Boston wakes up to a hazy, smoke-filled sky today, with temperatures topping out near 83°F under partly sunny conditions — and if you’re sensitive to air quality, this is the day to take it easier outside.
Today’s Setup
According to the National Weather Service Boston/Norton office, a plume of wildfire smoke from fires burning in far western Ontario and northeast Minnesota is riding a northwesterly steering flow straight into New England. The HRRR-Smoke guidance shows the thickest smoke arriving over our western counties by late morning and spreading east-southeast through the afternoon, with the potential for reduced surface visibility in western and central Massachusetts by late afternoon. Air quality alerts for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remain in effect. The smoke is also capping daytime heating, which is why today’s high near 83°F feels seasonably cooler than it otherwise would.
Best Window To Be Outside
If you’ve got errands, dog walks, or a jog planned around the Charles River Esplanade or Boston Common, mid-morning before the smoke thickens is your best bet. West wind at 6 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 28 mph will keep things breezy through the afternoon. A cold front is also expected to bring passing showers to northern and northeastern Massachusetts later today, so if you’re headed toward the North Shore, keep an eye on the sky.
Air Quality And Wind
Anyone with respiratory sensitivities should limit prolonged outdoor exertion today given the smoke, per NWS guidance. Separately, those gusts to 28 mph mean anything unsecured on a deck or patio — umbrellas, cushions, string lights — is at risk of taking flight. A pop-up canopy tent with weights, a bungee cord assortment, or outdoor furniture covers are smart, inexpensive insurance if you’re hosting anything outside this evening.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light layers work fine with a high near 83°F, but skip strenuous outdoor workouts if the haze looks thick from your window. Tonight cools to a low around 64°F with a slight chance of isolated showers after 8 PM.
Fenway And TD Garden This Week
The Boston Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park Friday, July 17, with sunny skies and a high near 82°F expected — near-ideal gameday and tailgating conditions with light northwest wind at just 6 to 9 mph. Gear up with a Boston Red Sox jersey or a Boston Red Sox fitted cap, and grab tickets on SeatGeek or find tickets on StubHub before first pitch. That same night, Meghan Trainor brings The Get In Girl Tour to TD Garden — check out our full coverage of the Meghan Trainor tour and pick up a Meghan Trainor t-shirt if you’re heading in.
Tonight’s Dinner
With clearer, drier air expected tomorrow, tonight is still workable grilling weather if you keep it quick given the breeze — burgers, steaks, or grilled chicken with corn on the cob all fit the bill. An instant-read meat thermometer and a grill brush and scraper set make cleanup and doneness a lot less guesswork. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
If you’d rather stay cool by the water this weekend once the smoke clears, the 2-Person Intex Floating Lounge with Cooler is trending on the site right now at $24.
Next Few Days
Friday turns sunny and clear with a high near 82°F, and Saturday holds near 83°F with a modest 17% chance of showers. NWS forecasters expect showers and thunderstorms to bring beneficial rain late this weekend, followed by a cooldown heading into early next week — good news after today’s smoky, hazy stretch.
