JANUARY 2025 COLDER AND DRIER THAN AVERAGE

January temperature was cooler than average with less rain and snow and much more sunshine than expected. The approximated 24-hour mean temperature for the month of 25.5 deg F was 0.4 degrees cooler than the 1891-2020 130-year average for January, and it was 1.7 degrees cooler than the 1991-2020 30-year average. The average maximum temperature of 33.1 deg F was 1.6 degrees colder than the 30-year normal, and the average minimum temperature of 18.3 deg F matched the 30-year normal. 

After a warm start to the month on the 1st, changeable temperatures occurred with only seven days reaching or surpassing 40F and only one day, the 1st, having a minimum temperature above freezing. 

The two coldest periods, from the 4th to 9th and the 20th to 25th all featured days that did not get above freezing. The warmest temperature was 47F on the 1st and 29th, and the coldest temperature was 2F on the 22nd. 

The mean water vapor pressure, which is an absolute measure of water vapor in the air, was 3.1 mb, which corresponds to a mean dew point of 17F, and this mean was below average for the month. 

The total precipitation for the month was 2.35 inches, which was 2.15 inches below the 30-year normal, with about two-thirds falling as rain and about one-third as frozen precipitation. The greatest amount in 24 hours was 0.79 inches, which fell as rain with a little freezing rain, on the 31st. 

The snowfall total for the month was 8.4 inches, which was about ten inches below the 30-year normal, and the greatest in 24 hours was 5.7 inches on the 19th-20th. The greatest snow depth reached six inches on the 20th. The mean wind speed was 14.2 mph, and the prevailing wind direction was from the west-northwest. The highest wind gust was 65 mph from the west-northwest during the passage of an Arctic front on the morning of the 28th. 

January sunshine was well above average with 179.4 hours of bright sunshine, or 63 percent of possible, which was 17 percent more than the long-term average for the month, and

January was the fourth sunniest on record.

Summary Blue Hill Observatory January 2025

February temperature and sunshine were near average, and there was less rain and snow than expected. The approximated 24-hour mean temperature for the month of 28.0 deg F was 1.4 degrees warmer than the 1891-2020 130-year average for February, and it was 1.2 degrees colder than the 1991-2020 30-year average. The average maximum temperature of 35.5 deg F was 1.5 degrees colder than the 30-year normal, and the average minimum temperature of 20.1 deg F was 0.6 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal. The first three weeks of the month were generally cool with several light snowfalls, though the last six days were warm enough to nearly erase the negative temperature departure. The warmest temperature was 55F on the 25th, and the coldest temperature was 5F on the 2nd. The mean water vapor pressure, which is an absolute measure of water vapor in the air, was 3.7 mb, which corresponds to a mean dew point of 21F, and this value was average for the month. The total precipitation was 3.30 inches, which was 0.70 inches below the 30-year normal. More than half of the monthly total occurred during the largest storm of the month, which brought a storm total of 1.95 inches and the greatest amount in 24 hours of 1.86 inches on the 15th-16th in the form of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain. The snowfall total for the month was 13.1 inches, which was 5.1 inches less than the 30-year normal, and the greatest in 24 hours was 4.9 inches during the storm on the 15th-16th. The greatest snow depth reached five inches on the 16th-19th. There was one thunderstorm day near the end of the storm on the 16th. The mean wind speed was 13.6 mph, and the prevailing wind direction was from the west-northwest. The highest wind gust was 70 mph from the west-northwest on the 17th. February sunshine was near average with 146.3 hours of bright sunshine, or 51 percent of possible, which was one percent more than the long-term average for the month. 

Blue Hill Observatory February 2025 Summary

March was much warmer than normal, with average precipitation and record low snowfall. The approximated 24-hour mean temperature for the month of 40.2 deg F was 5.7 degrees warmer than the 1891-2020 130-year average for March, and it was 4.4 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 30-year average. The month tied as the twelfth warmest March on record. The average maximum temperature of 50.1 deg F was 6.0 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal, and it was the ninth warmest on record. The average minimum temperature of 31.1 deg F was 4.2 degrees warmer than the 30-year normal. After a very cold start on the 2nd and 3rd, warmth dominated the month and only eight days averaged at or below normal. The warmest temperature was 67F on the 16th, and the coldest temperature was 8F on the 3rd. The mean water vapor pressure, which is an absolute measure of water vapor in the air, was 6.1 mb, which corresponds to a mean dew point of 32F, and this value was above the average of 4.8 mb, or 27F, for the month. The total precipitation was 5.06 inches, which was 0.46 inches below the 30-year normal. Nearly half of the monthly total occurred during the largest storm of the month on the 16th-17th, which brought rain, warm temperatures, strong winds, and a storm total of 2.17 inches, which was also the greatest amount in 24 hours. Another notable storm on the 5th-6th brought 1.18 inches of rain, which ended as a trace of snow, and very strong southerly winds. The snowfall total for the month was only a trace, on four days, which was 15.0 inches less than the 30-year normal, and this amount of snow tied as the lowest on record for March. It was only the third time on record that only a trace of snow was measured in March, matching 1921 and 2024. There were no thunderstorm days during the month. The lowest sea-level pressure during March was 988.0 mb, or 29.18 inches, on the 6th. The mean wind speed was 14.0 mph, and the prevailing wind direction was from the west-northwest. The highest wind gust was 69 mph from the south during the storm on the 6th. March sunshine was above average with 185.4 hours of bright sunshine, or 52 percent of possible, which was three percent more than the long-term average for the month. 

Blue Hill Observatory March 2025 Summary