The Climate of Massachusetts

According to Abbreviation Finder, the state of Massachusetts (MA) is located in the northeastern United States of America. In the capital Boston you will find quite a few head offices of American companies, and you will also find a number of leading educational institutions here, such as the world-famous Harvard University. There are no fewer than four types of climate in Massachusetts. The west has a moderate continental climate. The central part of the state has a transition from a warm continental climate to a temperate maritime climate. On the coast there is a subtropical warm maritime climate.

Climate statistics

Although Massachusetts is a fairly small state, there are significant differences in the climate figures. The east of the state, on the Atlantic Ocean, is considerably warmer in the winter months than the western part, which is more inland. For example, the average maximum temperature in Boston in January is just above freezing, while Pittsfield, which lies in the west at an altitude of 317 meters, is on average about 5 to 7 degrees cooler in the winter months. The average annual amount of precipitation is 99 to 117 centimeters, of which a large part falls in the form of snow in the winter period. The capital Boston has an average of 107 centimeters of snow on an annual basis.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

The climate of Boston

According to Countryaah, Boston is the capital of the American state of Massachusetts and is centrally located in the interior of the state. The city itself has more than a hundred thousand inhabitants, but the metropolitan area has more than a million people who live and work here. According to the Köppen climate classification, Boston has a warm continental climate, with warm to sometimes hot summers and cool winters, with frequent severe frosts, especially during the night. Boston does not have a clear dry period or rainy season, but has a fairly even rainfall pattern throughout the year. Occasionally, however, there can be large peaks in the amount of rain or snow measured within a given month.

The climate of Cambridge

Cambridge is a university city in the Boston metropolitan area, on the Charles River. Cambridge is home to the world-famous Harvard University. In addition to Harvard, there is also the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). These universities provide the city’s largest source of income, but they also occupy a large part of the city with their many buildings and large campus. Cambridge is connected to Boston by a number of bridges over the Charles River.

According to the Köppen climate classification, Cambridge has a warm continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cold winters, where it can regularly freeze to severe, especially at night and or early morning hours. Cambridge has an even rainfall throughout the year and in the winter months this precipitation will often come down as snow. In the winter months, snow storms from the sea can cause a lot of inconvenience and abundant snowfall.

The climate of Lowell

Lowell is located in northeastern Massachusetts, not far from the New Hampshire border. The city was originally built around the Merrimack River and its associated river delta. A folk festival is held each year in Lowell, which is one of New England’s largest festivals, attracting more than 200,000 visitors each year.

Lowell has a continental climate, which has an erratic character under the influence of the many winds that blow here. Especially in the winter period, the sea breeze can bring cold air and the accompanying snow showers to the city. The summer period is warm, but not particularly pleasant with the regular rain showers.

The climate of Springfield

Springfield, and not the home of The Simpsons, but Springfield in the state of Massachusetts. Springfield is located in the southeastern part of the state, close to the Connecticut border. The city is seen as the birthplace of basketball, as the game was created by the gym teacher James Naismith who lives in this city. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (in the shape of a basketball) is a landmark building in Springfield.

Springfield, like most inland areas of New England, has a humid continental climate, with four distinct seasons and precipitation that is evenly distributed throughout the year. Winters are cold, with an average January temperature of about -5 degrees Celsius. This is also the time of year when snow storms can approach Springfield and surrounding areas from coastal areas.

The climate of Worcester

Worcester is located east of central Massachusetts, on the Blackstone River. Worcester is the second largest city in Massachusetts after Boston. The city is connected to Providence, Rhode Island by the Blackstone Canal. Worcester still has many Victorian buildings, most of which are very well preserved. The old Victorian houses now stand next to large, modern office buildings, which gives a surreal image.

Worcester has a continental climate, which is typical of the New England region. Weather changes in quick succession here thanks to the confluence of warm, moist air from the southwest, cool, dry air from the north, and the slight influence of the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Summers are usually hot and humid while winters are cold and windy. Worcester usually has a fair amount of snow in the winter.