Sunday, February 1, 2026
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0658E
SUNSET: 1658E
ARCTIC COLD CONTINUES WITH A TOUCH OF LIGHT SNOW THIS MORNING….
Today, February 1st, marks the 141 year anniversary of the first
observation taken here at Blue Hill Observatory. We continue to
maintain this unbroken continuous record using much of the same
manual methods and instrumentation throughout the entire period.
A rapidly deepening ocean storm well to our southeast early this
afternoon helped to trigger some ocean effect light snow overnight
and into early this morning. 0.1″ of snow was measured early this
morning. Thankfully the bulk of the storm is remaining offshore.
Nonetheless, skies are mainly cloudy with a very cold northerly
wind being the theme for the balance of the day.
Temperatures continue to be well below normal with reading this
morning in the single digits (yet again), only rising to the upper
teens by early this afternoon. Wind chill values have been
consistently near or below zero today, with the lowest value
around -16F early this morning. Despite the snow early this
morning, dew point readings have remained in the single digits
all day, very much indicative of the arctic air mass holding its
ground across the region.
Winds have been busy today, mainly out of the north. The average
speed for the day so far is around 15mph. Gusts have been frequently
exceeding 25mph, with the peak gust for the day so far being 36mph,
which occurred right around 10:45am this morning.
Visibility has improved as the day progressed, starting from
around 40 miles this morning (except as low as 6 miles to the
east through southeast this morning with the snow) to around 60
miles early this afternoon.
The maximum temperature so far today is 19F degrees, which is
16 degrees below the normal high of 35F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 5F degrees, which is 12 degrees below the
normal low of 17F.
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JANUARY 2026
TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 32.7 [-2.0]
Avg. Min. 17.4 [-0.9]
Mean 25.1 [-1.4]
24-hour corrected mean: 24.6
Max. for month: 51F on the 15th
Min. for month: -1F on the 31st
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 1233 [+040]
Total for the season: 3473 [+070]
Total for last season: 3143
COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units: 0 [ 000]
Total for the season: 0 [ 000]
Total for last season: 0
PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 3.62 [-0.88]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 1.85 on the 25th-26th
SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 35.9 [+17.3]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 22.2 on the 25th-26th
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.1 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed: 12.5 mph
Prevailing wind direction: West-Northwest [23%]
Peak gust and direction: 53 E on the 25th
SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 8712 of a possible 17130, or 51%
Astronomical total minutes: 9000 of a possible 17686 or 51%
————————————————————–
Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, overcast cirrostratus, few breaks
in overcast distant W-NW, virga NE-S
Temperature: 5F; Dew Point: 0F; Relative Humidity: 79%
Wind: N @ 15G24 kts, peak wind N 30mph at 6:10 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1011.0 mb; 29.86 in. Hg: falling, then more slowly
Visibility: 40 miles, 12 miles NE-E, 6 miles ESE-SE, 15 miles S
6-hr Max temp: 11F
6-hr Min temp: 5F
24-hr Precip: Trace
24-hr Snowfall: 0.1 inches
Snow Depth: 17 inches
BHO SA 1155 E10 BKN 220 OVC 40 110/5/0/3515G24/986/ FEW BINOVC DSNT
W-NW VIRGA NE-S S-E50 VSBY 12 NE-E 6 ESE-SE 15 S PK WND 3526/10/
TOTAL NEW SNW PST 24 HRS 0.1 INS/ 8/507 4/017 56017 6000/ 70000
10011 20005
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, broken cirrostratus, broken cirrus,
virga distant NE-S
Temperature: 10F; Dew Point: 2F; Relative Humidity: 72%
Wind: N @ 16G26 kts, peak wind 32mph at 9:18 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1009.4 mb; 29.81 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 60 miles, 15 miles NE-SE, 30 miles S
3-hr Precip: Trace
3-hr Snowfall: Trace
BHO SA 1455 20 SCT E220 BKN 250 BKN 60 094/10/2/3516G26/981/
VIRGA DSNT NE-S VSBY 15 NE-SE 30 S PK WND 3528/18/ TOTAL NEW
SNW PST 3 HRS TRACE/ 8/506 58016 6000/
1 P.M.
Weather: Broken cirrostratus, broken cirrus, few stratocumulus
distant NE-SSW
Temperature: 19F; Dew Point: 5F; Relative Humidity: 54%
Wind: N @ 12G21 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1006.5 mb; 29.72 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 60 miles
6-hr Max temp: 19F
6-hr Min temp: 5F
6-hr Precip: Trace
6-hr Snowfall: Trace
Snow Depth: 17 inches
BHO SA 1755 E220 BKN 250 BKN 60 065/19/5/3512G21/972/
FEW SC DSNT NE-SSW TOTAL NEW SNW PST 6 HRS TRACE/ 8/506 4/017
58029 6000/ 10019 20005
————————————————————–
SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2026
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….22 NORMAL…..35
MIN…….-1 NORMAL…..17
MEAN……11 NORMAL…..26
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……………-15
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………-43 [-1.6 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2025 THRU JUN 2026)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….54 DEPARTURE…….+15
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..1233 DEPARTURE…….+40
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….3473 DEPARTURE…….+70
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..3143 DEPARTURE……+330
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)………..24 N @ 10:58 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….24 N @ 10:58 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….26 NNW @ 10:55 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….24 N @ 10:58 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………24 NNE @ 10:57 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..27 N @ 10:58 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..25 NNW @ 10:55 P.M.
MERLIN………………….M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……25 N @ 10:58 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………16 N @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..18 N @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..18 NNW @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………18 N @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………18 N @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..17 N @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..18 NNW @ 10:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………17 N @ 10:59 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL………8.1 WNW [194 total miles]
VECTOR #1……………….8.5
VECTOR #2……………….9.2
DAVIS #1………………..8.7 NNW
DAVIS #2………………..8.8 NNW
RMY #1………………….8.4 NNW
RMY #2………………….9.0 WNW
RICHARDS (C5C)…………..8.9
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…….TRACE DEPARTURE…..-0.14
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH (JAN)……..3.62 DEPARTURE…..-0.88
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2026)……..3.62 DEPARTURE…..-0.88
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.1 DEPARTURE…..-0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH (JAN)………….35.9 DEPARTURE….+17.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2025-2026)……42.9 DEPARTURE…..+9.2
————————————————————–
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/-11/0.00/0.0/565/95 29 WNW VEC1 29 WNW RMY 30
1/30 14/2/8/-18/0.00/0.0/591/99 35 WNW VEC1 35 NW RMY 39
1/31 22/-1/11/-15/0.00/0.0/575/96 24 N VEC1 24 N RMY 27
2/1 The low since midnight is 5F, the daily normal low is 17F.
————————————————————–
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
————————————————————–
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 1
HIGH 65F IN 1989
LOW -9F IN 1920
PRECIP 1.86 INS. IN 2021
SNOWFALL 12.7 INS. IN 2021
PEAK GUST 66e MPH SSW IN 1951
RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2
HIGH 55F IN 1951, 1973
LOW -12F IN 1961
PRECIP 1.91 INS. IN 1999
SNOWFALL 16.5 INS. IN 2015
PEAK GUST 92 MPH SW IN 1970
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
