Saturday, May 4, 2024

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

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0435E
SUNSET:  1848E

MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS, COOL WITH WINDS OFF OCEAN….

We had a brief period of blue skies early this morning just after
sunrise, but clouds of all levels filled in shortly thereafter. Since
then, we’ve experienced a mix of sunshine and cloudiness. With a wind
direction off the ocean, temperatures have remained on the cool side
for the time of year.

Temperatures bottomed out early this morning at 45F, and have since
risen rather slowly into the mid 50s. The dew point has held steady
in the low 40s throughout the day.

Winds have been on the lighter side today, with an average of 8mph
primarily out of the east-northeast. The peak gust to this point
is only 20mph, occurring about a quarter past 8am.

Visibility has been good, with views extending up to 45-55 miles
through the early afternoon, impacted by some haziness.

The maximum temperature so far today is 55F degrees, which is 9
degrees below the normal high of 64F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 45F 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: Thin broken cirrus, few stratocumulus distant NNW-E-S,
few altocumulus distant SW-W-N
Temperature: 50F; Dew Point: 42F; Relative Humidity: 74%
Wind: E @ 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1027.6 mb; 30.35 in. Hg: rising unsteadily
Visibility: 50 miles
6-hr Max temp: 50F
6-hr Min temp: 45F
24-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
BHO SA 1155 E250 -BKN 50 276/50/42/0909/035/ FEW SC DSNT NNW-E-S
FEW AC DSNT SW-W-N/ 8/551 52015 10050 20045

10 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, broken altostratus, broken cirrus,
sun dimly visible
Temperature: 51F; Dew Point: 43F; Relative Humidity: 71%
Wind: E @ 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1029.0 mb; 30.39 in. Hg: rising unsteadily
Visibility: 55 miles
3-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
BHO SA 1455 E22 BKN 180 BKN 250 BKN 55 290/51/43/0809/039/
SUN DMLY VSBL/ 8/511 52014

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, broken altostratus, broken cirrus
Temperature: 53F; Dew Point: 43F; Relative Humidity: 67%
Wind: ENE @ 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1028.8 mb; 30.38 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 45 miles, hazy
6-hr Max temp: 55F
6-hr Min temp: 50F
6-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
BHO SA 1755 E24 BKN 180 BKN 250 BKN 45 288/53/43/0609/038/ HAZY/
8/511 55002 10055 20050

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SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2024

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….57   NORMAL…..63
MIN…….44   NORMAL…..44
MEAN……51   NORMAL…..54

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL………….-3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………….-5 [-1.8 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………14  DEPARTURE……..+3
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………39  DEPARTURE……..+4
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………5196  DEPARTURE……-726
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….5013  DEPARTURE……+183

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)……….E24 NE   @  05:24 A.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….24 NE   @  05:24 A.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….24 NE   @  05:24 A.M.
DAVIS #1……………….22 NE   @  05:24 A.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………21 NE   @  03:46 A.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..25 NE   @  05:24 A.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..24 NE   @  05:24 A.M.
MERLIN………………….M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……24      @  05:24 A.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………15 NE   @  03:49 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..14      @  03:28 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..15      @  03:28 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………15 NE   @  03:55 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………15 E    @  09:54 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..14 NNE  @  12:39 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..15 NNE  @  03:28 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………14      @  12:39 A.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL…….7.8 ENE [188 total miles] VECTOR #1……………..7.9
VECTOR #2……………..8.3
DAVIS #1………………8.2 ENE
DAVIS #2………………8.1 ENE
RMY #1………………..7.9 ENE
RMY #2………………..8.1 ENE
RICHARDS (C5C)…………8.5

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.12
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.29 DEPARTURE…..-0.08
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2024)…….25.25 DEPARTURE…..+6.10

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   57/44/51/-3/0.02/0.0/…/..         24 NE  VEC1 24 NE  RMY 25

5/4 The low since midnight is 45F, the daily normal low is 45F.

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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 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

RECORDS FOR MAY 5
HIGH 92F IN 1949
LOW 30F IN 1891
PRECIP 2.74 INCHES IN 1922
SNOWFALL 3.0 INCHES IN 1917
PEAK GUST 58 MPH S IN 1966 & 58e MPH SW IN 1976

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Joshua Polen