If you’ve ever stood on the edge of Nantasket Beach with a Dunkin’ coffee in hand while a Nor'easter barrels in, you know that weather in Hull Massachusetts isn't just a forecast. It's an atmospheric contact sport. Hull is a skinny, seven-mile-long peninsula poking its nose right into the Atlantic, which means it gets the best—and absolutely the worst—of what the ocean has to offer.
Most people think of Hull as a summer playground. They imagine 80-degree days, fried clams, and the historic Paragon Park carousel. And honestly? They aren't wrong about July. But if you only see the sun-drenched version of this town, you’re missing the real story of how the Atlantic Ocean basically dictates every aspect of life here. From the "Hull fog" that can swallow a street in seconds to the winter flooding that turns roads into rivers, this town is a masterclass in coastal resilience.
The Reality of the Four Seasons on a Peninsula
The weather in Hull Massachusetts is a bit of a moving target. Because the town is surrounded by water on three sides—Hingham Bay to the west and the open Atlantic to the east—the ocean acts like a giant thermostat. It’s slower to warm up and slower to cool down than the mainland.
In the spring, while people in Boston are wearing shorts, Hull is often ten degrees cooler because of the "sea breeze." It's a damp, bone-chilling cold that mocks your light jacket. But by late September, when the first frost hits the suburbs, Hull stays cozy. That massive heat sink of an ocean keeps the air mild long after the pumpkins have been carved.
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Summer: The Goldilocks Zone
July and August are the peak. You’re looking at average highs around 81°F. It’s rarely "sweltering" like it is in the city because that sea breeze is almost always kicking.
- Humidity: It gets muggy. We’re talking 70% to 80% relative humidity.
- Sunshine: September is actually the clearest month, boasting clear skies about 62% of the time.
- The "Hull Fog": You’ll be sitting in bright sun, and suddenly, a wall of gray rolls in from the Graves Light. Five minutes later, you can’t see your own car.
Winter: The Nor'easter Factor
January and February are the heavy hitters. Highs hover around 37°F, but the wind chill is the real killer. Hull is famously windy. While the state average might be calm, the wind speed in Hull during January averages nearly 16 mph. It’s a biting, salt-crusted wind that finds every crack in your window frames.
Why the "Perfect Storm" Still Haunts the Locals
When you talk about weather in Hull Massachusetts, you eventually have to talk about the Blizzard of 1978. It is the yardstick by which every other storm is measured. On February 6, 1978, the sea basically went mad. High tides hit 10.4 feet—records that stood for decades.
The town was cut off. Houses were literally ripped from their foundations and tossed into the streets. Even today, "survivors" (and they actually call themselves that) watch the tide charts with a certain level of anxiety whenever a big one is forecasted. The 1991 "Perfect Storm"—the Halloween Nor'easter—is another one etched into the collective memory. It wasn't just the snow; it was the relentless battering of the seawalls.
Flooding: A Tuesday Occurrence?
You don't need a hurricane for flooding in Hull. Sometimes a particularly "moon tide" (King Tide) combined with a stiff northeast wind is enough to put water over the dunes.
- Zone VE: This is the high-risk area where waves actually hit the buildings.
- Zone AE: Areas prone to inundation but without the "velocity" of breaking waves.
- Nantasket Avenue: This main artery often becomes a lake during major events, cutting off the southern end of town from the "village" at the gut.
The Science of the "Gut" and the Bay
The topography of Hull creates some weird micro-climates. At the northern tip, known as The Gut, the current is incredibly fast as the tide rushes in and out of Boston Harbor. This movement of water can actually influence local air temperatures.
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If you're on the Bay side (the west side), the water is calmer and warmer, which often leads to more humid, stagnant air in the summer. On the Ocean side (the east side), the waves are constant, and the air is much more turbulent. You can walk 500 feet across the width of the town and feel like you've changed climate zones.
Best Time to Visit (Expert Opinion)
If you're planning a trip, late August through mid-September is the sweet spot. The water is at its warmest—usually peaking around 68°F to 70°F—and the humidity starts to drop. The "bugs" (those nasty green-head flies) are mostly gone by then, and the crowds have thinned out.
Honestly, October is the sleeper hit. The air is crisp, the light is golden, and the Atlantic looks a deep, bruised blue that you just don't see in the summer. Just bring a hoodie. You'll need it the second the sun drops behind the Hingham hills.
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Staying Safe and Prepared
If you’re moving here or just visiting during the shoulder season, you need to respect the ocean. Weather in Hull Massachusetts moves fast.
- Check the Tides: This isn't just for surfers. High tide during a storm is when the damage happens. If you’re parked in a low-lying area near A Street or Phipps St during a storm surge, your car is toast.
- The 48-Hour Rule: If a Nor'easter is coming, buy your bread and milk early. When the tide gets high enough, the Department of Public Works (DPW) might have to close the roads, and you aren't going anywhere.
- Salt Spray is Real: It’s not just rain. It’s salt-water mist. It eats through car paint, outdoor furniture, and even some types of siding. If you live here, you'll spend half your life hosing the salt off your windows.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
- Download a Tide App: Use "Tides Near Me" and set it to the Hull station. If a tide is predicted over 11 feet, expect some "splash over" on the seawalls.
- Parking Strategy: During flood warnings, the town often opens up higher-ground parking lots. Learn where they are (like the high school) before the water starts rising.
- Layer Up: Even on a hot day, the temperature can drop 15 degrees in an hour if the wind shifts to the east.
- Visit the Hull Lifesaving Museum: If you want to see the history of how the weather has shaped this town, this is the place. It's located in the old Joshua James station and chronicles the incredible rescues made during 19th-century shipwrecks.
The weather here is a constant conversation piece. It's why people move here, and it’s why some people eventually leave. You don't just live in Hull; you live with the Atlantic. Be ready to layer up, keep an eye on the horizon, and always, always respect the power of a northeast wind.
Next Steps:
Check the current National Weather Service coastal flood advisories for the South Shore before heading out. If you're interested in the long-term future of the town, look into the Hull Climate Adaptation Roadmap, which outlines how the town is raising roads and reinforcing dunes to handle the projected sea-level rise through 2050.