Massachusetts Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and Lowell
This month in numbers
Massachusetts experienced a significantly warmer June, with the average temperature of 19.83°C ranking as the 9th warmest June on record since 1950, an anomaly of +1.7°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. Maximum temperatures were particularly notable, reaching 26.72°C, which was the 5th highest on record for June, an anomaly of +2.4°C. The three-month period from April to June 2026 also saw elevated temperatures, ranking as the 7th warmest on record with an average of 14.3°C, an anomaly of +1.5°C. Maximum temperatures for this period were also the 5th highest on record, at 20.76°C, an anomaly of +1.7°C.
What changed
The warmer trend in Massachusetts aligns with a broader national and global pattern. Globally, land temperatures for June 2026 ranked as the 3rd warmest on record, with the April–June period ranking as the 2nd warmest. Massachusetts's 1-month anomaly of +1.74°C places it 75th out of 234 regions globally, and it was the 3rd warmest within the NOAA Northeast US climate region. Precipitation for June was below average at 60.45 mm, ranking 61st of 77 years, and the April–June period was even drier, ranking 68th with 67.9 mm. This dryness contributed to ongoing drought conditions across the state, with some areas experiencing critical or significant drought in early June.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warmth in Massachusetts is being influenced by the ongoing El Niño, which is currently in a weak phase but is forecast to remain strong through the end of 2026. El Niño typically brings warmer-than-average conditions to the Northeast USA during winter, and its effects are expected to contribute to warmer temperatures and potentially more frequent and longer-lasting heat waves and higher humidity in New England during the latter half of summer and into the fall. While El Niño can lead to fewer tropical storms in the Atlantic, it can also bring more intense downpours when storms do occur. This was evident in June, as Massachusetts experienced five wildfire events between June 27 and July 13, representing 100% of the annual total for the past 12 months, an unusual concentration. Additionally, one flood event occurred between May 19 and July 12, also representing 100% of the annual total, with flash flooding reported in parts of southeastern Massachusetts in late June. More information on extreme weather can be found at Extreme Weather tracker and on the ENSO state at ENSO.
Looking ahead
The strong El Niño is expected to persist, suggesting a continued likelihood of warmer-than-average temperatures and potentially more volatile weather, including intense downpours, through the late summer and into the fall for Massachusetts.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USA
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) or 1991–2020 (rainfall). See methodology.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Massachusetts
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Massachusetts – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – Massachusetts
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfb · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Massachusetts. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (8.4°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 25.4°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+3.0°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Massachusetts
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Massachusetts changing?
Massachusetts is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Massachusetts come from?
Climate data for Massachusetts comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Massachusetts climate data cover?
The Massachusetts climate profile covers Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge and surrounding areas. Massachusetts climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Massachusetts climate update refreshed?
The Massachusetts climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.