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Thursday, January 1, 2026

January 1, 2026

BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026 ALL TIMES ARE…

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BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026 ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST) SUNRISE: 0713E SUNSET:  1622E PERIODS OF LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT CULMINATE INTO HEAVY SNOW SQUALLS AS THE ARCTIC FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THIS MORNING…. Happy New Year, welcome to 2026! As an area of low pressure passed to the north of the area overnight last night, periods of light snow developed just after midnight and continued into early this morning. 0.5″ of snow accumulated through 7am. We then had a brief lull in the action before snow squalls associated with the arctic front itself moved through the area during the mid morning hours. An additional 2.2″ of snow fell from the squalls, bringing the total for the day to 2.7″. All of this melted down to 0.15″ of liquid, giving us an average snow to water ratio of 18:1. Skies have partially cleared early this afternoon with sunshine mixing with low level clouds. However it has become quite windy and cold as strong cold air advection ushers in yet another arctic air mass. Temperatures were actually “warmer” early this morning when readings were in the upper 20s. They bottomed out at 20F during the squalls, but haven’t recovered much since as the strong cold air advection is putting a limit to and diurnal warming. The dew point has certainly taken a dive following the passage of the front, dropping from the mid to upper 20s this morning to the low teens by early this afternoon, likely destined for the single digits by this evening. The wind, as it seems is always the case these days, is busy. The wind shifted from the southwest to the northwest after the frontal passage. The average speed for the day so far is around 15mph. Gusts have been frequently exceeding 30mph the mid morning hours. The peak gust so far is 43mph, which occurred just before 9am this morning. Visibility was very limited during the morning while it was snowing, but has improved markedly this afternoon with the view reaching 70 miles by the 1pm observation. The maximum temperature so far today is 29F degrees, which is 5 degrees below the normal high of 36F. The minimum temperature since midnight is 20F degrees, which is 1 degree below the normal low of 21F. ————————————————————– 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% ————————————————————– Today’s Observations: 7 A.M. Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, overcast altostratus, few breaks in overcast W-N, higher clouds visible W-N Temperature: 28F; Dew Point: 27F; Relative Humidity: 95% Wind: WSW @ 9 kts Sea-level pressure: 1000.3 mb; 29.54 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly Visibility: 20 miles, thin fog 6-hr Max temp: 28F 6-hr Min temp: 22F 24-hr Precip: 0.04 inches 24-hr Snowfall: 0.5 inches Snow Depth: 1 inch BHO SA 1155 50 SCT E85 OVC 20 003/28/27/2409/954/ FEW BINOVC W-N HIER CLDS VSBL W-N THN F ALQDS S-E15 TOTAL NEW SNW PST 24 HRS 0.5 INS/ 8/52/ 4/001 58013 6004/ 70004 10028 20022 10 A.M. Weather: Sky obscured, vertical visibility 300ft, heavy snow showers Temperature: 21F; Dew Point: 20F; Relative Humidity: 95% Wind: WNW @ 17G28 kts, peak wind WNW 38mph at 9:40 A.M. Sea-level pressure: 1001.2 mb; 29.57 in. Hg: falling, then rising Visibility: 1/4 mile, fog 3-hr Precip: 0.10 inches 3-hr Snowfall: 2.0 inches BHO SA 1455 X W3 1/4SW+F 012/21/20/3017G28/957/ PK WND 3033/40/ TOTAL NEW SNW PST 3 HRS 2.0 INS/ 8//// 53009 6010/ 1 P.M. Weather: Broken stratocumulus, virga distant WNW-N-ESE Temperature: 24F; Dew Point: 11F; Relative Humidity: 57% Wind: NW @ 16G29 kts, peak wind WNW 37mph at 12:22 P.M. Sea-level pressure: 1001.5 mb; 29.57 in. Hg: rising unsteadily Visibility: 70 miles 6-hr Max temp: 29F 6-hr Min temp: 20F 6-hr Precip: 0.11 inches 6-hr Snowfall: 2.2 inches Snow Depth: 3 inches BHO SA 1755 E40 BKN 70 015/24/11/3116G29/957/ VIRGA DSNT WNW-N-ESE PK WND 3032/22/ TOTAL NEW SNW PST 6 HRS 2.2 INS/ 8/500 4/003 52003 6011/ 10029 20020 ————————————————————– SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2025 TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F) MAX…….32   NORMAL…..36 MIN…….21   NORMAL…..21 MEAN……27   NORMAL…..29 DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL…………….-2 TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………..-118 [-4.0 DEGREES/DAY] HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2025 THRU JUN 2026) TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….38  DEPARTURE……..+2 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..1123  DEPARTURE……+117 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….2240  DEPARTURE…….+30 TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..1932  DEPARTURE……+308 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)………..37 W    @   01:20 A.M. VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….37 W    @   01:19 A.M. VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….39 W    @   01:10 A.M. DAVIS #1……………….35 W    @   01:20 A.M. DAVIS #2 ………………38 W    @   01:10 A.M. RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..39 W    @   01:19 A.M. RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..41 W    @   01:10 A.M. MERLIN………………….M RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……38 W    @   01:19 A.M. FASTEST MILE: CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………28 W    @   01:21 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..25 W    @   02:33 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..25 WSW  @   02:34 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………27 W    @   02:33 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………26 W    @   02:33 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..24 W    @   02:33 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..24 WSW  @   02:33 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………24 W    @   02:33 A.M. AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION: CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..12.3 SW [295 total miles] VECTOR #1………………12.2 VECTOR #2………………12.6 DAVIS #1……………….12.4 WSW DAVIS #2……………….12.7 WSW RMY #1…………………11.9 WSW RMY #2…………………12.5 SW RICHARDS (C5C)………….11.8 PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST): TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.04 DEPARTURE…..-0.12 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH (DEC)……..2.73 DEPARTURE…..-2.66 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2025)…….47.19 DEPARTURE…..-6.67 SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST): TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.5 DEPARTURE……0.0 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH (DEC)…………..6.8 DEPARTURE…..-5.8 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2025-2026)…….7.4 DEPARTURE…..-7.7 ————————————————————– 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 1/1  The low since midnight is 20F, the daily normal low is 21F. ————————————————————– DECEMBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE 12/19 PEAK GUST OF 79 MPH S, BEAT THE OLD RECORD OF 68 MPH NE IN 1986. ————————————————————– DAILY EXTREMES Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated) RECORDS FOR JANUARY 1 HIGH 58F IN 1966 LOW -6F IN 1918 PRECIP 1.45 INS. IN 1982 SNOWFALL 7.2 INS. IN 1938 PEAK GUST 90e MPH S IN 1945 RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2 HIGH 62F IN 1890 LOW -7F IN 1899,1918 PRECIP 2.10 INS. IN 1987 SNOWFALL 10.9 INS. IN 2014 PEAK GUST 85e MPH S IN 1942 TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center · Legal

Data Use & Privacy Policy

Please read the full Policy before accessing Observatory data · Effective January 1, 2025

Notice: By accessing, downloading, or using any Blue Hill Observatory data or services, you unconditionally accept and agree to be bound by this Policy in its entirety. If you do not agree, you may not access or use Observatory data.
Effective January 1, 2025 · Milton, Massachusetts · bluehill.org
Part I — Data Use Policy
§ 01

Ownership and Proprietary Rights

All observational records, compiled datasets, metadata, database structures, and related materials provided by the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center are the exclusive property of the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center. The Observatory has maintained continuous weather observations at the summit of Great Blue Hill since 1885, and the entirety of that record — its compilation, structure, curation, and organization — constitutes a proprietary database protected under applicable United States law, including copyright law and common law database protections.

All rights not expressly granted in this Policy are reserved by the Observatory. No access to or use of Observatory data shall be construed as a waiver of any rights or as a license to use data beyond the scope expressly stated herein.

§ 02

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For interactions with international users, this Policy shall apply to the maximum extent permitted by applicable local law.

Any dispute arising from or related to this Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. By accessing Observatory data, all users consent to personal jurisdiction in Massachusetts and waive any objection to the venue or inconvenience of such forum.

§ 03

Permitted Uses

Observatory data are made available for the following limited, non-commercial purposes only:

  • Personal study and analysis
  • Educational classroom use
  • Student projects
  • Non-commercial academic research
  • Publication of analyses, figures, models, or conclusions derived from the data, subject to the attribution requirements of Section 4

All other uses require prior written authorization from the Observatory.

§ 04

Attribution Requirement

Any use of Observatory data in any published, presented, or publicly distributed work must include the following verbatim acknowledgment:

“Data provided by the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center, Milton, Massachusetts. Continuous weather observations since 1885.”

Failure to include proper attribution is a material violation of this Policy.

§ 05

Prohibited Uses

Unless explicitly authorized in writing, Users may not:

  • Resell, license, sublicense, or commercially exploit Observatory data in any form
  • Redistribute the dataset in whole or in part to any third party
  • Publish the dataset for download by third parties
  • Host, mirror, or archive the dataset on any external website, repository, or storage service
  • Upload the dataset to any public or institutional data repository
  • Provide the data through APIs, automated services, or subscription platforms
  • Incorporate the data into any commercial product, software, application, or service
  • Use the data for AI or machine learning systems intended for commercial use or external distribution
  • Use the data to create derivative datasets that enable reconstruction of the underlying observations
§ 06

Commercial Licensing

Organizations seeking to use Observatory data for commercial purposes must obtain a license prior to any such use. Licensing inquiries: data@bluehill.org.

§ 07

Automated Access

Automated scraping, bulk harvesting, or systematic downloading of Observatory data is strictly prohibited without prior written authorization.

§ 08

Enforcement and Remedies

Violation of this Policy may result in immediate revocation of data access, pursuit of legal remedies available under United States law, and referral to applicable authorities. The Observatory reserves all rights to seek injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees in connection with any unauthorized use of its data.

Part II — Privacy Policy
§ 09–10

Scope & Information Collected

This section governs the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of personal information from visitors to the Blue Hill Observatory website and users of its data services. The Observatory may collect contact information (name, email, organization) when voluntarily submitted, usage data including IP addresses and pages visited, and data download records.

§ 11–12

How We Use Information & Retention

Information is used solely for: responding to inquiries and licensing requests; monitoring and enforcing compliance with this Policy; improving website performance; and communicating Observatory news to opted-in users. The Observatory does not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Data access records may be retained indefinitely for compliance and enforcement purposes.

§ 13

International Users and Data Transfers

The Observatory is located in the United States. International users acknowledge their information will be processed in the United States under U.S. law. Users requiring specific data processing agreements under non-US law must contact data@bluehill.org before accessing data.

§ 14–16

Cookies, Security & Children’s Privacy

The Observatory website may use cookies for analytics and functionality. By continuing to use the site, users consent to cookie use. The Observatory implements reasonable measures to protect personal information but cannot guarantee absolute security. Observatory data services are not directed at children under 13.

Part III — General Provisions
§ 17–20

Modifications, Severability, Entire Agreement & Contact

The Observatory reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time. Updated versions will be posted at bluehill.org. Continued use of Observatory data following any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy. This Policy constitutes the entire agreement between the User and the Observatory. Questions and licensing inquiries: Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center, Milton, Massachusetts — data@bluehill.org

By accessing, downloading, or using any Blue Hill Observatory data or services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Policy.
Effective January 1, 2025 · Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center · Milton, Massachusetts