Saturday, March 3, 2018

BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2018
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

COASTAL STORM, BROUGHT RECORD BREAKING
PRECIPITATION, CLOSE TO RECORD BREAKING WIND GUST,
CONTINUES TO BRING HIGH GUST FROM THE NNE….

Low pressure off the coast caused high wind gusts
and heavy rain yesterday at Blue Hill Observatory.
Our daily peak gust of 73 MPH was close to breaking
the previous wind record of 75 MPH set back in 1966.
Although we did not break a wind record, we did
measure a record breaking amount of daily
precipitation with a daily/storm total of 3.47 ins.
Just after 8:00 P.M. yesterday the heavy rain
changed over to a wet heavy snow, which ended before
midnight. We measured 0.07 ins. of snow at 7:00 A.M.

Today wind from the NNE remains strong with multiple
gust over 40 MPH. So far we have a peak gust of 45 kts
(52 MPH). We also had few showers today with a mixture
of rain and snow but only a trace was measured by
1:00 P.M. Skies remained mostly cloudy today but
visibility was good ranging from 60-70 miles.
Humidity dropped throughout the day from 90% down to
72% by 1:00 P.M.

YESTERDAY’S PEAK WIND GUSTS AT BLUE HILL OBSERVATORY
All times in EST, gusts in mph.
420 C……….73 NNE at 5:42 P.M. (official station gust)
Aerovane…….70 NNE at 6:25 P.M.
Merlin………70 NE
Davis……….66 M   at 6:12 P.M.
ASOS………..73 NNE at 6:27 P.M.
R.M. Young…..N/A (erroneous reading of 113 mph)*

*same erroneous reading during Hurricane Sandy Oct 30, 2012

BHO Greatest March calendar day precipitation,
inches (1885-2018):

1) 5.81 on 18 March, 1968
2) 4.95 on 14 March, 2010
3) 3.48 on 22 March, 2001
4) 3.47 on 02 March, 2018
5) 2.92 on 30 March, 2010
6) 2.89 on 31 March, 1987
7) 2.87 on 12 March, 1888
8) 2.86 on 15 March, 2010

PRELIMINARY STATS FOR FEBRUARY 2018

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max.: 45.1 [+8.3] Avg. Min.: 27.3 [+8.2] Mean:      36.2 [+8.3] 24-hour corrected mean: 36.1
Max. for month: 70 on 21st
Min. for month: 4F on  3rd

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:  801  [-236] Total for the season: 4122 [-446] Total for last season: 3877

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 4.12 [+0.04] Greatest in 24 hrs: N/A

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 10.2 [-3.7] Greatest in 24 hrs: 5.8 in. on 17th-18th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.5
Avg. corrected wind speed: 12.8
Prevailing wind direction: WNW at 18%
Peak gust and direction: 47 WNW on 5th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: N/A
Astronomical total minutes: N/A

BHO Warmest February Daily Maximum Temperature,
deg F (1885-2017):

1) 71 on 24 Feb 2017
2) 70 on 21 Feb 2018
3) 68 on 24 Feb 1985
68 on 25 Feb 2017
68 on 20 Feb 2018
6) 67 on 26 Feb 1957
67 on 25 Feb 1976
67 on 23 Feb 2017
9) 66 on 20 Feb 1930
66 on 19 Feb 1981

BHO Warmest February Daily High Minimum Temperature,
deg F (1885-2017):

1) 50 on 21 Feb 2018
2) 49 on 20 Feb 1981
3) 48 on 20 Feb 2018
4) 47 on 28 Feb 1910
47 on 23 Feb 1990
47 on 24 Feb 2017
7) 46 on 26 Feb 1957
8) 45 on 22 Feb 1954
45 on 5 Feb 1991
45 on 21 Feb 2002

BHO Warmest February 24-Hour Adjusted Mean Temperature,
deg F (1885-2018):

1) 36.1 in 2018
2) 34.9 in 1984
3) 34.3 in 2012
4) 34.0 in 1998
5) 33.9 in 1954
33.9 in 1981
7) 33.8 in 2017
8) 33.7 in 1976

