Flash Or Steady? ⛈️ 🚦Old Hancock Tower's Weather Guide

The Old John Hancock Building, also known as the Berkeley Building, has a cool feature beyond its neoGeorgian design or its impressive height. Look up and. you’ll see a luminescent beacon on its pinnacle, which has provided weather forecasts to Bostonians since 1950.

A Luminous Legacy

While today's technology provides instant weather updates at our fingertips, the Old John Hancock Building's weather beacon was once a vital tool for Bostonians. The system is simple yet effective. Its lights communicate the following weather predictions:

Steady Blue:
Clear skies

Flashing Blue:
Clouds are coming

Steady Red:
Expect rain

Flashing Red:
Prepare for snow (Historically, during baseball season, it also meant a Red Sox game cancellation.)

These forecasts were neatly summed up in a catchy rhyme that many locals still know by heart:

““Steady blue, clear view; Flashing blue, clouds due; Steady red, rain ahead; Flashing red, snow instead.””

A Beacon of Innovation

When the beacon first lit up in 1950, it wasn't just a novelty; it was a symbol of postwar innovation. Cities were growing, technology was advancing, and Boston found a way to intertwine the two in its skyline. The idea was revolutionary for its time, blending utility with architectural design.

More than Just Lights

The Old John Hancock Building's weather beacon is a piece of Boston's cultural tapestry. Over the decades, the beacon has seen modifications in response to significant events. For example, following the tragic events of 9/11, the beacon was darkened in remembrance. Similarly, during Boston's bid for the Summer Olympics in 2014, the beacon flashed in the pattern of the Olympic colors.

A Nostalgic Nudge in a Digital Age

In our era of smartphones and instant notifications, the beacon might seem outdated to some. However, for many Bostonians, it represents a nostalgic nudge, a reminder of a simpler time. While technology has surpassed the beacon in terms of accuracy and immediacy, the Old John Hancock Building's lights still draw glances and smiles from those in the know.