Boston Summer Could Be Driest Ever

BOSTON, MA Boston be on the way to its driest summer ever, as more of Massachusetts fell into the "Extreme Drought" category Thursday.

According to NECN meteorologist Aaron Perry, Boston is closing in on record-breaking lows in precipitation. So far, he said, only 3.02 inches of rain have fallen in the city this summer.

It would have to really pour over the next few weeks not to break the record. The record-holding driest summer in Boston is 1957, according to Perry, when the city saw just under 4 inches of rain.

We'd need to get a full inch of rain between now and Sept. 22 for that 1957 record to stand.

With or without hitting record lows, this season's dryness is extreme. On average, Boston summers see 10.45 inches of rain, according to Graphiq's weather database, and the month of July alone typically sees at least 3.43 inches.

Statewide, 17 percent of Massachusetts is now under Extreme Drought conditions, and last week marked the first time an Extreme Drought has been called in Massachusetts.

We may yet see some rain Monday, and possibly the weekend after that, according to Perry.

Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.