Friday, January 30, 2026
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0700E
SUNSET: 1656E
COLD AND CLEAR TODAY AS GUSTY WINDS AND ARCTIC AIR BRING BITTER
SUB ZERO WIND CHILLS TO THE REGION….
Skies have been deceptively sunny and clear today, with the
exception of some cirrus and some offshore stratocumulus clouds.
We have remained dry, though with the frigid temperatures, the
snow depth remains over 16″ as of this afternoon.
Temperatures have been well below normal, as the arctic air has
a stronghold over the region (and much of the country). As if the
temperatures weren’t cold enough, a blustery west-northwest wind
has brought wind chills into dangerous subzero territory. This
morning the wind chill dipped to -23F! On the hill, we have not
made it above 0F in regard to wind chill, but the mercury has
“improved” to 13F. The air is extremely dry and cold and as such,
the dew points have been in the negative single digits throughout
the day.
Winds have continued to howl through the day, averaging at around
17mph out of the west-northwest. There have been frequent gusts
in the 20-25mph range throughout the day. The peak gust for the
day so far is 35mph, which occurred just after 1pm this afternoon.
Visibility has fluctuated between 50-60 miles throughout the day,
despite clear conditions and dry air.
The maximum temperature so far today is 13 degrees, which is
22 degrees below the normal high of 35F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 2F degrees, which is 15 degrees below the
normal low of 17F.
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Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus offshore distant NE-SE-SSW,
few cirrus W-N-NE
Temperature: 3F; Dew Point: -8F; Relative Humidity: 59%
Wind: WNW @ 17G30 kts, peak wind 35mph WNW at 6:46 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1014.7 mb; 29.96 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 50 miles
6-hr Max temp: 9F
6-hr Min temp: 3F
24-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 18 inches
BHO SA 1155 CLR 50 147/3/-8/2917G30/996/ FEW SC OFFSHR DSNT NE-SE-SSW
FEW CI W-N-NE PK WND 2930/46/ 8/501 4/018 53001 10009 20003
10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus offshore distant NE-ESE,
few cirrus WSW-N
Temperature: 7F; Dew Point: -8F; Relative Humidity: 48%
Wind: WNW @ 17G24 kts, peak wind 30mph WNW at 9:11 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1015.1 mb; 29.98 in. Hg: rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 50 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 CLR 50 151/7/-8/3017G26/998/ FEW SC OFFSHR DSNT NE-ESE
FEW CI WSW-N PK WND 3026/11/ 8/501 51004
1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus offshore distant NNE-E,
few cirrus N-E
Temperature: 12F; Dew Point: -6F; Relative Humidity: 41%
Wind: WNW @ 18G27 kts, peak wind 31mph WNW at 12:45 P.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1014.7 mb; 29.96 in. Hg: steady, then falling
Visibility: 60 miles
6-hr Max temp: 13F
6-hr Min temp: 3F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 16 inches
BHO SA 1755 CLR 60 147/12/-6/2918G27/996/ FEW SC OFFSHR DSNT NNE-E
FEW CI N-E PK WND 2827/45/ 8/501 4/016 58004 10013 20002
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SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….24 NORMAL…..34
MIN……..5 NORMAL…..17
MEAN……15 NORMAL…..26
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……………-11
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………-10 [-0.5 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2025 THRU JUN 2026)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….50 DEPARTURE…….+11
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..1122 DEPARTURE……..+7
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….3362 DEPARTURE…….+37
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..3066 DEPARTURE……+296
PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
Note: Instruments designated #1 = Main Tower, #2 = South Tower,
F420C, Contacting, Merlin, and Richards are all on Main Tower.
E=Estimated *=Last of multiple occurrences
F420C (Official)………..29 WNW @ 10:58 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….29 WNW @ 10:58 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….29 SW @ 10:57 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….30 W @ 10:58 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………29 WNW @ 04:03 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..30 WNW @ 10:58 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..30 SW @ 10:57 P.M.
MERLIN…………………33 W
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……30 WNW @ 10:57 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………23 WNW @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..21 WNW @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..22 WSW @ 11:09 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………22 W @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………23 WNW @ 11:08 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..20 WNW @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..22 WSW @ 11:09 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………21 WNW @ 10:59 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..12.2 NW [292 total miles]
VECTOR #1………………12.1
VECTOR #2………………13.0
DAVIS #1……………….12.6 WNW
DAVIS #2……………….12.7 NW
RMY #1…………………11.7 WNW
RMY #2…………………12.6 W
RICHARDS (C5C)………….12.3
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.14
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH (JAN)……..3.62 DEPARTURE…..-0.61
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2026)……..3.62 DEPARTURE…..-0.61
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE…..-0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH (JAN)………….35.9 DEPARTURE….+18.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2025-2026)……42.8 DEPARTURE….+10.5
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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/VEC1/RMY GUST
PEAK GUST: F420C (Official)
VEC1: Vector #1 1-second gust
RMY: R.M. Young #1 wind gust recording system (Instantaneous)
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M: Missing data
1/1 29/11/20/-9/0.15/2.7/264/48 43 NW VEC1 43 NW RMY 42
1/2 25/12/19/-9/0.00/0.0/397/72 26 W VEC1 26 W RMY 27
1/3 30/14/22/-6/0.00/0.0/342/62 31 WNW VEC1 31 WNW RMY 31
1/4 30/21/26/-2/0.03/0.4/171/31 26 NNW VEC1 27 NNW RMY 28
1/5 25/11/18/-10/0.04/0.2/249/45 23 SSE VEC1 22 NW RMY 23
1/6 32/22/27/-1/0.01/T/000/00 22 ENE VEC1 21 E RMY 23
1/7 36/30/33/+6/0.25/0.1/000/00 23 NW VEC1 21 ENE RMY 24
1/8 45/30/38/+11/0.00/0.0/500/90 26 NW VEC1 27 WNW RMY 27
1/9 50/32/41/+14/0.06/0.0/228/41 41 SW VEC1 42 SSW RMY 44
1/10 50/36/43/+16/0.36/T/022/04 33 W VEC1 31 W RMY 31
1/11 41/30/36/+9/0.06/0.0/079/14 43 WNW VEC1 41 WNW RMY 43
1/12 37/24/31/+4/0.00/0.0/303/54 47 WNW VEC1 46 WNW RMY 47
1/13 45/28/37/+11/0.00/0.0/457/81 35 SSW VEC1 35 SSW RMY 33
1/14 49/39/44/+18/T/0.0/017/03 36 SSW VEC1 36 SSW RMY 36
1/15 51/25/38/+12/T/0.0/340/60 39 SW VEC1 39 SW RMY 38
1/16 30/15/23/-3/0.00/0.0/483/85 46 W VEC1 46 W RMY 46
1/17 38/24/31/+5/0.02/T/040/07 39 SSW VEC1 39 SSW RMY 40
1/18 33/28/31/+5/0.44/4.4/000/00 22 S VEC1 22 S RMY 21
1/19 34/22/28/+2/0.11/2.2/132/23 35 WSW VEC1 33 WSW RMY 38
1/20 24/11/18/-8/0.00/0.0/564/98 33 W VEC1 33 W RMY 34
1/21 33/7/20/-6/0.01/0.1/387/67 33 SSW VEC1 34 SSW RMY 36
1/22 43/27/35/+9/0.02/0.2/348/60 38 W VEC1 38 W RMY 42
1/23 32/10/21/-5/0.00/0.0/552/95 46 WNW VEC1 46 WNW RMY 47
1/24 13/0/7/-19/0.00/0.0/554/95 48 NW VEC1 49 WNW RMY 52
1/25 26/3/15/-11/1.65/19.4/000/00 53 E VEC1 51 E RMY 57
1/26 27/11/19/-7/0.41/5.9/000/00 43 ENE VEC1 42 ENE RMY 45
1/27 22/4/13/-13/T/0.3/354/60 40 NW VEC1 40 NW RMY 37
1/28 23/5/14/-12/0.00/0.0/486/82 25 WNW VEC1 25 WNW RMY 24
1/29 24/5/15/-11/0.00/0.0/…/.. 29 WNW VEC1 29 WNW RMY 30
1/30 The low since midnight is 2F, the daily normal low is 17F.
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JANUARY DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
1/25/26: DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 19.4 INS,
SURPASSES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 12.5 IN IN 1941
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DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 30
HIGH 60F IN 1914
LOW -8F IN 1948
PRECIP 1.12 INS. IN 1925
SNOWFALL 6.5 INS. IN 1986
PEAK GUST 76 MPH WNW IN 1962
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 31
HIGH 58F IN 1947, 2013
LOW -12F IN 1920
PRECIP 1.03 INS. IN 1914
SNOWFALL 9.0 INS. IN 1898
PEAK GUST 75 MPH NW IN 1974
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Amanda Joly
