Monday, April 1, 2024

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

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0526E
SUNSET:  1811E

CLOUDS DOMINATE THE SKY TODAY, BUT AT LEAST NO RAIN, YET!…

After what was a splendid weekend weather-wise, our fortune is in
the process of heading the other way. Clouds have dominated the
sky today, as such, other than a few rays at sunrise, the sun has
been missing in action. Today is just the first out of the next
few days of this trend!

Temperatures are at least still above normal for the date, but
this too will be heading the other way after today. Readings have
reached the low-mid 50s despite the lack of sun. So all in all,
it’s not bad out there in terms of comfort.

Winds are on the light side, mainly out of a southerly direction.
The average speed so far for the day is only around 7mph. The
peak gust so far is only around 20mph, occurring just before 9am.

Despite the overcast skies (which consist of mid and high level
clouds), the visibility has been holding between 60-70 miles all
day.

The maximum temperature so far today is 53F degrees, which is 3
degrees above the normal high of 50F. The minimum temperature since
midnight is 40F degrees, which is 8 degrees above the normal low of
32F.

March finished with 9.49″ of precipitation, which makes for the 6th
wettest March on record. The Jan-Mar period was also the 6th wettest
on record, despite February being significantly below normal. Lastly,
the Dec-Mar period was the 2nd wettest on record. All the rankings
are listed below as compiled by our Chief Scientist, Mike Iacono.

BHO Highest March Precipitation, inches (1886-2024):

1) 18.81 in 2010
2) 13.07 in 2001
3) 10.96 in 1968
4) 10.02 in 1983
5) 9.53 in 1953
6) 9.49 in 2024
7) 9.00 in 1984
8) 8.72 in 1993
9) 8.68 in 2018
10) 8.09 in 1956

BHO Highest Jan-Mar Precipitation, inches (1886-2024):

1) 27.91 in 2010
2) 23.18 in 1956
3) 21.70 in 1983
4) 21.21 in 1958
5) 21.03 in 1953
6) 20.05 in 2024
7) 20.00 in 1998
8) 19.70 in 1936
9) 19.61 in 1984
10) 19.53 in 1999

BHO Highest Dec-Mar Precipitation, inches (1885-1886 to 2023-2024):

1) 33.60 in 2009-2010
2) 27.38 in 2023-2024
3) 26.94 in 1957-1958
4) 26.24 in 1993-1994
5) 26.09 in 1992-1993
6) 25.69 in 1983-1984
7) 25.50 in 1952-1953
8) 24.85 in 1967-1968
9) 24.54 in 2007-2008
10) 24.42 in 1969-1970

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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR MARCH 2024

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 47.9 [+3.8] Avg. Min. 33.0 [+6.1] Mean      40.5 [+5.0] 24-hour corrected mean: 39.7
Max. for month: 59F on the 17th and 31st
Min. for month: 18F on the 1st

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:    753 [-162] Total for the season:  4641 [-706] Total for last season: 4532

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

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 9.49 [+3.97] Greatest in 24 hrs: 2.49 on the 23rd

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: Trace [-15.0] Greatest in 24 hrs: Trace on the 11th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 29th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.5 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   12.9 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   West-Northwest [22%] Peak gust and direction:  53 NW on the 11th and WNW on the 21st

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 9612 of a possible 21516, or 45%
Astronomical total minutes: 9966 of a possible 22290, or 45%

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Broken altostratus, overcast cirrus, virga all quadrants,
sun dimly visible, thin smoke layer along horizon distant N-NNE
Temperature: 44F; Dew Point: 29F; Relative Humidity: 55%
Wind: S @ 5 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1017.6 mb; 30.05 in. Hg: rising, then steady
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 44F
6-hr Min temp: 40F
24-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1155 E150 BKN 220 OVC 70 176/44/29/1805/005/ VIRGA ALQDS SUN
DMLY VSBL THN K LYR ALNG HRZN DSNT N-NNE WND LGT/ 8/012 51018 10044
20040

10 A.M.
Weather: Broken altocumulus, overcast cirrostratus, sun dimly visible
Temperature: 49F; Dew Point: 30F; Relative Humidity: 46%
Wind: SSE @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1016.6 mb; 30.02 in. Hg: falling unsteadily
Visibility: 70 miles
3-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 E120 BKN 220 OVC 70 166/49/30/1507/002/ SUN DMLY VSBL/
8/077 57010

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken altocumulus/castellanus, overcast cirrostratus,
few breaks in overcast distant WNW-NNE
Temperature: 52F; Dew Point: 32F; Relative Humidity: 45%
Wind: W @ 2 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1014.5 mb; 29.96 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 60 miles
6-hr Max temp: 53F
6-hr Min temp: 44F
6-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1755 E100 BKN 230 OVC 60 145/52/32/2602/996/ FEW BINOVC DSNT
WNW-NNE WND LGT/ 8/088 58021 10053 20044

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SUMMARY FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2024

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….59   NORMAL…..49
MIN…….39   NORMAL…..32
MEAN……49   NORMAL…..41

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL…………+8
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………….+159 [+4.9 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………16  DEPARTURE……..-9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..753  DEPARTURE……-162
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………4641  DEPARTURE……-706
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….4532  DEPARTURE……+109

