Spring 2026 Summary – Tied for Ninth Warmest on Record – Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center

Blue Hill Observatory Spring (Mar-May) 2026 Summary:

Spring 2026 temperature was much above average with below average precipitation and snowfall and near average sunshine. The approximated 24-hour mean temperature for spring of 48.2 deg F was 3.3 degrees warmer than the 1891-2020 130-year average for the season, and it was 1.8 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 30-year average. Spring 2026 tied as the ninth warmest on record. The average maximum temperature of 58.5 deg F was 2.8 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal, which tied as the ninth warmest on record. The average minimum temperature of 39.0 deg F was 1.3 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal. The warmest temperature during spring was 95F on May 19th, which was the second warmest temperature ever observed in May and it was the second warmest temperature on record so early in the season. The lowest temperature during spring was 8F on March 2nd. The mean water vapor pressure, which is an absolute measure of water vapor in the air, was the seventh highest on record for spring at 8.5 mb, which corresponds to a mean dew point of about 40F. This amount was above the long-term mean water vapor pressure for spring of 7.4 mb, which equals a mean dew point of about 37F. The season was drier than average with a total precipitation of 10.21 inches, which was 3.89 inches less than the 30-year normal. Half of the seasonal precipitation, 5.08 inches, fell in March, and the driest month was April with only 2.00 inches. The greatest amount in 24 hours was 1.45 inches on March 16th-17th during the arrival and passage of a very strong cold front on the 17th, which also brought very strong southerly winds. There were three thunderstorm days during spring, including two in April and one in May. The total snowfall for the season was just 2.9 inches, all occurring in March, which was 14.9 inches below the seasonal average. The lowest sea-level pressure during spring was 29.31 inches during the storm on March 17th, and the highest sea-level pressure was 30.70 inches during the coldest weather of the season on March 2nd. The mean wind speed was 11.6 mph, which was the lowest on record for spring, and the prevailing wind direction was from the south-southwest. The highest wind gust was 81 mph from the south during the strong storm on March 17th. Spring sunshine was near average with 576.1 hours of bright sunshine, or 49 percent of possible, which was one percent less than the long-term average for the season.

BHO Warmest Spring (Mar-May) Approximated 24-Hour Mean Temperature, deg F (1885-2026):

1) 51.3 in 2010
2) 50.9 in 2012
3) 49.4 in 1991
4) 49.0 in 1977
   49.0 in 2025
6) 48.4 in 1998
   48.4 in 2022
8) 48.3 in 2023
9) 48.2 in 1976
   48.2 in 2026

BHO Warmest Spring (Mar-May) Average Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2026):

1) 61.4 in 2010
2) 61.1 in 2012
3) 60.5 in 1991
4) 60.3 in 1977
5) 59.6 in 1945
6) 59.0 in 1976
   59.0 in 2022
   59.0 in 2025
9) 58.5 in 1903
   58.5 in 1921
   58.5 in 2021
   58.5 in 2026