Friday, February 4, 2022

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2022
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
SUNRISE: 0654E
SUNSET:  1702E

RAIN TRANSITIONS TO BRIEF FREEZING RAIN, THEN SLEET…

Quite the variety in precipitation types and temperatures
over the last 12 hours! So, let’s get right into it!

Moderate rain overspread the hill late yesterday evening.
“Snow-eating fog” also arrived at this time, chewing up a
good deal of our snowpack. Just after midnight today, we
saw a slug of mild air rush in from the south. This delivered
us our high for the day at 49F. However, municipalities just
to our east saw winds onshore via a sea-breeze. While Blue Hill
was warming into the upper-40s, Quincy, for instance, was
slipping through the upper-30s!

Around daybreak the cold front slowly meandered through the
region from north to south. Being so dense, an unusual, yet
classic phenomenon is occurring where the shallow arctic air
is infiltrating the lowest lying locations first – via the
coastal plain! As such, Essex county is the coldest spot in
our region where temps are in the mid-20s! Notably at 1PM,
Boston is actually 1 degree colder right now (28F) than Fitchburg
(KFIT @29F), and 2 degrees colder than Orange (KORE @30F)!

As the front passed, a flash freeze was experienced here between
7a-8a as the air temperature dipped into the low-30s. A very
thin glaze accreted on most surfaces, though most of the radial ice
is well below 0.2″. However, it was enough to lock up several of
our wind instruments 🙁 Only brief freezing rain was observed thanks
to a quickly deepening cold layer. A warm nose around
800-850mb (~4,500 ft) is well above freezing, thus the dominant
p-type today has been sleet.

Visibility has been a steady 1/4 of a mile. Snow depth dropped
significantly overnight with about 2″ left this afternoon. Ponds
remain ice covered.

The high today was 49F, this is 14 degrees above the normal
high of 35F. The low since midnight is 27F, which is 9 degrees
above the normal minimum of 18F.

PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JANUARY 2022

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 33.2 [-1.5] Avg. Min. 15.3 [-3.0] Mean      24.3 [-2.2] 24-hour corrected mean: 24.9
Max. for month: 51F on the 1st
Min. for month: 0F on the 16th

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:   1255 [+62] Total for the season:  3141 [-262] Total for last season: 3044

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 4.59 [+0.09] Greatest in 24 hrs: 1.84 inches on the 28th-29th

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 45.4 ins. [+26.8] Greatest in 24 hrs: 27.6 ins. from the 28th-29th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.6 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   13.0 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   NW [18%] Peak gust and direction:     65 ESE on the 17th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 8946 minutes of a possible 17130 or 52%
Astronomical total minutes:  9236 minutes of a possible 17666 or 52%

————————————————————–

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Moderate Rain, Fog, Sky Obscured, Vertical Visibility 300 ft
Temperature: 33F; Dew Point: 33F; Relative Humidity: 100%
Wind: NE @ 16G27kts
Peak Wind: 31 MPH (27 kts) NE @ 7:53 AM
Sea-level pressure: 1014.2mb; 29.95 in. Hg: Falling, then falling more slowly
Visibility: 1/4 mile (fog)
6-hr Max temp: 49F
6-hr Min temp: 33F
24-hr Precip:  0.85
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow Depth: 2 ins.
BHO SA 1155 X W3 1/4RF 142/33/33/0416G27/995/ PK WND 0427/53/ 8////
4/002 70085 56012 10049 20033

10 A.M.
Weather: Ice Pellets/Sleet, Fog, Sky Obscured, Vertical Visibility 300 ft
(thin glaze on most surfaces)
Temperature: 30F; Dew Point: 30F; Relative Humidity: 100%
Wind: N @ 10G21kts
Sea-level pressure: 1015.1 mb; 29.98 in Hg: Rising unsteadily
Visibility: 1/4 mile (fog)
3-hr Precip:  0.29 ins.
3-hr Snowfall: Trace
BHO SA 1455 X W3 1/4IP-F 151/30/30/0110G21/998/ THN GLZ MST SFCS
NEW IP PST 3 HRS TRACE/ 8//// 52009 6029/

1 P.M.
Weather: Ice Pellets/Sleet, Fog, Sky Obscured, Vertical Visibility 300 ft
(thin glaze on most surfaces)
Temperature: 27F, Dew point: 27F; Relative Humidity: 100%
Wind: NE @ 10G18 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1013.6mb; 29.93 in Hg: Steady, then falling
Visibility: 1/8 mile (fog)
6-hr Max temp: 33F
6-hr Min temp: 27F
6-hr Precip:  0.47 ins.
6-hr Snowfall: 0.3 ins.
Snow Depth: 2 ins.
BHO SA 1755 X W3 1/8IP-F 136/27/27/0410G18/993/ THN GLZ MST SFCS
NEW IP PST 6 HRS 0.3 INS/ 8//// 4/002 58015 60047 10033 20027

SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….47     NORMAL…..35
MIN…….36     NORMAL…..18
MEAN……42     NORMAL…..26

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL…………..+16
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………..+26 [+6.3 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2021 THRU JUN 2022)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………23  DEPARTURE…….-16
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………91  DEPARTURE…….-25
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………3232  DEPARTURE……-288
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….3150  DEPARTURE…….+82

PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
Official (1-Sec AVG)…….27 SSW @ 11:02 P.M.
AEROVANE……………….28 SSW @  9:43 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (Instantaneous)..28     @ 10:45 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………32 S   @  9:02 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..28 SSW @ 11:02 P.M.
ASOS………..OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
VECTOR #1……OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
DAVIS #1…….OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
RMY #1………OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
MERLIN………OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………21 SSW @  9:47 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..21     @ 10:31 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………25 S   @  9:03 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..21 SSW @  9:49 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE…….OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE…OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE..OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE…..OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……13.3 SSW  [318 total miles] VECTOR #2…………….13.8
DAVIS #2……………..13.4 SSW
RMY #2……………….14.1 SSW
RMY #1…………..OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
ASOS…………….OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
VECTOR #1………..OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
DAVIS #1…………OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…….0.85  DEPARTURE…..+0.71
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH………….0.85  DEPARTURE…..+0.44
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR…………..5.44  DEPARTURE…..+0.53

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M………….0.0  DEPARTURE……-0.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH……………….0.2  DEPARTURE……-1.8
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2021-2022)…..48.3  DEPARTURE…..+12.6

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 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

1/01  51/43/47/+18/0.08/0.0/000/00        21 SSE AERO 21 SSE RMY 22
1/02  48/29/39/+11/0.29/0.0/000/00        35 NW  AERO 36 NW  RMY 35
1/03  29/18/24/-4/0.00/0.0/000/00         31 NNW AERO 30 N   RMY 30
1/04  30/12/21/-7/0.00/0.0/546/99         25 S   AERO 24 S   RMY 25
1/05  49/25/37/+9/0.21/0.0/000/00         45 S   AERO 48 S   RMY 47
1/06  40/27/34/+6/0.00/0.0/316/57         36 WNW AERO 36 WNW RMY 36
1/07  28/17/23/-4/0.78/15.7/000/00        39 WNW AERO 38 WNW RMY 39
1/08  26/11/19/-8/0.00/0.0/556/100        34 WNW AERO 32 WNW RMY 34
1/09  41/19/30/+3/0.01/T/017/03           50 SW  AERO 51 SW  RMY 53
1/10  36/17/27/0/T/T/469/84               44 WNW AERO 43 WNW RMY 46
1/11  17/4/11/-16/T/0.1/560/100           36 NW  AERO 37 NW  RMY 35
1/12  40/5/23/-4/42/0.00/0.0/533/95       43 SSW AERO 44 SSW RMY 44
1/13  45/28/37/+11/0.00/0.0/332/59        22 SW  AERO 22 SW  RMY 22
1/14  38/12/25/-1/0.00/0.0/000/00         44 NW  AERO 41 N   RMY 43
1/15  13/1/7/-19/0.00/0.0/470/83          40 NW  AERO 39 NW  RMY 40
1/16  31/0/16/-10/0.00/0.0/488/86         29 ESE AERO 28 ESE RMY 30
1/17  46/31/39/+13/1.14/0.3/119/21        65 ESE AERO 74 ESE RMY 72
1/18  32/17/25/-1/0.00/0.0/446/78         46 WNW AERO 44 WNW RMY 45
1/19  44/16/30/+4/0.00/0.0/309/54         50 SSW AERO 53 SSW RMY 51
1/20  38/16/27/+1/0.17/0.6/058/10         34 N   AERO 35 N   RMY 34
1/21  20/6/13/-13/0.00/0.0/467/81         29 NNW AERO 30 NNW RMY 29
1/22  25/9/17/-9/T/0.2/358/62             23 NNW AERO 22 NNW RMY 22
1/23  34/17/26/0/0.01/0.1/331/57          26 WSW AERO 26 WSW RMY 26
1/24  29/19/24/-2/0.03/0.5/379/65         22 N   AERO 20 N   RMY 22
1/25  39/23/31/+5/0.03/0.3/129/22         27 WNW AERO 25 WNW RMY 26
1/26  24/9/17/-9/0.00/0.0/582/99          25 N   AERO 25 N   RMY 25
1/27  25/3/14/-12/0.00/0.0/589/100        26 SSW AERO 26 SSW RMY 27
1/28  33/21/27/1/0.05/0.5/000/00          26 NNE AERO 28 SW  RMY 28
1/29  28/7/18/-8/1.79/27.1/000/00         55 N   AERO 58 N   RMY 58
1/30  21/4/13/-13/0.00/0.0/590/99         39 NW  AERO 41 WNW RMY 40
1/31  30/8/19/-7/0.00/0.0/592/99          17 NW  AERO 16 NW  RMY 18

DAILY RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2022

1/1/22: DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 43F
SURPASSES PREVIOUS RECORD OF 42F SET IN 1966

1/17/22: DAILY RECORD PEAK GUST OF 65 MPH ESE,
SURPASSES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 62 MPH S IN 1994

1/29/22: DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 27.1 INS,
SURPASSES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 8 IN IN 1943

DAILY RECORD PRECIP OF 1.79 INS,
SURPASSES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 1.48 INS IN 1973

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

2/01  31/16/24/-2/T/0.2/…/..            19 NNE AERO 18 NNE RMY 19
2/02  44/31/38/+12/…./0.0/…/..        20 SSE AERO 21 SSE RMY 20
2/03  47/36/42/+16/…/…/…/..         27 SSW AERO 28 SSW RMY 28

2/04 The low since midnight is 27F, the daily normal low is 18F

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

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 4
HIGH 63F IN 1991
LOW -4F IN 1886, 1908
PRECIP 1.80 INS. IN 1926
SNOWFALL 15.0 INS. IN 1961
PEAK GUST 89 MPH SSE IN 1972

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 5
HIGH 65F IN 1991
LOW -14F IN 1918
PRECIP 1.62 INS. IN 2016
SNOWFALL 16.0 INS. IN 1907
PEAK GUST 67 MPH WNW IN 1969

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Andrew Swanson