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)……….E31 WNW  @  12:08 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….31 WNW  @  12:08 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….33 WNW  @  12:08 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….31 W    @  12:08 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………31 WNW  @  12:08 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..32 WNW  @  12:08 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..33 WNW  @  12:08 P.M.
MERLIN…………………31 NW
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……31      @  12:49 P.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………23 W    @  12:10 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..22      @  12:10 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..24      @  12:51 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………23 W    @  12:10 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………23 W    @  12:10 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..21 WNW  @  12:49 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..23 WNW  @  12:51 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………22      @  12:49 P.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL…….9.6 WNW [230 total miles] VECTOR #1……………..9.6
VECTOR #2…………….10.3
DAVIS #1………………9.8 WNW
DAVIS #2………………9.6 NW
RMY #1………………..9.2 NW
RMY #2……………….10.0 WNW
RICHARDS (C5C)………..10.0

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.17
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..9.49 DEPARTURE…..+3.97
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2024)…….20.05 DEPARTURE…..+6.03

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………TRACE DEPARTURE…..-15.0
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2023-2024)……26.1 DEPARTURE…..-40.8

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MARCH 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
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)

3/1   41/18/30/-1/0.00/0.0/649/96         30 NW  VEC1 30 WNW RMY 33
3/2   50/32/41/+9/1.16/0.0/000/00         44 SSE VEC1 46 SE  RMY 42
3/3   55/42/49/+17/0.24/0.0/130/19        32 SSE VEC1 33 SSE RMY 32
3/4   49/36/43/+11/0.01/0.0/116/17        24 ENE VEC1 22 ENE RMY 23
3/5   42/36/39/+7/0.14/0.0/000/00         21 E   VEC1 21 E   RMY 21
3/6   51/39/45/+12/0.44/0.0/000/00        28 NE  VEC1 28 NE  RMY 29
3/7   42/37/40/+7/1.06/0.0/000/00         44 NNE VEC1 44 NNE RMY 42
3/8   45/32/39/+6/0.00/0.0/682/98         35 NNE VEC1 36 NNE RMY 38
3/9   40/32/36/+3/0.21/0.0/000/00         32 E   VEC1 32 E   RMY 31
3/10  51/36/44/+10/1.07/0.0/245/35        45 WNW VEC1 46 SE  RMY 45
3/11  43/30/37/+3/T/T/515/73              53 NW  VEC1 54 NW  RMY 58
3/12  54/33/44/+10/0.00/0.0/680/96        43 NW  VEC1 41 NW  RMY 45
3/13  54/33/44/+10/0.00/0.0/667/94        26 SSE VEC1 25 NNW RMY 25
3/14  58/36/47/+12/0.00/0.0/627/88        23 ENE VEC1 22 NE  RMY 21
3/15  44/37/41/+6/0.02/0.0/000/00         24 N   VEC1 23 NNW RMY 25
3/16  58/36/47/+12/0.00/0.0/510/71        29 S   VEC1 26 S   RMY 26
3/17  59/40/50/+14/0.04/0.0/390/54        38 NW  VEC1 38 NW  RMY 40
3/18  49/33/41/+5/0.00/0.0/558/77         38 W   VEC1 37 W   RMY 38
3/19  46/30/38/+2/0.00/0.0/575/79         44 NW  VEC1 43 NW  RMY 46
3/20  51/29/40/+3/0.11/T/190/26           50 WNW VEC1 50 WNW RMY 51
3/21  38/24/31/-6/T/T/704/96              53 WNW VEC1 53 WNW RMY 52
3/22  40/21/31/-6/T/T/427/58              29 WNW VEC1 29 WNW RMY 32
3/23  44/30/37/-1/2.49/T/000/00           48 NNW VEC1 47 NNW RMY 51
3/24  41/23/32/-6/0.00/0.0/460/62         38 NNW VEC1 39 NNW RMY 42
3/25  39/31/25/-3/0.00/0.0/343/46         41 ENE VEC1 41 NE  RMY 40
3/26  36/32/34/-5/0.15/0.0/000/00         38 NE  VEC1 38 NE  RMY 39
3/27  53/36/45/+6/0.10/0.0/038/05         23 NE  VEC1 24 NE  RMY 23
3/28  49/42/46/+7/1.72/0.0/000/00         23 NNW VEC1 23 NNW RMY 22
3/29  50/34/42/+2/0.53/T/136/18           48 NW  VEC1 48 NW  RMY 52
3/30  55/34/45/+5/0.00/0.0/729/96         45 NW  VEC1 44 NW  RMY 47
3/31  59/39/49/+8/0.00/0.0/595/78         31 WNW VEC1 31 WNW RMY 32

4/1 The low since midnight is 40F, the daily normal low is 32F.

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MARCH DAILY RECORDS TO DATE

NONE…

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

RECORDS FOR APRIL 1
HIGH 74 IN 1967
LOW 6 IN 1923 [RECORD FOR MONTH] PRECIP 3.47 IN. IN 2004 [RECORD FOR MONTH] SNOWFALL 15.0 IN. IN 1997 [RECORD FOR MONTH] PEAK GUST 75 MPH SSW IN 1962

RECORDS FOR APRIL 2
HIGH 77 IN 1967
LOW 14 IN 1919
PRECIP 1.83 IN. IN 1970
SNOWFALL 6.5 IN. IN 1924
PEAK GUST 76 MPH SSW IN 1970

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas