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February 2024 Summary – Sixth Driest on Record

March 2, 2024

Blue Hill Observatory February 2024 Summary:  February was very warm and generally dry with much less snowfall and more sunshine than average.…

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Undercast of dense low fog below a nearly full Moon as observed from the summit of Great Blue Hill looking southwest early on the morning of February 27, 2024. Photo by BHO Chief Observer Matt Douglas.

Blue Hill Observatory February 2024 Summary: 

February was very warm and generally dry with much less snowfall and more sunshine than average. The approximated 24-hour mean temperature for the month of 32.7 deg F was 6.1 degree warmer than the 1891-2020 130-year average for February, and it was 3.5 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 normal, and the average minimum temperature of 25.0 deg F was 5.5 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal. Twenty out of twenty-nine days during February were warmer than average including all of the first thirteen days. There was no significant cold during the month, and there was only one day, on the 14th, with a high temperature below freezing. The warmest temperature reached 62F on the 27th, which surpassed the record for the date of 61F set in 1976. The lowest temperature was 11F on the 25th, which tied as the third warmest February monthly minimum temperature on record. The total precipitation was 1.32 inches, which was 2.68 inches less than the 30-year normal, and the month was the sixth driest February on record. There were only eight days with measurable precipitation. The largest storm and the greatest in 24 hours was 0.65 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation in the form of snow on the 13th. The total snowfall for the month was 5.2 inches, which was 13.0 inches below the 30-year average. After first freezing very late on January 9th, Houghton’s Pond thawed on February 26th after only 48 days, and it was only partly frozen for most of that time. The mean wind speed was 12.0 mph, which tied as the second lowest on record for February, and the prevailing wind direction was from the south-southwest. The highest wind gust was 62 mph from the west-northwest during the passage of a strong cold front late on the 28th and early on the 29th. February sunshine was average with 175.8 hours of bright sunshine, or 59 percent of possible, which was nine percent more than the long-term average for the month. This sunshine amount was the most in February since 179.7 hours, or 61 percent of possible, was observed in 2012.

BHO Lowest February Precipitation, inches (1885-2024):

1) 0.71 in 1987
2) 1.04 in 1901
3) 1.07 in 1980
4) 1.08 in 2012
5) 1.12 in 1895
6) 1.32 in 2024
7) 1.58 in 1947
8) 1.61 in 1941

BHO Highest February Monthly Minimum Temperature, deg F (1885-2024):

1) 15 in 1960
2) 12 in 2012
3) 11 in 1957
   11 in 1997
   11 in 2024
6) 10 in 1919
   10 in 2010

BHO Lowest February Mean Wind Speed, mph (1885-2024):

1) 11.7 in 2021
2) 12.0 in 2020
   12.0 in 2024
4) 12.6 in 2014
   12.6 in 2023
6) 12.7 in 2005
   12.7 in 2012
8) 12.8 in 2018

Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory

 

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Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center · Legal

Data Use & Privacy Policy

Please read the full Policy before accessing Observatory data · Effective January 1, 2025

Notice: By accessing, downloading, or using any Blue Hill Observatory data or services, you unconditionally accept and agree to be bound by this Policy in its entirety. If you do not agree, you may not access or use Observatory data.
Effective January 1, 2025 · Milton, Massachusetts · bluehill.org
Part I — Data Use Policy
§ 01

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All observational records, compiled datasets, metadata, database structures, and related materials provided by the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center are the exclusive property of the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center. The Observatory has maintained continuous weather observations at the summit of Great Blue Hill since 1885, and the entirety of that record — its compilation, structure, curation, and organization — constitutes a proprietary database protected under applicable United States law, including copyright law and common law database protections.

All rights not expressly granted in this Policy are reserved by the Observatory. No access to or use of Observatory data shall be construed as a waiver of any rights or as a license to use data beyond the scope expressly stated herein.

§ 02

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For interactions with international users, this Policy shall apply to the maximum extent permitted by applicable local law.

Any dispute arising from or related to this Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. By accessing Observatory data, all users consent to personal jurisdiction in Massachusetts and waive any objection to the venue or inconvenience of such forum.

§ 03

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Observatory data are made available for the following limited, non-commercial purposes only:

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All other uses require prior written authorization from the Observatory.

§ 04

Attribution Requirement

Any use of Observatory data in any published, presented, or publicly distributed work must include the following verbatim acknowledgment:

“Data provided by the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center, Milton, Massachusetts. Continuous weather observations since 1885.”

Failure to include proper attribution is a material violation of this Policy.

§ 05

Prohibited Uses

Unless explicitly authorized in writing, Users may not:

  • Resell, license, sublicense, or commercially exploit Observatory data in any form
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§ 06

Commercial Licensing

Organizations seeking to use Observatory data for commercial purposes must obtain a license prior to any such use. Licensing inquiries: data@bluehill.org.

§ 07

Automated Access

Automated scraping, bulk harvesting, or systematic downloading of Observatory data is strictly prohibited without prior written authorization.

§ 08

Enforcement and Remedies

Violation of this Policy may result in immediate revocation of data access, pursuit of legal remedies available under United States law, and referral to applicable authorities. The Observatory reserves all rights to seek injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees in connection with any unauthorized use of its data.

Part II — Privacy Policy
§ 09–10

Scope & Information Collected

This section governs the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of personal information from visitors to the Blue Hill Observatory website and users of its data services. The Observatory may collect contact information (name, email, organization) when voluntarily submitted, usage data including IP addresses and pages visited, and data download records.

§ 11–12

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Information is used solely for: responding to inquiries and licensing requests; monitoring and enforcing compliance with this Policy; improving website performance; and communicating Observatory news to opted-in users. The Observatory does not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Data access records may be retained indefinitely for compliance and enforcement purposes.

§ 13

International Users and Data Transfers

The Observatory is located in the United States. International users acknowledge their information will be processed in the United States under U.S. law. Users requiring specific data processing agreements under non-US law must contact data@bluehill.org before accessing data.

§ 14–16

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Part III — General Provisions
§ 17–20

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The Observatory reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time. Updated versions will be posted at bluehill.org. Continued use of Observatory data following any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy. This Policy constitutes the entire agreement between the User and the Observatory. Questions and licensing inquiries: Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center, Milton, Massachusetts — data@bluehill.org

By accessing, downloading, or using any Blue Hill Observatory data or services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Policy.
Effective January 1, 2025 · Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center · Milton, Massachusetts
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