Thursday, October 19, 2023
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0601E
SUNSET: 1656E
A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS WITH SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES…
We have a mighty fine fall day in progress with a mix of sun
and fair weather cumulus clouds. With the temperature reaching
the low to mid 60s early this afternoon, we can’t really ask
for much better than this at this time of year!
As mentioned, the temperature has pushed above normal levels
for mid October. The normal high for today’s date should be
right at 60F degrees. The dew point has been ranging between
the upper 40s and around 50F all day, thus making for a very
comfortable day.
The wind started the day on the lighter side, but has been
increasing a bit into early this afternoon. The average speed
for the day so far is around 9mph. The peak gust thus far is
around 23mph, which has occurred multiple times.
Visibility started the day around 25-30 miles, but has improved
nicely to around 70 miles by early this afternoon.
The maximum temperature so far today has been 66F, which is 6
degrees above the normal high of 60F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 50F, which is 7 degrees above the normal low
of 43F.
Speaking of low temperatures, we have yet to drop below 40F here
on the summit this season. This is getting rather late for the
first occurrence of a minimum temperature below 40F. Here are the
current rankings as compiled by our Chief Scientist, Mike Iacono.
BHO Latest First Minimum Temperature Below 40 deg F (1885-2023):
1) 24 October 2013 (36F)
24 October 2021 (37F)
3) 22 October 1955 (34F)
4) 21 October 2005 (39F)
5) 20 October 1960 (38F)
6) 19 October 2014 (39F)
As it stands right now, it appears our first shot of dropping
below 40F may be early Tuesday morning (Oct 24th). Stay tuned!
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Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few cumulus/towering cumulus distant ESE-S-WSW,
few altocumulus distant NW-NE-ESE, few cirrus distant NE-SE
Temperature: 52F; Dew Point: 50F; Relative Humidity: 91%
Wind: SW @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1022.9 mb; 30.21 in. Hg: rising unsteadily
Visibility: 30 miles, thin fog
6-hr Max temp: 52F
6-hr Min temp: 50F
24-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1155 CLR 30 229/52/50/2307/021/ FEW CU/TCU DSNT ESE-S-WSW
FEW AC DSNT NW-NE-ESE FEW CI DSNT NE-SE THN F ALQDS/ 8/251 52009
10052 20050
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cumulus
Temperature: 62F; Dew Point: 50F; Relative Humidity: 63%
Wind: WSW @ 6 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1022.4 mb; 30.19 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 60 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1455 20 SCT 60 224/62/50/2406/019/ WND LGT/ 8/200 58005
1 P.M.
Weather: Scattered cumulus, broken stratocumulus
Temperature:61F; Dew Point: 47F; Relative Humidity: 58%
Wind: SSW @ 12G20 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1020.0 mb; 30.12 in. Hg: falling, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 66F
6-hr Min temp: 52F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1755 42 SCT 50 BKN 70 200/61/47/2112G20/012/ 8/800 56024
10066 20052
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SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2023
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….62 NORMAL…..60
MIN…….49 NORMAL…..43
MEAN……56 NORMAL…..52
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……….+4
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………+69 [+3.6 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….9 DEPARTURE……..-4
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..128 DEPARTURE…….-60
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….227 DEPARTURE…….-79
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..259 DEPARTURE…….-32
COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JAN 2023 THRU DEC 2023)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….0 DEPARTURE………0
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………15 DEPARTURE……..+9
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….704 DEPARTURE…….+27
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..884 DEPARTURE……-180
PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
Note: Instruments designated #1 = Main Tower, #2 = South Tower,
F420C, Contacting, Merlin, and Richards are all Main Tower.
E=Estimated
F420C (Official)……….E15 SSW @ 07:12 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….15 SSW @ 07:04 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….15 SSW @ 07:11 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….15 S @ 07:02 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………15 S @ 05:34 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..16 SSW @ 07:12 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..15 SSW @ 07:14 P.M.
MERLIN…………………15 S
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……16 @ 07:12 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………10 SSW @ 07:08 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..11 @ 07:12 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..12 @ 07:12 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………11 SSW @ 07:13 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………11 SSW @ 07:12 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..11 SSW @ 07:12 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..12 SSW @ 07:12 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………11 @ 07:02 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..3.8 SW [090 total miles]
VECTOR #1………………5.5
VECTOR #2………………5.7
DAVIS #1……………….5.0 SW
DAVIS #2……………….5.3 WSW
RMY #1…………………5.4 WSW
RMY #2…………………5.7 WSW
RICHARDS (C5C)………….5.8
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.19
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.23 DEPARTURE…..-2.88
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR…………..47.45 DEPARTURE…..+5.67
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SUN(MIN)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/VEC1/RMY GUST
PEAK GUST: F420C (Official)
VEC1: Vector #1 1-second gust
RMY: R.M. Young #1 wind gust recording system (Instantaneous)
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M: Missing data
10/1 68/50/59/+1/0.00/458/65 20 NNE VEC1 20 NNE RMY 19
10/2 68/55/62/+4/0.00/681/97 24 NE VEC1 23 NE RMY 24
10/3 81/54/68/+11/0.00/672/96 18 WSW VEC1 18 WSW RMY 18
10/4 81/64/73/+16/0.00/669/96 17 S VEC1 17 S RMY 16
10/5 77/59/68/+11/0.00/638/92 24 S VEC1 24 S RMY 23
10/6 71/60/66/+10/0.00/269/39 20 SE VEC1 19 SE RMY 18
10/7 68/54/61/+5/0.16/007/01 30 WNW VEC1 29 WNW RMY 29
10/8 63/48/56/+1/0.00/651/95 30 W VEC1 30 WNW RMY 30
10/9 61/44/53/-2/0.00/532/78 25 WSW VEC1 24 WSW RMY 25
10/10 64/47/56/+1/T/245/36 23 W VEC1 22 W RMY 21
10/11 68/50/59/+5/0.00/393/58 23 SSW VEC1 22 SW RMY 22
10/12 69/51/60/+6/0.00/479/71 18 NW VEC1 18 NNW RMY 18
10/13 61/43/52/-2/0.00/638/95 33 NW VEC1 31 NW RMY 34
10/14 60/44/52/-1/0.00/247/37 24 NW VEC1 23 NW RMY 23
10/15 59/44/52/-1/0.00/226/34 24 NNW VEC1 25 NNW RMY 25
10/16 58/44/51/-1/0.07/166/25 17 WNW VEC1 17 WNW RMY 17
10/17 60/45/53/+1/T/211/32 15 N VEC1 15 N RMY 14
10/18 62/49/56/+4/0.00/079/12 15 SSW VEC1 15 SSW RMY 16
10/19 The low since midnight is 50F, the daily normal low is 43F
————————————————————–
OCTOBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
.NONE…
————————————————————–
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 19
HIGH 81F IN 1945
LOW 21F IN 1922
PRECIP 3.64 INCHES IN 1932
SNOWFALL 1.0 INCHES IN 1972
PEAK GUST 66 MPH SSW IN 1967
RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 20
HIGH 78F IN 1965,1984
LOW 24F IN 1972
PRECIP 7.10 INCHES IN 1996 (RECORD FOR MONTH)
SNOWFALL TRACE IN 1934,1943
PEAK GUST 63 MPH W IN 1966
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
