What's the weather like in Boston in August
Temperature
Temperatures are still high in Boston in August, but on average not as hot as July. The days and nights are still generally very warm and that is reflected in the number of outdoor events throughout the month. The average temperature for the city in August reaches a high of 26.4°C and the average low only falls to 18.1°C, almost mimicking a night in Miami in November!
The daily maximum in most years fluctuates between 25 to 28°C and the minimum temperature ranges between 17 to 19°C. By the end of the month, the temperature averages are steadily falling and have dropped by around 2°C below the August 1 average. Most August days in Boston, USA, achieve temperatures of over 21°C and the city has three days this month when the average exceeds 32°C. Temperatures rarely dip below 16°C at night and only below 10 °C once every ten years on average. The thermometer peaked at 37°C on August 12, 2016 and at 38°C in August 2002. Check the local weather report before you set off.
Rain and snow
August has the second lowest rainfall of the year in Boston, with 85mm/3.3 inches, with an average of 10 rainy days. Boston gets 41 to 114mm in August 50 per cent of the time and one in four years is very dry. There is no risk of snow this month.
Sunshine Hours
August in Boston is the third sunniest month of the year after June and July, with an average of 280 hours of sunshine across the month, or 9 a day. The sun reaches the ground in Boston 65 percent of the time in daylight hours on average and the sky is mainly clear on nine days, with 30 percent cloud cover or less. Days start to shorten as the month goes on, with average daylight of 13 hours and 49 minutes a day. The longest day is August 1 with 14 hours and 26 minutes of daylight and by August 31 daylight hours have fallen to 13 hours and 10 minutes. Average relative humidity is 71 per cent in August, reaching a high of 82 percent in the morning and dropping to 59 percent by the afternoon.
Wind
The wind speed in Boston is very light in August with an average of 10.8mph and what breezes there are tend to be warm. The chances of a major storm are very low.
Sea Temperature
August is the ideal month for a cooling swim in the sea, with the average sea temperatures as warm as 18°C, the highest of the year.
Dress Code
As with July summer clothing and swimming costumes are the order of the day, with a waterproof in case of rain and a light coat or jumper for the evenings. Look at our 14-day forecast for Boston before you set off.
Boston Hotels in August
Ames Boston
In the heart of the city's financial district the Ames Boston occupies one of Boston's early skyscrapers, built in 1893 and was once the city's tallest building. It has been voted the best in Boston by Conde Nast Traveller and its period feel is reflected in its 114 luxury rooms. It is steps from Faneuil Hall, the Seaport, Boston's Waterfront, Boston Common and the Public Garden. Free bikes are available to explore the city and there's a fitness centre. Dining is more than taken care of at the highly rated Cultivar restaurant, run by top chef Mary Dumont.
The Ritz Carlton
Wherever you go, The Ritz Carlton name is synonymous with opulence and luxury and Boston is no different. Directly overlooking Boston Common, there are 193 guest rooms and suites, many with spectacular city and park views, the Artisan Bistro, which is popular with the pre and post-theatre crowd and a bustling cocktail bar the Avery. The luxurious Equinox Sports Club and Spa is directly connected to the hotel.
Boston Christopher
The South End of Boston is not to be confused with the South Side and with brownstone houses, a tight-knit community feel and some fabulous restaurants, it is one of the city's most desirable neighbourhoods. For those who want to avoid a hotel stay, the Boston Christopher may have the solution. They offer studio and one-bed furnished apartments with fully equipped kitchens to let you please yourself. The area has more than 30 parks, lots of varied nightlife and Boston's Back Bay is close at hand.
Boston Yacht Haven
If boats are your passion, then you can book yourself a room with a view at the Boston Yacht Haven at the city's marina, where the super yachts and small boats mingle on the historic waterfront. Located in the North end on Commercial Wharf, their guest rooms are newly renovated and come with breath-taking views. Quincy Market, the New England Aquarium, Boston's theatre districts, and downtown are all within a stroll.
Boston beaches in August
South Boston
There are four great South Boston beaches to choose from and although they have different names, they run into each other to form a three-mile stretch of golden sands. The beaches have amazing views across Dorchester Bay to the Boston Harbour Islands. Pleasure Bay Beach, The L Street Beach, M Street Beach and Carson Beach have plenty of room to stretch out on the sand, even on busy days, a range of amenities for children and a popular bathhouse at L Street Beach.
Bars and Restaurants
Parlor Sports
No USA visit is complete without a visit to a proper sports bar and Parlor Sports is just that. Whether it's gridiron, baseball, basketball or racing it will be on this relaxed and friendly bar's big screens and the added bonus is an excellent food menu offering everything from light bites to steaks and fish tacos. It also serves specialist local beers and some of Boston's best cocktails.
Bricco
Boston is renowned for its high quality and plentiful Italian restaurants and the biggest concentration of them is in the city's Italian quarter, the North End. There are so many to choose from that standards are incredibly high, but for a different experience, try Bricco. This is no pizza joint. Instead, there's rack of lamb, chicken in a brick, various veal dishes and wild boar. Lots of pasta dishes too.
Deep Ellum
The lively Allston district in Cambridge is home to Deep Ellum, a bar with a menu that's a cut above the rest. With a loyal regular clientele, this is away from the tourist crowd. Choose from pork belly, charcuterie, pickle plates and other dishes and pair them with your choice of specialist beers from the USA and Europe and unusual cocktails, including the "Mexican Happy Meal" which comprises a tequila, a tecate, and a shot of sangrita.
Area 4
Area Four is a collective of restaurants and a café with a shared philosophy of local ingredients and good, simple food. Specialising in pizzas, pasta and oven cooked chicken you can be sure the meat, poultry, seafood and vegetables have a short journey to your plate. Take your pick of venues in Boston and Cambridge that all have their own identity but the same cooking and preparation principles. Highly rated by the locals and the cocktails are excellent too.
Things to do in Boston in August
Italian feasts
This is the month of the Italian feast and has been for more than a century, with four of the most famous taking place in Boston's North End. They celebrate a chosen saint with ceremonies, processions, music and lashings of food and drink and all are welcome.
They include St. Agrippina di Mineo Feast and Procession starting at Hanover and Battery Streets; Madonna Della Cava Feast in Battery and Hanover Streets; The Fisherman's Feast of the Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca; St. Lucy's Feast and the largest of them all, St. Anthony's Feast. This is New England's biggest with parades, strolling singers, and hundreds of pushcarts offering Italian food. All are free.
Visit Cape Cod
August is the perfect month to visit Cape Cod and its islands. It is 60 miles south east of Boston but the trip is worthwhile and you can get there by car, bus, rail or even a plane in anything from an hour to 90 minutes. This is one of the most beautiful places on the Eastern Seaboard, if not in the whole of the USA, with the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket drawing wealthy residents from across the world. Take a swim off one of the glorious beaches, tuck into plentiful seafood and make it an overnight stay. The Cape Cod ice cream is legendary. There is also an annual jazz festival in Provincetown.
Labor Day
This annual holiday falls right at the end of the month and the last weekend in August is always Labor Day weekend. It starts with a huge firework show lighting up Boston Harbour followed by a long weekend of festivals, concerts and other special events across the city and elsewhere. Take a special fireworks cruise on the Harbour to get the best view and afterwards, take your pick of the city's best restaurants before heading towards the sound of live music coming from the waterfront.
Paul Revere House
To understand why he is considered one of the greatest of American heroes, visit Paul Revere House to hear the story of the Midnight Ride, when he raced to Lexington in 1775 to warn to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that 'The British are coming!' Born in Boston's North End in 1734, Revere died relatively unknown aged 83 in 1813 and was only elevated to folk hero status after Longfellow's poem 'Paul Revere's Ride' was published 47 years later. The museum tells his story and that of Boston's role in the American Revolution.
