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BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2023
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0656E
SUNSET: 1701E
AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST BRINGS BITTER TEMPERATURES
AND WIND CHILLS TO GREAT BLUE HILL…
It has been a cold and gusty day so far on top of Great Blue Hill.
So far today we have had multiple gusts of 36 kts (41 MPH) and a peak
gust of 42 kts (48 MPH) adding a bitter wind chill to the temperatures.
Temperatures have dropped quickly throughout the day from a high
of 28F occurring in the early morning to a low of 15F by 1 P.M. This
is a 13 degree decrease.
Temperatures are expected to continue to drop overnight. This will put
us within record breaking range to beat some low minimum temperature
records. Today’s record low temperature of -7F was set back in 1970
and tomorrow’s record low temp of -4F was set in both 1886 and 1908.
Included are the records of minimum temperatures since 1991, we are
anticipating making this list of cold temperatures by tomorrow.
BHO Coldest Minimum Temperatures, deg F (1991-2023):
1) -14 on 14 Feb 2016
2) -12 on 16 Jan 2004
3) -9 on 16 Jan 1994
4) -8 on 16 Feb 2015
-8 on 7 Jan 2018
6) -7 on 22 Jan 2005
-7 on 13 Feb 2016
8) -6 on 27 Jan 1994
-6 on 15 Feb 2015
Cloud cover decreased and although cold and windy there was
bright sunshine all day. The air was also very dry today
with humidity decreasing making for good visibility of 75-80 miles.
A trace of snow was present on the ground during all observations.
The high so far today of 28F degrees, occurred from midnight until
around 5 A.M. when temperatures began to plummet. This is 7 degrees
below the normal maximum of 35F. The low since midnight is 15F degrees,
which is 3 degrees below 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
————————————————————–
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%
————————————————————–
Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, few cumulus in all quadrants,
wind chill 3F
Temperature: 22F; Dew Point: 10F; Relative Humidity: 60%
Wind: NW @ 21G32 kts, Peak Wind: 34 kts (39 MPH) at 6:11 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1006.8 mb; 29.73 in. Hg: rising, then more rapidly
Visibility: 80 miles, 40 miles SSE-SW thin fog SSE-SW
6-hr Max temp: 28F
6-hr Min temp: 22F
24-hr Precip: Trace
24-hr Snowfall: Trace
Snow Depth: Trace
BHO SA 1155 45 SCT 80 068/22/10/3221G32/973/ FEW CU ALQDS
VSBY 40 SSE-SW THN F SSE-SW WND CHILL 3F PK WND 3234/11
NEW SNW PST 24 HRS TRACE/ 8/8// 4/000 70000 52028 10028 20022
10 A.M.
Weather: Few cumulus in all quadrants, wind chill -5F
Temperature: 17F; Dew Point: -3F; Relative Humidity: 41%
Wind: NW @ 22G36 kts Peak Wind: 36 kts (41 MPH) at 9:52 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1010.1 mb; 29.83 in. Hg: falling, then more slowly
Visibility: 75 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 ins.
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
BHO SA 1455 CLR 75 101/17/-3/3122G36/983/ FEW CU ALQDS WND CHILL
-5F PK WND 3136/52/ 8/8// 51033
1 P.M.
Weather: Few distant cumulus in all quadrants, wind chill -6F
Temperature: 17F; Dew Point: -9F; Relative Humidity: 30%
Wind: WNW @ 24G37 kts, Peak Wind: 42 kts (48 MPH) at 12:19 P.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1009.8 mb; 29.82 in. Hg: rising then falling
Visibility: 75 miles
6-hr Max temp: 17F
6-hr Min temp: -9F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 ins.
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow Depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1755 CLR 75 098/17/-9/3024G37/982/ FEW DSNT CU ALQDS
WND CHILL -6F PK WND 3042/19/ 8/2// 58003 10022 20015
————————————————————–
SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….38 NORMAL…..35
MIN…….19 NORMAL…..18
MEAN……29 NORMAL…..26
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL………+3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………+1 [+0.3 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2022 THRU JUN 2023)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………36 DEPARTURE……..-3
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………77 DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………2900 DEPARTURE……-581
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….3209 DEPARTURE……-309
PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
420C (Official)…………25 SW @ 7:49 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….27 @ 3:23 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….26 W @ 7:52 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………27 NNW @ 5:38 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..29 NW @ 4:52 P.M.
MERLIN………………….M
VECTOR #1……OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
RMY #1………OUT OF SERVICE D/T RENOVATIONS
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………20 SW @ 7:49 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..20 @ 5:04 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………19 SSW @ 7:46 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE…………….M
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..21 WSW @ 5:04 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……11.9 SW [286 total miles]
VECTOR #2…………….12.5
DAVIS #1………………8.7 WSW
DAVIS #2……………..12.6 WSW
RMY #2……………….12.6 WSW
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…….TRACE DEPARTURE…..-0.14
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH………….TRACE DEPARTURE…..-0.28
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR……………6.79 DEPARTURE…..+2.01
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………TRACE DEPARTURE……-0.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………TRACE DEPARTURE……-1.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2022-2023)……14.9 DEPARTURE…..-20.2
————————————————————–
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 38/19/29/+3/T/T/…/.. 25 SW VEC1 N/A RMY 29
2/3 The low since midnight is 15F, 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 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]
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
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Kaitlin Geagan
