Year 2021 Climate Overview for Massachusetts and Northeast U.S.

2021 was the third warmest and ninth wettest year on record for Massachusetts; Boston and Providence saw their warmest year for average minimum temperature

Climate System Research Center
January 10, 2022
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

For the year 2021, Massachusetts average temperature ranks third warmest in the 127-year record since 1895. Within the state, the western division had its second warmest year. Both Maine and New Hampshire also had their second warmest year. In addition to Massachusetts, states Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island were also third warmest. All other states in the Northeast U.S. saw a top five warmest year. For the Northeast U.S. 2021 was the third warmest year on record.

Massachusetts had its warmest June and second warmest summer on record. October was second warmest and December ranked fifth warmest. Annual average temperature was 50.8 oF, 2.0 oF above normal, and 3.9 oF above the 20th Century mean. The Northeast U.S. averaged 49.5 oF, 1.8 oF above normal, and 3.3 oF above the 20th Century mean.

For precipitation, three months ranked in the top ten wettest for the respective month. It was the wettest July and fourth wettest summer on record. September was ninth and October tenth wettest. Annual total precipitation for Massachusetts was 54.8 inches, making 2021 the ninth wettest year on record.

Average, maximum (daytime) and minimum (overnight low) temperature ranked within the top six warmest on record for Massachusetts, the Northeast, and the contiguous U.S. For Massachusetts, over the historical record, the rate of warming has been greater in minimum temperature compared to maximum temperature.

RegionAverage TemperatureMaximum TemperatureMinimum Temperature
Massachusetts3rd6th2nd
Northeast U.S.3rd6th2nd
Contiguous U.S.4th5th6th
Ranks for average, maximum, and minimum temperature in 2021.

Average and minimum temperature for the year ranked in the top 5 warmest at each of the four major climate sites in southern New England. Boston and Hartford established a new daily high temperature on three days. Providence and Worcester set a new high on four days. No new record lows were set at any of the four locations.

Climate SiteAverage TemperatureMaximum TemperatureMinimum Temperature
Boston1st2nd1st
Hartford5th10th3rd
Providence1st4th1st
Worcester3rd19th*3rd
Ranks for average, maximum, and minimum temperature in 2021 at the four major climate sites in southern New England. Tie indicated by *

Contact: Michael Rawlins <mrawlins@umass.edu>
603/929-9029

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Analysis by Michael Rawlins, Associate Director, Climate System Research Center, UMass-Amherst

Data from the National Centers for Environmental Information and the Northeast Regional Climate Center

Massachusetts Monthly Temperature Departures graphic

Massachusetts Monthly Precipitation Departures graphic

Massachusetts Annual Temperature graphic

The Climate System Research Center is a research facility of the University of Massachusetts. Our research is focused on the climate system, climatic variability and global change issues, from contemporary climate variations, their causes and consequences, to paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes. Learn more at https://websites.umass.edu/csrc