Monday, November 4, 2013

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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

FIRST FLAKES OF THE SEASON FALL IN RAIN AND SNOW MIX EARLY SUNDAY
TEMPERATURES DROP INTO 20’S EARLY THIS MORNING

The first snowflakes of the season accompanied the light rain which
fell Sunday morning.  The rainfall was once again a very small amount
of only 0.06 inch.  This was the 7th daily rainfall out of 8 daily
amounts to accumulate less than one tenth of an inch.

The low temperature of 27F this morning was our coldest of the
season to date and coldest since early last April.

We were declared to be in a moderate drought last week the only
0.16 inch so far this month has done nothing to ease the continuing
shortage of precipitation. The last significant daily rainfall was
just over a half inch way back on October 6th.

At our Hingham cooperative station the dry conditions extend all
the way back to early August with only 0.23 inch from August 10-31,
1.42 inches during September, and just 1.09 inches in October.
Percentages of normal rainfall are way down around 20 to 25% for
the period. September-October at 2.48 inches was the driest on our
61-year record.

OCTOBER 2013 PRELIMINARY STATISTICS AT BLUE HILL:
(departures relative to 1981-2010 average)

TEMPERATURE:
Average Max Temp: 62.5F [+2.2F] Average Min Temp: 45.9F [+3.0F] Mean Temp: 54.2F [+2.6F] 24-hr. Corr. Mean Temp: 53.4F
Max Temp: 78F on 2nd
Min Temp: 30F on 29th (first freeze of the season)

Total heating degree day units (month):  331 [-90] *NCDC method
Total heating degree day units (season): 477 [-86] *start July 1 (NCDC)
Total cooling degree day units (month):    5   [0] *NCDC method
Total cooling degree day units (season): 701 [+99] *start Jan 1 (NCDC)

PRECIPITATION:
Total precipitation: 1.09 inches [-3.60 inch] Greatest 24-hr precipitation: 0.56 on October 6.

WIND:
Avg wind speed: 10.7 MPH
Avg corrected wind speed: 11.2 MPH
Prevailing wind direction: W [17%] Peak gust: 48 MPH S on 7TH
Peak fastest mile: 40 MPH S on 7TH

SUNSHINE:
Total astronomical minutes: 11,757 (196.0 hrs.) out of possible
20,551 minutes (342.5 hrs.) or 57%
Total Campbell Stokes card minutes; 11,358 (189.3 hrs.) out of possible
19,824 minutes (330.4 hrs.) or 57%

The list of driest Octobers has been corrected to include 1.24 inches
in 1921.  October wind speed was a new record low for the month.

BHO DRIEST OCTOBERS (INCHES, 1886-2013)
1)  0.22 IN 1924
2)  0.39 IN 1994
3)  0.50 IN 1946
4)  0.61 IN 1935
5)  0.63 IN 1897
6)  0.79 IN 2001
7)  1.09 IN 2013
8)  1.15 IN 1918
9)  1.24 IN 1921
10) 1.25 IN 1940

BHO LOWEST OCTOBER WIND SPEED (MPH, 1885-2013)
1) 11.2 IN 2013
2) 11.8 IN 1997
3) 11.9 IN 1994
11.9 IN 2007
5) 12.0 in 2007
6) 12.2 in 2008

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, stratocumulus/cumulus along and offshore NE-SE
Temperature: 28F; Dew Point: 16F; Wind: N at 10 kts.
Sea-level pressure: 30.58 ins. Hg, rising then rising more slowly
Visibility: 80 miles
Visibility: E-SE 20 miles, hazy
6-hr min temp: 27F
24-hour precip: 0.05 inch
BHO SA 1155 CLR 80 357/28/16/3510/058/ SC LYR ALG/OFFSHR NE-SSE
HAZY AND VSBY 20 E-SE LGT DSNT HZ NW/ 8/800 51028 MANUAL 70005
ASOS 70004 10029 20027

10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cumulus/stratocumulus/stratocumulus generated by
cumulus, cumulus fractus/cumulus forming vicinity overhead-SSE-SSW
Temperature: 37F; Dew Point: 16F; Wind: N at 9 kts,
Wind: Gust to 21 kts past hour
Wind: Direction variable N-NE
Sea-level pressure: 30.62 ins. Hg, rising then rising more slowly
Visibility: 80 miles
BHO SA 1455 55 SCT 80 369/37/16/0109/062/ SC/CU NNE-SSW FEW CUFRA/CU
FRMG VC OVHD-SSE-SSW WND GUST 21 KTS PST HR WND 35V05/
8/800 51012

1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, stratocumulus along/offshore NE-SE, few small cumulus
and stratocumulus generated by cumulus SSE-SSW, cirrus distant WSW-WNW
Temperature: 41F; Dew Point: 18F; Wind: NE at 8 kts,
Wind: Direction variable NNW-ENE
Sea-level pressure: 30.61 ins. Hg, falling slightly
Visibility: 80 miles
6-hr max temp: 42F
BHO SA 1755 CLR 80 367/41/18/0408/061/ SC ALG/OFFSHR NE-SSE
SML CU/SCCG DSNT SSE-SSW CI DSNT WSW-WNW WND 34V07/
8/801 58002 10042 20028

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…..49    NORMAL…..54
MIN…..30    NORMAL…..37
MEAN….40    NORMAL…..46

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL…………………-6
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………..+21 [+6.8 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………..25  DEPARTURE………+6
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..36  DEPARTURE……..-21
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………513  DEPARTURE…….-107
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….463  DIFFERENCE…….+50

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY………………23  N   AT  2:33 A.M. *
AERO…………………..N/A
ASOS…………………..23  NNW AT  3:09 A.M.
DAVIS………………….20  N   AT  1:41 A.M. RMY N/A
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY………………..15 NNW
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE……………..16 NNW  AT  9:07 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE…………….14 NW   AT  1:43 A.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION………..10.2  N/A
ASOS…………………9.6
DAVIS………………..8.4  NNW [340 degrees] * last of several occurrences…

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M….0.05   DEPARTURE………….-0.11
ASOS…………..0.04
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR OCTOBER…………0.16   DEPARTURE………….-0.31
ASOS…………..0.16
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR……….43.17   DEPARTURE………….-1.07
ASOS…………..N/A**
**ASOS malfunctioned during storm on 2/8-9, leading to erroneous totals

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..Trace   DEPARTURE………….-0.1
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH…………..Trace   DEPARTURE………….-0.1
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON………….Trace   DEPARTURE………….-0.4

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2013 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/AERO GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system gust
RMY:  RMY = R.M. Young wind gust recording system added 8/9/2011
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized

10/1  75/50/63/+6/0.00/676/96         16 WNW AERO 16 MPH WNW RMY 18
10/2  78/56/67/+10/0.00/666/95        29 W   AERO 30 MPH W   RMY 29
10/3  77/56/67/+11/0.00/628/90        20 WNW AERO 20 MPH WNW RMY N/A
10/4  67/56/62/+6/0.26/028/04         18 NW  AERO 20 MPH NW  RMY N/A
10/5  67/56/62/+6/0.01/125/18         14 ENE AERO 12 MPH ENE RMY N/A
10/6  58/53/56/+1/0.56/000/00         20 NE  AERO 20 MPH NE  RMY N/A
10/7  75/57/66/+11/0.07/213/31        48 S   AERO 55 MPH S   RMY 55
10/8  65/50/58/+4/0.00/581/85         25 NW  AERO 27 MPH NW  RMY 28
10/9  59/49/54/0/0.00/545/80          25 ENE AERO 24 MPH ENE RMY 25
10/10 61/46/54/0/0.00/095/14          18 NE  AERO 17 MPH NE  RMY 18
10/11 67/50/59/+6/0.00/473/70         20 NE  AERO 20 MPH NE  RMY N/A
10/12 59/50/55/+2/0.02/007/01         30 ENE AER0 31 MPH ENE RMY 32
10/13 59/46/53/0/0.00/482/72          23 ENE AERO 23 MPH ENE RMY 23
10/14 64/42/53/+1/0.00/580/87         15 SSW AERO 15 MPH SSW RMY 15
10/15 66/50/58/+6/0.00/266/40         16 ESE AERO 16 MPH ESE RMY N/A
10/16 60/49/55/+4/0.00/013/02         23 ESE AERO 24 MPH ESE RMY 23
10/17 70/52/61/+10/0.06/277/42        21 S   AERO 23 MPH S   RMY N/A
10/18 67/50/59/+8/T/630/96            32 WNW AERO 32 MPH W   RMY 31
10/19 65/45/55/+5/0.00/379/58         21 W   AERO 22 MPH W   RMY N/A
10/20 61/44/53/+3/0.00/644/99         33 W   AERO 36 MPH W   RMY 34
10/21 67/43/55/+5/0.00/648/100        23 SSW AERO 25 MPH SSW RMY 27
10/22 69/44/57/+8/T/419/65            25 SSW AERO 27 MPH SSW RMY 27
10/23 50/40/45/-4/0.00/103/16         18 WNW AERO 18 MPH WNW RMY N/A
10/24 53/36/45/-4/0.00/640/100        31 W   AERO 31 MPH W   RMY 34
10/25 49/34/42/-7/0.00/401/63         25 WNW AERO 26 MPH WNW RMY 26
10/26 54/34/44/-4/0.00/521/82         35 SW  AERO 36 MPH SSW RMY 39
10/27 55/39/47/-1/0.04/480/76         30 W   AERO 30 MPH W   RMY 29
10/28 58/35/47/-1/0.00/529/84         31 W   AERO 33 MPH W   RMY 34
10/29 50/30/40/-7/0.00/614/98         15 N   AERO 15 MPH N   RMY 15
10/30 51/38/45/-2/0.02/094/15         16 W   AERO 15 MPH W   RMY N/A
10/31 61/43/52/+5/0.05/000/00         37 SSW AERO N/A N/A    RMY N/A

11/1  68/56/62/+16/0.10/…/..        60 SSW AERO N/A N/A    RMY 66
11/2  65/49/57/+11/0.00/…/..        22 WSW AERO N/A N/A    RMY 23
11/3  49/30/40/-6/0.05/…/..         23 N   AERO N/A N/A    RMY N/A

11/4  morning low temp: 27F; the normal low is now 37F

DAILY RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 2013
None.

DAILY RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER 2013
None so far.

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

RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER 4
HIGH 77 IN 1987
LOW 22 IN 1891
PRECIP 3.27 INCHES IN 1910
SNOWFALL 6.4 IN 1945
PEAK GUST 73 WNW IN 1965

RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER 5
HIGH 76 IN 1994
LOW 18 IN 1908
PRECIP 4.26 INCHES IN 1955
SNOWFALL 1.5 IN 1892
PEAK GUST 69 W IN 2004

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling