This week, Boston has experienced an unexpected and blustery drop in temperatures, plunging 20 degrees, reminiscent of winter just when spring was in full swing.
The temperatures have been shockingly low, dipping into the 40s and 50s, which many residents last witnessed on April 13.
After enjoying warm spells, including days in the 80s, this abrupt cold snap has felt particularly disheartening, especially with blustery winds making it feel even chillier.
At one point, the wind chill at Logan Airport dropped to a staggering 39 degrees, leaving many people feeling quite unhappy.
Pete Bouchard, chief meteorologist for NBC Boston, noted, “When you start May at 83 degrees, and then it’s back to hoodies in late May, people feel robbed, like, ‘We paid our dues.’”
On Thursday, the coldest day of the week, temperatures in the Boston area reached a mere 48 degrees, just shy of breaking a 116-year record.
Instead of making history, it turned out to be the second coldest May 22 afternoon since record-keeping began in the 1870s, with the record low being set in 1909 at 47 degrees.
This sudden chill marks a stark 20-degree drop from the seasonal average high of 68 degrees for this time of year.
The inclement weather was due to a rare spring nor’easter, which hit Southern New England, bringing biting winds and up to 7 inches of heavy rain.
While this unseasonably cold weather is inconvenient, it’s essential to note that temperatures in the 40s during May are not entirely unusual for Boston.
Historically, Boston experiences an average of one day each May with temperatures stuck in the 40s, though this average has declined since the late 1800s when there were typically two days below 50 degrees.
The last time the high temperature for May failed to surpass the 50-degree mark was in 2020.
Despite the recent chill, May is warmer overall; in fact, this year’s May is currently trending higher than Boston’s 30-year average of 58 degrees, with the average thus far at 59.5 degrees as of May 21.
After experiencing the cold and dreary elements of the week, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Memorial Day weekend is expected to bring warmer temperatures and a gradual return of sunshine over the next few days.
Bouchard stated, “We’ve had other years with cold preludes to Memorial Day. This Memorial Day weekend won’t be as chilly, but people are still going to be frustrated.”
Friday sees a promising increase, with highs reaching the upper 50s.
The weekend is set to improve even further, with temperatures rising into the 60s and more sun on the forecast.
Monday is projected to be the highlight of the holiday, with abundant sunshine and highs finally climbing back into the 70s, making it a decent beach day.
Despite the unpleasantness of recent frigid days, it’s noteworthy that occurrences of such cold temperatures in May are diminishing.
Meteorologist Shel Winkley from Climate Central pointed out that a temperature this low in mid- to late May in the Northeast is becoming increasingly rare, occurring 1½ times less often due to climate warming.
Since 2020, Boston has seen a dramatic shift, with 89 percent of daily records being record highs while just 11 percent recorded lows.
Consequently, while this week’s cold snap may seem like a stark reminder of winter, it serves as an exception rather than the rule.
Climate scientists underscore that in the broader context, heat records are being broken far more frequently than cold ones, which is something Boston residents should keep in mind while bundled up during these unexpected cold spells.
As Bouchard summarized, “It’s been like a super head fake — you think it’s been cold and wet, but so far this May, we’re over 3 degrees above normal.”
image source from：https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/23/metro/boston-cold-weather-spring-2025/