BHO February Warmest Average Maximum Temperature,
deg F (1885-2018):

1) 45.1 in 2018
2) 44.0 in 1976
3) 43.5 in 1981
4) 43.2 in 1984
43.2 in 2017
6) 43.0 in 2012
7) 42.9 in 1954
42.9 in 2002

BHO February Warmest Average Minimum Temperature,
deg F (1885-2018):

1) 27.9 in 1998
2) 27.3 in 2018
3) 27.1 in 1984
4) 26.4 in 2012
5) 26.3 in 1925
6) 26.2 in 1954
7) 25.7 in 1981
8) 25.5 in 1997
25.5 in 2017

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Light snow and overcast stratus
Temperature: 34F; Dew Point: 32F; Wind: N at 17G30 kts
Peak Wind: 34 kts (39 MPH) N at 06:38 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.85 ins. Hg, rising, then more quickly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 34F
6-hr Min temp: 34F
24-hr precip:  2.72 ins.
24-hr snowfall: 0.7 ins.
Snow depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1155 E23 OVC 70S- 107/34/32/3517G30/985/ NEW SNW PST
24 HRS 0.7 INS PK WND 3534/38/ 8/6// MANUAL 70272 ASOS 70285
53032 10034 20034

10 A.M.
Weather: Very light drizzle, broken stratocumulus,
broken stratus
Temperature: 38F; Dew Point: 31F; Wind: NNE at 19G43 kts
Peak Wind: 43 kts (50 MPH) at 09:51 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.90 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 60 miles
3-hr precip: Trace
3-hr snowfall: 0.0 ins.
BHO SA 1455 E22 BKN 30 BKN 60L- 124/38/31/0219G43/990/
PCPN VRY LGT PK WND 0243/51/ 8/600 MANUAL 600// 52017

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, broken stratus, few stratus
fractus SSE-S
Temperature: 38F; Dew Point: 30F; Wind: NE at 18G33 kts,
Peak Wind: 40 kts (46 MPH) at 12:09 P.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.93 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 39F
6-hr Min temp: 34F
6-hr precip: Trace
6-hr snowfall: Trace
Snow depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1755 E32 BKN 45 BKN 70 137/38/30/0418G33/993/ NEW
SNW PAST 6 HRS TRACE FEW STFA SSE-S PK WND 0440/09/ 8/600
MANUAL 600// 51013 10039 20034

SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…..40   NORMAL…..40
MIN…..32   NORMAL…..22
MEAN….36   NORMAL…..31

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL……………………….+5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………+23 [+11.5 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY………….29   DEPARTURE……….-5
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH………….45   DEPARTURE………-22
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON……….4167   DEPARTURE……..-468
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…..3912   DIFFERENCE…….+255

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY……………….73 NNE AT 5:42 P.M.
AERO……………………70 NNE AT 6:25 P.M.*
ASOS……………………73 NNE AT 6:27 P.M.
DAVIS…………………..66 M   AT 6:12 P.M ** RMY N/A
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY…………………48 NNE AT 6:21 P.M.*
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE………………44 NE  AT 5:42 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE……………..41 M   AT 5:07 P.M.**
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION………….30.5 NNE
ASOS………………….28.3
DAVIS…………………26.2 **
*  Last of multiple occurrences
** Davis direction malfunctioning

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M….2.72  DEPARTURE……+0.57
ASOS…………..2.85
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH……….3.48  DEPARTURE……+3.31
ASOS…………..3.54
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR……….13.59  DEPARTURE……+5.00
ASOS………….14.39

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……….0.7  DEPARTURE……..+0.2
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH…………….0.7  DEPARTURE……..-0.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON…………..44.7  DEPARTURE……..-2.7

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/AERO/RMY GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system gust
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M:    Missing data

2/1  45/27/36/+10/…./0.0/120/20      36 SSW AERO 35 SSW RMY N/A
2/2  34/08/21/-5/…./2.5/223/37       43 WNW AERO 46 WNW RMY 46
2/3  25/04/15/-11/0.00/0.0/557/92      26 S   AERO 24 S   RMY 30
2/4  45/23/34/+8/…/T/000/00          31 SSE AERO 29 S   RMY 30
2/5  46/19/33/+7/0.00/0.0/464/76       47 WNW AERO 47 WNW RMY 44
2/6  31/17/24/+2/T/T/025/04            26 SSW AERO 23 SSW RMY 23
2/7  42/21/32/+5/0.62/1.1/000/00       45 SW  AERO 46 SW  RMY 47
2/8  30/20/25/-2/0.00/0.0/501/81       38 WNW AERO 38 WNW RMY N/A
2/9  30/16/23/-4/0.00/0.0/384/62       28 S   AERO 25 S   RMY N/A
2/10 51/28/40/+13/…./0.0/000/00      31 S   AERO 30 S   RMY 31
2/11 46/36/41/+14/…./0.0/000/00      24 SW  AERO 21 SW  RMY N/A
2/12 53/27/40/+13/…./0.0/132/21      33 WNW AERO 33 WNW RMY N/A
2/13 31/21/26/-2/0.00/0.0/496/79       22 S   AERO 18 WNW RMY 21
2/14 46/25/36/+8/0.00/0.0/234/37       30 S   AERO 26 SSW RMY 29
2/15 47/35/41/+13/…./0.0/000/00      23 SSW AERO 20 SSW RMY N/A
2/16 50/31/41/+13/…./0.0/000/00      45 W   AERO 44 W   RMY 42
2/17 38/23/31/+3/…./…/468/73       33 SSW AERO 29 SSE RMY 33
2/18 42/29/35/+6/…./…/451/70       32 WNW AERO 29 WNW RMY 34
2/19 48/30/39/+10/…./0.0/…/..      39 SSW AERO 37 SSW RMY 40
2/20 68/48/58/+29/…./0.0/…/..      32 SSW AERO 30 SSW RMY N/A
2/21 70/50/60/+31/0.00/0.0/…/..      32 SW  AERO 30 SW  RMY 33
2/22 53/30/42/+13/…./0.8/…/..      30 N   AERO 28 N   RMY N/A
2/23 41/28/35/+5/0.20/0.0/…/..       34 SW  AERO 20 SW  RMY N/A
2/24 54/35/45/+15/…./0.0/…/..      32 W   AERO 30 W   RMY 29
2/25 39/33/36/+6/…./T/000/00         33 ESE AERO 30 ESE RMY 33
2/26 48/35/42/+12/0.00/0.0/…/..      29 WNW AERO 25 WNW RMY 28
2/27 51/29/40/+9/0.00/0.0/…/..       26 WNW AERO 23 WNW RMY 25
2/28 59/37/48/+17/0.01/0.0/…/..      28 SSW AERO 25 SSW RMY 27

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MARCH CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/AERO/RMY GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system gust
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M:    Missing data

3/01 61/37/49/+18/0.00/0.0/…/..    39 ENE AERO 37 ENE RMY N/A
3/02 40/32/36/+5/3.47/0.7/000/00     73 NNE AERO 70 NNE RMY N/A

3/03 Low temp since midnight is 34F; normal low is now 23F

DAILY RECORDS FOR MARCH 2018

3/02/18: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION OF 3.47 INS.
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 2.15 INS. SET IN 1983

DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):

RECORDS FOR MARCH 3
HIGH 64 IN 1991
LOW -1 IN 1950
PRECIP 2.36 INS. IN 1972
SNOWFALL 12.8 INS. IN 1960
PEAK GUST 78e MPH E IN 1942

RECORDS FOR MARCH 4
HIGH 69 IN 1974
LOW -5 IN 1950
PRECIP 1.80 IN 1960
SNOWFALL 17.3 IN 1960
PEAK GUST 81e MPH SSW IN 1971

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Kaitlin Geagan