Saturday, January 3, 2026
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2026
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0713E
SUNSET: 1624E
CHILLY CONDITIONS PERSIST WITH WESTERLY FLOW AND
VARIABLE CLOUDS TODAY….
There was a beautiful sunrise at the hill this morning with
beautiful orange and yellow hues to the east and a pastel pink
and purple sky to the west. The skies were mostly cloudy and
even overcast for a portion of the day but some clearing has
managed to occur, giving way to some peaks of sunshine. The hill
remains dry for another day but we are above average for snowfall
for the month at +1.6″, but at a deficit of liquid precipitation
at -0.16″. There is still about an inch of snow depth at the
summit, and with temperatures remaining below freezing that
shouldn’t come at much of a surprise. Both Houghton’s and
Ponkapoag ponds remain completely frozen.
Temperatures once again were in the lower teens during the early
morning hours today, dipping to 14F. The temperatures have been
able to recover somewhat with sunshine and dry conditions, though
we are still below the normal values for this time of year. As
of 1pm, we have made it to 27F which is a slight improvement from
yesterday’s 25F, but still below the normal high of 36F.
We have had a predominant westerly flow for much of the day, with
some variation out of the west-southwest during the morning hours.
The average speed for the day so far is around 12mph. The peak gust
so far is 27mph, which occurred at 4:21am this morning.
Visibility started around 40 miles this morning and improved to
around 70 miles by the early afternoon.
The maximum temperature so far today is 27F degrees, which is
9 degrees below the normal high of 36F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 14F degrees, which is 6 degrees below the
normal low of 20F.
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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR DECEMBER 2025
TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 36.0 [-4.2]
Avg. Min. 20.9 [-4.0]
Mean 28.5 [-4.0]
24-hour corrected mean: 28.9
Max. for month: 58F on the 19th
Min. for month: 8F on the 5th, 26th
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 1123 [+117]
Total for the season: 2240 [+030]
Total for last season: 1932
COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units: 0 [+000]
Total for the season: 756 [+079]
Total for last season: 768
PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 2.73 [-2.66]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.91 on the 2nd-3rd
SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 6.8 [-5.8]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 3.6 on the 26th-27th
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 13.4 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed: 13.7 mph
Prevailing wind direction: West [16%]
Peak gust and direction: 79 S on the 19th
SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 9000 of a possible 16470, or 55%
Astronomical total minutes: 9304 of a possible 16998 or 55%
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Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, few stratocumulus distant
NE-ESE-SSW
Temperature: 17F; Dew Point: 11F; Relative Humidity: 75%
Wind: W @ 11 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1011.2 mb; 29.86 in. Hg: rising, then
more rapidly
Visibility: 40 miles
6-hr Max temp: 17F
6-hr Min temp: 14F
24-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 2 inches
BHO SA 1155 E42 BKN 40 112/17/11/2711/986/ FEW SC DSNT
NE-ESE-SSW/ 8/5// 4/002 53017 10017 20014
10 A.M.
Weather: Thinly scattered altocumulus, few stratocumulus
distant NE-S, few cirrus ESE-SW
Temperature: 23F; Dew Point: 13F; Relative Humidity: 65%
Wind: WSW @ 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1012.8 mb; 29.91 in. Hg: rising, then
more slowly
Visibility: 50 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 70 -SCT 50 128/23/13/2409/991/ FEW SC DSNT NE-S
FEW CI ESE-SW/ 8/551 51016
1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, few stratocumulus distant
NE-ESE
Temperature: 26F; Dew Point: 14F; Relative Humidity: 58%
Wind: W @ 11 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1012.4 mb; 29.90 in. Hg: rising, then
falling
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 27F
6-hr Min temp: 17F
6-hr Precip: 0.0 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 1 inch
BHO SA 1755 E40 BKN 70 124/26/14/2711/990/ FEW SC DSNT
NE-ESE/ 8/5// 4/001 58004 10027 20017
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SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2026
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….25 NORMAL…..36
MIN…….12 NORMAL…..21
MEAN……19 NORMAL…..28
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL…………….-9
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………-18 [-9.2 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2025 THRU JUN 2026)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….46 DEPARTURE……..+9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………….91 DEPARTURE…….+18
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….2331 DEPARTURE…….+48
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..1983 DEPARTURE……+348
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)………..26 W @ 01:56 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….26 W @ 12:35 A.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….29 W @ 01:56 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….28 W @ 12:35 A.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………27 W @ 01:56 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..27 W @ 12:23 A.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..29 W @ 01:56 P.M.
