Boston is starting Monday warm and mostly cloudy with a high near 80°F — but rain showers arrive after 2 PM ET and thunderstorms roll in overnight, so make the most of your morning and have a rain plan ready before dinner.
Today’s Setup
The first half of the day is yours. A light southeast breeze of 1 to 7 mph keeps things comfortable through midday, and the Esplanade, the Emerald Necklace, and the harbor walkways around Seaport are all pleasant this morning. The National Weather Service puts a 50% chance of rain showers developing after 2 PM ET, with confidence climbing sharply after that.
Tonight gets serious. Showers arrive before 8 PM, then thunderstorms are expected between 8 and 11 PM ET, patchy fog mixing in after midnight. Precipitation is 100% likely overnight. NWS Boston forecasters are confident in 1.0 to 1.5 inches of total rainfall, with a 30 to 40% chance of 2-plus inches — especially across western and central Massachusetts. The silver lining: the region has been running abnormally dry, so this is welcome, beneficial rain. Flash flooding is not expected; flash flood guidance thresholds sit at 2 to 3 inches per hour, which these storms should not approach.
Tuesday is a full-day washout — 100% chance of showers and thunderstorms, high near 79°F with west winds around 8 mph before clearing Tuesday night.
Events: Know Before You Go
If you’re heading to Fenway Park tonight for Mumford & Sons – Prizefighter Tour, expect a very wet evening. Showers are possible by mid-afternoon and thunderstorms are likely by 8 PM. A packable rain jacket is not optional — it’s essential. Leave the canvas sneakers at home.
Tuesday, June 23: The outdoor RÜFÜS DU SOL Fenway show falls squarely inside the worst of the storm. Check the venue’s weather policy before you go. The Strokes at TD Garden that same night are indoors — rain irrelevant. Grab a The Strokes t-shirt and Find tickets on StubHub if you still need them.
Thursday, June 25: The Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees at Fenway Park — and midweek looks dramatically drier after Tuesday’s system clears. Gameday conditions should be comfortable. Pick up a Boston Red Sox jersey before the series and Get tickets on SeatGeek. Sox–Yankees at Fenway never stays cheap for long.
What To Wear Or Bring
A compact travel umbrella should be in every bag today. The afternoon can turn fast, and you don’t want to get caught between the Green Line and your office in a downpour. Check the Boston weather forecast for timing updates as the day develops.
Dinner Tonight
Thunderstorms and a cozy kitchen were made for each other. Load up a programmable slow cooker with chili or beef stew before you leave this morning — you’ll walk in the door to something warm and ready. If you’d rather cook it fresh, an enameled cast iron Dutch oven is perfect for a big pot of New England-style chowder. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Wednesday brings real relief — drier air and seasonable temperatures as high pressure builds behind Tuesday’s departing storm. The break is real but brief. The next rain chance returns Thursday night into Friday morning, when a low pressure system tracking from the Great Lakes toward southeastern Canada brings scattered showers and the possibility of isolated thunderstorms by Friday afternoon.
Browse outdoor gear deals if your rain kit needs a refresh before the storm hits.
