Boston’s Spring Outlook: What’s Ahead Following This Winter?

The winter of 2025-2026 was the coldest and snowiest in most of New England in more than a decade. As the remaining days of this winter season wind down and the start of astronomical spring begins on March 20, many people across the region are wondering what spring holds in store.

Boston logged significant snowfall this winter, approximately 61 inches from December through February, making it the ninth snowiest winter on record. Temperatures across the region were roughly 3 degrees below the 30-year average (1991-2020), according to The Boston Globe.

The spring 2026 outlook calls for a departure from the weak La Niña climate pattern. Most of this spring should have “neutral conditions.” NOAA forecasters issued an El Niño watch in its monthly update on Thursday, March 12, noting that a rapid return of El Niño is likely to occur this summer “and persist through at least the end of 2026.”

“Spring weather in the Northeast will vary as usual, with no clear trend toward extremes,” said Crystal Egger, president of Monarch Weather and Climate Intelligence, in a statement shared with The Boston Globe. 

Overall, in recent years, the New England region has generally experienced warmer springs. In recent springs, Boston and the region have also dealt with wetter conditions. In fact, the last two springs have been wetter than normal with a six-year trend of warmer temperatures.

“Usually, Boston and most of the region see between 3 and 4 inches of precipitation each spring month, with March typically the wettest month of the year (closest to 4 inches). This year, we'll likely fall within that range for each spring month,” wrote Globe staff member Ken Mahan.

March daily highs usually rise to about 50 degrees by the end of the month. April will see highs in the low 60s, a warming pattern which is likely to persist by the time May arrives.