New to Boston? A meteorologist’s guide to surviving our weather.
Prepare to be humbled.
Having been born in New England (specifically, Portland, Maine), I have experienced a lot of weather. I’ve been a forecaster in every New England state except New Hampshire and, for the past 33 years, here in Boston.
I knew I wanted to be a meteorologist in the third grade, and like someone obsessed with sports, I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge. My gratitude for getting paid for what I love runs deep.
There are nuances about our local weather, or any region for that matter, that over time become more apparent and then ingrained into a forecaster’s psyche. When the Globe asked me to write this article, I was excited because I saw it as an opportunity to share some of that passion, experience, and perspective with you. If you are a newcomer to the area, welcome. Our weather is a unique mix of just about every type imaginable, and if you have been here for decades, you’ve probably noticed some of the same things I have and are seeking validation of your own forecasting skills.
Much of the reason for the extreme fluctuations we experience is due to geography. In Massachusetts, we have areas close to the ocean, others that are farther away, places with deep valleys, and cities like Worcester at roughly 500 feet above sea level. Weather is a big conversational element here. Don’t be surprised if you hear people complaining about the cold, the heat, the humidity (a lot), the lack of rain, or too much rain.
Spring
Uniformly, it is likely more people anticipate spring than any other season. My guess is it also disappoints the most as well. Meteorologically, spring arrives March 1, and astronomically, it gets here three weeks later. If your idea of spring is sunshine with temperatures in the 60s, you’re going to be really disappointed living around here. Ocean temperatures are near their minimums in March, and that cold pool of Atlantic water influences our Lenten season. To embrace spring is to notice the light increasing, surpassing 12 hours in the middle of March and nearing 15 by the end of May.
March can bring snow and cold, but it can also usher in unusual heat. Keep the winter tools close at hand, and don’t be ruffled if you’re shoveling one day, cursing the weather gods, and heading to the beach the next.
Spring can also bring longer bouts of drizzle, clouds, and raw temperatures, which feel like you can’t even warm up. In this type of weather, the crocuses last a little longer, the daffodils shine with small droplets of moisture, and the birds are singing up a storm, from an early March crescendo into a cacophony of music throughout May.
Sea breezes are a hallmark of this part of the country. From Gloucester through Lynn into the city of Boston, south to Scituate and Marshfield, and onto Cape Cod, temperatures can struggle out of the 50s on an April day, while inland areas along Interstate 128 westward to Route 495 and to the southwest can enjoy temperatures in the 70s and even near 80 degrees. While you may curse the sea breeze in April, you’ll rejoice for it in July. The Boston Marathon takes place on Patriots Day, and weather is big business for the race and can mean the difference between slogging in a sweat or dashing in dampness.
Summer
Over the past 30 years, our summers have continued to grow warmer. A season in which air conditioning was more of a luxury in the middle of the 20th century is now a necessity. Afternoon temperatures are routinely in the 80s or higher for much of July and August, but it’s the nights that have really warmed up. The humidity can be oppressive, keeping midnight temperatures over 70 degrees and making it difficult to sleep.
The good news? The ocean remains chilly for the first half of summer but warms to comfortable swimming levels throughout July, warmth that can linger past Labor Day.
Whereas rainy days can be a staple of the spring, summer precipitation comes in the form of showers and scattered thunderstorms. As these make their way toward the Atlantic, they often fall apart quickly, with the stability of the Atlantic air eroding the moisture and lift so necessary in warm season precipitation. If you are a gardener, be prepared to get out the hoses, and in a wet summer, fungus will abound. Some of these thunderstorms can become quite severe, and while not common, a tornado or two spins up somewhere in the area in most years.
Extreme heat can also be a part of summer, with the mercury reaching the century mark as it has done 27 times in Boston. The highest ever, 104 degrees, was set on July 4, 1911. Perhaps it’s the reason why the saying “as hot as the fourth of July” came about. That summer was a scoahchah, with four days of 100-degree weather in just over a week.
The hottest corridor of Massachusetts stretches from the Merrimack Valley down to the southwest suburbs of Boston. This area runs north through Manchester and Concord in New Hampshire and then into the western part of Cumberland and York counties in Maine.
The summer heat and humidity do eventually break — sometimes just for a couple of days — but by September the chances of heat and humidity start to diminish.
Autumn
F. Scott Fitzgerald may have been talking about New England when he wrote in “The Great Gatsby” that, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” If you polled folks on what their favorite season is, I surmise that many would say autumn, with September leading the list.
The ninth month means windows are open, there is less humidity, and shadows are longer; yet don’t be surprised if you get a beach day, too. An early morning walk might require a light jacket, but shorts can be donned most afternoons.
If you live on the coast, an ever-present eye to the tropics is warranted this time of year. Although the last hurricane to reach New England hit in late August, perhaps the most famous storm came on shore across Connecticut as a Category 3 on Sept. 21, 1938, dropping trees like matchsticks and flooding Narragansett Bay with a storm surge of 12 to 15 feet. The storm submerged downtown Providence with nearly 20 feet of water. Falmouth and New Bedford had about 8. Hurricanes are rare in this part of the world but should not be discounted, as we are long overdue.
The second half of autumn turns colder, and by Halloween, there’s already a slight risk of snow. Thanksgiving brings the start of “stick season,” with more clouds and precipitation, mostly in the form of rain. There is a gloominess to the decreasing light and early sunsets, but November can also be beautiful, with the crunch of leaves underfoot and a crispness in the air, a warm fire, and the comfort of bulkier sweaters to hide the results of your holiday feasting.
Winter
It’s perhaps the least-liked season, although it’s one I love.
There’s high variability, and it’s the toughest one for forecasters. A slight wobble in a storm track can mean the difference between a major snowstorm and rain. Even a forecast of a plowable storm can result in just a few flurries. Stay tuned to the latest predictions, and expect them to change day to day and sometimes in just a few hours.
Christmas is notoriously disappointing for folks wanting the ground to be white, with more than three-quarters of the years showing bare ground, not sleigh-ready surfaces for Santa.
Daylight reaches its absolute minimum in the middle of December, although in a ray of hope for those suffering from seasonal affective disorder, the sunsets actually start getting a little bit later by the ninth of December. But the morning darkness continues to grow until early January.
Bird feeders help to liven up the doldrums of winter. If it’s cold enough, the ice can grow to multiple inches thick and allow for pond skating. Winter walks in the afternoon in late January and February can still be taken up to and even past 5 p.m. Just after Valentine’s Day, you’ll begin to hear the morning sounds of singing birds seeking out a mate with the hopeful promise of another spring.
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