Blizzard of 2015 Breaks Snowfall Records

The historic New England Blizzard of 2015 on January 26-28th has had significant impacts at the Blue Hill Observatory. Chief Observer Brian Fitzgerald was on duty at the Observatory to take regular observations throughout the storm.  At 7 AM EST on the 27th, the storm total was 15.5 inches with a peak wind gust to 51 mph.  A special report was released early in the morning detailing the initial impacts of the snow storm.
By 1 PM EST, an additional 10.0 inches of snow brought the storm total to 25.5 inches with heavy snow still in progress. The daily discussion for the 27th summarizes the storm through early afternoon.
For the six hours ending at 7 PM EST, another 4.2 inches of snow was recorded, which brought the storm total up to 29.7 inches. See the evening special report for further details.
The last of the snow amounted to 1.1 inches for the six hours ending at 1 AM EST on the 28th, which brought the final storm total up to 30.8 inches. The last traces of snow fell early on the 28th.  The total liquid equivalent precipitation was 2.44 inches, giving a snow to water ratio of 13.  See the morning special report for further details.
This blizzard set new records for several snow categories at the Observatory. It was the largest snowstorm ever observed in January since records began in February 1885, it was the second greatest snowstorm for any month, and the daily total for January 27th, 25.2 inches, has surpassed the previous record for the most snow in a single calendar day in January. The total on the 27th was also the second highest snowfall on a calendar day in any month.  The month has also finished among the top ten snowiest Januarys on record with a total of 42.9 inches. Here are the current lists including the storm this week:
BHO Greatest Snowstorms, inches:
1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.8 on 26-28 Jan, 2015
3) 30.3 on 3-5 Mar, 1960
4) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
5) 30.0 on 31 Mar – 1 Apr, 1997
6) 29.8 on 6-8 Mar, 2013
7) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
8) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
9) 24.3 on 5-7 Dec, 2003
10) 23.0 on 5-7 Mar, 2001
11) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
12) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969
13) 20.5 on 22-23 Jan, 2005
14) 20.3 on 12 Dec, 1960
15) 20.0 on 31 Jan – 1 Feb, 1898
BHO Greatest January Snowstorms, inches
1) 30.8 on 26-28 Jan, 2015
2) 20.5 on 22-23 Jan, 2005
3) 19.0 on 20 Jan, 1978
4) 18.2 on 7-8 Jan 1996
18.2 on 12 Jan, 2011
6) 17.6 on 23-24 Jan, 1966
7) 16.7 on 22-24 Jan, 1935
8) 16.3 on 2-4 Jan, 1996
9) 16.2 on 7-8 Jan, 1977
10) 15.6 on 2-3 Jan, 2014
11) 15.5 on 15-17 Jan, 1965
BHO Greatest Calendar Day Snowfalls, inches
1) 27.4 on 24 Feb, 1969
2) 25.2 on 27 Jan, 2015
3) 20.3 on 12 Dec, 1960
4) 20.0 on 17 Feb, 2003
5) 19.0 on 20 Jan, 1978
6) 18.6 on 16 Feb, 1958
7) 18.4 on 29 Dec, 1945
8) 18.2 on 12 Jan, 2011
9) 18.0 on 8 Mar, 2013
10) 17.6 on 19 Mar, 1956
BHO Greatest January Calendar Day Snowfalls, inches
1) 25.2 on 27 Jan, 2015
2) 19.0 on 20 Jan, 1978
3) 18.2 on 12 Jan, 2011
4) 16.0 on 7 Jan, 1977
5) 15.0 on 28 Jan, 1897
6) 14.6 on 23 Jan 1966
7) 14.0 on 16 Jan, 1965
8) 13.4 on 17 Jan, 1956
9) 13.0 on 18 Jan, 1948
BHO Snowiest Januarys, inches
1) 56.3 in 1948
2) 48.2 in 2011
3) 48.0 in 1904
4) 47.6 in 1996
5) 46.0 in 1966
6) 44.8 in 2005
7) 44.5 in 1923
8) 42.9 in 2015
9) 38.3 in 1987
10) 35.6 in 1978
11) 33.1 in 2014