Spring 2024 Summary – Tenth Warmest and Fifth Wettest on Record

Rain showers with rainbow as photographed from the Blue Hill Observatory looking southwest on 23 May 2024. Photo by BHO Chief Observer Matt Douglas.

Blue Hill Observatory Spring (Mar-May) 2024 Summary: 

Spring 2024 temperature and precipitation were well above average with much less snowfall and less sunshine than expected. The approximated 24-hour mean temperature for spring of 48.0 deg F was 3.1 degrees warmer than the 1891-2020 130-year average for the season, and it was 1.6 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 30-year average. Spring 2024 tied as the tenth warmest on record. The average maximum temperature of 57.5 deg F was 1.8 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal. The average minimum temperature of 40.4 deg F was 2.7 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal, which tied as the fourth warmest on record. The warmest temperature during spring was 88F on May 22nd, and the lowest temperature was 18F on March 1st. The season was very wet, and the total precipitation was 20.26 inches, which was 6.16 inches more than the 30-year normal. The wettest month was March with 9.49 inches, but all three months were wetter than expected. The largest storm and the greatest amount in 24 hours was 2.49 inches of precipitation with several hours of occasional heavy rain and gusty winds on March 23rd. There were five thunderstorm days during spring, including one in April and four in May. The total snowfall for the season was just 0.7 inches, all occurring in April, which was 17.1 inches below the seasonal average. The Spring 2024 snowfall tied as the fourth lowest on record. The mean wind speed was 11.7 mph, which tied with last year as the lowest on record for the season, and the prevailing wind direction was from the west-northwest. The highest wind gust was 63 mph from the east-northeast on April 4th. Spring sunshine was below average with 558.6 hours of bright sunshine, or 47 percent of possible, which was three percent less than the long-term average for the season.

BHO Warmest Spring (Mar-May) Approximated 24-Hour Mean Temperature, deg F (1885-2024):

1) 51.3 in 2010
2) 50.9 in 2012
3) 49.4 in 1991
4) 49.0 in 1977
5) 48.4 in 1998
   48.4 in 2022
7) 48.3 in 2023
8) 48.2 in 1976
9) 48.1 in 1945
10) 48.0 in 2021
   48.0 in 2024

BHO Warmest Spring (Mar-May) Average Minimum Temperature, deg F (1885-2024):

1) 42.6 in 2012
2) 42.4 in 2010
3) 40.5 in 1945
4) 40.4 in 1998
   40.4 in 2024
6) 39.9 in 1973
7) 39.8 in 1991
8) 39.7 in 1979
   39.7 in 2023
10) 39.6 in 2022

BHO Highest Spring (Mar-May) Precipitation, inches (1886-2024):

1) 24.31 in 2010
2) 22.48 in 1984
3) 20.92 in 1983
4) 20.63 in 1901
5) 20.26 in 2024
6) 19.92 in 1953
7) 19.44 in 1967
8) 19.40 in 2005

BHO Lowest Spring (Mar-May) Snowfall, inches (1891-2024):

1) 0.2 in 1903
2) 0.3 in 1930
3) 0.6 in 1910
4) 0.7 in 1995
   0.7 in 2024
6) 0.9 in 1901
7) 1.0 in 1983
8) 1.1 in 2006

BHO Lowest Spring (Mar-May) Mean Wind Speed, mph (1885-2024):

1) 11.7 in 2023
   11.7 in 2024
3) 12.0 in 2012
4) 12.3 in 2016
5) 12.4 in 2022

Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory