Cape Cod summer 2025: Doug the Quahog’s prediction for sunny days
Doug the Quahog predicts how many days will be sunny on Cape Cod this summer at the annual event at the Blue Water Resort in South Yarmouth.
- AccuWeather stated in a report this week that the transition to steady summerlike warmth will be slower than the historical average across the Northeast.
- The number of 90-degree days this summer is predicted to be near, or above the historical average in Boston.
- A “super El Niño” could help stave off hurricanes this year.
Cape Cod’s transition into warm weather will take a bit longer this year − along with the rest of the region − but those hot, humid days will stack up later this summer, according to AccuWeather.
The weather agency just released a report on the potential for severe weather this summer, and while much of it will be relegated to the western and southern parts of the country, Massachusetts isn’t exactly in the clear.
“This summer will likely be remembered for weather extremes,” AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said in a written statement, adding that droughts and wildfires will be an issue in parts of the country this season.
Though conditions have improved, Cape Cod has been dealing with drought since 2020.
And that doesn’t bode well when it comes to wildfires happening in the Bay State.
Here’s what AccuWeather says to look out for this summer when it comes to severe weather conditions in Massachusetts and the rest of New England.
What does this week’s report from AccuWeather forecast for Massachusetts?
The report states the following:
- The transition to steady summerlike warmth will be slower than the historical average across the Northeast.
- The number of 90-degree days this summer is predicted to be near, or above the historical average in Boston, along with Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia.
- A late-summer surge of heat and humidity is possible in the Northeast, especially in August.
“Record heat during the day makes headlines, but warm nights are just as impactful,” Pastelok stated in this week’s AccuWeather report. “The urban heat island effect can amplify the effects of heat waves in cities. When temperatures stay elevated after sunset, energy demand and health risks can increase quickly.”
A ‘Super El Niño’ could affect hurricane season
AccuWeather’s report this week states that there is currently a 15% to 20% chance of a super El Niño developing this season.
A “super El Niño” is “defined as ocean temperatures reaching 2 degrees C or greater above average,” according to AccuWeather.
That’s good news when it comes to hurricanes.
Typically, the stronger the El Niño, the more shear that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean, according to Weather.com, which means poorer conditions for hurricanes to form in.
“Hurricanes hate shear in the atmosphere, so El Niño occurring during the summer and lasting into the fall can lead to weaker and a lower frequency of hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin,” the website states.
What is AccuWeather predicting for hurricane season in 2026?
AccuWeather is forecasting the following for 2026:
- Forecast: 11–16 named storms
- Hurricanes: 4–7
- Major hurricanes (Category 3+): 2–4
- Direct U.S. impacts: 3–5
