Current News

Observatory Reaches 99F on Third Day of Heatwave

After reaching a high temperature of 91F on June 22nd and 94F on June 23rd, 2025, the heatwave reached its third day on Tuesday, June 24th when the temperature soared to a high of 99F at the Observatory on the summit of Great Blue Hill. This reading not only surpassed the record for the date… Read More »

State of the Climate at Blue Hill Observatory: 1885-2024

This report is an updated summary of the extensive climate records of the Blue Hill Observatory that focuses on the daily climate data for several key parameters over the entire period of record. This document is also available as a downloadable PDF file.    

Volunteer @ 635 Feet: Become a “Volunteer Tour Guide” at the Blue Hill Observatory

The Blue Hill Observatory is seeking individuals—with a passion for community service—to become volunteer tour guides. In this role, volunteers will give tours of the Observatory’s historic landmark weather observation station—1 of only 11 in the country. Volunteer tour guides will lead visitors through the Observatory, highlighting a 140-year continuous “Weather Observation Program,” along with… Read More »

Climate Reference Network Instruments Operational at Blue Hill Observatory

  After many years of planning and site preparation, NOAA has installed a full suite of Climate Reference Network (CRN) instruments on the summit of Great Blue Hill in the clearing to the west of the Observatory. The automated instruments at BHO, which became operational on 18 September 2024, include duplicate sensors for air temperature,… Read More »

Blue Hill Observatory Climate Change Statement

Rigorous and widely accepted scientific analysis shows that Earth’s climate is currently changing at an unprecedented rate compared to changes that occurred over the last hundreds of thousands of years. Although numerous factors influence Earth’s climate, the climate science community, after exhaustive research, has concluded that human activities constitute the most significant underlying cause for… Read More »

Past News

1/28/25 Join us for a special presentation by author Ty Gagne of his latest book “The Lions of Winter: Survival and Sacrifice on Mount Washington”
1/8/25 Applications are Now Open for Blue Hill Observatory’s “Launch Your Meteorology Career” Program
8/26/24 Legislature Restores Funding for BHO. You Made this Happen
8/5/24 The Cummings Foundation Awards the Blue Hill Observatory $75,000 Over Three Years
6/29/24 Blue Hill Observatory and Boston University to Host Free Workshops for Educators
6/5/24 Join us on Great Blue Hill for Blue Hill Observatory’s 2024 Summer Program for Youth Ages 7-9
6/23/23 Join us for the Southern New England Weather Conference on Saturday, July 15th, 2023
6/18/23 Join us for “An Evening Among the Stars” on Friday, July 14th, 2023
5/5/23 Observatory Grand Reopening Event Schedule for July 13-16, 2023
2/21/23 State of the Climate at Blue Hill Observatory: 1885-2022

