February 2025 Summary – Close to Average

Blue Hill Observatory February 2025 Summary:

February temperature and sunshine were near average, and there was less rain and snow than expected. The approximated 24-hour mean temperature for the month of 28.0 deg F was 1.4 degrees warmer than the 1891-2020 130-year average for February, and it was 1.2 degrees colder than the 1991-2020 30-year average. The average maximum temperature of 35.5 deg F was 1.5 degrees colder than the 30-year normal, and the average minimum temperature of 20.1 deg F was 0.6 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal. The first three weeks of the month were generally cool with several light snowfalls, though the last six days were warm enough to nearly erase the negative temperature departure. The warmest temperature was 55F on the 25th, and the coldest temperature was 5F on the 2nd. The mean water vapor pressure, which is an absolute measure of water vapor in the air, was 3.7 mb, which corresponds to a mean dew point of 21F, and this value was average for the month. The total precipitation was 3.30 inches, which was 0.70 inches below the 30-year normal. More than half of the monthly total occurred during the largest storm of the month, which brought a storm total of 1.95 inches and the greatest amount in 24 hours of 1.86 inches on the 15th-16th in the form of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain. The snowfall total for the month was 13.1 inches, which was 5.1 inches less than the 30-year normal, and the greatest in 24 hours was 4.9 inches during the storm on the 15th-16th. The greatest snow depth reached five inches on the 16th-19th. There was one thunderstorm day near the end of the storm on the 16th. The mean wind speed was 13.6 mph, and the prevailing wind direction was from the west-northwest. The highest wind gust was 70 mph from the west-northwest on the 17th. February sunshine was near average with 146.3 hours of bright sunshine, or 51 percent of possible, which was one percent more than the long-term average for the month.  

Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory