AI-generatedBoston at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 27°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 19.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,160 h
- Rain a year
- 1,134 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 14 m
Climate in Boston
Boston has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 27 °C, while January is the coolest at 2 °C. With around 2,160 hours of sunshine a year, Boston is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 7.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: May – September
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 11°
- Midday, 13:00: about 16°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 16°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
06:5618:04
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:38–07:34 · evening 17:26–18:22
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:27–06:38 · evening 18:22–18:32
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Boston in October?
In October, Boston is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 14.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 109 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Boston.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 9 min06:56 – 18:04
- UV index
- 4 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 21 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 53 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/New_York
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %81 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %38 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %59 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Boston
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 12.9 – 15.3 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Boston ranges from 3.5 °C in February to 19.0 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From November to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 18.0 and 20.4 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 5.2° | 4.0° | 6.6° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 3.5° | 2.3° | 4.7° | cold |
| MarchMar | 3.7° | 2.5° | 4.9° | cold |
| AprilApr | 6.1° | 4.9° | 7.2° | cold |
| MayMay | 10.4° | 9.0° | 11.5° | cold |
| JuneJun | 15.0° | 13.7° | 16.0° | cold |
| JulyJul | 18.4° | 17.0° | 20.2° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 19.0° | 18.0° | 20.4° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 17.5° | 16.5° | 18.7° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 14.0° | 12.9° | 15.3° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 10.4° | 9.7° | 11.5° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 7.7° | 7.0° | 8.7° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Boston
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.3 of 11.1 hours of daylight in Boston, 48 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Boston
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 4 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 9).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 35 min
- Fair skin
- about 45 min
- Light brown skin
- about 65 min
- Olive skin
- about 85 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Boston: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Boston has about 10 rainy days with 109 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Boston
How breezy and how cloudy Boston is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Boston typically peaks at 21 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Oct – May.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 53 % of the sky over Boston: variable cloud, with about 5.3 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Boston
How often the day gets hot in Boston (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Boston has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 16 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Boston
Snow is possible in Boston, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Boston.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Boston
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (−5°), the warmest in July (19°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from June to September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 36 days a year, mostly from July to August.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 22 | 2° | −5° | 5.2° | 4.5 h | 10 | 99 |
| FebruaryFeb | 26 | 4° | −4° | 3.5° | 5.1 h | 9 | 85 |
| MarchMar | 25 | 7° | −1° | 3.7° | 5.8 h | 11 | 114 |
| AprilApr | 49 | 13° | 4° | 6.1° | 6.4 h | 11 | 103 |
| MayMay | 78 | 18° | 10° | 10.4° | 6.9 h | 11 | 86 |
| JuneJun | 81 | 23° | 15° | 15.0° | 7.4 h | 11 | 88 |
| JulyJul | 83 | 27° | 19° | 18.4° | 7.7 h | 10 | 80 |
| AugustAug | 82 | 26° | 19° | 19.0° | 7.1 h | 9 | 82 |
| SeptemberSep | 82 | 22° | 15° | 17.5° | 6.2 h | 8 | 87 |
| OctoberOct | 66 | 16° | 9° | 14.0° | 5.3 h | 10 | 109 |
| NovemberNov | 35 | 10° | 4° | 10.4° | 4.5 h | 9 | 87 |
| DecemberDec | 18 | 5° | −1° | 7.7° | 4.0 h | 11 | 113 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
42.36° N, 71.06° W · 14 m · America/New_York
Best time to visit Boston
The best time to visit Boston is from May to September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 19.0 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to October. The wettest month is March with 114 mm of precipitation.
Boston through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Boston in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 7–18 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 33 rainy days in all
Boston in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 23–27 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Boston in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 10–22 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Boston in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 2–5 °C by day
- Sea 6 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Boston for you.
Your best months: June, August – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Boston
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Boston: score 83 against 66. In July, days are 11 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 4 °C warmer in July. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 66 | 83better |
| Day high | 16° | 27° |
| Night low | 9° | 19° |
| Sea | 14.0° | 18.4° |
| Sunshine | 5.3 h | 7.7 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 10 | 10 |
| Rainfall | 109 mm | 80 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 14 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Oct
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Snow
Dec – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Boston month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
22January2° · Sea 5° · 5 h
In January, Boston is freezing cold: daytime highs average 2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). The sea averages 5.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 10 days, totalling 99 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in January26February4° · Sea 4° · 5 h
In February, Boston is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−4 °C). The sea averages 3.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 9 days, totalling 85 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in February25March7° · Sea 4° · 6 h
In March, Boston is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 3.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 114 mm in total. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in March49April13° · Sea 6° · 6 h
In April, Boston is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 6.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 103 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in April78May18° · Sea 10° · 7 h
In May, Boston is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 10.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 86 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in May81June23° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In June, Boston is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 15.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 88 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in June83July27° · Sea 18° · 8 h
In July, Boston is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 18.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 80 mm in total. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in July82August26° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In August, Boston is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 19.0 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in August82September22° · Sea 18° · 6 h
In September, Boston is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.5 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 87 mm. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in September66October16° · Sea 14° · 5 h
In October, Boston is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 14.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 109 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in October35November10° · Sea 10° · 5 h
In November, Boston is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 10.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in November18December5° · Sea 8° · 4 h
In December, Boston is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 7.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 113 mm in total. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Boston.
Boston in DecemberBoston compared
Put Boston side by side with another destination.
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Boston vs. Salem
In October the holiday weather in Boston and Salem is about equally good (score 66 vs. 64). During the day it is about as warm in Salem as in Boston. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Boston | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 66 | 64 |
| Daytime high | 16° | 16° |
| Sea | 14° | 14° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 10 | 10 |
| Best time | May – Sep | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Boston ranks 9 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Raleigh22°84
- 2Richmond21°82
- 3Washington20°19°81
- 4Philadelphia19°18°79
- 5Baltimore19°18°79
- 6New York18°18°77
- 7Providence17°17°70
- 8Pittsburgh18°69
- 9BostonThis page16°14°66
Planning a trip to Boston
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Boston in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Boston has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 82) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 20).
- 42
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 5 °C
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 79
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 19 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 82
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 19 °C
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 66
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 20
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 4 °C by day
- Sea 6 °C
- 4.3 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 6 h 50 min
- Distance
- 5,240 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (5 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Boston
When is the best time to visit Boston?
The best time to visit Boston is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Boston?
The sea temperature in Boston ranges from 3.5 °C in February to 19.0 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Boston in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 14.0 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Boston?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C and nights around 19 °C. January is the coolest month at 2 °C.
When does it rain most in Boston?
The wettest month is March with 114 mm of precipitation. The driest month is July with 80 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Boston get?
Boston gets around 2,160 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 7.7 hours a day; in December there are 4.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Boston in?
Boston uses the time zone America/New_York: UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Boston?
A nonstop flight from London to Boston takes about 6 h 50 min, for a straight-line distance of about 5,240 km.
Which school holidays are best for Boston?
Boston has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 82) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 20). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 42, May half-term 79, Summer holidays 82, October half-term 66, Christmas holidays 20.
Near Boston
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Boston
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Boston's – good alternatives.