Is it good to paint in New Haven, CT this week?
A live 7-day go/no-go calendar for exterior paint in New Haven, built from the local forecast against the 5°F-above-dew-point rule. We lead with the signal a weather app misses: overnight condensation risk.
- Dew margin
- 4.4°F
- Overnight dew
- Watch
- Rain
- 14%
- Window
- —
Humidity peaks at 100% — well above the 85% ceiling; cure stalls and moisture gets trapped.
- Dew margin
- 5.6°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 27%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Clear to paint: temps 69–84°F, RH under 77%, surface stays 5.6°F+ above the dew point, no rain in the cure window.
- Dew margin
- 9.4°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 4%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Clear to paint: temps 65–80°F, RH under 59%, surface stays 9.4°F+ above the dew point, no rain in the cure window.
- Dew margin
- 0.9°F
- Overnight dew
- High
- Rain
- 69%
- Window
- —
High condensation risk overnight — surface dips to within 0.9°F of the 72°F dew point (low 67°F, 100% cloud, 13 mph wind). A fresh paint can blush/blister. Stop 4h before dew falls.
- Dew margin
- 6.2°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 39%
- Window
- 9am–5pm
High humidity (87%, over the 85% mark) slows drying — keep an eye on the cure window.
- Dew margin
- 6.1°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 5%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Clear to paint: temps 66–77°F, RH under 73%, surface stays 6.1°F+ above the dew point, no rain in the cure window.
- Dew margin
- 6.6°F
- Overnight dew
- Low
- Rain
- 14%
- Window
- 8am–5pm
Clear to paint: temps 72–79°F, RH under 75%, surface stays 6.6°F+ above the dew point, no rain in the cure window.
- Humidity peaks at 100% — well above the 85% ceiling; cure stalls and moisture gets trapped.
- Watch overnight dew — surface comes within 4.4°F of the dew point (margin is 5°F). Time the coat to dry well before evening.
Hold off. These are forecast numbers — confirm the surface temperature on-site before you start.
Why these thresholds
Overnight dew condensing on a fresh coat causes blistering, surfactant leaching and peeling — the cause of 40%+ of exterior paint failures.
- • Surface temp must stay 5°F above the dew point through application and cure (ASTM D3276 / ISO 8502-42).
- • Air + surface in the 50–85°F band (low-temp lines to 35°F).
- • Humidity under 85%; ideally under 70%.
- • No rain for 24h after application.
- • We use the forecast ground-surface temperature as a surface-temp proxy — confirm on-site with an IR thermometer.
Free in the beta
Watch this job site 24/7
Get an email the moment overnight dew, rain, or an out-of-range stretch threatens a fresh coat — and a morning digest with the best window ahead. No app to check; we watch the forecast for you.