Monthly Climate Summary · April 2026
Warm and Dry on the Hill.
Spring Arrived Quietly.
April 2026 brought slightly above-normal temperatures and well below-normal precipitation to Great Blue Hill — along with a record low mean wind speed, the hill’s first thunderstorms of the year, and the unmistakable signs of a New England spring coming to life on the summit.
The view from the Blue Hill Observatory roof deck on Boston Marathon day, April 21, 2026 — one of April’s sunniest afternoons, with 204 hours of sunshine recorded for the month. Photo: Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center.
Temperature
Slightly Above Normal, with Wild Swings
1991–2020 Thirty-Year Normals
57.5°F
Avg. Max
+1.2° above normal
37.7°F
Avg. Min
−0.2° below normal
47.6°F
Mean Temp
+0.5° above normal
The corrected mean temperature of 47.6°F landed 0.5°F above the thirty-year average — warm on the whole, but not dramatically so. What made April 2026 stand out was its variability. The monthly high of 83°F on the 14th was separated from the monthly low of 25°F on the 8th by a 58-degree swing within the same month.
Near-normal averages driven by large temperature swings — warm spikes and cool nights — rather than a gradual seasonal transition.
The first thunderstorm of 2026 rattled the hill during the early morning hours of the 16th, with a second following on the afternoon of the 19th.
April 2026 climate summary: temperature slightly above normal, precipitation well below, and a record low mean wind speed since 1885. Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center.
Precipitation & Snowfall
Frequent Rain, but a Dry Month Overall
2.00″
Total Precip
−2.76″ below normal
0.0″
Snowfall
−2.8″ below normal
14
Days with measurable
precipitation
April 2026 was notably dry, with only 2.00 inches of total precipitation — 2.76 inches below the thirty-year normal. No snow fell during the month, coming in 2.8 inches below average. While rain fell on 14 separate days, most events were light; the month’s biggest storm delivered just 0.65 inches over the 1st through the 3rd.
On the bright side, sunshine came in slightly above normal at 204 hours, representing 51% of possible sunshine for April.
Wind
A Record-Calm April on the Hilltop
★ Record Set — April 2026
The mean wind speed of 10.8 mph was the lowest April mean wind speed on record at Blue Hill Observatory — a record extending back to 1885. Remarkably still for a spring month on a 635-foot hilltop.
The peak wind gust of the month was 46 mph, recorded on two separate occasions: on the 6th from the west-northwest, and again on the 14th from the south-southwest. The prevailing wind direction was out of the east-northeast, occurring 16% of the time.
April on the Hill
Spring Takes Hold on Great Blue Hill
April 2026 brought some of the clearest, sunniest days of the year to Great Blue Hill — including Boston Marathon day on the 21st, when the view from the roof deck stretched across the Greater Boston landscape under a deep blue sky. With 204 hours of bright sunshine and well below-normal precipitation, it was a month that rewarded anyone who made the climb.
Early spring vegetation was beginning to show on the hillside, and the summit trails were busy with hikers taking advantage of the warm, dry weather — even as the temperature swings kept things interesting, from a record 83°F on the 14th to a chilly 25°F on the 8th.
April 2026 At a Glance
Blue Hill Observatory — Key Statistics
Mean temperature 47.6°F — 0.5°F above the 1991–2020 normal
Monthly high 83°F on April 14; monthly low 25°F on April 8
Total precipitation 2.00″ — 2.76″ below normal; no snowfall recorded
Rain fell on 14 days; largest event 0.65″ on April 1–3
Peak gust 46 mph on April 6 (WNW) and April 14 (SSW)
Mean wind speed 10.8 mph — lowest April mean on record since 1885
Sunshine 204 hours (51% of possible) — slightly above normal
First thunderstorms of 2026 on April 16 (early morning) and April 19 (afternoon)
141 Years and Counting
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