MERLIN…………………27 W
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……26 W @ 01:56 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………20 W @ 01:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..20 W @ 01:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..20 W @ 01:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………22 W @ 01:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………20 W @ 01:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..19 W @ 01:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..19 W @ 01:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………20 W @ 01:57 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..12.1 W [290 total miles]
VECTOR #1………………12.0
VECTOR #2………………12.2
DAVIS #1……………….12.8 W
DAVIS #2……………….12.2 W
RMY #1…………………11.6 W
RMY #2…………………11.9 WSW
RICHARDS (C5C)………….11.9
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.16
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH (DEC)……..0.15 DEPARTURE…..-0.16
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2025)……..0.15 DEPARTURE…..-0.16
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE…..-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH (DEC)…………..2.7 DEPARTURE…..+1.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2025-2026)…….9.6 DEPARTURE…..-6.6
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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/…/.. 43 NW VEC1 43 NW RMY 42
1/2 25/12/19/-9/0.00/0.0/…/.. 26 W VEC1 26 W RMY 27
1/3 The low since midnight is 14F, the daily normal low is 20F.
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JANUARY DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
NONE.
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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 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
12/1 42/27/35/-2/T/0.0/547/98 37 WNW VEC1 37 WNW RMY 38
12/2 36/27/32/-5/0.85/T/000/00 38 N VEC1 38 NNE RMY 38
12/3 37/27/32/-4/0.06/0.6/423/76 28 NW VEC1 29 NNW RMY 30
12/4 38/15/27/-9/T/T/255/46 60 NW VEC1 59 WNW RMY 61
12/5 25/8/17/-19/T/T/510/92 30 NW VEC1 30 NW RMY 30
12/6 39/25/32/-3/T/T/122/22 21 W VEC1 21 W RMY 22
12/7 39/27/33/-2/0.00/0.0/248/45 24 W VEC1 24 W RMY 24
12/8 31/12/22/-13/T/T/457/83 43 NW VEC1 43 NW RMY 44
12/9 28/9/19/-15/0.00/0.0/452/82 33 SSW VEC1 33 SSW RMY 33
12/10 46/28/37/+3/0.04/T/187/34 50 SSW VEC1 50 SSW RMY 51
12/11 37/21/29/-5/0.00/0.0/450/82 51 WNW VEC1 51 WNW RMY 53
12/12 33/18/26/-8/0.00/0.0/532/97 41 W VEC1 41 W RMY 42
12/13 34/23/29/-4/0.00/0.0/038/07 28 SW VEC1 28 SW RMY 31
12/14 31/15/23/-10/0.13/1.8/000/00 39 NNW VEC1 39 NNW RMY 40
12/15 23/10/17/-16/0.00/0.0/496/91 40 NW VEC1 40 NW RMY 42
12/16 36/19/28/-4/0.00/0.0/437/80 29 SW VEC1 29 SW RMY 30
12/17 45/25/35/+3/0.00/0.0/196/36 43 SW VEC1 42 SW RMY 43
12/18 47/32/40/+8/0.00/0.0/539/99 32 S VEC1 32 S RMY 34
12/19 58/32/45/+13/0.60/T/000/00 79 S VEC1 79 S RMY 81
12/20 36/27/32/+1/0.00/0.0/446/82 46 WNW VEC1 46 WNW RMY 45
12/21 45/28/37/+6/0.00/0.0/480/88 46 SSW VEC1 46 SSW RMY 46
12/22 31/22/27/-4/0.00/0.0/539/99 44 NW VEC1 44 NW RMY 44
12/23 35/26/31/0/0.19/0.8/000/00 20 SE VEC1 18 SSE RMY 19
12/24 36/24/30/0/0.03/T/180/33 50 NNW VEC1 49 NNW RMY 52
12/25 38/16/27/-3/T/T/071/13 55 NNW VEC1 55 NNW RMY 60
12/26 21/8/15/-15/0.09/1.4/393/72 33 NNW VEC1 33 NNW RMY 34
12/27 25/14/20/-10/0.14/2.2/245/45 23 N VEC1 23 N RMY 24
12/28 36/14/25/-4/0.04/0.0/453/83 26 SSW VEC1 26 SSW RMY 26
12/29 47/29/38/+9/0.58/T/000/00 53 W VEC1 50 W RMY 53
12/30 29/20/25/-4/0.00/0.0/279/51 59 WNW VEC1 59 WNW RMY 63
12/31 32/21/27/-2/0.00/0.0/329/60 37 W VEC1 37 W RMY 39
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DECEMBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
12/19 PEAK GUST OF 79 MPH S,
BEAT THE OLD RECORD OF 68 MPH NE IN 1986.
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DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 3
HIGH 64F IN 2000
LOW -4F IN 1904
PRECIP 1.93 INS. IN 1999
SNOW 11.3 INS. 1996
PEAK GUST 92 MPH S IN 1960
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 4
HIGH 60F IN 2000
LOW -8F IN 1904, 1981
PRECIP 1.79 INS. IN 1982
SNOW 16.5 INS. IN 2018
PEAK GUST 84 MPH S IN 1982
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Amanda Joly
