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Month-by-month Martha's Vineyard weather: air temps, ocean temps, rain, snow, sunshine, humidity and wind. Plan your visit with real climate data.
Martha's Vineyard sits 7 miles off the southern coast of Cape Cod in the Atlantic Ocean, and that water makes all the difference. The island's maritime climate keeps summers cooler and winters milder than mainland Massachusetts: usually a few degrees milder in winter and a few degrees cooler in summer: NOAA’s normals put Edgartown’s July high at 80°F against 82°F in Boston and 84°F in Providence, and its January high at 40°F against 37°F in Boston. Annual rainfall averages 47.7 inches, spread fairly evenly across all 12 months, and snowfall runs about 25 inches per year: significant, but nothing like inland New England.
The result is a real four-season island. Summer is warm and breezy. Fall is crisp and clear. Winter is wild and raw. Spring comes late. Below are the actual numbers, month by month.
Filmed February 2026
Already know when you're going? Jump to the best time to visit guide for crowd and price context alongside the weather.
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The table below covers the first half of the year. Columns show average high and low temperatures (°F), ocean surface temperature (°F), typical rain days per month, snow days, daily sunshine hours, average afternoon humidity (%), average wind speed (mph), recommended clothing, and a one-line summary.
| Month | Avg High °F | Avg Low °F | Ocean °F | Rain Days | Snow Days | Sun Hrs/Day | Humidity % | Wind mph | What to Wear | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40 | 26 | 41 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 73% | 17 | Heavy coat, hat, gloves, waterproof boots | Cold, raw, and quiet: the island at its most remote. |
| February | 42 | 27 | 38 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 71% | 17 | Heavy coat, hat, gloves, waterproof boots | Coldest ocean of the year; nor'easters possible; fewer rain days than January. |
| March | 46 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 71% | 16 | Warm layers, windproof jacket, waterproof boots | Windy and transitional: the island's most unpredictable month. |
| April | 55 | 40 | 45 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 70% | 15 | Light jacket, fleece, layers | Snow is gone; daffodils bloom; island reopens gradually for the season. |
| May | 65 | 49 | 53 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 74% | 13 | Layers, light jacket, comfortable walking shoes | Mild and green: most rain days of spring, but very pleasant between showers. |
| June | 74 | 58 | 61 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 79% | 12 | Shorts, t-shirts, light sweater for evenings, light rain layer | Long days, warm and beautiful, but the foggiest month of the year. |
The second half of the year brings summer's peak warmth, the clearest skies of the year in September and October, and then the slow return of winter. Ocean temperatures peak in August and hold warmth well into September.
| Month | Avg High °F | Avg Low °F | Ocean °F | Rain Days | Snow Days | Sun Hrs/Day | Humidity % | Wind mph | What to Wear | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | 80 | 64 | 68 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 79% | 12 | Swimsuit, shorts, t-shirt, light sweater for evenings | Peak summer: fewest rain days of the year, ocean warm enough to swim. |
| August | 80 | 64 | 70 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 79% | 12 | Swimsuit, shorts, t-shirt, light sweater for evenings | Warmest ocean of the year and calmest winds; the busiest month on the island. |
| September | 74 | 58 | 67 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 79% | 13 | Layers, light jacket for evenings, swimsuit still useful | Clearest skies, warm ocean, fewer crowds: the month islanders keep for themselves. |
| October | 64 | 48 | 62 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 76% | 15 | Fleece, light jacket, comfortable layers | Fall foliage, excellent sunshine ratio, and a still-swimmable ocean early in the month. |
| November | 54 | 40 | 55 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 73% | 17 | Warm jacket, hat, layers | Off-season arrives; winds pick up and most summer businesses close. |
| December | 46 | 31 | 47 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 74% | 17 | Heavy coat, hat, gloves, waterproof boots | Wettest month of the year; first snows possible; Christmas in Edgartown is the month's big weekend. |
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The Sound side warms first and stays swimmable into September. The Atlantic beaches on the south shore run colder and rougher right through the season.
