Sign In Become a Member
Daily Discussions

Sunday, February 2, 2014

February 2, 2014

BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY…

Agreement required — click “Accept & Continue” below to review and accept the Data Use & Privacy Policy

Access to this content requires acceptance of our Data Use & Privacy Policy.

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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

MILD START TO FEBRUARY CONTINUES

The temperature has risen to 53F this afternoon, the first time we have
risen above 50F since January 13.  The morning low of 33F was only a couple
degrees away from our average high for this time of year of 35F.  The record
high temperature for today’s date is 55F.  These warm temperatures have come
along with mostly cloudy skies today, but there were plenty of breaks in the
clouds late this morning.  The Sun has also been able to shine filtered
through some high clouds, much like yesterday.  Thicker clouds have arrived
by early this afternoon, which are now acting to block the Sun and will
likely keep us short of our record high temperature for today.  The wind has
been mainly light at about 10mph, gradually shifting from SW to W during the
day.  Some thin fog reduced the visibility below 15 miles this morning, and
it has only increased to about 35 miles this afternoon with distant haze.

All monthly data below is preliminary, with some data currently
unavailable. Keep posted for a monthly discussion on our website,
bluehillobservatory.org.

THE PRELIMINARY JANUARY 2014 STATS

[Departures are relative to the 1981-2010 averages]

TEMPERATURE: Deg. F
Avg. Max. 33.2 [-0.6] Avg. Min. 16.7 [-0.4] Mean      25.0 [-0.5] 24-hr. corrected mean: 24.8
Max. temp: 57F on 6th and 11th
Min. temp: -4F  on 4th
Total heating degree day units: 1240 [+14] Total seasonal heating units:   3517 [-14 less than average] [Season starts 7/1] Seasonal total this date 2012:  3126 [391 more than last season]

PRECIPITATION: Inches
Total: 4.62 [+0.27] Greatest in 24 hours: N/A (2nd-3rd)
Total snowfall: 33.1 [+16.0] Greatest in 24 hours: N/A (2nd-3rd)

WIND
Av. speed (uncorrected): 14.2 mph
Av. speed (corrected):   14.5 mph
Prevailing direction: W 25%

SUNSHINE
Total astronomical minutes: N/A of possible N/A or N/A%
Total Campbell Stokes card minutes; N/A of possible N/A or N/A%

BHO Snowiest January’s, inches (1886-2014)

1) 56.3 in 1948
2) 48.2 in 2011
3) 48.0 in 1904
4) 47.6 in 1996
5) 46.0 in 1966
6) 44.8 in 2005
7) 44.5 in 1923
8) 38.3 in 1987
9) 35.6 in 1978
10) 33.1 in 2014

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Broken cirrus, few stratocumulus NE-SE, few altocumulus E-S, thin
fog all quadrants
Temperature: 39F; Dew Point: 37F; Wind: SW at 10 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 29.90 ins. Hg, falling
Visibility: 12 miles, thin fog
6-hr. min temp: 33F
Snow depth: Trace
BHO SA 1155 E240 BKN 12 124/39/37/2310/990/ SC NE-SE FEW AC E-S
THN FG ALQDS/ 8/571 57009 10039 20033

10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered altostratus, broken cirrus, altocumulus distant SW-NNE
Temperature: 43F Dew Point: 36F; Wind: SW at 7 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 29.91 ins. Hg, falling then rising
Visibility: 30 miles, distant haze
BHO SA 1455 150 SCT E240 BKN 30 130/43/36/2307/991/ AC DSNT SW-NNE DSNT HZ/
8/078 53006

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken altostratus, broken altocumulus, broken cirrus, few
cirrocumulus N and SW
Temperature: 53F; Dew Point: 34F; Wind: W at 11 kts,
Wind: Direction variable WSW-NW
Sea-level pressure: 29.90 ins. Hg, rising then falling
Visibility: 35 miles, distant haze
6-hr max. temp: 53F
BHO SA 1755 80 SCT E130 BKN 240 BKN 35 124/53/34/2811/990/ FEW CC N AND SW
DSNT HZ WND 25V32/ 8/078 58006 10053 20039

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2014

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…..45    NORMAL…..34
MIN…..30    NORMAL…..17
MEAN….38    NORMAL…..26

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL…………………….+12
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………+12 [+12.0 DEGREE/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………..27  DEPARTURE………-12
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..27  DEPARTURE………-12
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………..3544  DEPARTURE………-26
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……3165  DIFFERENCE…….+379

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY………………24  S  AT  9:19 P.M.
AERO…………………..23  S  AT  9:19 P.M.
ASOS…………………..26  S  AT  4:38 P.M.
DAVIS………………….23  S  AT  4:42 P.M. RMY 25
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY………………..19  S  AT  11:14 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE……………..20  S  AT  11:03 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE…………….18  S  AT  11:11 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION………… 10.3 S
ASOS………………….10.4
DAVIS………………….9.3 SSW [208 deg.]

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M….0.00 DEPARTURE…………..-0.13
ASOS…………..0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH……….0.00  DEPARTURE………….-0.13
ASOS…………..0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR………..4.62  DEPARTURE………….+0.14
ASOS…………..4.94

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.0   DEPARTURE……………-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH…………..0.0   DEPARTURE…………..-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON…………48.8    DEPARTURE………….+15.2

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 2014 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/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

1/1  26/16/21/-6/0.00/0.0/505/92          25 W   AERO 25 MPH W   RMY 27
1/2  24/00/12/-15/0.97/10.9/000/00        39 NNE AERO 39 MPH NNE RMY 39
1/3  12/-3/05/-21/0.38/4.7/270/49         36 N   AERO 39 MPH N   RMY 34
1/4  25/-4/11/-15/0.00/0.0/545/99         35 SSW AERO 37 MPH SSW RMY 38
1/5  42/23/33/+7/0.08/0.0/259 47          30 SE  AERO 32 MPH SE  RMY 42
1/6  57/25/41/+15/0.29/0.0/006/01         41 S   AERO 46 MPH S   RMY 48
1/7  25/06/16/-10/0.00/0.0/555/100        44 WNW AERO 46 MPH WNW RMY 42
1/8  21/3/12/-14/0.00/0.0/550/99          28 WSW AERO 29 MPH WSW RMY N/A
1/9  28/13/21/-5/0.00/0.0/540/97          23 WNW AERO 24 MPH WNW RMY 27
1/10 37/17/27/+2/0.05/0.3/000/00          17 SSW AERO 18 MPH SW  RMY N/A
1/11 57/37/47/+22/0.67/0.0/000/00         50 S   AERO 59 MPH S   RMY 59
1/12 51/32/42/+17/0.04/0.0/292/52         41 W   AERO 44 MPH W   RMY 42
1/13 50/30/40/+15/0.00/0.0/473/84         33 S   AERO 36 MPH S   RMY 37
1/14 49/41/45/+20/0.83/0.0/000/00         35 S   AERO 37 MPH S   RMY 32
1/15 46/33/40/+15/0.00/0.0/374/66         24 W   AERO 23 MPH W   RMY N/A
1/16 40/34/37/+12/0.00/0.0/000/00         14 ENE AERO 13 MPH ENE RMY 14
1/17 44/33/39/+14/0.00/0.0/541/95         21 SW  AERO 21 MPH SW  RMY 22
1/18 37/30/34/+9/0.82/4.2/000/00          18 E   AERO 17 MPH E   RMY 18
1/19 32/27/30/+5/0.03/0.5/304/53          28 SW  AERO 35 MPH SW  RMY 34
1/20 39/23/31/+6/0.00/0.0/023/04          38 W   AERO 41 MPH W   RMY 42
1/21 23/8/16/-9/0.30/9.0/006/01           29 WNW AERO 30 MPH WNW RMY 32
1/22 15/3/9/-16/0.12/3.1/237/41           36 N   AERO 35 MPH N   RMY 34
1/23 20/-1/10/-15/0.00/0.0/418/72         30 W   AERO 29 MPH W   RMY 30
1/24 16/2/9/-16/0.00/0.0/571/98           28 WNW AERO 25 MPH WNW RMY N/A
1/25 36/12/24/-1/0.01/0.2/053/09          60 SSW AERO 66 MPH SSW RMY 64
1/26 22/12/17/-8/0.00/0.0/405/69          45 W   AERO 43 MPH W   RMY 41
1/27 45/17/31/+6/0.02/0.0/024/04          46 S   AERO 46 MPH S   RMY 49
1/28 18/9/14/-11/0.00/0.0/…/..          33 W   AERO 31 MPH W   RMY 32
1/29 24/11/17/-8/0.01/0.2/…/..          28 W   AERO 23 MPH W   RMY 27
1/30 29/10/20/-6/0.00/0.0/…/..          25 S   AERO 20 MPH S   RMY 28
1/31 40/18/29/+3/0.00/0.0/…/..          29 SSW AERO 24 MPH SSW RMY 28

2/1  45/30/38/+12/0.00/0.0/…/..         24 S   AERO 23 MPH S   RMY 25

2/2 morning low temp: 33F; the normal low is now 17F

DAILY RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2014
1/21 – New record daily snowfall of 9.0 ins.; this surpasses
7.6 ins. in 2011.

DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2014
None so far.

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

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2
HIGH 55F IN 1951, 1973
LOW -12F IN 1961
PRECIP 1.91 INS. IN 1999
SNOWFALL 5.5 INS. IN 1916, 1934
PEAK GUST 92 MPH SW IN 1970

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 3
HIGH 58F IN 1991
LOW -7F IN 1955
PRECIP 2.14 INS. IN 1970
SNOWFALL 7.0 INS. IN 1913
PEAK GUST 102 MPH S IN 1970 [RECORD FOR MONTH]

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Jonathan O’Brien

Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center · Legal

Data Use & Privacy Policy

Please read the full Policy before accessing Observatory data · Effective January 1, 2025

Notice: By accessing, downloading, or using any Blue Hill Observatory data or services, you unconditionally accept and agree to be bound by this Policy in its entirety. If you do not agree, you may not access or use Observatory data.
Effective January 1, 2025 · Milton, Massachusetts · bluehill.org
Part I — Data Use Policy
§ 01

Ownership and Proprietary Rights

All observational records, compiled datasets, metadata, database structures, and related materials provided by the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center are the exclusive property of the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center. The Observatory has maintained continuous weather observations at the summit of Great Blue Hill since 1885, and the entirety of that record — its compilation, structure, curation, and organization — constitutes a proprietary database protected under applicable United States law, including copyright law and common law database protections.

All rights not expressly granted in this Policy are reserved by the Observatory. No access to or use of Observatory data shall be construed as a waiver of any rights or as a license to use data beyond the scope expressly stated herein.

§ 02

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For interactions with international users, this Policy shall apply to the maximum extent permitted by applicable local law.

Any dispute arising from or related to this Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. By accessing Observatory data, all users consent to personal jurisdiction in Massachusetts and waive any objection to the venue or inconvenience of such forum.

§ 03

Permitted Uses

Observatory data are made available for the following limited, non-commercial purposes only:

  • Personal study and analysis
  • Educational classroom use
  • Student projects
  • Non-commercial academic research
  • Publication of analyses, figures, models, or conclusions derived from the data, subject to the attribution requirements of Section 4

All other uses require prior written authorization from the Observatory.

§ 04

Attribution Requirement

Any use of Observatory data in any published, presented, or publicly distributed work must include the following verbatim acknowledgment:

“Data provided by the Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center, Milton, Massachusetts. Continuous weather observations since 1885.”

Failure to include proper attribution is a material violation of this Policy.

§ 05

Prohibited Uses

Unless explicitly authorized in writing, Users may not:

  • Resell, license, sublicense, or commercially exploit Observatory data in any form
  • Redistribute the dataset in whole or in part to any third party
  • Publish the dataset for download by third parties
  • Host, mirror, or archive the dataset on any external website, repository, or storage service
  • Upload the dataset to any public or institutional data repository
  • Provide the data through APIs, automated services, or subscription platforms
  • Incorporate the data into any commercial product, software, application, or service
  • Use the data for AI or machine learning systems intended for commercial use or external distribution
  • Use the data to create derivative datasets that enable reconstruction of the underlying observations
§ 06

Commercial Licensing

Organizations seeking to use Observatory data for commercial purposes must obtain a license prior to any such use. Licensing inquiries: data@bluehill.org.

§ 07

Automated Access

Automated scraping, bulk harvesting, or systematic downloading of Observatory data is strictly prohibited without prior written authorization.

§ 08

Enforcement and Remedies

Violation of this Policy may result in immediate revocation of data access, pursuit of legal remedies available under United States law, and referral to applicable authorities. The Observatory reserves all rights to seek injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees in connection with any unauthorized use of its data.

Part II — Privacy Policy
§ 09–10

Scope & Information Collected

This section governs the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of personal information from visitors to the Blue Hill Observatory website and users of its data services. The Observatory may collect contact information (name, email, organization) when voluntarily submitted, usage data including IP addresses and pages visited, and data download records.

§ 11–12

How We Use Information & Retention

Information is used solely for: responding to inquiries and licensing requests; monitoring and enforcing compliance with this Policy; improving website performance; and communicating Observatory news to opted-in users. The Observatory does not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Data access records may be retained indefinitely for compliance and enforcement purposes.

§ 13

International Users and Data Transfers

The Observatory is located in the United States. International users acknowledge their information will be processed in the United States under U.S. law. Users requiring specific data processing agreements under non-US law must contact data@bluehill.org before accessing data.

§ 14–16

Cookies, Security & Children’s Privacy

The Observatory website may use cookies for analytics and functionality. By continuing to use the site, users consent to cookie use. The Observatory implements reasonable measures to protect personal information but cannot guarantee absolute security. Observatory data services are not directed at children under 13.

Part III — General Provisions
§ 17–20

Modifications, Severability, Entire Agreement & Contact

The Observatory reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time. Updated versions will be posted at bluehill.org. Continued use of Observatory data following any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy. This Policy constitutes the entire agreement between the User and the Observatory. Questions and licensing inquiries: Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center, Milton, Massachusetts — data@bluehill.org

By accessing, downloading, or using any Blue Hill Observatory data or services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Policy.
Effective January 1, 2025 · Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center · Milton, Massachusetts