Access to this content requires acceptance of our Data Use & Privacy Policy.
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2026
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0421E
SUNSET: 1919E
WILDFIRE SMOKE DOMINATING THE AGAIN SKY TODAY…
Wildfire smoke from Canada and the upper plains of the U.S.
continues to be funneled into the region on a northwest flow
aloft. Today the smoke has also reached the surface as the
smell of it is very evident in the air. While the smoke layer
itself is enough to significantly filter the sun, a band of
clouds also passed through the area as a cold front sagged
southward during the mid to late morning period. Unfortunately,
this front came through completely dry as not even a rain
shower was observed.
Temperatures started the day on the warm side. As a matter of
fact, the low of 73F will be a new record high minimum if it
doesn’t drop below that by midnight tonight. Readings have
only been gradually rising thanks to all the smoke/haze with
highs only reaching the low 80s so far today. Dew point values
started the day on the high side, with readings into the low
to mid 70s, thus making it feel rather unpleasant. However,
values have dropped off some following the frontal passage
with readings down into the mid 60s.
Winds have been fairly steady again today, first out of the
west-southwest, then gradually shifting to northwest by late
this morning. The average speed for the day so far is around
13mph. The peak gust so far for the day is 30mph, which
occurred just after 1pm.
Visibility has been very limited today thanks to smoke/haze.
The view has been held to only around 10 miles throughout the
day.
The maximum temperature so far today is 82F, which is equal to
the normal high of 82F. The minimum temperature since midnight
is 73F, which is 9 degrees above the normal low of 64F.
————————————————————–
Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Broken cirrocumulus, overcast cirrus, smoke layer all
quadrants
Temperature: 78F; Dew Point: 70F; Relative Humidity: 76%
Wind: W @ 10 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1008.0 mb; 29.77 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 10 miles, hazy
6-hr Max temp: 78F
6-hr Min temp: 73F
24-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1155 E180 BKN 250 OVC 10 080/78/70/2810/977/ K LYR ALQDS
HAZY/ 8/009 50000 10078 20073
10 A.M.
Weather: Broken altocumulus overcast smoke layer
Temperature: 80F; Dew Point: 73F; Relative Humidity: 78%
Wind: WNW @ 12G18 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1008.2 mb; 29.77 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 10 miles, hazy
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1455 E130 BKN 200 OVC 10 082/80/73/3012G18/977/
OVC K LYR SFC K LYR HAZY/ 8/08/ 53002
1 P.M.
Weather: Overcast smoke layer, sun dimly visible
Temperature: 80F; Dew Point: 66F; Relative Humidity: 61%
Wind: NW @ 13G24 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1008.2 mb; 29.77 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 10 miles, hazy
6-hr Max temp: 82F
6-hr Min temp: 78F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1755 E200 OVC 10 082/80/66/3113G24/977/ OVC K LYR
SUN DMLY VSBL SFC K LYR HAZY/ 8/000 50000 10082 20078
————————————————————–
SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….88 NORMAL…..82
MIN…….67 NORMAL…..64
MEAN……78 NORMAL…..73
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL…………….+5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………+59 [+4.0 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2026 THRU JUN 2027)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………..0 DEPARTURE………0
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH (JUL)………..2 DEPARTURE……..-2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………….2 DEPARTURE……..-2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE………..1 DEPARTURE……..+1
COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JAN 2026 THRU DEC 2026)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….13 DEPARTURE……..+5
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH (JUL)………163 DEPARTURE…….+58
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………..402 DEPARTURE……+158
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE………331 DEPARTURE…….+71
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)………..32 WSW @ 02:07 P.M.*
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….32 WSW @ 01:16 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….33 WSW @ 02:01 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….30 SW @ 01:16 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………30 W @ 12:57 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..34 WSW @ 01:16 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..34 WSW @ 02:01 P.M.
MERLIN…………………31 WSW
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……32 WSW @ 01:16 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………22 W @ 01:30 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..20 W @ 01:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..22 SW @ 01:18 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………21 WSW @ 01:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………22 WSW @ 01:18 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..20 W @ 01:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..22 SW @ 01:18 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………20 W @ 01:59 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..13.3 WSW [318 total miles]
VECTOR #1………………13.2
VECTOR #2………………13.6
DAVIS #1……………….13.4 WSW
DAVIS #2……………….13.2 WSW
RMY #1…………………13.1 WSW
RMY #2…………………13.4 WSW
RICHARDS (C5C)………….12.7
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.11
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH (JUL)……..2.22 DEPARTURE…..+0.66
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2026)…….20.88 DEPARTURE…..-7.91
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JULY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/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
7/1 95/68/82/+11/0.00/704/77 23 WSW VEC1 23 SW RMY 24
7/2 99/72/86/+15/0.04/822/90 40 W VEC1 39 W RMY 45 TSTM
7/3 98/77/88/+16/0.00/803/88 32 WNW VEC1 32 WNW RMY 34 TSTM
7/4 94/73/84/+12/0.01/765/84 29 WNW VEC1 29 WNW RMY 29
7/5 83/69/76/+4/T/355/39 20 SSE VEC1 20 SE RMY 17
7/6 74/60/67/-5/0.05/009/01 24 E VEC1 24 E RMY 24
7/7 65/61/63/-9/2.11/000/00 40 ENE VEC1 39 NE RMY 40
7/8 83/58/72/-1/0.01/780/86 26 N VEC1 26 N RMY 25
7/9 91/65/78/+5/0.00/834/92 29 SW VEC1 27 SW RMY 29
7/10 88/69/79/+6/0.00/724/80 21 NE VEC1 21 NE RMY 23
7/11 82/66/74/+1/0.00/795/88 20 E VEC1 20 E RMY 19
7/12 81/61/71/-2/0.00/884/98 18 ENE VEC1 18 ENE RMY 18
7/13 86/62/74/+1/0.00/…/.. 30 SW VEC1 30 SSW RMY 32
7/14 88/67/78/+5/0.00/…/.. 32 WSW VEC1 32 WSW RMY 34
7/15 The low since midnight is 73F, the daily normal low is 64F.
————————————————————–
JULY DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
7/2 RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 99F,
BEATING THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 95F SET IN 1963
7/2 RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 72F,
THIS TIED THE RECORD WITH 1901, 1913, AND 1963
7/3 RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 77F,
BEATING THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 76F SET IN 2002
————————————————————–
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR JULY 15
HIGH 94F IN 1995
LOW 50F IN 1929, 1930
PRECIP 1.64 INS IN 1896
WIND 71 MPH WNW IN 2002
RECORDS FOR JULY 16
HIGH 94F IN 1968, 1980, 1983, 1999
LOW 50F IN 1903
PRECIP 2.56 INS IN 2023
WIND 48e MPH SW 1944
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