Martha's Vineyard's ocean temperatures tell a different story than you might expect. The island sits at the boundary between colder Gulf of Maine waters and the warmer offshore flow influenced by the Gulf Stream. That interaction creates a thermal buffer: the water never gets as cold as Maine, but it also never reaches the bath-like warmth of the Carolina coast.
The swimming season runs July through September only. On the Vineyard Sound side, NOAA’s monthly averages put the water at about 72°F in July and 74°F in August, warm enough for comfortable swimming, though still cooler than a heated pool; the south shore runs cooler. September holds at about 69°F, which most swimmers find perfectly acceptable. By October, the water drops to 62°F: brave souls only. November's 55°F is wetsuit territory.
One counterintuitive pattern: September ocean water is about 15°F warmer than May’s (about 69°F vs 54°F on the Sound side). This is thermal lag: the ocean takes months to absorb summer heat and releases it slowly into fall. If swimming is a priority, September is a far better month than June despite having similar air temperatures.
June is the foggiest month on the island for exactly this reason. Warm, humid air moving off the warmer land masses meets the still-cool ocean water, and the temperature differential creates persistent sea fog, sometimes burning off by midday, sometimes hanging all day. It is pretty, but plan around it.
For more on timing your beach visit, see the Martha's Vineyard beach guide.
A plowed Edgartown side street after the February 2026 storm, snowbanks along the picket fences. This is what a memorable island snowfall looks like; it was gone within days.
Real snow is rare here and seldom lasts. What the island does get is wind and the odd coastal storm, which can shut the ferries down for a day at a time.
Martha's Vineyard averages 25.3 inches of snow per year, enough to be significant, but the maritime climate means most winter precipitation falls as rain or mixed precipitation rather than clean snow. True accumulating snowstorms are memorable events rather than weekly occurrences.
The state emergency agency rides the VTA: a MEMA poster on a Route 13 bus in September 2026, mid hurricane season, with the three things it asks of everyone on the coast.
Nor'easters hit the island one to three times per winter, typically between November and March. These storms arrive from the northeast with howling winds, heavy precipitation, and rough surf. They can dump 12–18 inches of snow or deliver damaging rain and coastal flooding depending on the storm track. The most severe nor'easters cause ferry cancellations and road closures. The February 2026 blizzard dropped over 18 inches on the island, one of the heaviest single-storm totals in recent years.
Nor’easters are not only a winter thing. On Saturday, September 26, 2026, one arrived with a Coastal Flood Warning for the island, and Five Corners in Vineyard Haven went under: sandbags outside Martha’s Bike, cars wading through the intersection.
The island's hurricane exposure is real. Hurricane Bob in 1991 remains the benchmark storm: 100+ mph gusts, significant structural damage, and a permanent place in island memory. The off-season guide covers storm preparedness for winter visitors.
Looking at rainfall across the year, July is the driest month with only 7 days of measurable rain, one reason it's so popular for vacations. December is the wettest, with 12 rain days on average. The difference between the driest and wettest months is relatively small compared to continental climates, which reflects the maritime pattern of year-round moisture.
Total annual rainfall of 47.7 inches is distributed fairly evenly, so no month is truly dry. Bring a light rain layer any time of year.
Sunset over the Atlantic from the south shore, the Vineyard Wind turbines on the horizon. The same wind that turns them is why the island runs cooler than the mainland in summer.
A rainbow over the Katama plains after a passing shower. Rain days here are often brief, and the afternoon clears.
The rocky shore below the cliffs at Aquinnah. The Vineyard is a windy place, and a layer earns its place even in July.
Wind is a constant presence on Martha's Vineyard. The island's exposed position in the Atlantic means the wind rarely stops entirely; it's part of what makes summer afternoons so refreshing and winter days so biting.
March is traditionally the windiest month on the island, with persistent westerly and northwesterly winds and frequent gusts. January and February record the highest wind speeds in actual measurements (both averaging 17 mph), but March's wind feels relentless because it combines with the transition from winter to spring. August is the calmest month, when the Bermuda High pressure system settles over the Atlantic and delivers stable, gentle southwest breezes: ideal sailing and beach conditions.
Sunshine follows a simple pattern. June and July both average 9 hours of sunshine per day, the island's peak. Long June days (nearly 15 hours of daylight around the solstice) mean even foggy mornings often yield beautiful afternoons. September and October deliver the clearest skies, with the highest sunshine ratio (percentage of possible daylight hours that are actually sunny) of any months, around 60–61%. That is why fall visitors tend to come back.
Daylight extremes are significant at this latitude:
For June visits, the long evenings are the reward. For July and August, plan beach time in the afternoon when sea breezes peak. September and October bring the clear fall light photographers wait for.
Ask a local and they will point you to September and October: warm afternoons, cool nights, and the summer crowds long gone.
This is the island at full throttle. Every restaurant is open, every beach is staffed, ferries run at maximum frequency, and prices are at their highest. Air temperatures are reliably warm (highs in the mid-70s to low 80s), the ocean is swimmable, and the light is at its best. The tradeoff is crowds: beaches fill by 10am on weekends, restaurants require advance reservations, and summer car reservations on the ferry sell out months ahead. Book everything as early as possible. See the spring guide for advance planning tips that apply to summer bookings too.
The months islanders would keep to themselves if they could. Weather in May and early June is mild and green, with wildflowers blooming and restaurants running full menus without the summer crush. September and October bring the finest weather of the year, most years: clear skies, warm ocean (September), fall foliage (October), and hotel prices that drop 30–50% from August peaks. Some businesses begin closing in mid-October, so check hours before you go. The September guide and October fall foliage guide have full details on what's open and what to do.
This is the island as islanders live it. Year-round residents make up nearly the entire population, most summer businesses are shuttered, and the landscape is raw and beautiful. Accommodation prices drop dramatically, and the few restaurants that stay open are excellent. Winter hiking, birding, and storm-watching from the cliffs are worth the trip. The risks are real too: weather can change fast, ferry service may be disrupted, and you need to plan meals around limited hours. The winter off-season guide has the details.
Wind and surf at Squibnocket. Even in summer the breeze off the water calls for a layer.
For the full packing breakdown, see the Martha's Vineyard packing list. Here's the short version:
Plan Your Martha's Vineyard Visit
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Step 1 · WhenMonth PickerTwelve months compared on NOAA numbers, crowds, prices and what is open. 
Step 2 · DaysDay-by-Day Trip PlannerMorning, afternoon and evening sketched for every day, events dropped in, emailed to you. 
Step 3 · CostTrip Cost CalculatorFerry, beds with the rooms tax, meals, getting around and activities in one honest range. Sometimes, and it rarely lasts. The island averages about 25 inches a year, but the maritime climate turns most winter precipitation into rain or a mix. A real accumulating storm, like February 2026, is a memorable event rather than a weekly one.
The water. Martha’s Vineyard sits seven miles off the Cape, and the ocean cools the island in summer and warms it in spring and fall. In practice that is 5–8°F cooler than mainland Massachusetts on a peak summer day, and a later, longer autumn.
August, at 70–72°F, with September a close second at 67–68°F. The water crosses the 65°F comfort line in July and drops back below it in October.
June. The fog is part of the island’s look, but it can hide the views you came for and it slows the ferries. September and October have the clearest skies of the year.
Yes, for a day at a time when the wind is up, mostly in the nor’easter months from October through March and during hurricane season, which officially runs June 1 to November 30. Check the Steamship Authority before you leave for the boat, and our live advisory banner carries the current travel and weather notices.
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