Winter 2016-2017 Summary – Fourth Warmest on Record
Blue Hill Observatory
Winter 2016-2017 Summary:
The winter (December-February) season was generally warm with a few brief cold intervals and a very wintry week in mid-February. The 24-hour mean temperature for the winter of 32.9 deg F was 5.6 degrees warmer than the 120-year average for winter and 3.9 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 30-year average. The winter season was the fourth warmest on record. Each month was warmer than average including the ninth warmest January and the sixth warmest February. The highest temperature for the season was 71F on February 24th, which set a new high temperature record for February. This reading was the third warmest temperature for any winter day, and it was the earliest occurrence of 70F or higher in any year on record. A three-day period from February 23rd-25th had the highest maximum temperatures for any three consecutive winter days on record (67F, 71F, and 68F). The coldest temperature was 1F on December 16th. The liquid equivalent precipitation total for winter was 12.11 inches, which was a half inch drier than the 120-year average and more than an inch drier than the 1981-2010 mean. Winter snowfall totaled 52.3 inches, which was about nine inches more than the long-term mean and about eight inches more than the 30-year normal. The largest single snowstorm brought 16.9 inches on February 9th that also brought strong winds and brief thunder during the snow. Nearby Houghton’s Pond first froze on December 19th, briefly thawed and later refroze during January, and thawed the final time on February 25th. The mean wind speed for the winter months was only 13.7 mph, which tied as the sixth slowest wind speed for any December-February period on record. The peak gust during winter was 62 mph from the northeast, which occurred during a rain storm on January 24th. Winter sunshine was exactly average with 48 percent of the possible bright sunshine being observed, which matched the 120-year average of 48 percent.
Photo Credit: Robert Millette
BHO Warmest Winter 24-Hour Mean Temperature, deg F (1885-2017):
1) 34.9 in 2015-2016
2) 34.8 in 2001-2002
3) 34.3 in 2011-2012
4) 32.9 in 2016-2017
5) 32.6 in 1997-1998
6) 32.3 in 1936-1937
32.3 in 1998-1999
BHO Warmest Winter Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2017):
1) 43.3 in 2015-2016
2) 42.7 in 2011-2012
3) 42.5 in 2001-2002
4) 40.7 in 1936-1937
40.7 in 1990-1991
6) 40.6 in 1889-1890
7) 40.5 in 2016-2017
8) 40.4 in 1932-1933
BHO Warmest Winter Minimum Temperature, deg F (1885-2017):
1) 28.0 in 2001-2002
2) 27.2 in 2015-2016
3) 26.5 in 2011-2012
4) 26.2 in 1997-1998
5) 25.7 in 2016-2017
6) 25.2 in 1948-1949
7) 25.1 in 1932-1933
8) 25.0 in 1936-1937
BHO Warmest Winter Daily Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2017)
1) 74 on 7 Dec 1998
2) 72 on 29 Dec 1984
3) 71 on 24 Feb 2017
4) 70 on 1 Dec 2001
70 on 6 Dec 2001
6) 68 on 26 Jan 1950
68 on 24 Feb 1985
68 on 25 Feb 2017
BHO Lowest Winter Mean Wind Speed, mph (1885-2017):
1) 13.1 in 2013-2014
2) 13.3 in 2011-2012
13.3 in 2014-2015
4) 13.5 in 2015-2016
5) 13.6 in 2007-2008
6) 13.7 in 2004-2005
13.7 in 2012-2013
13.7 in 2016-2017
9) 13.9 in 2001-2002
Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory
