Pool season · Massachusetts
New Bedford Pool Season: the Year on One Bar
Last updated: July 25, 2026 · dates · water temp
This is the one-page view of New Bedford's pool year: both model windows, the estimated water-temperature curve, and today's live position on the season bar. The detailed checklists live on the opening and closing guides; this page is the calendar you check between them.
New Bedford, MA — 59 swim days a yearEach dot on the bar is one week of New Bedford's typical year, colored by what the model says that week is for: gray weeks are off-season, hollow teal marks the opening window (May 11–June 1), solid teal is swim season, and hollow amber is the closing window ending October 2. The black marker is today — its position against the colors is the entire executive summary.
The New Bedford pool calendar
Opening — target May 18
Target May 18; the practical window runs May 11–June 1, and the 7-day mean crosses the 61°F threshold around June 1. Cold-water starts are the cheap ones.
Closing — deadline October 2
Hold the cover until September 22, then winterize by October 2, a week ahead of the October 15 freeze normal. Late and cold beats early and warm.
Estimated water temperature by month
Monthly averages of the site's water model run on New Bedford's own normals — the shape of a typical year, not a forecast. The widget above shows where the current year actually sits.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32° | 30° | 35° | 43° | 52° | 62° | 70° | 72° | 67° | 58° | 48° | 39° |
The curve peaks near 72°F — comfortable-water months here usually involve a heater or a solar cover.
Every station tells its own story: compare this curve with Lynn's pool season and Newton's — neighboring normals stations can shift the windows by a week or more. The full ranking lives on the Massachusetts season index.
New Bedford pool season FAQ
When should I open my pool in New Bedford, MA?
The site model recommends opening by May 18 — about two weeks before New Bedford's 7-day mean temperature crosses 61°F, while the water is still too cold for algae. The step-by-step sequence is in the New Bedford opening guide.
When should I close my pool in New Bedford?
Winterize by October 2. The model holds the deadline a week ahead of New Bedford's NOAA 50% first-freeze date, so the plumbing is protected before the first hard night. The full sequence is in the New Bedford closing guide.
How long is the swim season in New Bedford?
New Bedford averages 59 days a year with normal highs of 80°F or better — about 5 days later than the Massachusetts median. The Massachusetts season index ranks all 14 covered cities by the same metric.
How warm does pool water get in New Bedford?
An unheated pool near New Bedford typically peaks around 72°F in high summer and bottoms out near 30°F in winter, never quite reaching the 78°F comfort line without a heater or solar cover. The month-by-month curve above shows the whole cycle; the methodology page explains the ±5°F error bars.
Email me when New Bedford hits the closing window
Data: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals via New Bedford Municipal Airport (0.9 mi); live outlook by Open-Meteo. Attribution: sources · assumptions: methodology.