February 2022 Summary – Warmer and Wetter Than Average

Blue Hill Observatory February 2022 Summary:

February was much warmer and wetter than average. The 24-hour adjusted mean temperature for the month of 31.2 deg F was 4.6 degrees warmer than the 1891-2020 130-year average for February, and it was 2.0 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 30-year average. The average maximum temperature of 40.9 deg F was 3.9 degrees warmer than the 30-year average, and the average minimum temperature of 21.5 deg F was 1.8 degrees warmer than the 30-year average. Although the month was warmer than average, there were frequent swings between warm and cold temperatures during February. The highest temperature observed was 67F on the 23rd, which tied the record maximum temperature for that date previously set in 2017, and it was one of the warmest temperatures ever observed in February at the Observatory. The high temperature of 59F on the 12th was also a daily record, surpassing the previous record of 56F set in 1999. Between these two record highs, the lowest temperature during the month of 2F was observed on the 15th. The total precipitation was 5.55 inches, which was about an inch and a half more than both the 130-year average and the 1991-2020 30-year mean. The greatest liquid equivalent precipitation in 24 hours was 1.55 inches during a rainstorm on the 3rd-4th that ended in a little snow. The total snowfall for the month was 18.5 inches, which was 1.7 inches more than the long-term average and only a trace amount more than the 30-year average. The greatest snowfall in 24 hours was 8.4 inches on the 25th-26th. Much of the rest of the monthly snowfall occurred on the 13th-14th during a storm that also brought over eight inches of powdery snow. The mean wind speed for the month was 13.4 mph, and the prevailing wind direction was from the northwest. The highest wind gust was 66 mph from the south during rain and warm temperatures on the 22nd. February sunshine was close to average with a total of 141.3 hours of bright sunshine, or 49 percent of possible, which was one percent less than the long-term average for February.

BHO Warmest February Daily Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2022):

1) 71 on 24 Feb 2017
2) 70 on 21 Feb 2018
3) 68 on 24 Feb 1985
   68 on 25 Feb 2017
   68 on 20 Feb 2018
6) 67 on 26 Feb 1957
   67 on 25 Feb 1976
   67 on 23 Feb 2017
   67 on 23 Feb 2022
10) 66 on 20 Feb 1930
   66 on 19 Feb 1981

Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory