Saturday, March 7, 2015

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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

MOSTLY SUNNY AND WARMER TODAY WITH A FEW HIGH CLOUDS…
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME RETURNS TONIGHT…TURN CLOCKS
AHEAD ONE HOUR…

It was another cold start to the morning today with
a minimum temperature of 13F just after sunrise,
though it was colder at lower elevations.  The low
temperature at nearby Norwood Airport was just 3F.
The inversion trapped some smoke near the ground,
and this was visible along the horizon early this
morning. The sky has been almost free of clouds
with only a few thin scattered cirrus clouds
approaching by late morning and early afternoon.
The visibility has been much hazier compared to
yesterday, though it has climbed from 25 miles
to 40 miles by early afternoon. With the temperature
climbing to the middle 30s by 1 PM EST, the harder
snow pack earlier today is melting somewhat under
the strengthening March sunshine.

The snow depth has dropped to 33 inches as of this
morning based on measurements in the instrument
enclosure and a survey in a nearby clearing to
the north of the Observatory. This is the 33rd
consecutive day with 20 inches or more of snow
on the ground.

Seasonal snowfall has now reached 143.4 inches, just
1.0 inch below the snowiest season on record set
in 1995-1996. Statistics and records are still being
finalized for the month of February below. For more
information about this historic winter, visit our
web site at bluehillobservatory.org.

PRELIMINARY STATS FOR FEBRUARY 2015

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 25.6 [-11.2] Avg. Min.  6.8 [-12.3] Mean      16.2 [-11.7] Corrected mean: 17.0
Max. for month: 39 on 2/22
Min. for month: -8 on 2/16
Number of days with temperature at or below zero: 6

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units;   1360 [+323] Total for the season:  4708 [+140] Total for last season: 4591

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 6.17 [+2.10]

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 83.6 [+69.7]

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 13.2
Avg. corrected wind speed: 13.5
Prevailing wind direction: NW @ 17%
Peak gust and direction: 53 NW on the 15th

SUNSHINE:
Astronomical total minutes:   7695/17769 or 43%
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 7440/17148 or 43%

BHO Greatest Seasonal Snowfall, inches (1885-2015):

1) 144.4 in 1995-1996
2) 143.4 in 2014-2015 (through 1 PM March 7th)
3) 136.0 in 1947-1948
4) 119.4 in 2004-2005
5) 113.1 in 2002-2003
6) 111.5 in 1915-1916
7) 109.6 in 1966-1967
8) 106.8 in 1955-1956
9) 103.4 in 1903-1904
10) 102.5 in 1922-1923

BHO Longest Duration of 20″+ Snow Depth, (1885-2015):

1) 53 days, 27 Dec, 1947 – 17 Feb, 1948
2) 34 days, 5 Feb – 9 Mar, 1920
34 days, 7 Feb – 12 Mar, 1978
4) 33 days, 3 Feb – 7 Mar, 2015 (through 1 PM March 7th)
5) 23 days, 25 Feb – 19 Mar, 1969
6) 21 days, 27 Jan – 16 Feb, 2011
7) 11 days, 15-25 Mar, 1916
11 days, 5-15 Jan, 1961

BHO Coldest Months, deg F (1885-2015)

1) 13.5 in Feb, 1934
2) 15.5 in Jan, 1920
3) 16.3 in Jan, 1888
4) 16.4 in Feb, 1885
5) 17.0 in Feb, 2015
6) 17.1 in Feb, 1923
7) 17.2 in Jan, 1912
17.2 in Jan, 1918
17.2 in Jan, 2004
10) 17.4 in Jan, 1893
17.4 in Dec, 1989

BHO Coldest February Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2015)

1) 37 in 1923
2) 39 in 1969
39 in 2015
4) 40 in 1978
5) 41 in 1905
41 in 1924
41 in 1934
8) 42 in 1958

BHO Greatest Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.8 on 26-28 Jan, 2015
3) 30.3 on 3-5 Mar, 1960
4) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
5) 30.0 on 31 Mar – 1 Apr, 1997
6) 29.8 on 6-8 Mar, 2013
7) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
8) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
9) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
10) 24.3 on 5-7 Dec, 2003
11) 23.0 on 5-7 Mar, 2001
12) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
13) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
14) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969

BHO Greatest February Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
3) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
4) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
5) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
6) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
7) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
8) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969

BHO Snowiest February, inches (1885-2015):

1) 83.6 in 2015
2) 65.4 in 1969
3) 51.3 in 2003
4) 45.2 in 1967
5) 40.4 in 1920
6) 39.7 in 2013
7) 37.0 in 1893

BHO Snowiest January-February, inches (1886-2015):

1) 126.5 in 2015
2) 77.9 in 1948
3) 70.2 in 2005
4) 68.7 in 1904
5) 67.5 in 1920
6) 66.9 in 1994

BHO Greatest Snow Depth, inches (1895-2015):
1) 46 in February 2015
2) 43 in March 1969
3) 42 in January 1948
4) 41 in February 1969
5) 39 in February 1948
6) 38 in February 1920
7) 33 in February 1978
33 in January 1996
9) 31 in February 2003
31 in February 2011
11)30 in March 1960
30 in March 1978

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, smoke layer along horizon below inversion
S-NE, hazy
Temperature: 14F; Dew Point: 6F; Wind: WSW at 10 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.21 ins. Hg, falling, then more quickly
Visibility: 25 miles
6-hr Max temp: 15F
6-hr Min temp: 13F
Snow depth: 33 inches
BHO SA 1155 CLR 25 231/14/6/2510/021/ K LYR ALG HRZN BLO
INVSN S-NE HAZY/ 4/033 58004 10015 20013

10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few altocumulus distant WNW-NW, hazy
Temperature: 26F; Dew Point: 6F; Wind: SW at 10 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.16 ins. Hg, falling, then more quickly
Visibility: 35 miles
BHO SA 1455 CLR 35 215/26/6/2310/016/ FEW AC DSNT WNW-NW HAZY/
8/030 58016

1 P.M.
Weather: Thin scattered cirrus, few lower dense cirrus, hazy
Temperature: 35F; Dew Point: 11F; S at 10G17 kts
Sea-Level Pressure: 30.06 ins. Hg, falling, then more quickly
Visibility: 40 miles
6-hr Max temp: 36F
6-hr Min temp: 14F
BHO SA 1755 250 -SCT 40 180/35/11/1910G17/006/ FEW LWR DNS CI
HAZY/ 8/001 58035 10036 20014

SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…..26   NORMAL…..41
MIN……5   NORMAL…..23
MEAN….16   NORMAL…..32

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL………………………-16
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………-37 [-6.4 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………..49  DEPARTURE……….+16
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH………….237  DEPARTURE……….+37
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………..4945  DEPARTURE………+178
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……4848  DIFFERENCE………+97

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY………………28 NW  AT  2:56 A.M.*
ASOS…………………..30 NW  AT  2:54 A.M.
DAVIS………………….27 NW  AT  2:48 A.M. RMY 25
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY………………..22 NW  AT  2:56 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE……………..22 NNW AT  2:57 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE…………….19 SSW AT  9:04 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION…………10.9 NNW
ASOS…………………10.9
DAVIS………………..9.2 W [267 degrees] * last of several occurrences..

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M….0.00  DEPARTURE…..-0.17
ASOS…………..0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH……….0.64  DEPARTURE…..-0.40
ASOS…………..0.66
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR……….11.98  DEPARTURE…..+2.65
ASOS……………N/A ***
*** ASOS annual totals not available due to erroneous readings

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……….0.0  DEPARTURE……-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH…………….5.9  DEPARTURE……+2.8
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON………….143.4  DEPARTURE…..+93.3

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOWFALL/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/RMY GUST
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized

2/1  28/8/18/-8/0.00/0.0/582/97               29 WNW RMY N/A
2/2  29/8/19/-7/1.53/16.5/000/00              44 NE  RMY 46
2/3  21/0/11/-15/0.00/0.0/593/98              31 NW  RMY N/A
2/4  36/14/25/-1/0.00/0.0/164/27              31 S   RMY 33
2/5  34/4/19/-7/0.15/3.5/000/00               38 NW  RMY 39
2/6  19/-2/9/-17/0.00/0.0/392/64              28 NW  RMY 27
2/7  25/14/20/-7/0.08/1.1/000/00              25 WSW RMY N/A
2/8  29/11/20/-7/0.78/12.2/000/00             30 NNE RMY 29
2/9  19/12/16/-11/1.59/13.6/000/00            29 N   RMY 28
2/10 28/12/20/-7/0.10/0.8/081/13              29 N   RMY 29
2/11 24/15/20/-7/0.03/1.4/000/00              30 N   RMY 29
2/12 28/14/21/-6/0.02/0.6/000/00              31 NW  RMY N/A
2/13 20/2/11/-17/0.00/0.0/630/100             35 NW  RMY 35
2/14 26/1/14/-14/…./…/241/38              24 NW  RMY N/A
2/15 18/-6/6/-22/…./…/000/00              53 NW  RMY 59
2/16 17/-8/5/-23/0.00/0.0/606/95              43 NW  RMY N/A
2/17 21/5/13/-15/0.12/2.0/064/10              18 NW  RMY 16
2/18 28/15/22/-7/…./…/039/06              17 W   RMY N/A
2/19 26/6/16/-13/0.02/0.3/116/18              40 W   RMY 43
2/20 15/0/8/-21/0.00/0.0/630/97               38 W   RMY 40
2/21 32/3/18/-11/…./…/462/71              39 SSW RMY 42
2/22 39/27/33/+4/…./…/327/50              25 WSW RMY N/A
2/23 28/1/15/-15/0.00/0.0/204/31              38 WNW RMY 44
2/24 18/-6/6/-24/…./…/574/87              26 S   RMY 27
2/25 32/11/22/-8/…./…/650/98              35 W   RMY 36
2/26 21/15/18/-12/0.04/0.6/000/00             25 NE  RMY 24
2/27 25/9/17/-14/0.00/0.0/669/100             20 NW  RMY N/A
2/28 30/5/18/-13/0.00/0.0/671/100             22 NW  RMY N/A

3/1  29/14/22/-9/…./…/…/..              25 SSW RMY 25
3/2  35/22/29/-2/…./…/…/..              44 WNW RMY 48
3/3  32/13/23/-9/…./2.8/…/..              33 S   RMY N/A
3/4  41/32/37/+5/…./…/000/00              33 SW  RMY 36
3/5  36/16/26/-6/0.02/0.2/000/00              28 NW  RMY 29
3/6  26/5/16/-16/0.00/0.0/…/..              28 NW  RMY 25

3/7 morning low temp: 13F since midnight, normal low is now 24F

DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2015

– NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL FOR 2 FEBRUARY 2015
SNOWFALL 16.5 INS. surpasses previous record:
5.5 ins. in 1916, 1934

-NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL FOR 9 FEBRUARY 2015
SNOWFALL 13.6 INS. surpasses previous record:
13.0 ins. in 1969

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

RECORDS FOR MARCH 7
HIGH 66 IN 1946
LOW -1 IN 1890
PRECIP 2.05 INS. IN 1967
SNOWFALL 11.5 INS. IN 2013
PEAK GUST 66 MPH NE IN 1962

RECORDS FOR MARCH 8
HIGH 66 IN 2012
LOW 2 IN 1986
PRECIP 2.20 INS. IN 2008
SNOWFALL 8.3 INS. IN 1941
PEAK GUST 69 MPH SSW IN 2008

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Mike Iacono