REMARKS 



The weather during January was extremely cold, with more 

 snow than usual. The mean temperature for the month was 19 

 degrees, while the normal is 23.8 degrees. This is the lowest mean 

 temperature for January since 1920 when the mean was 15.2 degrees. 

 The lowest temperature was -21 degrees on the 28th. Only three 

 times since this station was established have we had lower tempera- 

 tures in January. In 1899 it reached -21.5; in 1904, -26; and in 1907 

 it reached -23.5 degrees. 



The domestic heating load for the current heating season to 

 the end of January is 3838 degree-days. The normal for this period' 

 is 3773. Last winter the heating load for the same period was 4026 

 degree-days. In other words, the fuel required for the present year 

 is about 2 per cent more than normal and 5 per cent less than last 

 year. 



The total snowfall for the month was 28.5 inches. This has 

 been exceeded only twice in January since 1889. In 1898 and 1923 

 the snowfall was 33 inches in January. The normal snowfall for 

 January is 13 inches. The total precipitation for the month was 4.96 

 inches, the normal being 3.42 inches. The wind movement was 

 somewhat higher than usual with no high gales. The prevailing 

 direction was west northwest. There were 147 hours of bright sunshine, 

 which is 7 hours greater than normal. 



Dr. J. K. Shaw makes the following comments: "The low tem- 

 peratures almost equaling those of last year have entirely destroyed 

 the fruit buds in the college peach orchards. How general this condition 

 is over the state is unknown but it is certain that the peach crop of 

 Massachusetts will be reduced almost, if not quite, to nothing. What 

 the effect has been on fruit trees is as yet unknown, but it is to be 

 feared that we may experience more or less killing or injury to all 

 tender fruit trees." 



A. H. Madden, Observer C. I. Gunness, Meteorologist 



