current forecasts and alerts, not monthly averages, determine whether conditions suit today’s plans.
To judge Boston weather right now, check the National Weather Service Boston/Norton forecast and alerts for your date and location. The climate averages below describe past conditions at Logan Airport; they cannot establish today’s rain, wind, heat, snow or travel disruption.
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Is The Weather Bad In Boston Right Now?
Current forecasts and alerts, not monthly averages, determine whether conditions suit today’s plans. Boston receives precipitation year-round, but similar monthly totals do not mean constant rain probability. Precipitation includes liquid-equivalent snow, and conditions can vary across the city and harbor.
That one-inch spread is the fact most visitors find surprising. The driest month, February, averages 3.21 inches of precipitation and the wettest, December, averages 4.30 inches. A reader who postpones a trip to dodge a "rainy season" is dodging something that does not exist here. The NOAA monthly normals dataset backs every number on this page, pulled from station USW00014739 at Logan.
What Boston does have is a snow season with a hard center. Of the 49.2 inches that fall in an average year, 28.7 inches land in January and February combined. March still averages 9.0 inches and December 9.0 more, so the snowy window realistically runs December through March, with the deep of it in the first two months. Outside that window the city is mild-to-warm, with July the warmest month at an 82.1 °F average high, a detail worth checking because many people assume August holds that title.
One caveat about the station itself: because the official readings come from Logan, on the harbor, they are maritime numbers. That makes them exactly right for waterfront and harbor activity, and slightly cool for inland neighborhoods like Back Bay on a sea-breeze afternoon in summer. The harbor reading also explains why winter snow can vary street by street, as the water keeps the immediate coastline a degree or two milder than the interior.
What Does Boston Weather Look Like Month By Month?
January is the coldest month at a 36.8 °F average high and a 23.1 °F average low, July is the warmest at 82.1 °F high and 66.0 °F low, and the months between them move in even steps with no spike in rain anywhere. March is the wettest shoulder month at 4.17 inches, December the wettest overall at 4.30, and the table’s zero-snow averages run May through September.
The full normals table tells the story better than any prose summary. These are 30-year averages, not forecasts, so they describe what a month typically delivers rather than what any particular week will.
| Month | Avg High (°F) | Avg Low (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36.8 | 23.1 | 3.39 | 14.3 |
| Feb | 39.0 | 24.6 | 3.21 | 14.4 |
| Mar | 45.5 | 31.1 | 4.17 | 9.0 |
| Apr | 56.4 | 40.8 | 3.63 | 1.6 |
| May | 66.5 | 50.3 | 3.25 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 76.2 | 59.7 | 3.89 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 82.1 | 66.0 | 3.27 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 80.4 | 65.1 | 3.23 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 73.1 | 58.2 | 3.56 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 62.1 | 47.5 | 4.03 | 0.2 |
| Nov | 51.6 | 37.9 | 3.66 | 0.7 |
| Dec | 42.2 | 29.2 | 4.30 | 9.0 |
Spring and fall can offer comfortable touring conditions, but April and October have nonzero snowfall normals and any month can depart substantially from its average. Monthly precipitation totals do not establish the likelihood or timing of a wet week. See Boston weather by month and how many days is enough to visit Boston for background planning.
Does Rain Actually Ruin A Boston Trip?
Indoor attractions can provide an alternative when they are open and reachable, but severe weather can disrupt both venues and transport. The Freedom Trail includes substantial outdoor walking, and a monthly precipitation average cannot establish that rain will be evenly spread across the month.
The practical move on a gray day is to swap the waterfront for the interior. The North End works especially well in mixed weather, since its pizza shops, bakeries and churches sit within a few blocks of each other. The North End Food Tour: Italian Flavors and Heritage Walk is built exactly for that density: its listing shows it rated 4.9 from 1,635 reviews, two hours long, from $70 per person, and includes outdoor walking between tasting stops; it is not an indoor-only activity. Everything else covered here is indexed on Boston Travel Guide.
Harvard campus walks are primarily outdoors and do not automatically include museum admission. Duck Tours can run in ordinary rain, but wind, lightning or other conditions can change or cancel the outing, including the whole tour. Check the actual operator notice before treating either as a weatherproof backup.
For indoor-first planning, indoor things to do in Boston is the fuller list, and rainy day in Boston covers the wet-day playbook specifically. The broader things to do in Boston roundup also flags which attractions are all-indoor, which is the fastest way to build a weatherproof backup day before you need one.
When Is Boston Weather Actually At Its Worst?
January and February are the coldest and snowiest months on average, but disruptive weather is possible outside them. Use the actual forecast rather than calling any two months universally worst. Seasonal attraction closures are separate from whether a particular day is suitable for travel.
Boston operates through winter, but snow clearance, rail service and path conditions vary during storms. Check the Freedom Trail sites and actual transport notices before walking. Winter dates do not guarantee low prices, empty museums or visible trail markings.
One seasonal note worth checking before any waterfront plan: the Boston Harbor Islands ferry season ends 12 October 2026, per the islands' own published schedule, and the Swan Boats' own site states plainly that they are closed for the season until April 2027. Neither is a weather fact, but both are the kind of thing a "what's happening right now" question should catch. For the live-events side of that question, what's going on in Boston right now is the companion page.
Check opening dates for four participating attractions before buying a pass for a winter trip. Compare actual admissions and eligible discounts, and avoid counting seasonal options that will be closed. Compare Boston CityPASS options
What Should You Pack For Boston's Weather?
Pack for the actual forecast, planned activities and your cold tolerance. Layers, suitable rain protection and footwear with grip can help, but winter conditions are not confined to December through March. No single light jacket or pair of shoes covers every summer evening, storm or outdoor activity.
Waterfront exposure can change comfort, but there is no fixed temperature gap between the harbor and an inland forecast. Consult the relevant land and marine information for your activity; a cool breeze is not guaranteed during heat.
Footwear matters more than most packing lists admit. Boston is a walking city, the Freedom Trail alone runs 2.5 miles, and from December through March that means insulated, water-resistant shoes rather than sneakers. In the snow-free months, comfortable walking shoes are the single most important item in the bag.
Common Questions About Boston Weather
Is the weather bad in Boston right now?
Check the current National Weather Service forecast and alerts for the specific date and location. This page’s monthly averages are background, not live conditions or a forecast.
What is the coldest month in Boston?
January, with an average high of 36.8 °F and an average low of 23.1 °F, per NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Logan station. February is a close second at 39.0 °F and 24.6 °F, and it averages slightly more snow, 14.4 inches to January's 14.3.
What is the warmest month in Boston?
July, with an average high of 82.1 °F, not August as many assume; August averages 80.4 °F. July nights average 66.0 °F, and harbor breezes keep the waterfront a few degrees cooler than inland neighborhoods on many afternoons.
Does Boston have a rainy season?
Boston has precipitation throughout the year, without a sharply defined dry season. Monthly totals include liquid-equivalent snow and do not mean the chance of rain is identical every month.
How much snow does Boston get?
The annual snowfall normal is 49.2 inches, and 28.7 of those inches fall in January and February alone. March and December add about 9 inches each, and the table lists zero average snowfall from May through September.
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