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2/4/23 Historic Arctic Outbreak Chills New England
12/17/22 An Appeal to the Greater Boston Community from Executive Director, Charles Orloff
10/20/22 “Picture Post for Environmental Conservation”— A New Program for Middle School Youth at Blue Hill Observatory with Supporting Online Units
9/1/22 Extreme Drought of 2022 Continues at Blue Hill
7/15/22 Renovations are in Progress at Blue Hill Observatory: What You Need to Know
6/17/22 Olmsted200 Recognizes Blue Hill
6/12/22 Cool Start to June 2022 Compared to Last June
3/19/22 Blue Hill Observatory Remembers Mish Michaels
2/24/22 The Observatory is Seeking a Curriculum Development Consultant with Ecological Expertise
2/11/22 Announcing Blue Hill Observatory’s 2022 Summer Workshop: “Launch Your Weather Career”
1/29/22 Historic Blizzard of 2022 Impacted New England with Strong Winds and Record Snowfall
1/22/22 Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center Announces a $100K Grant from the Yawkey Foundation
12/30/21 Two Tornado Outbreaks in December 2021 Have Raised Questions About Extreme Weather Nationally and Even for New England
10/19/21 Observatory Receives a “Save America’s Treasures” Grant to Conserve our Historic Climate Books – Your Help is Needed to Raise Matching Funds
7/9/21 Tropical Storm Elsa Drenches Southern New England
4/16/21 Daily Record Snowfall at the Observatory on April 16th
4/3/21 Observatory Open for Tours Through Late May/Early June 2021
2/1/21 State of the Climate at Blue Hill Observatory: 2020
11/9/20 Small Local Earthquake Observed on November 8th
11/9/20 November Record Warmth at Blue Hill
10/30/20 Record Snowfall at Blue Hill on October 30th
8/11/20 Observatory and Gift Shop Reopen
2/11/20 Blue Hill Observatory Begins Earthquake Monitoring
2/3/20 A Grand Achievement—Blue Hill Observatory’s Unbroken 135 Year Recording of the Weather—Help Us Celebrate!
1/24/20 Announcing Blue Hill Observatory’s 2020 Summer Workshop: “Launch Your Weather Career”
11/18/19 For Our Children, For Us! Please Make the Blue Hill Observatory Your Priority this Giving Season
4/29/19 House Approves $100,000 Funding for BHO. On to the Senate.
4/20/19 House to Vote on $100,000 Funding for BHO. Your Immediate Help is Needed
1/19/19 Announcing Blue Hill Observatory’s 2019 Summer Workshop: “Launch Your Weather Career”
12/6/18 2018-2019 Winter Temperature Forecast
8/31/18 State of the Climate at Blue Hill Observatory: 2018
7/28/18 Governor Baker Signs FY19 Budget- BHO Funding Approved
3/13/18 Major Nor’easter Brings Record Snow to Observatory
2/1/18 Tell Us How You Remember The Great Blizzard of “78”
1/25/18 Your Chance to Own the Original 78 Blizzard Map Drawn by Bob Copeland
1/12/18 Announcing Blue Hill Observatory’s 2018 Summer Workshop: “Launch Your Weather Career”
12/27/17 WITNESS YOUR IMPACT…
12/8/17 Happy Holidays from Blue Hill Observatory
12/5/17 The Great Blizzard of “78” Remembering Its Fury
11/29/17 Support Blue Hill on Giving Week
11/21/17 2017-2018 Winter Temperature Forecast
11/7/17 “Colder and Likely Snowy Winter Ahead” Says Winter Weather Expert Joe D’Aleo
7/20/17 Governor Signs FY2018 Budget- BHO Funding Spared
7/7/17 Mass Legislature APPROVES $100,000 Funding for BHO
6/4/17 Last Chance to Gain Funding for Blue Hill Observatory
5/31/17 World Meteorological Organization Selects Blue Hill Observatory as a Centennial Observing Station
5/24/17 Mass Senate Votes NO on Funding for BHO
5/19/17 Senate to Vote on $100,000 for BHO. Your Immediate Help is Needed
4/6/17 “Run for the Roses” Fundraiser on May 6, 2017
3/20/17 Enjoy a Great Meal and Raise Money for Blue Hill Observatory
3/16/17 Blue Hill Observatory Scientist Ventures Out no Matter What the Weather
2/24/17 New February High Temperature Record at BHO
2/4/17 Announcing Blue Hill Observatory’s 2017 Summer Workshop: “Launch Your Weather Career”
2/1/17 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
1/1/17 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
12/30/16 Help us Reach the Top of the Tower
12/30/16 Women in Science? BHO Welcomes a Star!
12/29/16 Happy New Year from a Snowy, We Hope, Blue Hill Observatory
12/25/16 A Message from Ch. 4 Meteorologist Eric Fisher
12/12/16 Help Us Inspire Children to Learn About the Weather
12/7/16 Governor Baker Cuts Blue Hill Observatory Funding
11/30/16 You Can Help Keep BHO Focused on Climate
11/23/16 2016-2017 Winter Temperature Forecast
11/16/16 Winter 2016-2017: Colder and Snowier? Check out D’Aleo’s Forecast
9/14/16 Join us for New England Aquarium Day at BHO
9/10/16 The Multi-Year Wild Snow Story and the El Nino Winter of 2015/16
8/4/16 Legislature Restores Funding for BHO. You Made this Happen
7/25/16 Legislative Override Vote for BHO Funding Postponed Until Next Weekend, 7/30-31.
7/21/16 Lawmakers to Vote on Override of Governor’s Veto of BHO Funding THIS SATURDAY. Your Support is Urgently Needed.
7/20/16 Time Running Out for Legislature to Override Governor’s Veto of BHO Funding. Your Support is STILL Needed.
7/11/16 Governor Baker Vetoes $100,000 Budget Line-item for B.H.O. Your Support is Needed.
7/1/16 Legislature Votes to Support Funding for Blue Hill Observatory
6/6/16 One More Hurdle to Gain Funding for Blue Hill Observatory
5/27/16 Senate Votes to Support Funding for Blue Hill Observatory…Next Step, Joint Conference Committee
5/2/16 Senate to Vote on $100,000 Earmark for BHO. Your Immediate Help is Needed
3/13/16 “Run for the Roses” Fundraiser on May 7, 2016
2/25/16 Announcing Blue Hill Observatorys’ 2016 Summer Workshop: “Launch Your Weather Career”
12/22/15 Historic Observatory Instruments Rescued, and now Showcased on Harvard Website
12/14/15 Time is running out to meet our Annual Challenge
12/2/15 The Perfect Gift for Your Weather Nerd Friends
11/10/15 Winter 2015-2016: Will El Nino Interrupt the Snow Party?
9/8/15 We’ve Reached our Minimum Goal to Purchase a New Aerovane- Thank You!
7/19/15 Governor Baker Vetoes $100,000 Earmark for B.H.O. Your Support is Needed.
3/21/15 Epic Winter of 2014-2015 Becomes Snowiest Season on Record
3/6/15 Epic Winter of 2014-2015 Close to Snowiest Season on Record
2/25/15 Epic Winter of 2014-2015 Becomes Second Snowiest Season on Record
2/15/15 Epic Winter of 2014-2015 Sets Monthly Snowfall Record
2/9/15 Epic Winter of 2014-2015 Sets More Snowfall Records
1/27/15 Blizzard of 2015 Breaks Snowfall Records
12/22/14 2014-2015 Winter Temperature Forecast
12/22/14 Blue Hill Observatory Annual Appeal
11/6/14 The Wild Winter of 2013-2014- Could it Repeat?
5/10/14 Governor Signs Bill which includes Capital Improvements to Eliot Tower & Blue Hill Observatory
3/25/14 Spring Open House at Blue Hill on May 31st 2014
10/11/13 The Great New England Hurricane of 1938: A Look Back
9/10/13 Prudential Webcams on Chronicle Sept 11 7:30pm
9/3/13 September 21, 1938 “Special Limited Edition” Weather Map Prepared by Bob Copeland
4/30/13 Introducing the Webcams at the Pru
1/11/13 Eliot Tower Restoration Project