Newton, MA climate
Newton has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 70 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Newton feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Newton weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 18° | 3.6" | 18.6" | 13 | 17 | 19° – 34° |
| February | 39° | 20° | 3.3" | 18.2" | 11 | 16 | 16° – 36° |
| March | 47° | 27° | 4.5" | 15.0" | 13 | 12 | 31° – 45° |
| April | 59° | 36° | 4.2" | 2.8" | 13 | 1 | 44° – 52° |
| May | 70° | 47° | 3.7" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 52° – 63° |
| June | 78° | 56° | 4.1" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 63° – 70° |
| July | 84° | 62° | 3.6" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 68° – 77° |
| August | 83° | 60° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 68° – 75° |
| September | 75° | 52° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 60° – 67° |
| October | 63° | 41° | 4.8" | 0.7" | 12 | 0 | 48° – 59° |
| November | 52° | 32° | 3.9" | 1.8" | 11 | 1 | 37° – 47° |
| December | 42° | 24° | 4.7" | 12.6" | 13 | 9 | 27° – 43° |
| Year | 61° | 40° | 48.0" | 69.7" | 140 | 56 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Newton
Newton gets 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year. October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 140 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 56 days of the year.
About 185 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 19 and the first one by October 23. That leaves about 185 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 58% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Newton
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Newton, 88% of that work is heating and 12% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Newton and its neighbors
Newton borders 7 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 3.2°. Weston has the coldest January nights (18°) and Wellesley the hottest July afternoons (84°). Newton’s January low is 18° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Newton compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Newton averaged 2.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.6°). The shift is larger than in 95% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Newton’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 16° to 36°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Newton’s climate
What is the coldest month in Newton?
January, with a typical high of 37° and a low of 18°.
What is the hottest month in Newton?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 62°. About 20 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Newton get?
About 70 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Newton?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 23, and the last spring frost by April 19.
What is the rainiest month in Newton?
October, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Newton itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Blue Hill Coop, MA (10 mi, snow) and Jamaica Plain, MA (5 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.