Epic Winter of 2014-2015 Sets Month ...

Epic Winter of 2014-2015 Sets Monthly Snowfall Record

bho_14Feb2015_6The unprecedented and relentless snowfall across New England since the last week of January continues with another very significant storm on 14-15 February, 2015 and more light snow on the following days. The final snowfall total for the 14-15 February storm was 21.6 inches.  For a few hours before sunrise on the 15th, snow was falling at the rate of three or four inches per hour and about 12 inches fell in roughly three hours. A total liquid equivalent of 1.17 inches was measured, which gives a snow to water ratio of 18:1 due to the very cold air in place during this storm.
An additional 2.0 inches of light snow was measured on February 17th, 4.2 inches of snow was recorded on February 18-19th, and 2.4 inches of new snow was observed on February 21st-22nd.
The snow depth on the summit of Great Blue Hill reached a high of 46 inches on the morning of Feb. 15th. This surpassed the previous record for the greatest average snow depth ever measured at the Observatory, which was 43 inches in March 1969. The liquid equivalent of water in all of the snow on the ground is now approximately nine inches or more.
The latest big snowstorm will likely set a new daily snowfall record for Feb. 15th, with more than 16 inches of snow occurring on that day alone.  The current record for Feb. 15th is 11.2 inches in 1940. This storm was the 7th greatest snowfall ever observed in February. Three of the 13 greatest snowstorms ever observed at Blue Hill have occurred in the last three weeks.
Through 1 PM on February 22nd, the monthly snowfall has reached 79.9 inches, which is a new monthly snowfall record for February and for any month. The combined January-February snowfall has reached 122.8 inches, which is a new record, surpassing the previous total of 77.9 inches in 1948. The combined snowfall for the winter months (December-February) has reached 125.1 inches, which is a new record, surpassing the previous total of 117.4 inches in 1947-1948.  The snowfall for the entire season so far has climbed to 133.8 inches, which is now third on the top ten list of snowiest seasons. The snow depth on the ground has exceeded 20 inches for 20 consecutive days (through Feb 22nd), which is the sixth longest duration on record. This season is sure to climb higher on this list, since the current record snow depth will not diminish quickly with cold air remaining in place for another week or more.
In addition to the excessive snow, the last month has been remarkably cold, and the stretch of 27 consecutive days of below normal daily temperature came to an end on February 22nd. This is the second longest period of colder than average weather since 1950.
Below (and above) are several photos of the scene on the summit of Great Blue Hill on February 14th, 2015 before this latest storm:
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Here are the current snowfall lists updated through 1 PM on February 22nd:
BHO Greatest Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):

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) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
8) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
9) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
10) 24.3 on 5-7 Dec, 2003
11) 23.0 on 5-7 Mar, 2001
12) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
13) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
14) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969
BHO Greatest February Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
3) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
4) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
5) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
6) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
7) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
8) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969
BHO Snowiest Months, inches (1885-2015):
1) 79.9 in Feb, 2015 (through 1 PM Feb 22)
2) 65.4 in Feb, 1969
3) 56.3 in Jan, 1848
4) 52.0 in Mar, 1956
5) 51.3 in Feb, 2003
6) 48.2 in Jan, 2011
7) 48.0 in Jan, 1904
8) 47.6 in Jan, 1996
9) 46.0 in Jan, 1966
BHO Snowiest Februarys, inches (1885-2015):
1) 79.9 in 2015 (through 1 PM Feb 22)
2) 65.4 in 1969
3) 51.3 in 2003
4) 45.2 in 1967
5) 40.4 in 1920
6) 39.7 in 2013
7) 37.0 in 1893
BHO Snowiest January-February, inches (1886-2015):
1) 122.8 in 2015 (through 1 PM Feb 22)
2) 77.9 in 1948
3) 70.2 in 2005
4) 68.7 in 1904
5) 67.5 in 1920
6) 66.9 in 1994
BHO Snowiest December-February, inches (1886-2015):
1) 125.1 in 2014-2015 (through 1 PM Feb 22)
2) 117.4 in 1947-1948
3) 91.2 in 1995-1996
4) 89.6 in 2010-2011
5) 89.0 in 1922-1923
6) 86.4 in 2004-2005
7) 85.8 in 2002-2003
BHO Greatest Snow Depth, inches (1895-2015):
1) 46 in Feb, 2015
2) 43 in Mar, 1969
3) 42 in Jan, 1948
4) 41 in Feb, 1969
5) 39 in Feb, 1948
6) 38 in Feb, 1920
7) 33 in Feb, 1978
33 in Jan, 1996
9) 31 in Feb, 2003
31 in Feb, 2011
11) 30 in Mar, 1960
30 in Mar, 1978
BHO Snowiest Seasons, inches (1885-2015):
1) 144.4 in 1995-1996
2) 136.0 in 1947-1948
3) 133.8 in 2014-2015 (through 1 PM Feb 22)
4) 119.4 in 2004-2005
5) 113.1 in 2002-2003
6) 111.5 in 1915-1916
7) 109.6 in 1966-1967
8) 106.8 in 1955-1956
9) 103.4 in 1903-1904
10) 102.5 in 1922-1923
BHO Longest Duration of 20″+ Snow Depth, (1885-2015):
1) 53 days, 27 Dec, 1947 – 17 Feb, 1948
2) 34 days, 5 Feb – 9 Mar, 1920
34 days, 7 Feb – 12 Mar, 1978
4) 23 days, 25 Feb – 19 Mar, 1969
5) 21 days, 27 Jan – 16 Feb, 2011
6) 20 days, 3-22 Feb, 2015 (through 1 PM Feb 22)
7) 11 days, 15-25 Mar, 1916
11 days, 5-15 Jan, 1961
BHO Longest Period of Consecutive Days Below Normal Daily Temperature (1950-2015):
1) 32 days on 29 Nov to 30 Dec 1989
2) 27 days on 26 Jan to 21 Feb 2015
3) 21 days on 8 Jan to 28 Jan 1982
4) 20 days on 30 Dec 1980 to 18 Jan 1981
20 days on 7 Feb to 26 Feb 1968
6) 19 days on 18 Jan to 5 Feb 1961
19 days on 2 Apr to 20 Apr 2007