What should you know about Springfield's weather?
- NWS office
- Boston/Norton (BOX)
- Climate
- Hot-summer humid continental
- Time zone
- EST/EDT
- Elevation
- 68 ft
- Coordinates
- 42.10° N, 72.59° W
- Nearest radar
- KBOX · Boston NEXRAD · 75 mi
- County
- Hampden County, MA
- Yearly rain
- 45.2 in
- Warmest month
- July · 72.9°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 25.1°F average
- Severe storm peak
- Jun to Aug
How much rain does Springfield get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 34.8 | 37.9 | 46.6 | 60.3 | 71.6 | 79.7 | 84.9 | 82.9 | 75.3 | 63.0 | 50.8 | 39.8 |
| Low °F | 15.5 | 17.3 | 25.7 | 35.4 | 46.2 | 55.1 | 60.9 | 59.1 | 50.9 | 39.4 | 30.2 | 22.1 |
| Rain (in) | 2.75 | 2.60 | 3.43 | 4.06 | 3.71 | 4.37 | 4.15 | 3.72 | 4.60 | 4.72 | 3.47 | 3.58 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34.8 | 15.5 | 2.75 |
| Feb | 37.9 | 17.3 | 2.60 |
| Mar | 46.6 | 25.7 | 3.43 |
| Apr | 60.3 | 35.4 | 4.06 |
| May | 71.6 | 46.2 | 3.71 |
| Jun | 79.7 | 55.1 | 4.37 |
| Jul | 84.9 | 60.9 | 4.15 |
| Aug | 82.9 | 59.1 | 3.72 |
| Sep | 75.3 | 50.9 | 4.60 |
| Oct | 63.0 | 39.4 | 4.72 |
| Nov | 50.8 | 30.2 | 3.47 |
| Dec | 39.8 | 22.1 | 3.58 |
WESTFIELD BARNES MUNI AP, MA US · 8 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
Has a tornado ever hit downtown Springfield?
Yes, an EF3 tornado struck Springfield on June 1, 2011. The Storm Prediction Center lists it among tornadoes that hit part of a major city's central business district. City officials mark 4:38 pm as the time it touched down in Springfield, and it left a 6.2 mile long scar through the city. The Storm Events entry for Hampden County records 3 deaths and 200 injuries. When NWS Boston/Norton issues a tornado warning, act on it rather than waiting for the radar to look worse.
How high has the Connecticut River risen in Springfield?
The March 1936 flood set the high mark in the USGS flood reports of that era. The Springfield gauge peaked at a gage height of 28.60 feet between midnight March 19 and 8 a.m. on March 20, with a flow of 281,000 cubic feet per second. Before that, the largest known flood there was November 6, 1927, at 22.4 feet. The river drains 9,587 square miles above the gauge, so it can keep rising after the rain over the city ends. Watch NWS Boston/Norton river forecasts as well as the radar.
How far is the Springfield MA weather radar from the city?
The KBOX radar is about 75 miles from the city center. The radar beam rises with distance because of the earth's curvature, so the chance of it overshooting shallow features such as gust fronts, low-level rotation and low-topped storms grows with range. Distant reflectivity and velocity features also tend to be averaged to lower values than reality. NWS radar training warns never to assume storms are weakening as they move far away from the radar, so lean on warnings rather than the colors on the loop.
When does Springfield get the most rain?
October is the wettest month, averaging 4.72 inches at the Westfield-Barnes airport station about 8 miles away. The 1991 to 2020 normals there put annual precipitation at 45.2 inches. February is the driest month at 2.6 inches, and only January and February average under 3 inches. June through October each average between 3.72 and 4.72 inches, so summer and fall storms keep the radar busy.
How cold does Springfield get in winter?
January is the coldest month, averaging 25.1°F with a normal low of 15.5°F at the Westfield-Barnes station. On average 6.6 nights a year fall to 0°F or below there, and 31.8 days stay at or below 32°F all day. February is only a little milder, with a normal low of 17.3°F.
When should you check the Springfield radar?
Summer storm peak
June to AugustAbout 75% of the county's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall from June to August. Drivers on I-91 and the Mass Pike check the loop before the evening commute.
Hurricane season
June 1 to November 30In September 1938, hurricane floods pushed river flow at Memorial Bridge to 235,000 cubic feet per second. When tropical rain bands stream north on the loop, locals watch the river forecasts too.
What else do people ask about the Springfield radar?
Which NWS office and radar cover Springfield?
NWS Boston/Norton (BOX) issues forecasts and warnings for Springfield. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KBOX, about 75 miles from the city center.
How often does the radar on this page update?
The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.
Is this page an official warning service?
No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS Boston/Norton and local emergency alerts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KBOX (Boston NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS Boston/Norton (BOX)
- Severe storms peak from June to August (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: EST/EDT
- Radar: KBOX, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS Boston/Norton (BOX)
- Severe storms: June to August
- Local time: EST/EDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, Boston/Norton office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: WESTFIELD BARNES MUNI AP, MA US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors
- Storm Prediction Center: Downtown tornadoes
- City of Springfield: 10th anniversary of the June 1, 2011 tornado
- USGS Water-Supply Paper 798: The floods of March 1936
- USGS Water-Supply Paper 867: Hurricane floods of September 1938
- National Weather Service: WSR-88D radar sampling issues
- NOAA NCEI: 1991 to 2020 normals, Westfield-Barnes airport
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology