Saturday, January 31, 2026
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2026
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0659E
SUNSET: 1657E
COLD AND CALM TODAY AS WE CLOSE OUT THE MONTH WITH
HISTORIC SNOWFALL RECORD….
We have been fortunate to have another day of mostly clear skies
with a repeat of offshore clouds and some high cirrus in the area.
While the sunshine is once again deceptive, today feels marginally
better with the lower wind speeds and slightly higher dew points.
So far for the month we have received 35.9″ of snowfall at Blue Hill,
which, according to our chief scientist Michael Iacono, has surpassed
the total snowfall in January 1978 and is now ranked as the 11th
snowiest January on record, dating back to 1886. So if it feels like
we have a lot of snow in the area, you are not imagining things!
Temperatures continue to be well below normal (and freezing), though
by comparison, today feels much warmer. This morning the temperature
dipped to -1F just before sunrise. Temperatures have improved quite
a bit from that start, as the high for the day so far is at 19F. That
seems cold, and it is, but we have increased 20 degrees since day
break. The air remains dry and dew points have reflected that. Dew points
started in the negative single digits and by this afternoon we were in
the single digits. Progress!
Winds have slowed quite a bit since yesterday, with an average so far
of only around 9mph today. Winds have been mostly out of the northwest
and west-northwest, though this afternoon the wind has been more on the
light and variable side. The peak gust for the day so far is 19mph,
which occurred just before 11am this morning.
Visibility has improved as the day progressed, starting from around
40 miles this morning to about 60 miles this afternoon.
The maximum temperature so far today is 19 degrees, which is
16 degrees below the normal high of 35F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is -1F degrees, which is 18 degrees below the
normal low of 17F.
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Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus offshore distant NNE-SE-SSW,
few cirrus ESE-WSW
Temperature: 0F; Dew Point: -4F; Relative Humidity: 82%
Wind: WNW @ 8 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1019.9 mb; 30.12 in. Hg: rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 40 miles
6-hr Max temp: 3F
6-hr Min temp: -1F
24-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 17 inches
BHO SA 1155 CLR 40 199/0/-4/3008/012/ FEW SC OFFSHR DSNT NNE-SE-SSW
FEW CI ESE-WSW/ 8/501 4/017 51010 10003 21001
10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus offshore distant NE-ESE,
few cirrus ESE-SSW
Temperature: 11F; Dew Point: 1F; Relative Humidity: 64%
Wind: NW @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1020.8 mb; 30.14 in. Hg: rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 60 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 CLR 60 208/11/1/3007/014/ FEW SC OFFSHR DSNT NE-ESE
FEW CI ESE-SSW/ 8/501 51009
1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus offshore distant NE-ESE,
few cirrus ESE-WSW
Temperature: 18F; Dew Point: 4F; Relative Humidity: 55%
Wind: NW @ 4 kts, wind light and variable
Sea-level pressure: 1019.0 mb; 30.09 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 60 miles
6-hr Max temp: 19F
6-hr Min temp: 0F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 17 inches
BHO SA 1755 CLR 60 190/18/4/3104/009/ FEW SC OFFSHR DSNT NE-ESE
FEW CI ESE-WSW WND L/V/ 8/501 4/017 58018 10019 20000
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SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….14 NORMAL…..35
MIN……..2 NORMAL…..17
MEAN…….8 NORMAL…..26
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……………-18
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………-28 [-1.1 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2025 THRU JUN 2026)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….57 DEPARTURE…….+18
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..1179 DEPARTURE…….+25
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….3419 DEPARTURE…….+55
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..3110 DEPARTURE……+309
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)………..29 WNW @ 10:09 A.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….29 WNW @ 01:11 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….29 SW @ 04:44 A.M.
DAVIS #1……………….30 W @ 01:11 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………29 WNW @ 04:44 A.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..30 WNW @ 10:09 A.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..30 SW @ 04:44 A.M.
MERLIN…………………33 W
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……30 WNW @ 10:09 A.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………25 WNW @ 08:31 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..24 WNW @ 10:09 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..26 WSW @ 08:31 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………25 WNW @ 10:09 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………26 WNW @ 08:31 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..23 WNW @ 10:09 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..26 WSW @ 08:31 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………24 WNW @ 10:09 A.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..15.7 WNW [377 total miles]
VECTOR #1………………15.2
VECTOR #2………………17.0
DAVIS #1……………….16.1 WNW
DAVIS #2……………….16.7 WNW
RMY #1…………………14.5 WNW
RMY #2…………………16.5 SW
RICHARDS (C5C)………….15.5
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.14
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH (JAN)……..3.62 DEPARTURE…..-0.74
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2026)……..3.62 DEPARTURE…..-0.74
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE…..-0.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH (JAN)………….35.9 DEPARTURE….+18.0
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2025-2026)……42.8 DEPARTURE…..+9.8
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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 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
1/1 29/11/20/-9/0.15/2.7/264/48 43 NW VEC1 43 NW RMY 42
1/2 25/12/19/-9/0.00/0.0/397/72 26 W VEC1 26 W RMY 27
1/3 30/14/22/-6/0.00/0.0/342/62 31 WNW VEC1 31 WNW RMY 31
1/4 30/21/26/-2/0.03/0.4/171/31 26 NNW VEC1 27 NNW RMY 28
1/5 25/11/18/-10/0.04/0.2/249/45 23 SSE VEC1 22 NW RMY 23
1/6 32/22/27/-1/0.01/T/000/00 22 ENE VEC1 21 E RMY 23
1/7 36/30/33/+6/0.25/0.1/000/00 23 NW VEC1 21 ENE RMY 24
1/8 45/30/38/+11/0.00/0.0/500/90 26 NW VEC1 27 WNW RMY 27
1/9 50/32/41/+14/0.06/0.0/228/41 41 SW VEC1 42 SSW RMY 44
1/10 50/36/43/+16/0.36/T/022/04 33 W VEC1 31 W RMY 31
1/11 41/30/36/+9/0.06/0.0/079/14 43 WNW VEC1 41 WNW RMY 43
1/12 37/24/31/+4/0.00/0.0/303/54 47 WNW VEC1 46 WNW RMY 47
1/13 45/28/37/+11/0.00/0.0/457/81 35 SSW VEC1 35 SSW RMY 33
1/14 49/39/44/+18/T/0.0/017/03 36 SSW VEC1 36 SSW RMY 36
1/15 51/25/38/+12/T/0.0/340/60 39 SW VEC1 39 SW RMY 38
1/16 30/15/23/-3/0.00/0.0/483/85 46 W VEC1 46 W RMY 46
1/17 38/24/31/+5/0.02/T/040/07 39 SSW VEC1 39 SSW RMY 40
1/18 33/28/31/+5/0.44/4.4/000/00 22 S VEC1 22 S RMY 21
1/19 34/22/28/+2/0.11/2.2/132/23 35 WSW VEC1 33 WSW RMY 38
1/20 24/11/18/-8/0.00/0.0/564/98 33 W VEC1 33 W RMY 34
1/21 33/7/20/-6/0.01/0.1/387/67 33 SSW VEC1 34 SSW RMY 36
1/22 43/27/35/+9/0.02/0.2/348/60 38 W VEC1 38 W RMY 42
1/23 32/10/21/-5/0.00/0.0/552/95 46 WNW VEC1 46 WNW RMY 47
1/24 13/0/7/-19/0.00/0.0/554/95 48 NW VEC1 49 WNW RMY 52
1/25 26/3/15/-11/1.65/19.4/000/00 53 E VEC1 51 E RMY 57
1/26 27/11/19/-7/0.41/5.9/000/00 43 ENE VEC1 42 ENE RMY 45
1/27 22/4/13/-13/T/0.3/354/60 40 NW VEC1 40 NW RMY 37
1/28 23/5/14/-12/0.00/0.0/486/82 25 WNW VEC1 25 WNW RMY 24
1/29 24/5/15/-11/0.00/0.0/…/.. 29 WNW VEC1 29 WNW RMY 30
1/30 14/2/8/-18/0.00/0.0/…/.. 35 WNW VEC1 35 NW RMY 39
1/31 The low since midnight is -1F, the daily normal low is 17F.
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JANUARY DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
1/25/26: DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 19.4 INS,
SURPASSES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 12.5 IN IN 1941
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DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 31
HIGH 58F IN 1947, 2013
LOW -12F IN 1920
PRECIP 1.03 INS. IN 1914
SNOWFALL 9.0 INS. IN 1898
PEAK GUST 75 MPH NW IN 1974
RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 1
HIGH 65F IN 1989
LOW -9F IN 1920
PRECIP 1.86 INS. IN 2021
SNOWFALL 12.7 INS. IN 2021
PEAK GUST 66e MPH SSW IN 1951
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Amanda Joly
