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BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0713E
SUNSET: 1624E
A FAIRLY PLEASANT DAY FOR EARLY JANUARY HERE ON BLUE HILL….
Not a bad day for early January with plenty of sunshine mixing
with only a few clouds, light wind, and mild temperatures once
again gracing us.
The temperature today has reached the lower 40s early this
afternoon, which is above normal for the date. The dew point
continues to hang out in the 20s, so the air is relatively dry.
The wind has once again been on the light side today, with an
average speed of around 9mph out of mainly the northwest. The
peak gust so far is 20mph, occurring just before 12:30am.
Visibility has been limited all day due to haziness. The view
has only improved to around 40 miles early this afternoon, from
around 30 miles early this morning.
The maximum temperature so far today is 41F degrees, this is 5
degrees above the normal high of 36F. The minimum temperature since
midnight is 25F degrees, this is 5 degrees above the normal low
of 20F.
As we look back to the month of December, and the year of 2023
as a whole, here are just a couple of stats we can share at
this time. The month of December was the 2nd warmest on record,
and the year was also the 2nd warmest on record. Here are the
rankings as compiled by our Chief Scientist Mike Iacono.
BHO Highest December Approximated 24-Hour Mean Temperature,
deg F (1885-2023):
1) 42.9 in 2015
2) 38.3 in 2023
3) 38.1 in 2006
4) 37.5 in 2011
5) 37.3 in 2001
6) 37.2 in 1891
7) 36.9 in 1998
BHO Highest Annual Mean Temperature, deg F (1885-2023):
1) 51.7 in 2012
2) 51.5 in 2023
3) 51.3 in 2020
4) 51.2 in 2016
5) 51.1 in 2022
6) 51.0 in 2010
7) 50.9 in 1999
50.9 in 2021
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY STATS FOR DECEMBER 2023
TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 45.6 [+5.4]
Avg. Min. 31.8 [+6.9]
Mean 38.7 [+6.2]
24-hour corrected mean: 38.3
Max. for month: 61F on the 11th and 18th
Min. for month: 16F on the 22nd
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 808 [-198]
Total for the season: 1895 [-315]
Total for last season: 1910
COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units: 000 [ 000]
Total for the season: 715 [+038]
Total for last season: 889
PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 7.33 [+1.94]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 2.93 on the 17th-18th
SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 0.3 [-12.3]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.3 on the 6th
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 10.6 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed: 11.2 mph
Prevailing wind direction: West-Northwest [13%]
Peak gust and direction: 90 SSE on the 18th
SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 7182 of a possible 16470, or 44%
Astronomical total minutes: 7424 of a possible 17007, or 44%
————————————————————–
Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Thin broken cirrus, few stratocumulus offshore distant NE-E
Temperature: 25F; Dew Point: 21F; Relative Humidity: 85%
Wind: NW @ 9kts
Sea-level pressure: 1014.9 mb; 29.97 in. Hg: rising, then more rapidly
Visibility: 30 miles, hazy
6-hr Max temp: 27F
6-hr Min temp: 25F
24-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1155 E250 -BKN 30 149/25/21/3209/997/ FEW SC OFFSHR DSNT NE-E
HAZY/ 8/501 53010 10027 20025
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cirrocumulus, scattered cirrus, few stratocumulus
offshore distant NE-ESE
Temperature: 34F; Dew Point: 25F; Relative Humidity: 69%
Wind: NNW @ 5 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1015.9 mb; 30.00 in. Hg: rising, then more rapidly
Visibility: 35 miles, hazy
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 180 SCT 250 SCT 35 159/34/25/3305/000/ FEW SC OFFSHR DSNT
NE-ESE HAZY WND LGT/ 8/509 53010
1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus
Temperature: 41F; Dew Point: 26F; Relative Humidity: 55%
Wind: NNW @ 6 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1014.0 mb; 29.94 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 40 miles, hazy
6-hr Max temp: 41F
6-hr Min temp: 25F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1755 E30 BKN 40 140/41/26/3406/994/ HAZY WND LGT/ 8/500 58019
10041 20025
————————————————————–
SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….39 NORMAL…..36
MIN…….19 NORMAL…..21
MEAN……29 NORMAL…..28
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL………..+1
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………..+3 [+1.3 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………36 DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………70 DEPARTURE……..-3
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………1965 DEPARTURE……-318
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….1953 DEPARTURE…….+12
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)……….E17 WNW @ 11:55 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….17 WNW @ 11:53 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….18 WNW @ 07:01 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….16 W @ 06:41 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………16 W @ 06:44 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..17 WNW @ 11:59 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..17 WNW @ 07:01 P.M.
