Friday, July 3, 2026

BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0412E
SUNSET:  1924E

DANGEROUS HEAT AND SUNNY SKIES PREVAIL ON THE HILL TODAY….

Day 3 of our multi-day heat-wave continues. Skies have remained
mostly clear with the exception of a few cirrus and in the
afternoon, a few cumulus clouds. Still though, plenty of hot,
intense sunshine and with the increased dew points it has been
very uncomfortable today.

The overnight minimum temperature was a balmy 77F. If the night
continues to be warm and we don’t get below that by midnight we
will beat the minimum record of 76F for today, set back in 2002.
With the first reading of 82F this morning already warmer than
the day before, we were wondering if the temperatures would spike
as they did yesterday. Fortunately, temperatures have slowly
increased, getting us up to 96F by 1pm. As of this writing we have
hit 97F which is 2 degrees from tying the record of 99F set back
in 1911.

Even without record-breaking heat (if that ends up being the case),
it still feels miserable out there today. The heat index reached
98F by midmorning and 100F by the 1pm observation. If you don’t
have to be outside, don’t. This is a great opportunity to research
cooling centers in your area and make sure you are prepared to stay
safe in this heat.

The wind has been steady today, out of the west-northwest for much
of the earlier part of the day and switching more westward by
the early afternoon. The average speed for the day so far is
around 11mph. The peak gust so far for the day is 29mph, which
occurred just after midnight today.

Visibility has once again been limited today due to haziness.
The view has been holding between 30-35 miles throughout the day.

The maximum temperature so far today is 96F, which is 15 degrees
above the normal high of 81F. The minimum temperature since
midnight is 77F, which is 14 degrees above the normal low of 63F.

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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JUNE 2026

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 80.8 [+5.4] Avg. Min. 59.5 [+1.9] Mean      70.2 [+3.7] 24-hour corrected mean: 69.7
Max. for month: 91F on the 12th
Min. for month: 45F on the 1st, 2nd

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:     17 [-049] Total for the season:  6084 [-126] Total for last season: 5665

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units:    180 [+069] Total for the season:   239 [+100] Total for last season:  200

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 1.86 [-2.77] Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.64 on the 18th

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total:  0.0 [ 0.0] Greatest in 24 hrs: N/A

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed:  9.6 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   10.2 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   West-Northwest [16%] Peak gust and direction:     51 S on the 18th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 18132 of a possible 26376, or 69%
Astronomical total minutes: 18852 of a possible 27418 or 69%

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few cirrus N-ENE
Temperature: 82F; Dew Point: 72F; Relative Humidity: 71%
Wind: WNW @ 8 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1013.2 mb; 29.92 in. Hg: rising, then more rapidly
Visibility: 30 miles, hazy
6-hr Max temp: 82F
6-hr Min temp: 77F
24-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1155 CLR 30 132/82/72/2908/992/ FEW CI N-ENE HAZY/ 8/001 53008
10082 20077

10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few cirrus NNW-NE
Temperature: 91F; Dew Point: 71F; Relative Humidity: 52%
Heat Index: 98F
Wind: WNW @ 8 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1012.8 mb; 29.91 in. Hg: falling, then steady
Visibility: 35 miles, hazy
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1455 CLR 35 128/91/71/3008/991/ FEW CI NNW-NE HAZY HX 98/ 8/001 56004

1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few cumulus E and S-WSW, few cirrus NNW-NE
Temperature: 96F; Dew Point: 67F; Relative Humidity: 38%
Heat Index 100F
Wind: W @ 10 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1011.9 mb; 29.88 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 35 miles, hazy
6-hr Max temp: 96F
6-hr Min temp: 82F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1755 CLR 35 119/96/67/2810/988/ FEW CU E AND S-WSW FEW CI NNW-NE
HAZY HX 100/ 8/101 58009 10096 20082

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SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….99   NORMAL…..80
MIN…….72   NORMAL…..62
MEAN……86   NORMAL…..71

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……………+15
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………+26 [+12.8 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2026 THRU JUN 2027)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………..0  DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH (JUL)………..0  DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………….0  DEPARTURE………0
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE………..0  DEPARTURE………0

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JAN 2026 THRU DEC 2026)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….21  DEPARTURE…….+14
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH (JUL)……….38  DEPARTURE…….+25
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………..277  DEPARTURE……+125
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE………226  DEPARTURE…….+51

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)………..40 W    @   12:16 A.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….39 W    @   12:16 A.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….38 W    @   12:16 A.M.
DAVIS #1……………….39 W    @   12:17 A.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………37 W    @   12:17 A.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..45 W    @   12:16 A.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..39 W    @   12:16 A.M.
MERLIN………………….M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……38 W    @   12:16 A.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………26 W    @   12:18 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..26 W    @   12:18 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..27 W    @   12:18 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………28 W    @   12:18 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………27 W    @   12:18 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..26 W    @   12:18 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..26 W    @   12:18 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………25 W    @   12:18 A.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..10.8 W [258 total miles] VECTOR #1………………11.1
VECTOR #2………………11.3
DAVIS #1……………….11.4 W
DAVIS #2……………….11.1 W
RMY #1…………………10.9 W
RMY #2…………………11.1 W
RICHARDS (C5C)………….11.1

