Warmest and coldest Boston neighborhoods? (Dudley, Harvard: how much, live in, nightlife)

[carpeskiem]

Hello everyone,

I live in Allston-Brighton and work in the South End, but the downtown area (especially Copley Square and the waterfront) seems significantly colder than Allston... or maybe it's just that there's a lot more wind there, because of the skyscrapers.

Conversely, the concrete jungle/nightlife area of Harvard Ave. seems to be a heat island.

Are there any specific "warmest" and "coldest" neighborhoods of Boston, based on meteorological data? I would imagine that Hyde Park/Readville is the warmest, being the southernmost neighborhood and all.

[pikabike]

The skyscrapers affect temperature in at least two ways:

First, they block sunlight. An area with many of them creates the same effect as being at the bottom of a deep, narrow canyon. Sun does not shine down until it can shine literally DOWN, namely at midday when it is directly overhead.

Second, they funnel wind between openings in those tall sides, which usually howls along the streets. I well remember how frigid those concrete canyons could be in winter, because the skyscrapers started being built in Boston when I was a child.

Also, sites with ocean exposure will get more wind. Even though the sea moderates the overall temperature (warmer in winter, cooler in summer), that wind can be bone-cutting.

[bjimmy24]

I live in Brighton, it's weird how much warmer it is than Fenway for example.

[Cliff Clavin]

The ocean temps are still extremely cold this time of year, so the closer you are to the ocean, the colder it will be. Which is why Allston-Brighton will be noticeably warmer than the downtown/water front neighborhoods.


Conversely, the water front will run a few degrees warmer during the winter months than Allston-Brighton.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Warmest would be Roslindale/HP.

-Not too much tree cover
-South of the pike, thus avoiding manythe worst of the worst snowstorms
-Inland but close enough to the coast to feel the mild effect in the winter
-not too many skyscrapers to make wind tunnels and blocking the sun.

Coldest would be South Boston and Downtown

[such sweet thunder]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Warmest would be Roslindale/HP.

-Not too much tree cover
-South of the pike, thus avoiding manythe worst of the worst snowstorms
-Inland but close enough to the coast to feel the mild effect in the winter
-not too many skyscrapers to make wind tunnels and blocking the sun.

Coldest would be South Boston and Downtown

I wouldn't be shocked if Fort Hill is the coldest and gets the most precipitation. It has a microclimate that is noticeably different than the South End, Dudley and JP. It feels like it consistently runs five degrees cooler and there is quite a bit more snow and rain -- part of the reason it stays green into mid summer.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by such sweet thunder

I wouldn't be shocked if Fort Hill is the coldest and gets the most precipitation. It has a microclimate that is noticeably different than the South End, Dudley and JP. It feels like it consistently runs five degrees cooler and there is quite a bit more snow and rain -- part of the reason it stays green into mid summer.

I would guess Bellevue Hill (highest point in the city, and more inland), to be colder.

[porterhouse]

I've never walked by the Hancock tower when it's not windy as f***