Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

New Bedford, Massachusetts Weather

Night falls a minute earlier. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

New Bedford weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

New Bedford, MA
Sunday, August 2 at 10:59 AM
77
°
Overcast
Feels like
82°
Humidity
86%
Wind
10 mph
Sunrise
1:39 AM
Sunset
4:00 PM
New Bedford, MA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastNew Bedford, MA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit with a 46% chance of precipitation at 4 AM.
L 72°H 78°
New Bedford, MA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Overcast
    10%
    —
    78°70°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Heavy Rain
    68%
    0.67″
    76°73°-2°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Overcast
    68%
    —
    84°62°+8°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Drizzle
    11%
    0.03″
    78°64°-6°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    83°72°+5°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Heavy Drizzle
    12%
    —
    88°70°+5°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Light Drizzle
    21%
    —
    88°70°0°
New Bedford, MA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
70°76°81°12p6p12a6anow 76°high 78°low 72°PRECIP %
New Bedford, MA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
193° · backing 10°
Direction
SSW
193°
Sustained
10
mph
Gust
17
mph
Peak 24h
23
avg 8 mph
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 8 mph · pk 23 mph @ 11:00p
010203040MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 4017SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 10° from the ssw.
New Bedford, MA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1012.6
+0.8 mb in 3h · rising · 29.90 inHg
Now
1012.6
mb
3h
+0.8
mb
12h
+1.7
mb
24h
+2.5
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1011–1014
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1013.81010.51013.8
Air sits at the threshold — small shifts decide the day.
New Bedford, MA
Air quality
47
AQI
Good
↓-5 in 6h

AQI 47 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 5 over the last 6 hours (gradual decline). PM2.5 at 7.3 µg/m³ (AQI 41), ratio 0.67 with 10 mph wind — characteristic of long-range haze transport rather than a local source.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
7.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
11μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneModerate
77μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
3.9

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 36. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 36
UV peak
5.5 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 13

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 7.3 µg/m³ (AQI 41), ratio 0.67 with 10 mph wind — characteristic of long-range haze transport rather than a local source.

PM2.5/PM10
0.67
Wind
breezy
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
transport

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
New Bedford, MA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
97%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
31.6mi
UNLIMITED
50 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
14:59 UTC · New Bedford, MA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
14:59 UTC · New Bedford, MA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
New Bedford, MA
Satellite · infrared · animated
New Bedford, MA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
New Bedford, MA
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
5:08 AM
Sunrise
1:39 AM
Daylight
14h 21m
Sunset
4:00 PM
Civil dusk
8:33 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
New Bedford, MA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:26 PM
Moonset
9:45 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
New Bedford, MA
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Night falls a minute earlier

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

New Bedford at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 16°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 26 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 02740, 02744, 02745, 02746

16-Day Forecast — New Bedford

  1. Sun78°70°10%
  2. Mon76°73°68%
  3. Tue84°62°68%
  4. Wed78°64°11%
  5. Thu83°72°8%
  6. Fri88°70°12%
  7. Sat88°70°21%
  8. Sun86°71°19%
  9. Mon84°71°17%
  10. Tue83°63°15%
  11. Wed78°57°10%
  12. Thu70°63°39%
  13. Fri83°66°40%
  14. Sat79°66°43%
  15. Sun88°70°33%
  16. Mon86°64°11%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near New Bedford

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — New Bedford

SPC includes New Bedford in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

Sun & seasons in New Bedford

New Bedford sits in Bristol County, where the year’s longest day runs 15h 12m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 9m — a swing of +6h 3m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Boston, the state’s largest city, lies about 45 miles to the N. The nearest town New Bedford tracks is Boston, roughly 45 miles to the N.

Air quality in New Bedford’s county has held roughly steady since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2022 (median AQI 38). See the full air-quality history for New Bedford.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

Night falls a minute earlier

Sunset retreats perceptibly — daylight shortening speeds up.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

New Bedford peaks at about 72°F in July and bottoms near 30°F in January; March brings the heaviest rain (4.8 inches) and July the least (3.0 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January30°3.7″7
February31°3.0″6
March38°4.8″7
April47°4.0″7
May57°3.3″7
June66°3.6″7
July72°3.0″6
August71°3.8″6
September63°3.6″6
October53°4.6″7
November43°4.3″7
December35°4.1″7

Regional context

Per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, New Bedford runs from a 30°F January mean to 72°F in July, a 42°F seasonal spread, with near 45.9 inches of precipitation across about 78 wet days.

Rainfall in New Bedford stays even across the calendar: March tops out at 4.8 inches over 6.8 rainy days, and July still logs 3.0 inches across 5.5 — a narrow range for New Bedford. It is a balanced pattern New Bedford shares with places like Acushnet Center, MA, Smith Mills, MA and Bliss Corner, MA.

Around mid-April, New Bedford sheds its freezing nights — kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips go into New Bedford's beds. New Bedford's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until New Bedford's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. By mid-November, frost is back in New Bedford — protect or harvest anything tender. New Bedford's low ground holds frost later into spring than New Bedford's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Acushnet Center, MA, Smith Mills, MA, Bliss Corner, MA, Mattapoisett Center, MA, North Westport, MA.

Naturalist notes

Late May typically brings the peak migration of warblers through New Bedford, with yellow warblers and American redstarts arriving as oak leaves reach full size.

Cherry trees complete their bloom cycle by early May, dropping petals just as dandelions reach their flowering peak across local lawns and fields.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in New Bedford?
New Bedford's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in New Bedford the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in New Bedford?
Rainfall in New Bedford peaks in March near 4.8 inches, out of about 46 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in New Bedford?
The warmest stretch in New Bedford comes in July, around 72°F on average.
What is the coldest month in New Bedford?
On average January is the chilliest month in New Bedford, about 30°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in New Bedford?
New Bedford's last frost (mid-April) cues hardy greens; in New Bedford, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does New Bedford get?
New Bedford averages about 78 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is New Bedford?
New Bedford's USDA zone comes from its January mean (30°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for New Bedford?
New Bedford's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in New Bedford?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for New Bedford in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in New Bedford?
Current conditions for New Bedford and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the New Bedford forecast updated?
The New Bedford forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in New Bedford?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for New Bedford are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for New Bedford?
The next few days in New Bedford's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

New Bedford, Massachusetts has a warm-summer humid continental climate: January averages roughly 30°F, July about 72°F, 42°F between them.

In a typical year New Bedford records about 46 inches of precipitation on around 78 days.

At 41.7°N, New Bedford's 42°F summer-to-winter swing sets when New Bedford's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Massachusetts →

Providence, RI weather →

ZIP codes in New Bedford

  • 02740
  • 02744
  • 02745
  • 02746
  • 02741
  • 02742

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.