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.11
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH (JUL)……..0.04 DEPARTURE…..-0.19
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2026)…….18.70 DEPARTURE…..-8.76

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JUNE CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/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

6/1  60/45/53/-9/T/606/67                26 ENE VEC1 27 ENE RMY 27
6/2  75/45/60/-2/0.00/680/75             22 NNW VEC1 22 NNW RMY 21
6/3  82/56/69/+7/0.00/880/97             28 S   VEC1 28 S   RMY 29
6/4  88/57/73/+10/0.00/817/90            23 WNW VEC1 23 SW  RMY 23
6/5  87/60/74/+11/0.00/810/89            20 NW  VEC1 19 NW  RMY 21
6/6  86/64/75/+12/0.09/282/31            46 WSW VEC1 45 WSW RMY 48 TSTM
6/7  78/55/67/+3/0.26/446/49             38 NE  VEC1 38 NE  RMY 42 TSTM
6/8  77/52/65/+1/0.00/904/99             20 SW  VEC1 20 SW  RMY 21
6/9  83/56/70/+6/0.00/886/97             28 W   VEC1 27 W   RMY 30
6/10 88/59/74/+9/0.00/686/75             30 SSW VEC1 30 SSW RMY 30
6/11 90/64/77/+12/0.10/631/69            22 WNW VEC1 22 WNW RMY 23
6/12 91/74/83/+18/0.00/412/45            21 WNW VEC1 21 WNW RMY 22
6/13 87/68/78/+12/0.00/769/84            36 NW  VEC1 36 NW  RMY 38
6/14 88/65/77/+11/0.00/495/54            33 SSW VEC1 32 SSW RMY 34
6/15 82/61/72/+6/0.00/577/63             28 SSW VEC1 28 SSW RMY 28
6/16 77/54/66/-1/0.00/898/98             22 W   VEC1 22 W   RMY 22
6/17 80/57/69/+2/0.00/697/76             25 SSW VEC1 24 SSW RMY 26
6/18 76/60/68/+1/0.64/193/21             51 S   VEC1 52 SSW RMY 54
6/19 78/60/69/+1/0.00/880/96             41 W   VEC1 40 W   RMY 41
6/20 77/60/69/+1/0.00/807/88             40 WNW VEC1 39 WNW RMY 40 TSTM
6/21 82/58/70/+2/0.00/853/93             24 WNW VEC1 24 NW  RMY 25
6/22 77/60/69/0/0.39/266/29              31 SSE VEC1 31 SSE RMY 31
6/23 68/62/65/-4/0.30/000/00             28 S   VEC1 28 S   RMY 28
6/24 81/59/70/+1/0.00/816/89             28 W   VEC1 27 W   RMY 27
6/25 82/60/71/+1/0.00/879/96             20 WNW VEC1 20 SSW RMY 20
6/26 76/63/70/0/0.06/211/23              23 SSW VEC1 23 SSW RMY 23
6/27 78/63/71/+1/0.01/669/73             17 ENE VEC1 17 NE  RMY 18
6/28 79/61/70/0/T/439/48                 16 SSW VEC1 16 SSW RMY 17
6/29 82/62/72/+1/0.00/796/87             18 W   VEC1 19 WNW RMY 20
6/30 88/65/77/+6/T/567/62                32 SSW VEC1 32 SSW RMY 33

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JUNE DAILY RECORDS TO DATE

6/12 NEW RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 74F;
BEATING OLD RECORD OF 69F SET IN 1942 AND 2017

6/18 RECORD PEAK WIND GUST OF 51 MPH,
BEATING THE OLD RECORD OF 48e MPH SET IN 1943

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JULY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/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

7/1  95/68/82/+11/0.00/…/..            23 WSW VEC1 23 SW  RMY 24
7/2  99/72/86/+15/0.00/…/..            40 W   VEC1 39 W   RMY 45

7/3 The low since midnight is 77F, the daily normal low is 63F.

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JULY DAILY RECORDS TO DATE

7/2 RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 99F,
BEATING THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 95F SET IN 1963

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DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)

RECORDS FOR JULY 3
HIGH 99F IN 1911
LOW 47F IN 1914
PRECIP 1.98 IN 2021
PEAK GUST 52 MPH NW IN 1963

RECORDS FOR JULY 4
HIGH 99F IN 1911
LOW 48F IN 1914
PRECIP 2.48 IN 2014
PEAK GUST 50e MPH WNW IN 1949

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Amanda Joly