We know the question that’s on your mind, Bostonians — when’s it going to get wicked cold? Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center , we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for December, January, and February. While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for winter.
Reminder: The official first day of winter is on Thursday, Dec. 21.
Will the increased precipitation mean more rain or more snow?
🌡️ Temperature
Think warmer than we’re used to. This winter, Boston has a 40-50% chance of temperatures being higher than normal.
🌨️ Precipitation
Our city is predicted to experience 33-40% above average snow and rain amounts for the season.
Here’s December’s deal
The average low temperature in December is 29.7°, but we might see more days closer to the average high-temperature — 39.9° — because of the anticipated rise in temps. December is one of the top three wettest months in our city + the month with the least amount of sunshine, averaging just 4.7 hours per day.
Jump into January
Boston’s lows in January will dip down to 34.2° on average — and could plummet as low as 22.6°. January has previously been Boston’s coldest month + usually sees an average of 2.76 inches of snowfall. Predictions say we’ll see more snow than in previous years. Bonus: Here are the NOAA’s winter safety tips .
Prepare for frigid February
Historically, February gets the most snowfall, and while last year the city saw just 12.4 inches for the whole season, we will want to keep those space savers nearby. The lows stay around 23.5°, with an average high temperature of 36.5°, so expect the temperature to be closer to those highs.