January 28, 2015 Special Report – ...

January 28, 2015 Special Report – 7 AM

BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA

**SPECIAL REPORT**
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

BLIZZARD OF 2015 SETS ITS PLACE IN THE RECORD BOOKS,
STORM TOTAL OF 30.8 INCHES GRABS SECOND HIGHEST
STORM TOTAL SINCE 1885 ON GREAT BLUE HILL

Snow finally came to an end early this morning, with only a
trace of new snow falling since midnight. From midnight to
midnight yesterday, 25.2 inches of snow fell with a liquid
equivalent of 1.94 inches of water. The storm total of 30.8
inches which fell from the 26th through early this morning on
the 28th also breaks the record for the largest January storm
recorded on Great Blue Hill, and likely sets a record for
24 hour snow storm totals.

Significant drifting of light fluffy snow has left only
a fraction of what has fallen during the storm on the summit,
with 22 inches of snow depth at this morning’s 7:00 AM EST
observation. This also includes the 4 inches that were on
the ground prior to this latest storm. Drifts in excess
of 3 feet exist around the summit, particularly in areas
sheltered from the wind. The peak gust officially recorded
during the blizzard was 51 MPH from the N at 5:47 AM EST
yesterday morning, while the midnight to midnight average
yesterday for 23.4 MPH from the N. Our fastest mile was
33 MPH from the N at 3:55 AM EST.

Once again, here is the list of storms total over 20 inches
here at Blue Hill Observatory’s history dating back to 1885,
with the new storm update:

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.8 on 26-28 Jan, 2015
3) 30.3 on 3-5 Mar, 1960
4) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
5) 30.0 on 31 Mar – 1 Apr, 1997
6) 29.8 on 6-8 Mar, 2013
7) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
8) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
9) 24.3 on 5-7 Dec, 2003
10) 23.0 on 5-7 Mar, 2001
11) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
12) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969
13) 20.5 on 22-23 Jan, 2005
14) 20.3 on 12 Dec, 1960
15) 20.0 on 31 Jan – 1 Feb, 1898

More details and data to follow in today’s Daily Discussion, due
out around 2:00 PM EST this afternoon.

Brian Fitzgerald
Chief Observer