WeatherArchive / Compare cities / Boston vs Washington, D.C.
Boston vs Washington, D.C. weather: climate comparison
Washington, D.C. is the warmer of the two, averaging 57°F (14°C) over the year against 51°F (11°C) in Boston. Washington, D.C. is wetter, with 45.5 in (1157 mm) of precipitation a year to Boston's 45.4 in (1154 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 10.6°C Boston
14.0°C Washington, D.C. - Annual precipitation
- 1154.0 mm Boston
1156.6 mm Washington, D.C. - Rainy days a year
- 121 Boston
120 Washington, D.C. - Sunshine per day
- 8.6 h Boston
8.9 h Washington, D.C.
Month by month
| Month | Boston | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1.9°C | 5.9°C |
| February | 3.5°C | 8.1°C |
| March | 7.5°C | 12.8°C |
| April | 13.5°C | 18.8°C |
| May | 19.1°C | 23.5°C |
| June | 24.4°C | 28.6°C |
| July | 27.9°C | 30.9°C |
| August | 26.9°C | 29.6°C |
| September | 22.9°C | 25.9°C |
| October | 16.5°C | 19.7°C |
| November | 10.2°C | 13.4°C |
| December | 5.0°C | 8.2°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Boston | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 10.6°C | 14.0°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 28°C | Jul · 31°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -7°C | Jan · -2°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 34°C | 33°C |
| Annual precipitation | 1154.0 mm | 1156.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 121 | 120 |
| Wettest / driest month | Mar / Feb | Jul / Nov |
| Average sunshine per day | 8.6 h | 8.9 h |
In short: Washington, D.C. is the warmest overall (14.0°C mean); Washington, D.C. gets the most precipitation (1156.6 mm a year); Washington, D.C. is the sunniest (8.9 h a day on average); Washington, D.C. has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Boston 40.3°C (2011-07-22), Washington, D.C. 41.1°C (2012-07-07). Record low: Boston -26.4°C (2016-02-14), Washington, D.C. -23.3°C (1996-02-05).
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (CC BY 4.0). Values are ERA5 reanalysis model data on a ~9–25 km grid, not readings from a weather station, so a single town’s thermometer can differ by a few degrees and local showers can be missed. Monthly means of daily ERA5 values, 1996–2025, for the grid cells nearest Boston (42.36, -71.13) and Washington, D.C. (38.91, -77.07).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in March, when Washington, D.C. runs 10°F / 5°C warmer, and narrowest in August (5°F / 3°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in July: Washington, D.C. gets 1.4 in (35 mm) more on average.
Add a third or fourth city, or swap in any other place, in the full comparison tool. For one city in depth, see the Boston climate and Washington, D.C. climate pages.
Compare Boston or Washington, D.C. with another city
Questions people ask
Is Boston warmer than Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 57°F (14°C) against 51°F (11°C) in Boston (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Boston or Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C., with about 45.5 in (1157 mm) of precipitation a year and 120 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 45.4 in (1154 mm) and 121 days in Boston.
Which is sunnier, Boston or Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. averages more sunshine: 8.9 h a day against 8.6 h. Sunshine duration is modelled from cloud cover.
How reliable is this comparison?
Both cities use the same 30-year reanalysis, so differences are consistent. Absolute values describe a grid cell several kilometres wide and can differ by a degree or two from the airport station.