Friday, March 3, 2023

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0617E
SUNSET:  1736E

HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW HUMIDITY ALLOW EXCELLENT
VISIBILITY ON TOP OF GREAT BLUE HILL…

Pressure increased throughout the day today and humidity dropped
allowing for 75 miles of visibility during each observation. All
and all conditions were mild today. So far today we have had a
seasonable high of 42F, which is 2 degrees above the normal
maximum of 40F. The low since midnight is 29F degrees, which is
6 degrees above the normal minimum of 23F.

The day began with stronger northwesterly wind. Our peak gust
so far of 29 kts NW (33 MPH) occurred just after midnight. Wind
speed has decreased and has been light and variable since about
10 A.M. today.

We had partly cloudy skies today with a mixture of high clouds and
distant offshore cumulus throughout the day. The cloud cover
increased throughout the day but the sun was still visible through
the thin cirrus clouds during the 1 P.M. observation.

As we start to compile stats for meteorological winter (Dec-Feb),
we are able to share at this moment that winter 2022-23 was the
4th warmest on record. Here is a list of the rankings provided
by our Chief Scientist Mike Iacono.

BHO Warmest Winter (Dec-Feb) Approximated 24-Hour Mean Temperature,
deg F (1885-2023):

1) 34.9 in 2015-2016
2) 34.8 in 2001-2002
3) 34.3 in 2011-2012
4) 34.0 in 2022-2023
5) 32.9 in 2016-2017
6) 32.7 in 2019-2020
7) 32.6 in 1997-1998
8) 32.3 in 1936-1937
32.3 in 1998-1999

More stats will be posted on our website at http://www.bluehill.org
as they become available.

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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR FEBRUARY 2023

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 41.4 [+4.4] Avg. Min. 24.0 [+4.5] Mean      32.7 [+4.5] 24-hour corrected mean: 32.9
Max. for month: 61F on the 16th
Min. for month:-14F on the 4th

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:    897 [-132] Total for the season:  3720 [-712] Total for last season: 4083

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 1.86 [-2.14] Greatest in 24 hrs: 1.10 on the 22-23rd

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 9.4 [-8.8] Greatest in 24 hrs: 4.0 on the 22-23rd

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.2 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   12.6 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   Southwest [12%] Peak gust and direction:  56 WNW on the 3rd

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 7698 of a possible 17148, or 45%
Astronomical total minutes: 7971 of a possible 17767, or 45%

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cirrocumulus, few cumulus distant offshore NNE-ESE
Temperature: 30F; Dew Point: 24F; Relative Humidity: 78%
Wind: NNW @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1017.1 mb; 30.03 in. Hg: rising, then more rapidly
Visibility: 75 miles
6-hr Max temp: 36F
6-hr Min temp: 24F
24-hr Precip:  0.09 ins.
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow Depth: 2 ins.
BHO SA 1155 250 SCT 75 171/30/24/3307/003/ FEW CU DSNT OFFSHR NNE-ESE/
8/209 4/002 51043 70009 10033 20029

10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cirrocumulus, few cumulus distant offshore NE-SE
Temperature: 36F; Dew Point: 23F; Relative Humidity: 59%
Wind: NNW @ 5 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1018.9mb; 30.09 in. Hg: rising, then more rapidly
Visibility: 75 miles
3-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
BHO SA 1455 250 SCT 75 189/36/23/3305/009/ FEW CU DSNT OFFSHR NE-SE
WND LGT/ 8/209 53018

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken cirrostratus, few cumulus distant offshore ENE-W
Temperature: 42F; Dew Point: 23F; Relative Humidity: 35%
Wind: W @ 3 kts, wind light and variable
Sea-level pressure: 1018.8mb; 30.09 in. Hg: rising then falling
Visibility: 75 miles
6-hr Max temp: 42F
6-hr Min temp: 30F
6-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow Depth: 1 ins.
BHO SA 1755 250 BKN 75 188/42/23/2603/009/ FEW CU DSNT OFFSHR ENE-W
WND L/V/ 8/206 4/001 50001 10042 20030

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SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….40   NORMAL…..40
MIN…….34   NORMAL…..23
MEAN……37   NORMAL…..32

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL………+5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………+9 [+4.3 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2022 THRU JUN 2023)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………28  DEPARTURE……..-5
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………58  DEPARTURE……..-9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………3778  DEPARTURE……-721
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….4150  DEPARTURE……-372

PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
Note: Instruments designated #1 = Main Tower, #2 = South Tower,
420C, Contacting, Merlin and Richards are all Main Tower.

420C (Official)…………35 NW  @ 11:53 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….36 NW  @ 11:57 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….40 NW  @ 11:41 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….35 WNW @ 11:41 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………35 NNW @ 11:41 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..39 NW  @ 11:41 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..39 NW  @ 11:41 P.M.
MERLIN…………………36 NW
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……38     @ 11:41 P.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………26 NW   @  11:42 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..25      @  11:42 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..27      @  11:41 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………27 NW   @  11:42 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………26 NNW  @  11:41 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..25 NW   @  11:42 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..26 NW   @  11:41 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………26      @  11:42 P.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……11.7 NW [281 total miles] VECTOR #1…………….12.0
VECTOR #2…………….13.0
DAVIS #1……………..11.7 NW
DAVIS #2……………..12.3 NNW
RMY #1……………….11.7 NW
RMY #2……………….12.7 NW
RICHARDS (C5C)………..12.0

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.09 DEPARTURE…..-0.08
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.31 DEPARTURE…..-0.03
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR……………8.96 DEPARTURE…..+0.12

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-1.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2022-2023)……24.3 DEPARTURE…..-29.0

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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/552/92              17 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 20
2/2   38/19/29/+3/0.00/0.0/518/86         25 SW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 29
2/3   28/-11/9/-17/T/T/557/92             56 WNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 64
2/4   14/-14/0/-26/0.00/0.0/473/78        45 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 51
2/5   49/14/32/+5/0.00/0.0/359/59         38 SW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 43
2/6   47/30/39/+12/0.00/0.0/025/04        28 NE   VEC1 N/A    RMY 29
2/7   31/22/27/0/0.01/0.1/461/75          29 SSW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 33
2/8   46/31/39/+12/0.00/0.0/413/67        30 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 34
2/9   49/33/41/+14/T/0.0/149/24           31 SSE  VEC1 N/A    RMY 32
2/10  60/31/46/+19/0.00/0.0/603/97        43 W    VEC1 N/A    RMY 51
2/11  43/31/37/+10/0.00/0.0/625/100       41 WNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 46
2/12  48/28/38/+10/0.00/0.0/339/54        22 SW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 24
2/13  42/33/38/+10/0.00/0.0/069/11        28 NE   VEC1 N/A    RMY 36
2/14  50/34/42/+14/0.00/0.0/475/75        30 NW   VEC1 33 NW  RMY 35
2/15  56/35/46/+18/0.00/0.0/279/44        39 SSW  VEC1 44 SSW RMY 49
2/16  61/50/56/+28/T/0.0/108/17           29 W    VEC1 31 W   RMY 34
2/17  56/23/40/+11/0.06/0.1/000/00        44 NNW  VEC1 46 NNW RMY 46
2/18  39/19/29/0/0.00/0.0/643/100         41 NW   VEC1 42 NNW RMY 47
2/19  44/30/37/+8/0.00/0.0/129/20         32 S    VEC1 35 S   RMY 36
2/20  59/41/50/+21/0.00/0.0/208/32        35 W    VEC1 36 W   RMY 40
2/21  41/31/36/+7/0.22/1.4/000/00         26 W    VEC1 27 W   RMY 27
2/22  42/30/36/+6/0.23/0.5/242/37         33 WNW  VEC1 35 WNW RMY 36
2/23  32/25/29/-1/0.91/3.5/000/00         29 NNW  VEC1 M  M   RMY 21
2/24  33/16/25/-5/0.01/T/290/44           39 NW   VEC1 M  M   RMY 47
2/25  19/9/14/-16/0.02/0.5/000/00         17 NNW  VEC1 19 NNW RMY 19
2/26  35/16/26/-5/T/T/060/09              22 NNE  VEC1 23 W   RMY 24
2/27  33/22/28/-3/0.00/0.0/394/59         22 NNW  VEC1 23 ESE RMY 25
2/28  34/25/30/-1/0.40/3.3/000/00         32 ESE  VEC1 33 ESE RMY 34

DAILY RECORDS

02/03/2023: NEW RECORD MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF -11F,
THIS BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF -7F SET IN 1955

02/04/2023: NEW RECORD MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF -14F,
THIS BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF -4F SET IN 1886 AND 1908

02/10/2023: NEW RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 60F,
THIS BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF 56F SET IN 1909

02/16/2023: NEW RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 50F,
THIS BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF 41F SET IN 1976. THIS ALSO
TIES THE WARMEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR FEBRUARY SET
IN 2018

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MARCH 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

3/1   43/27/35/+4/0.00/0.0/…/..         20 NW   VEC1 21 SE  RMY 21
3/2   40/34/37/+5/0.31/0.0/…/..         35 NW   VEC1 36 NW  RMY 39

3/3  The low since midnight is 29, the daily normal low is 23F

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

RECORDS FOR MARCH 3
HIGH 64 IN 1991, 2020
LOW -1 IN 1950
PRECIP 2.36 INS. IN 1972
SNOWFALL 12.8 INS. IN 1960
PEAK GUST 78e MPH E IN 1942

RECORDS FOR MARCH 4
HIGH 69 IN 1974
LOW -5 IN 1950 [RECORD LOW FOR MONTH] PRECIP 1.80 IN 1960
SNOWFALL 17.3 IN 1960
PEAK GUST 81e MPH SSW IN 1971

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Kaitlin Geagan