Massachusetts Weather Forecast

Massachusetts has a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm, humid summers. The state's position along the Atlantic coast means it is frequently affected by coastal storms and weather patterns from the ocean. Boston averages about 44 inches of rain and 49 inches of snow per year, though individual winters can vary enormously in snowfall totals.

Nor'easters are the defining weather events for Massachusetts, capable of producing blizzard conditions with heavy snow, hurricane-force wind gusts, and coastal flooding. The winter of 2014-2015 was historic, with Boston receiving over 108 inches of snow. The Blizzard of 1978 paralyzed the state for nearly a week and remains a benchmark event in New England weather history.

The western part of Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Hills, has a cooler climate with heavier snowfall and earlier fall foliage. Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket experience a maritime climate with milder winters and cooler summers than the mainland. Summer heat waves occasionally bring temperatures above 100 degrees to the interior, while sea breezes keep the coast more comfortable.