Boston Winter Cold: Record Low Temperatures & Stats | Dave Epstein

Boston Experiencing One of Its Coldest Winters in Recent Memory

Boston is currently experiencing a prolonged stretch of frigid temperatures, marking one of the coldest starts to February in nearly a decade. While not historically unprecedented, the sustained cold has been notable, particularly given the warming trend observed in New England winters over the past century.

According to data analyzed by meteorologist Dave Epstein, the period between January 12th and February 11th represents the coldest average temperature stretch the city has seen in recent years. This observation is fueling a sense of unusually harsh winter conditions for many residents.

The city finished December 2025 with temperatures 4.4 degrees below average and January 2026 was 1.9 degrees below average. However, It’s February that is truly standing out, currently running 6.8 degrees below average.

This cold snap has also resulted in the longest continuous period of sub-freezing temperatures – below 32 degrees Fahrenheit – since 2018. While Boston briefly warmed to 41 degrees on Wednesday, February 5th, marking the first above-average high in almost three weeks, the overall trend has been decidedly cold.

Experts note that while this winter’s cold is significant, it doesn’t compare to the most extreme winters in Boston’s history. A look back at climate records reveals that this winter, while persistent in its chill, isn’t wildly out of bounds when compared to “normal” New England winters. However, a cold snap from late January into early February did bring temperatures not seen for those specific dates since the early 1960s.

Looking ahead, there are indications that the most intense cold may be waning. The European forecast model suggests a potential backing off of the frigid temperatures during the third week of February, potentially bringing a brief respite and a touch of spring fever. However, forecasters caution that a return to colder-than-average conditions is likely to occur at least into the beginning of March.

It’s important to remember that average temperatures are continuing to rise, meaning that what feels like exceptionally cold weather now would have been considered more commonplace in previous generations. Winter 2017-2018 was the last time New England experienced a similar level of sustained cold.

Beyond New England, the broader climate picture shows significant temperature departures elsewhere. Fairbanks, Alaska, for example, finished December 2025 with a monthly temperature 18.2 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, making it the eighth coldest December on record for that city, and the coldest since 1980.

As the region heads into the weekend, a weak clipper system is expected to bring snow on Sunday night, following a period of slightly warmer temperatures, and sunshine.