Winter 2018-2019 Summary – Warmer, Sunnier and Much Less Snowy than Average

Blue Hill Observatory
Winter 2018-2019 Summary:

The winter (December-February) season was generally warm with a few cold periods, ample sunshine, average precipitation and very little snow. The 24-hour mean temperature for the winter of 29.7 deg F was 2.4 degrees warmer than the 120-year winter average and 0.7 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 30-year average. The highest temperature for the season was 62F on December 21st and February 5th. A few periods of occasional strong cold from late January to early February provided the coldest winter temperature of -2F on January 21st and January 31st. The high temperature on January 21st was only 3F, which was a new record low maximum for the date, and it was the coldest daily maximum temperature in January or any month since a high of 2F was observed on January 8th, 1968. The liquid equivalent precipitation total for winter was 12.80 inches, which was a quarter inch more than the 120-year average and a half inch less than the 1981-2010 mean. There were no significant snow storms during winter and the December to February snowfall totaled just 16.9 inches, which was about 27 inches less than than the long-term mean and the 30-year normal, and it was the ninth lowest winter snowfall total on record. Following a recent trend, the local ponds froze and thawed several times during the winter. The mean wind speed for the winter months was only 13.1 mph, which tied as the slowest wind speed for any December-February period on record.  The peak gust during winter was 77 mph from the south, which occurred during a warm rainstorm on January 24th. Winter was much sunnier than average with 463.4 hours or 55 percent of the possible bright sunshine being observed, which was seven percent more than the 120-year winter average of 48 percent.

BHO Lowest Winter (Dec-Feb) Snowfall, inches (1885-2019):

1) 3.3 in 1936-1937
2) 11.7 in 2011-2012
3) 12.0 in 1888-1889
4) 13.6 in 1991-1992
5) 13.8 in 1979-1980
6) 13.9 in 2006-2007
7) 15.0 in 1889-1890
8) 15.6 in 1994-1995
9) 16.9 in 2018-2019

BHO Coldest January Daily Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2019):

1) -1 on January 28, 1888
2) 1 on January 12, 1886
3) 2 on January 8, 1968
4) 3 on January 6, 1896
   3 on January 4, 1904
   3 on January 21, 2019
7) 4 on January 17, 1907
   4 on January 24, 1907
   4 on January 16, 1994

BHO Lowest Winter (Dec-Feb) Mean Wind Speed, mph (1885-2019):

1) 13.1 in 2013-2014
   13.1 in 2018-2019
3) 13.3 in 2011-2012
   13.3 in 2014-2015
   13.3 in 2017-2018
6) 13.5 in 2015-2016
7) 13.6 in 2007-2008

Photo Credit: Cape Cod Aerial

Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory