Are you miles away and wishing you could catch a glimpse of how the island is faring year-round? Then check out our live Main Street webcam feed! Watch as rain, sleet, and snow falls on our cobblestones from our vantage point in the heart of downtown Nantucket.
Weather is notoriously difficult to predict on our little sandbar and a correct forecast is of utmost importance when you’re on vacation! While we may not have any budding meteorologists here at Fisher, we are avid fishermen and spend all four seasons outdoors. Therefor, we have first-hand experience with our island’s many moods. Read on to learn more about what you can expect from summer, fall, winter and spring, and discover some tips and tricks on who you can look to for up-to-date Nantucket weather information.
Summer
July and August are our most popular months for visitors, and they are also our hottest. When our boat basin is full and the businesses on Main Street are in full swing, you can expect highs in the mid 70’s and lows in the low 60’s. So catch those rays on our beautiful beaches, but don’t forget a sweatshirt when the sun goes down! If you’re an early bird arriving in June, it will likely be about 5 degrees cooler overall. Many mornings will start off grey and foggy, hence our “Grey Lady” nickname, but not to worry, the marine layer burns off on most days to transform to a completely different weather pattern.
If you’re looking to swim, our waters are warmest in August- they hover between 65 and 70 degrees. Taking a dip in June will certianly be refreshing, with waters reaching 60 degrees at best. For some middle ground, look to July, where temperatures begin in the highs 50’s and reach the upper 60’s by the end of the month. In general, waters along the North Shore and Coatue are toastier than their South Shore counterparts.
Fall
Fall marks the decline of our beach (and tourist) season, bringing with it the crisp and blustery days that mark the change of seasons. Expect an “Indian Summer” in September temperatures in the 60’s which quickly decline to the 50’s in October and the 40’s by November. While some activities may shift indoors, this can be the ideal time for a venture on the beach without the glaring summer sun. In September, tropical storms can bring heavy surf that can shut down beaches much to the delight of the island’s surfers who show up at Cisco Beach and Nobadeer Beach in full force.
Flooding is always a possibility, especially downtown near Easy Street, Broad Street and Straight Wharf. It’s always best to prepare for these types of storms if you are visiting. Make sure you have back up plans if your ferry or plane is cancelled due to inclement Nantucket weather.
Winter
This tends to be among the rainiest time of year for our island. If you’re visiting for Christmas Stroll, bundle up! Temperatures will likely be in the 30’s- but that will make the hot chocolate and cider taste that much better. January is our coldest month, with a lows in the low 20s. Nevertheless, we tend to get less snow than our Cape Cod and Boston neighbors, as the ocean moderates our temperatures. Nantucket snow never sticks around for very long, a morning storm may melt by lunchtime. When the snow does fall, you can expect to find children searching for the nearest hill or beach dune to sled down.
Spring
Apps and Websites We Love
Don’t just take our word for it… there are some great resources out there for real time and predictive weather forecasting for our island. Here are a few of our favorites.
ACKweather– This site is tailored specifically to Nantucket weather. Its home page features tides, wind, and radar at a glance. Moreover, you can learn about rip current safety, ferry schedules, rentals from Nantucket Community sailing, and more!
Windfinder– If you’re into sailing, surfing, or kite boarding, you’ll want to check out Windfinder. This site gives you real time and hourly wind and wave forecasts. Wind metrics come from buoys in Nantucket sound and harbor, as well as from Nantucket Airport.
Nantucket Weather Group on Facebook– This is a great group forum to join if you have questions about Nantucket weather. For example, if you are concerned that your ferry might be cancelled, you can inquire on this group and get an answer the same day.
Inquirer & Mirror Weather Text Alerts- Subscribe to severe weather message alerts to find out when to expect a coastal flood advisory, beach closing and more.
Call 508-228-5375- Airport current conditions from the tower at ACK. Local weather expert Brook Meerbergen says, “If you follow the barometer tendency you can get an idea of the weather trend.”