BLUE HILL OBSERVATORY
MILTON MA ELEVATION 635 FT.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 26 2002

SPECIAL REPORT 11 A.M.

Christmas storm packs a strong punch and delivers wild weather here at BHO. 
Christmas storm produced strong winds, sleet, freezing rain, and snow here 
at the Observatory. The door to the Observatory this morning was frozen 
shut as freezing rain locked the doorknob and snow-drifts piled high 
against the door.

Total frozen accumulation at the end of the storm averaged 10.7 inches even 
though strong winds produced drifts to a little greater than 14 inches in 
select locations. Winds have been very strong from the last half of 
yesterday into this morning. Our peak gust yesterday was 65 MPH at 6:00 
P.M. (ASOS reports 60 MPH) and this morning we received a peak gust of 62 
MPH at around 7:50 A.M. Winds have averaged nearly 40 MPH for today.

Skies have cleared rapidly since the departure of the storm and skies are 
currently mostly clear under cirrus and a few cumulus; however, visibility 
is increasing very slowly.


Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
BHO SA 1155 E80 OVC 35 979/24/20/3026G45/876/ FEW BINOVC ALQDS SC ALNG HRZN 
E-SW PK WND 3045/47 TOTAL NEW SNW PST 24 HRS 10.7 IN SNW DFTING MAX SNW DFT 
14.1 IN/ 8/570/ 51059 ASOS 60014 70161 MANUAL 70159 10027 20024

11 A.M.
BHO SA 1455 E25 SCT 40 036/24/21/3122G27/963/ FEW CU ALQDS FEW SC FRMING 
ALNG HRZN W-NW PRESSRR WND BACKING GRDLY PK WND 3137/30/ 8/501/ 51057


Prepared by: Andy Hoell

Happy Holidays from BHO,
Robert Skilling, Matt Douglas, Mike Iacono, Andrew Hoell