MERLIN…………………M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……17 @ 11:55 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………15 WNW @ 11:59 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..14 @ 11:53 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..15 @ 11:56 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………14 W @ 11:53 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………14 WNW @ 11:56 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..13 WNW @ 11:53 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..14 WNW @ 11:56 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………14 @ 11:56 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL…….6.8 WNW [162 total miles]
VECTOR #1……………..7.2
VECTOR #2……………..7.6
DAVIS #1………………7.2 WNW
DAVIS #2………………7.2 WNW
RMY #1………………..7.0 WNW
RMY #2………………..7.5 WNW
RICHARDS (C5C)…………7.7
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.16
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.31
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2024)……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.31
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-1.1
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2023-2024)…….0.3 DEPARTURE…..-15.9
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/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
12/1 51/38/45/+8/0.04/0.0/213/38 29 SW VEC1 28 SW RMY 29
12/2 48/43/46/+9/T/0.0/000/00 18 SSW VEC1 19 SSW RMY 19
12/3 44/41/43/+7/0.76/0.0/000/00 31 ENE VEC1 32 ENE RMY 33
12/4 49/37/43/+7/0.07/0.0/155/28 23 W VEC1 22 W RMY 23
12/5 38/28/33/-3/0.00/0.0/144/26 23 NNW VEC1 24 NW RMY 24
12/6 34/22/28/-7/0.01/0.3/100/18 21 N VEC1 21 N RMY 20
12/7 28/17/56/-12/0.00/0.0/121/22 18 NNW VEC1 18 NW RMY 19
12/8 42/24/33/-2/0.00/0.0/530/96 20 S VEC1 18 S RMY 18
12/9 52/33/43/+9/0.00/0.0/264/48 24 S VEC1 24 S RMY 24
12/10 60/43/52/+18/0.66/0.0/033/06 55 SSW VEC1 54 SSW RMY 53
12/11 61/33/47/+13/1.96/0.0/038/07 69 SSW VEC1 69 SSW RMY 71
12/12 42/29/36/+2/0.00/0.0/543/99 33 WNW VEC1 32 WNW RMY 34
12/13 43/28/36/+3/0.00/0.0/470/86 36 WNW VEC1 34 WNW RMY 36
12/14 34/22/28/-5/0.00/0.0/520/95 31 SW VEC1 31 SW RMY 32
12/15 53/30/42/+9/0.00/0.0/541/99 31 WNW VEC1 30 WNW RMY 28
12/16 50/36/43/+11/0.00/0.0/530/97 21 ESE VEC1 22 ESE RMY 22
12/17 55/37/46/+14/0.47/0.0/098/18 40 SSE VEC1 41 SSE RMY 41
12/18 61/42/52/+20/2.47/0.0/000/00 90 SSE VEC1 95 SSE RMY 101
12/19 46/30/38/+6/0.00/0.0/332/61 28 NW VEC1 28 NW RMY 26
12/20 41/26/34/+3/0.00/0.0/540/99 26 NNW VEC1 27 NNW RMY 28
12/21 34/20/27/-4/0.00/0.0/534/98 29 NNW VEC1 30 NNW RMY 28
12/22 34/16/25/-6/0.00/0.0/540/99 18 NNW VEC1 18 NNW RMY 19
12/23 42/26/34/+3/0.00/0.0/414/76 18 SSW VEC1 18 SSW RMY 16
12/24 46/35/41/+11/0.01/0.0/000/00 16 SE VEC1 16 SE RMY 16
12/25 53/41/47/+17/0.01/0.0/409/75 15 ENE VEC1 15 SE RMY 14
12/26 52/32/42/+12/0.00/0.0/245/45 18 SW VEC1 18 SW RMY 19
12/27 52/39/45/+15/0.02/0.0/000/00 18 SW VEC1 18 SW RMY 19
12/28 44/39/42/+13/0.72/0.0/000/00 40 NE VEC1 41 NE RMY 40
12/29 44/38/41/+12/0.06/0.0/000/00 18 N VEC1 18 N RMY 19
12/30 43/32/38/+9/0.07/0.0/000/00 24 WNW VEC1 24 WNW RMY 24
12/31 39/29/34/+5/0.00/0.0/110/20 21 NW VEC1 20 NW RMY 22
————————————————————–
DECEMBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
12/18: RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 61F;
BEATS OLD RECORD OF 59F SET IN 1928
12/18: RECORD PRECIPITATION OF 2.47 INS;
BEATS OLD RECORD OF 1.44 INS SET IN 1915
12/18: RECORD PEAK WIND GUST OF 90 MPH;
BEATS OLD RECORD OF 76e MPH SET IN 1978
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/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
1/1 37/25/31/+2/0.00/0.0/…/.. 15 N VEC1 14 N RMY 15
1/2 39/19/29/+1/0.00/0.0/…/.. 17 WNW VEC1 17 WNW RMY 17
1/3 The low since midnight is 25F, the daily normal low is 20F
————————————————————–
JANUARY DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
NONE.
————————————————————–
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 3
HIGH 64F IN 2000
LOW -4F IN 1904
PRECIP 1.93 INS. IN 1999
SNOW 11.3 INS. 1996
PEAK GUST 92 MPH S IN 1960
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 4
HIGH 60F IN 2000
LOW -8F IN 1904, 1981
PRECIP 1.79 INS. IN 1982
SNOW 16.5 INS. IN 2018
PEAK GUST 84 MPH S IN 1982
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
