Cold February caps warm ‘official winter’

February in Swampscott was cold, dry and very sunny, with little snow. The average temperature was 24.1 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 5.5 degrees below average. The very cold weather was present until the month's high of 46 degree on Feb. 20, immediately following one of the month's lowest temperature (6 degrees).

Another day with a low of 6 degrees occurred the morning of the 13th. Heating degree days (heat deficiency units) totaled 1,143, which was 120 more than average.

Precipitation totaled 3.06 inches, which was 0.61 inch below normal. Measurable amounts were recorded on seven days and traces on two days, leaving 19 dry days. The most in 24 hours was 2.42 inches on Valentine’s Day, the 14th. Precipitation that day was like a study in the types of winter precipitation with snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain falling at various times during the storm.

Snowfall totaled only 6.2 inches, 6.6 inches less than average. The total for the season now stands at only 9.4 inches — 28.4 inches fewer than average.

Sunshine totaled 63 percent of possible, 13 points more than average, at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton. Nine days had almost full sun, while only three days had no sun. Clear days were 14; partly cloudy five, and nine cloudy. The past averages are eight, seven and 13, respectively.

Wind averaged 13.3 mph, 0.4 mph under par. The month's peak gust, at 47 mph, came from the West on Feb. 5. Feb. 14-16 was a rare three-day stretch with daily averages exceeding 20 mph, averaging 21.8 mph. This period brought not only very uncomfortable wind chill, but a major storm on the 14th. The windiest day was also the 14th, at 22.7 mph ; the calmest day was Feb. 2, at only 4.0 mph.

The official meteorological winter in Swampscott, December through February, was warmer, drier and sunnier than normal with a lack of snow. The average temperature was 31.0 degrees, which is 2.2 degrees warmer than average. The coldest month was February with an average temperate of 24.1 degrees; the warmest was December with an average of 38.4 degrees.

Precipitation totaled 10.47 inches, 2.56 inches less than average. The wettest of the three dry months was February with 3.06 inches; the driest was December with only 2.44 inches.

Snowfall totaled only 10.5 inches, 22.8 inches fewer than normal. The snowiest month was February with 6.2 inches; while December had the least snow with 0.9 inch. In Boston, this winter was the second-least snowiest of record only to the 2.7 inches in the 1936-37 winter season.

Sunshine was 53 percent of possible, six points over normal. Wind averaged 12.1 mph, 1.3 mph below normal. The peak gust was 47 mph from the west on Feb. 5.

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