2013 Was Warmer, Wetter and Sunnier Than Average

The year 2013 ended with a 24-hour corrected mean temperature of 49.5F, which was 1.9F warmer than the 120-year average and 0.6F above the 30-year normal. This was the coolest year since 2009. The maximum temperature for the year was 95F on July 19th and the coldest temperature was 0F on January 24th. There was a total of 15 90-degree days in 2013, nine more than average, and ten of these occurred in July.

Annual precipitation totaled 51.87 inches, which was more than three inches wetter than the 120-year average and about 1.5 inches drier than the 1981-2010 average. There were 22 days with thunderstorms during the year, which is exactly average.

Snowfall for the calendar year totaled 99.3 inches, or more than three feet above the long-term average of 61 inches.

The annual mean wind speed of 12.2 mph was the second lowest on record behind 11.8 mph observed in 2012. This continues the several decade long trend of decreasing mean wind speeds on Blue Hill. The peak wind gust for the year was 74 mph from the S during the passage of a strong cold front on January 31st.

Bright sunshine for the year was 55 percent of possible, which was three percent more than the long-term average sunshine, and this was one percent more than the sunshine recorded last year.

The photo here of Killington in Vermont was taken in October 2013 and was provided by Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel.