Thursday, February 2, 2023

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0657E
SUNSET:  1659E

MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS TODAY, CHILLY WITH AN INCREASING BREEZE…

Sunshine mixed with mainly mid and upper level clouds was the
theme this morning, but clouds have cleared out this afternoon
leaving us with plenty of sunshine.

Temperatures are a bit milder than yesterday with readings
reaching the mid and upper 30s. However, the wind has been
increasing this afternoon out of the south, thus creating a
wind chill down into the mid 20s!

Visibility has been decent all day ranging from 50 miles this
morning to 70 miles this afternoon.

The high so far today is 37F degrees, which is 2 degrees above
the normal maximum of 35F. The low since midnight is 19F degrees,
which is 1 degree above the normal minimum of 18F.

The month of January finished as the cloudiest January on record
with only 73.2 hours of sunshine, or 26% of possible. The month
was also tied for 2nd warmest on record. Here are the rankings
as compiled by our Chief Scientist Mike Iacono.

BHO January Lowest Sunshine, hours (1886-2023):

1) 73.2 in 2023 (26%)
2) 87.1 in 1950 (31%)
3) 88.1 in 1937 (31%)
4) 91.2 in 1909 (32%)
5) 91.8 in 1998 (32%)
6) 93.2 in 1954 (33%)
7) 94.0 in 1914 (33%)
8) 95.8 in 1979 (34%)

BHO January Warmest Approximated 24-Hour Mean Temperature,
deg F (1886-2023):

1) 35.6 in 1913
2) 35.0 in 1932
35.0 in 2023
4) 34.6 in 1937
5) 33.9 in 2006
6) 33.8 in 1933
33.8 in 1950
33.8 in 1990

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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JANUARY 2023

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 41.6 [ +6.9] Avg. Min. 29.1 [+10.8] Mean      35.4 [ +8.9] 24-hour corrected mean: 35.0
Max. for month: 55F on the 13th
Min. for month: 18F on the 11th

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:    913 [-280] Total for the season:  2823 [-580] Total for last season: 3141

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units:      0 [ 000] Total for the season:     0 [ 000] Total for last season:  889

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 6.79 [+2.29] Greatest in 24 hrs: 1.32 on the 22-23rd

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 12.2 [-6.4] Greatest in 24 hrs: 4.1 on the 23rd

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 10.9 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   11.4 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   North [17%] Peak gust and direction:  54 SSE on the 13th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 4392 of a possible 17130, or 26%
Astronomical total minutes: 4528 of a possible 17657, or 26%

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cirrostratus, thin scattered cirrus,
few stratocumulus offshore distant NE-E
Temperature: 19F; Dew Point: 13F; Relative Humidity: 66%
Wind: W @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1024.1 mb; 30.24 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 50 miles
6-hr Max temp: 19F
6-hr Min temp: 19F
24-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow Depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1155 220 SCT 250 -SCT 50 241/19/13/2707/024/ FEW SC OFFSHR
DSNT NE-E/ 8/508 58002 10019 20019

10 A.M.
Weather: Broken altocumulus, thin broken cirrus
Temperature: 29F; Dew Point: 14F; Relative Humidity: 54%
Wind: WSW @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1023.1 mb; 30.21 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 60 miles
3-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
BHO SA 1455 E120 BKN 250 -BKN 60 231/29/14/2507/021/ 8/071 58010

1 P.M.
Weather: Thin scattered cirrus, few altocumulus all quadrants
Temperature: 36F; Dew Point: 13F; Relative Humidity: 38%
Wind: SW @ 10G15 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1018.3 mb; 30.07 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 36F
6-hr Min temp: 19F
6-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow Depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1755 250 -SCT 70 183/36/13/2210G15/007/ FEW AC ALQDS/
8/071 58048 10036 20019

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SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2023

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….30   NORMAL…..35
MIN…….18   NORMAL…..17
MEAN……24   NORMAL…..26

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL………-2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………-2 [-2.2 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2022 THRU JUN 2023)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………41  DEPARTURE……..+2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………41  DEPARTURE……..+2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………2864  DEPARTURE……-578
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….3182  DEPARTURE……-318

PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
420C (Official)…………17 NW  @ 10:21 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….21     @  4:22 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….18 W   @  1:44 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………18 NNW @  1:21 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..29 NW  @  1:21 P.M.
MERLIN…………………24 NW
VECTOR #1……OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
RMY #1………OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………13 NNW @ 10:16 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..14     @  9:50 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………14 NW  @  9:53 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………14 WNW @  4:24 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..14 NNW @  9:50 P.M.
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…….6.8 NNW [164 total miles] VECTOR #2……………..7.5
DAVIS #1………………6.2 NW
DAVIS #2………………7.2 NNW
RMY #2………………..7.4 NNW
RMY #1……….OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
VECTOR #1…….OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.14
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH………….TRACE DEPARTURE…..-0.14
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR……………6.79 DEPARTURE…..+2.15

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………TRACE DEPARTURE……-0.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2022-2023)……14.9 DEPARTURE…..-19.5

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/VEC1/RMY GUST
VEC1: Vector #1 1-second gust
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system (Instantaneous)
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M:    Missing data

1/1   53/38/46/+17/0.04/0.0/412/75        39 WNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 60
1/2   49/33/41/+13/0.00/0.0/044/08        39 WNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 39
1/3   48/37/43/+15/0.50/0.0/000/00        23 S    VEC1 N/A    RMY 24
1/4   43/37/40/+12/0.31/0.0/000/00        23 NE   VEC1 N/A    RMY 23
1/5   43/33/38/+10/0.23/0.0/000/00        34 ENE  VEC1 N/A    RMY 37
1/6   35/31/33/+5/0.18/1.0/000/00         19 NNE  VEC1 N/A    RMY 19
1/7   40/30/35/+8/0.00/0.0/105/19         22 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 23
1/8   36/20/28/+1/0.00/0.0/517/93         26 NNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 28
1/9   42/26/34/+7/T/0.1/267/48            27 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 27
1/10  41/25/33/6/0.00/0.0/318/57          28 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 28
1/11  33/18/26/-1/T/0.1/358/64            19 N    VEC1 N/A    RMY 18
1/12  48/28/38/+11/0.29/0.1/000/00        45 S    VEC1 N/A    RMY 46
1/13  55/36/46/+20/0.62/0.0/000/00        54 SSW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 56
1/14  36/29/33/+7/0.11/T/000/00           30 NNE  VEC1 N/A    RMY M
1/15  33/26/30/+4/0.10/1.2/000/00         45 NNE  VEC1 N/A    RMY 45
1/16  30/26/28/+2/0.22/2.7/000/00         36 NNE  VEC1 N/A    RMY 37
1/17  47/25/36/+10/0.02/0.0/415/73        22 WSW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 23
1/18  49/35/42/+16/0.01/0.0/314/55        37 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 38
1/19  38/32/35/+9/0.75/T/000/00           31 NNE  VEC1 N/A    RMY 32
1/20  35/29/32/+6/0.56/1.6/000/00         52 NE   VEC1 N/A    RMY 54
1/21  31/25/28/+2/0.01/0.2/000/00         21 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 21
1/22  35/25/30/+4/0.25/0.2/000/00         21 N    VEC1 N/A    RMY 20
1/23  34/27/31/+5/1.18/4.1/000/00         36 NNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 37
1/24  35/25/20/+4/0.00/0.0/157/27         32 WNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 32
1/25  42/27/35/+9/0.45/0.1/012/02         40 SSE  VEC1 N/A    RMY 42
1/26  53/33/43/+17/0.85/T/029/05          52 S    VEC1 N/A    RMY 54
1/27  41/25/33/+7/0.00/0.0/577/98         31 WNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 29
1/28  48/29/39/+13/0.00/0.0/390/66        38 W    VEC1 N/A    RMY 40
1/29  49/36/43/+17/T/0.0/101/17           33 S    VEC1 N/A    RMY 38
1/30  50/36/43/+17/0.00/0.0/327/55        18 SW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 20
1/31  39/21/30/+4/0.11/0.8/185/31         28 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 29

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/VEC1/RMY GUST
VEC1: Vector #1 1-second gust
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system (Instantaneous)
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M:    Missing data

2/1   30/18/24/-2/T/T/…/..              17 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 20

2/2 The low since midnight is 19F, 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 2
HIGH 55F IN 1951, 1973
LOW -12F IN 1961
PRECIP 1.91 INS. IN 1999
SNOWFALL 16.5 INS. IN 2015
PEAK GUST 92 MPH SW IN 1970

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 3
HIGH 58F IN 1991
LOW -7F IN 1955
PRECIP 2.14 INS. IN 1970
SNOWFALL 7.0 INS. IN 1913
PEAK GUST 102 MPH S IN 1970 [RECORD FOR MONTH]

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas