Friday, May 3, 2024

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

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2024
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0436E
SUNSET:  1847E

OVERCAST SKIES FEATURED WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES MAKE WAY
TO AFTERNOON SUNSHINE TODAY ON BLUE HILL….

Overcast conditions dominated the skies for much of the day
today. A front that moved through last night shifted the wind
from the SSW to NE which brought colder temperatures as well as
some rain. Once the sun made an appearance this afternoon we
started experiencing some drying out and warming.

Temperatures have plummeted since yesterday’s near 70F day. Our
temperatures were slow to rebound from the overnight low of 44F.
The temperatures were able to make a slight recovery by the end
of the observation period and looks like it may continue to warm
through the afternoon and evening hours.

The wind has been predominantly from the NE and ENE throughout
much of the day. The average speed for the day so far is around
9mph, with a more active wind occurring in the early morning
hours. The peak gust so far has been around 24mph, which occurred
around 5:30am.

Visibility has been in the 50-60 mile range, despite the low
cloud deck that we had for much of the day. We experienced a bit
of thin fog off the coast this morning, but it did not impact the
overall visibility.

The maximum temperature so far today is 56F degrees, which is 7
degrees below the normal high of 63F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 44F degrees, which is equal to the normal low.

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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR APRIL 2024

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 57.0 [+0.7] Avg. Min. 38.3 [+0.4] Mean      47.7 [+0.6] 24-hour corrected mean: 46.8
Max. for month: 73F on the 15th
Min. for month: 29F on the 25th

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:    516 [-024] Total for the season:  5157 [-730] Total for last season: 4971

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units:    000 [-003] Total for the season:   000 [-003] Total for last season:  009

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 4.91 [+0.15] Greatest in 24 hrs: 2.06 on the 3rd-4th

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 0.7 [-2.1] Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.7 on the 4th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 11.5 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   12.0 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   Northwest [11%] Peak gust and direction:  63 ENE on the 4th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 10554 of a possible 23250, or 45%
Astronomical total minutes: 10947 of a possible 24146, or 45%

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Overcast stratus
Temperature: 45F; Dew Point: 45F; Relative Humidity: 100%
Wind: NE @ 8 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1023.2 mb; 30.22 in. Hg: rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 60 miles, thin fog N-E-SSE
6-hr Max temp: 45F
6-hr Min temp: 44F
24-hr Precip:  0.23 inches
BHO SA 1155 E6 OVC 60 232/45/45/0408/022/ THN F N-E-SSE 8/6// 51030
6002/ 70023 10045 20044

10 A.M.
Weather: Overcast stratus, few stratocumulus distant ENE-E-S
Temperature: 47F; Dew Point: 45F; Relative Humidity: 89%
Wind: E @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1033.2 mb; 30.51 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 50 miles
3-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
BHO SA 1455 E8 OVC 50 332/47/45/0807/051/ FEW SC DSNT ENE-E-S
8/6// 50010

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, broken cirrus
Temperature: 54F; Dew Point: 49F; Relative Humidity: 72%
Wind: E @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1033.1 mb; 30.51 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 50 miles
6-hr Max temp: 56F
6-hr Min temp: 44F
6-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
BHO SA 1755 E35 BKN 250 BKN 50 331/54/45/0807/051/ 8/501 50001
10055 20045

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SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….69   NORMAL…..63
MIN…….44   NORMAL…..44
MEAN……57   NORMAL…..54

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL………….+3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………….-2 [-1.2 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….8  DEPARTURE……..-4
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………25  DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………5182  DEPARTURE……-729
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….4997  DEPARTURE……+185

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JAN 2024 THRU DEC 2024)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….0  DEPARTURE………0
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………….0  DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON……………0  DEPARTURE……..-4
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……….9  DEPARTURE……..-9

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)……….E35 NE   @  06:06 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….36 NE   @  06:06 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….34 NE   @  06:05 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….33 NE   @  06:05 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………32 NE   @  06:06 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..34 NE   @  06:06 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..35 NE   @  06:05 P.M.
MERLIN…………………32 NE
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……32      @  06:06 P.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………22 NE   @  05:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..22      @  05:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..23      @  05:56 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………23 NE   @  05:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………23 ENE  @  05:56 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..22 NE   @  05:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..23 SSW  @  07:21 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………21      @  05:57 P.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……11.5 SSW [275 total miles] VECTOR #1…………….11.6
VECTOR #2…………….11.9
DAVIS #1……………..11.5 SSE
DAVIS #2……………..12.1 SSE
RMY #1……………….11.4 S
RMY #2……………….11.9 SSE
RICHARDS (C5C)………..11.5

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.23 DEPARTURE…..+0.11
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.29 DEPARTURE…..+0.04
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2024)…….25.25 DEPARTURE…..+6.22

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE…….0.0
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………..0.0 DEPARTURE…….0.0
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2023-2024)……26.8 DEPARTURE…..-42.9

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR APRIL 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)

4/1   56/40/48/+7/0.00/0.0/153/20         20 SSE VEC1 20 SSE RMY 19
4/2   47/35/41/0/0.07/0.0/115/15          25 E   VEC1 25 E   RMY 25
4/3   41/34/38/-4/1.10/T/000/00           53 E   VEC1 53 E   RMY 53
4/4   36/32/34/-8/1.25/0.7/000/00         63 ENE VEC1 64 ENE RMY 68
4/5   45/31/38/-5/0.01/T/147/19           33 WNW VEC1 31 WNW RMY 33
4/6   43/33/38/-5/0.08/093/12             35 N   VEC1 35 N   RMY 35
4/7   48/34/41/-3/T/0.0/094/12            32 N   VEC1 31 N   RMY 31
4/8   66/36/51/+7/0.00/0.0/636/81         23 WNW VEC1 23 WNW RMY 22
4/9   63/40/52/+8/0.00/0.0/741/94         22 ENE VEC1 21 ENE RMY 21
4/10  65/38/52/+7/T/0.0/348/44            26 S   VEC1 26 S   RMY 30
4/11  55/42/49/+4/0.04/0.0/000/00         32 SSE VEC1 32 SSE RMY 31
4/12  60/46/53/+7/1.03/0.0/032/04         62 SSE VEC1 62 S   RMY 63
4/13  54/43/49/+3/T/0.0/271/34            43 W   VEC1 42 WNW RMY 46
4/14  58/42/50/+3/0.09/0.0/384/48         33 WSW VEC1 33 WSW RMY 35
4/15  73/43/58/+11/T/0.0/764/95           33 NW  VEC1 33 NW  RMY 34
4/16  68/44/56/+9/0.00/0.0/759/94         29 NW  VEC1 28 NW  RMY 29
4/17  60/40/50/+2/0.00/0.0/656/81         25 ESE VEC1 24 ESE RMY 24
4/18  47/40/44/-4/0.21/0.0/000/00         25 E   VEC1 25 E   RMY 23
4/19  60/41/51/+2/T/0.0/399/49            29 S   VEC1 29 S   RMY 29
4/20  57/40/49/0/0.38/0.0/082/10          34 WNW VEC1 37 WNW RMY 39
4/21  50/34/42/-8/0.00/0.0/295/36         30 NW  VEC1 30 WNW RMY 31
4/22  57/34/46/-4/0.00/0.0/822/100        29 NW  VEC1 29 NW  RMY 29
4/23  63/37/50/0/0.00/0.0/710/86          30 S   VEC1 29 S   RMY 29
4/24  63/33/48/-3/0.04/0.0/265/32         52 WNW VEC1 51 WNW RMY 58
4/25  55/29/42/-9/0.00/0.0/831/100        28 SE  VEC1 28 SE  RMY 26
4/26  56/32/44/-8/0.00/0.0/833/100        25 S   VEC1 24 S   RMY 24
4/27  66/37/52/0/0.00/0.0/627/75          26 SW  VEC1 27 SW  RMY 27
4/28  67/41/54/+2/0.02/0.0/385/46         28 WSW VEC1 27 WSW RMY 29
4/29  70/53/62/+9/0.00/0.0/446/53         26 ENE VEC1 25 ENE RMY 27
4/30  60/44/52/-1/0.59/0.0/059/07         25 E   VEC1 23 SSE RMY 26 TSTM

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APRIL DAILY RECORDS TO DATE

NONE…

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MAY 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)

5/1   53/42/48/-5/0.06/0.0/…/..         18 ESE VEC1 18 ESE RMY 18
5/2   69/44/57/+3/0.21/0.0/…/..         35 NE  VEC1 36 NE  RMY 35

5/3 The low since midnight is 44F, the daily normal low is 44F.

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MAY 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 MAY 3
HIGH 92F IN 2001
LOW 31F IN 1888
PRECIP 2.25 INS IN 1900
SNOWFALL TRACE IN 1908, 1985
PEAK GUST 71 MPH W IN 2002

RECORDS FOR MAY 4
HIGH 90F IN 2001
LOW 27F IN 1911 (RECORD FOR MAY)
PRECIP 1.67 INCHES IN 1893
SNOWFALL 0.1 INCHES IN 1920
PEAK GUST 60 MPH NW IN 1966

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Amanda Joly