January 2018 Summary – Wetter and Snowier Than Average

Blue Hill Observatory

January 2018 Summary:

After a very cold start, January ended slightly warmer than average, and the month brought more rain and snow than normal. The 24-hour mean temperature for the month of 26.4 deg F was 0.7 degrees warmer than the 120-year average for January and just a fraction of a degree warmer than the 1981-2010 30-year average. The month got off to a bitter cold start with the first seven days averaging about 16 degrees colder than normal with four of those days having minimum temperatures below 0 deg F. This was followed by frequent swings in temperature the rest of the month. The high temperature was 60F on the 12th and 13th, and the coldest temperature was -8F on the 7th. Within one 24-hour period following a warm rain storm, the temperature dropped from 60F on the 13th to 11F the following morning. A total of 6.00 inches of precipitation was measured during the month, which was almost two inches more than the long-term 120-year average and the 30-year mean. The greatest amount in 24 hours was 2.28 inches during the rain storm on the 12-13th that brought the warmest temperatures and the highest wind gust of the month. Snowfall totaled 25.2 inches, which was nine inches more than the long-term mean and the 30-year average. Much of this amount, 16.5 inches, occurred during the largest snow storm of the month on the 4th, which was also the largest snowfall in 24 hours.  The mean wind speed for January was 15.0 mph, and the prevailing direction was from the west. A peak gust of 58 mph from the south-southwest occurred on the 13th. January was sunnier than average with a total of 137.9 hours of bright sunshine, or 48 percent of possible, which was two percent more than the long-term average for the month.

Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory