Winter 2025-2026 Summary: Colder and Snowier Than Average

Blue Hill Observatory Winter (Dec-Feb) 2025-2026 Summary: 

Winter 2025-2026 was much colder and snowier than average with less total precipitation and more sunshine than expected. The approximated 24-hour mean temperature for winter of 26.5 deg F was 1.0 degrees colder than the 1891-2020 130-year average for the season, and it was 3.2 degrees colder than the 1991-2020 30-year average. It was the coldest winter at Blue Hill since a mean of 25.3 deg F was observed in winter 2014-2015. The average maximum temperature of 34.5 deg F was 2.8 degrees colder than the 30-year normal, and the average minimum temperature of 18.9 deg F was 2.0 degrees colder than the 30-year normal. Except for a nine-day respite of above average temperatures in mid-January, winter 2025-2026 remained cold throughout with frequent outbreaks of Arctic air. Winter temperatures ranged from a high of 58F ahead of the arrival of an Arctic front on December 19th to a seasonal low of -2F on February 8th. The average water vapor pressure was 3.6 mb, which corresponded to a mean dew point of 21F. This value was lower than the long-term average vapor pressure for winter of 4.0 mb, which corresponds to an average dew point of 23F. The season was much drier than average, and the total liquid equivalent precipitation was 9.32 inches, which was 4.57 inches less than the 30-year normal. The greatest amount in 24 hours was 1.99 inches during the Blizzard of 2026 on February 22nd-23rd. This major ocean storm also brought 24.8 inches of snowfall, which was the fifth largest snowstorm ever observed during February at Blue Hill. The other significant storm of the season was a major snowstorm that brought 25.3 inches of snow on January 25th-26th, which was the third largest January snowfall on record. These storms were the tenth largest and tied for the eleventh largest snowstorms ever measured at Blue Hill, and they were only the third occurrence of two or more snowstorms of twenty inches or more in a single season. The total snowfall for winter was 78.6 inches, which was 29.2 inches more than normal, and it was the eleventh highest winter snowfall on record. The lowest sea-level pressure during winter was 29.30 inches during the blizzard on February 23rd, and the highest sea-level pressure was 30.66 inches on January 25th. The mean wind speed was 12.7 mph, which tied as the third lowest on record for winter, and the prevailing wind direction was from the west-northwest. The highest wind gust during winter was 79 mph from the south ahead of a strong cold front on December 19th, and another notable wind gust was 68 mph from the northeast during the blizzard on February 23rd. Winter sunshine was above average with 442.0 total hours of bright sunshine, or 52 percent of possible, which was four percent more than the long-term average for the season.

BHO Highest Winter (Dec-Feb) Snowfall, inches (1885-2026):

1) 128.8 in 2014-2015
2) 117.4 in 1947-1948
3) 91.2 in 1995-1996
4) 89.6 in 2010-2011
5) 89.0 in 1922-1923
6) 86.4 in 2004-2005
7) 85.8 in 2002-2003
8) 82.7 in 1903-1904
9) 81.9 in 1993-1994
10) 81.6 in 2013-2014
11) 78.6 in 2025-2026

BHO Greatest Snowstorms, inches (1885-2026):

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb 1969
2) 30.8 on 26-28 Jan 2015
3) 30.3 on 3-5 Mar 1960
4) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb 1978
5) 30.0 on 31 Mar – 1 Apr 1997
6) 29.8 on 6-8 Mar 2013
7) 28.1 on 7-10 Feb 2015
8) 27.6 on 28-29 Jan 2022
9) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb 2013
10) 25.3 on 25-27 Jan 2026
11) 24.8 on 17-18 Feb 2003
   24.8 on 22-23 Feb 2026

BHO Lowest Winter (Dec-Feb) Mean Wind Speed, mph (1885-86 to 2025-26):

1) 11.6 in 2023-2024
2) 12.2 in 2020-2021
3) 12.7 in 2022-2023
   12.7 in 2025-2026
5) 12.8 in 2019-2020
   12.8 in 2021-2022

Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory