Thursday, January 1, 2026

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0713E
SUNSET:  1622E

PERIODS OF LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT CULMINATE INTO HEAVY SNOW SQUALLS
AS THE ARCTIC FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THIS MORNING….

Happy New Year, welcome to 2026!

As an area of low pressure passed to the north of the area
overnight last night, periods of light snow developed just after
midnight and continued into early this morning. 0.5″ of snow
accumulated through 7am. We then had a brief lull in the action
before snow squalls associated with the arctic front itself
moved through the area during the mid morning hours. An additional
2.2″ of snow fell from the squalls, bringing the total for the
day to 2.7″. All of this melted down to 0.15″ of liquid, giving
us an average snow to water ratio of 18:1.

Skies have partially cleared early this afternoon with sunshine
mixing with low level clouds. However it has become quite windy
and cold as strong cold air advection ushers in yet another
arctic air mass.

Temperatures were actually “warmer” early this morning when
readings were in the upper 20s. They bottomed out at 20F during
the squalls, but haven’t recovered much since as the strong cold
air advection is putting a limit to and diurnal warming. The
dew point has certainly taken a dive following the passage of the
front, dropping from the mid to upper 20s this morning to the low
teens by early this afternoon, likely destined for the single
digits by this evening.

The wind, as it seems is always the case these days, is busy.
The wind shifted from the southwest to the northwest after the
frontal passage. The average speed for the day so far is around
15mph. Gusts have been frequently exceeding 30mph the mid
morning hours. The peak gust so far is 43mph, which occurred
just before 9am this morning.

Visibility was very limited during the morning while it was
snowing, but has improved markedly this afternoon with the view
reaching 70 miles by the 1pm observation.

The maximum temperature so far today is 29F degrees, which is
5 degrees below the normal high of 36F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 20F degrees, which is 1 degree below the normal
low of 21F.

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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR DECEMBER 2025

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 36.0 [-4.2] Avg. Min. 20.9 [-4.0] Mean      28.5 [-4.0] 24-hour corrected mean: 28.9
Max. for month: 58F on the 19th
Min. for month:  8F on the 5th, 26th

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:   1123 [+117] Total for the season:  2240 [+030] Total for last season: 1932

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units:      0 [+000] Total for the season:   756 [+079] Total for last season:  768

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 2.73 [-2.66] Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.91 on the 2nd-3rd

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 6.8 [-5.8] Greatest in 24 hrs: 3.6 on the 26th-27th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 13.4 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   13.7 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   West [16%] Peak gust and direction:     79 S on the 19th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 9000 of a possible 16470, or 55%
Astronomical total minutes: 9304 of a possible 16998 or 55%

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, overcast altostratus,
few breaks in overcast W-N, higher clouds visible W-N
Temperature: 28F; Dew Point: 27F; Relative Humidity: 95%
Wind: WSW @ 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1000.3 mb; 29.54 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 20 miles, thin fog
6-hr Max temp: 28F
6-hr Min temp: 22F
24-hr Precip: 0.04 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.5 inches
Snow Depth: 1 inch
BHO SA 1155 50 SCT E85 OVC 20 003/28/27/2409/954/ FEW BINOVC W-N
HIER CLDS VSBL W-N THN F ALQDS S-E15 TOTAL NEW SNW PST 24 HRS
0.5 INS/ 8/52/ 4/001 58013 6004/ 70004 10028 20022

10 A.M.
Weather: Sky obscured, vertical visibility 300ft, heavy snow showers
Temperature: 21F; Dew Point: 20F; Relative Humidity: 95%
Wind: WNW @ 17G28 kts, peak wind WNW 38mph at 9:40 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1001.2 mb; 29.57 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 1/4 mile, fog
3-hr Precip: 0.10 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 2.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 X W3 1/4SW+F 012/21/20/3017G28/957/ PK WND 3033/40/
TOTAL NEW SNW PST 3 HRS 2.0 INS/ 8//// 53009 6010/

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, virga distant WNW-N-ESE
Temperature: 24F; Dew Point: 11F; Relative Humidity: 57%
Wind: NW @ 16G29 kts, peak wind WNW 37mph at 12:22 P.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1001.5 mb; 29.57 in. Hg: rising unsteadily
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 29F
6-hr Min temp: 20F
6-hr Precip: 0.11 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 2.2 inches
Snow Depth: 3 inches
BHO SA 1755 E40 BKN 70 015/24/11/3116G29/957/ VIRGA DSNT WNW-N-ESE
PK WND 3032/22/ TOTAL NEW SNW PST 6 HRS 2.2 INS/ 8/500 4/003 52003
6011/ 10029 20020

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SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2025

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….32   NORMAL…..36
MIN…….21   NORMAL…..21
MEAN……27   NORMAL…..29

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL…………….-2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………..-118 [-4.0 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2025 THRU JUN 2026)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….38  DEPARTURE……..+2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..1123  DEPARTURE……+117
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….2240  DEPARTURE…….+30
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..1932  DEPARTURE……+308

PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
Note: Instruments designated #1 = Main Tower, #2 = South Tower,
F420C, Contacting, Merlin, and Richards are all on Main Tower.
E=Estimated *=Last of multiple occurrences

F420C (Official)………..37 W    @   01:20 A.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….37 W    @   01:19 A.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….39 W    @   01:10 A.M.
DAVIS #1……………….35 W    @   01:20 A.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………38 W    @   01:10 A.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..39 W    @   01:19 A.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..41 W    @   01:10 A.M.
MERLIN………………….M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……38 W    @   01:19 A.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………28 W    @   01:21 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..25 W    @   02:33 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..25 WSW  @   02:34 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………27 W    @   02:33 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………26 W    @   02:33 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..24 W    @   02:33 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..24 WSW  @   02:33 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………24 W    @   02:33 A.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..12.3 SW [295 total miles] VECTOR #1………………12.2
VECTOR #2………………12.6
DAVIS #1……………….12.4 WSW
DAVIS #2……………….12.7 WSW
RMY #1…………………11.9 WSW
RMY #2…………………12.5 SW
RICHARDS (C5C)………….11.8

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.04 DEPARTURE…..-0.12
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH (DEC)……..2.73 DEPARTURE…..-2.66
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2025)…….47.19 DEPARTURE…..-6.67

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.5 DEPARTURE……0.0
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH (DEC)…………..6.8 DEPARTURE…..-5.8
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2025-2026)…….7.4 DEPARTURE…..-7.7

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/VEC1/RMY GUST
PEAK GUST: F420C (Official)
VEC1: Vector #1 1-second gust
RMY:  R.M. Young #1 wind gust recording system (Instantaneous)
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M:    Missing data

12/1   42/27/35/-2/T/0.0/547/98          37 WNW VEC1 37 WNW RMY 38
12/2   36/27/32/-5/0.85/T/000/00         38 N   VEC1 38 NNE RMY 38
12/3   37/27/32/-4/0.06/0.6/423/76       28 NW  VEC1 29 NNW RMY 30
12/4   38/15/27/-9/T/T/255/46            60 NW  VEC1 59 WNW RMY 61
12/5   25/8/17/-19/T/T/510/92            30 NW  VEC1 30 NW  RMY 30
12/6   39/25/32/-3/T/T/122/22            21 W   VEC1 21 W   RMY 22
12/7   39/27/33/-2/0.00/0.0/248/45       24 W   VEC1 24 W   RMY 24
12/8   31/12/22/-13/T/T/457/83           43 NW  VEC1 43 NW  RMY 44
12/9   28/9/19/-15/0.00/0.0/452/82       33 SSW VEC1 33 SSW RMY 33
12/10  46/28/37/+3/0.04/T/187/34         50 SSW VEC1 50 SSW RMY 51
12/11  37/21/29/-5/0.00/0.0/450/82       51 WNW VEC1 51 WNW RMY 53
12/12  33/18/26/-8/0.00/0.0/532/97       41 W   VEC1 41 W   RMY 42
12/13  34/23/29/-4/0.00/0.0/038/07       28 SW  VEC1 28 SW  RMY 31
12/14  31/15/23/-10/0.13/1.8/000/00      39 NNW VEC1 39 NNW RMY 40
12/15  23/10/17/-16/0.00/0.0/496/91      40 NW  VEC1 40 NW  RMY 42
12/16  36/19/28/-4/0.00/0.0/437/80       29 SW  VEC1 29 SW  RMY 30
12/17  45/25/35/+3/0.00/0.0/196/36       43 SW  VEC1 42 SW  RMY 43
12/18  47/32/40/+8/0.00/0.0/539/99       32 S   VEC1 32 S   RMY 34
12/19  58/32/45/+13/0.60/T/000/00        79 S   VEC1 79 S   RMY 81
12/20  36/27/32/+1/0.00/0.0/446/82       46 WNW VEC1 46 WNW RMY 45
12/21  45/28/37/+6/0.00/0.0/480/88       46 SSW VEC1 46 SSW RMY 46
12/22  31/22/27/-4/0.00/0.0/539/99       44 NW  VEC1 44 NW  RMY 44
12/23  35/26/31/0/0.19/0.8/000/00        20 SE  VEC1 18 SSE RMY 19
12/24  36/24/30/0/0.03/T/180/33          50 NNW VEC1 49 NNW RMY 52
12/25  38/16/27/-3/T/T/071/13            55 NNW VEC1 55 NNW RMY 60
12/26  21/8/15/-15/0.09/1.4/393/72       33 NNW VEC1 33 NNW RMY 34
12/27  25/14/20/-10/0.14/2.2/245/45      23 N   VEC1 23 N   RMY 24
12/28  36/14/25/-4/0.04/0.0/453/83       26 SSW VEC1 26 SSW RMY 26
12/29  47/29/38/+9/0.58/T/000/00         53 W   VEC1 50 W   RMY 53
12/30  29/20/25/-4/0.00/0.0/279/51       59 WNW VEC1 59 WNW RMY 63
12/31  32/21/27/-2/0.00/0.0/329/60       37 W   VEC1 37 W   RMY 39

1/1  The low since midnight is 20F, the daily normal low is 21F.

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DECEMBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE

12/19 PEAK GUST OF 79 MPH S,
BEAT THE OLD RECORD OF 68 MPH NE IN 1986.

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DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)

RECORDS FOR JANUARY 1
HIGH 58F IN 1966
LOW -6F IN 1918
PRECIP 1.45 INS. IN 1982
SNOWFALL 7.2 INS. IN 1938
PEAK GUST 90e MPH S IN 1945

RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2
HIGH 62F IN 1890
LOW -7F IN 1899,1918
PRECIP 2.10 INS. IN 1987
SNOWFALL 10.9 INS. IN 2014
PEAK GUST 85e MPH S IN 1942

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas