Sunday, March 5, 2023

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

SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0613E
SUNSET:  1739E

MORE CLOUDS THAN SUN, BUT DRIER TODAY AFTER A MIXED BAG YESTERDAY…

The latest winter storm to impact the area moved out last evening
after bringing a mix of snow, sleet, and rain to the summit of
Blue Hill. Snow began late Friday evening before mixing with sleet
after midnight. A mix of snow and sleet continued up to around 5am
Saturday. After that a mix of rain and sleet was the theme for a
few hours before changing back to snow mid morning. A storm total
of 3.4″ of snow and sleet accumulated. Total liquid from this event
was 0.83″.

Today has featured a lot of clouds with a few splashes of sunshine,
mainly this morning. Temperatures rose into the low 40s late this
morning before dipping back a little into the upper 30s.

The wind has been mainly out of a west-northwest to northwest
direction with an average speed of around 9mph. It has become
a bit gusty this afternoon however with occasional gusts of
20-30mph occurring.

Visibility has been excellent with views of 70-80 miles today.
We can see the snow covered top of Mt. Monadnock in SW New
Hampshire pretty clearly!

The high so far today is 41F, which is equal to the normal
maximum of 41F. The low since midnight is 25F, which is 1
degree above the normal low of 24F.

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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR FEBRUARY 2023

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 41.4 [+4.4] Avg. Min. 24.0 [+4.5] Mean      32.7 [+4.5] 24-hour corrected mean: 32.9
Max. for month: 61F on the 16th
Min. for month:-14F on the 4th

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:    897 [-132] Total for the season:  3720 [-712] Total for last season: 4083

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 1.86 [-2.14] Greatest in 24 hrs: 1.10 on the 22-23rd

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 9.4 [-8.8] Greatest in 24 hrs: 4.0 on the 22-23rd

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.2 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   12.6 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   Southwest [12%] Peak gust and direction:  56 WNW on the 3rd

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 7698 of a possible 17148, or 45%
Astronomical total minutes: 7971 of a possible 17767, or 45%

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, thin broken cirrus
Temperature: 28F; Dew Point: 26F; Relative Humidity: 89%
Wind: W @ 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1018.1 mb; 30.06 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 28F
6-hr Min temp: 25F
24-hr Precip:  0.41 ins.
24-hr Snowfall: 1.1 ins.
Snow Depth: 4 ins.
BHO SA 1155 E43 BKN 250 -BKN 70 181/28/26/2607/006/ NEW SNW PST
24 HRS 1.1 INS/ 8/501 4/004 53007 70041 10028 20025

10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, broken cirrus
Temperature: 35F; Dew Point: 31F; Relative Humidity: 83%
Wind: WNW @ 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1018.0 mb; 30.06 in. Hg: falling, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
3-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
BHO SA 1455 45 SCT E250 BKN 70 180/35/31/3009/006/ 8/504 56001

1 P.M.
Weather: Overcast stratocumulus, few breaks in overcast all quadrants
Temperature: 38F; Dew Point: 30F; Relative Humidity: 71%
Wind: NW @ 10G22 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1016.2 mb; 30.01 in. Hg: falling steadily
Visibility: 80 miles
6-hr Max temp: 41F
6-hr Min temp: 28F
6-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow Depth: 3 ins.
BHO SA 1755 E30 OVC 80 162/38/30/3110G22/001/ FEW BINOVC ALQDS/
8/5// 4/003 57018 10041 20028

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SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….33   NORMAL…..41
MIN…….28   NORMAL…..23
MEAN……31   NORMAL…..32

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……….-1
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………+13 [+3.1 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2022 THRU JUN 2023)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………34  DEPARTURE……..+1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..120  DEPARTURE…….-13
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………3840  DEPARTURE……-725
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….4230  DEPARTURE……-390

PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
Note: Instruments designated #1 = Main Tower, #2 = South Tower,
420C, Contacting, Merlin and Richards are all Main Tower.

420C (Official)…………48 E   @  7:01 A.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….49 NE  @ 12:46 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….50 NE  @  1:12 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….48 NE  @ 12:46 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………46 NE  @  1:12 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..52 NE  @  7:01 A.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..53 NE  @  1:12 P.M.
MERLIN…………………47 NNE
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……45     @  7:01 A.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………34 E    @   6:34 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..31      @   3:56 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..30      @   8:33 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………32 E    @   4:02 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………31 E    @   8:33 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..31 E    @   7:03 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..30 E    @   6:17 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………31      @   4:02 A.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……17.7 N [425 total miles] VECTOR #1…………….16.4
VECTOR #2…………….16.9
DAVIS #1……………..17.3 ENE
DAVIS #2……………..16.8 ENE
RMY #1……………….16.8 NE
RMY #2……………….16.9 NE
RICHARDS (C5C)………..16.7

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.41 DEPARTURE…..+0.24
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..1.14 DEPARTURE…..+0.45
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR……………9.79 DEPARTURE…..+0.60

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..1.1 DEPARTURE……+0.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………..3.4 DEPARTURE……+0.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2022-2023)……27.7 DEPARTURE…..-26.9

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/VEC1/RMY GUST
VEC1: Vector #1 1-second gust
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system (Instantaneous)
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M:    Missing data

2/1   30/18/24/-2/T/T/552/92              17 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 20
2/2   38/19/29/+3/0.00/0.0/518/86         25 SW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 29
2/3   28/-11/9/-17/T/T/557/92             56 WNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 64
2/4   14/-14/0/-26/0.00/0.0/473/78        45 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 51
2/5   49/14/32/+5/0.00/0.0/359/59         38 SW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 43
2/6   47/30/39/+12/0.00/0.0/025/04        28 NE   VEC1 N/A    RMY 29
2/7   31/22/27/0/0.01/0.1/461/75          29 SSW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 33
2/8   46/31/39/+12/0.00/0.0/413/67        30 NW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 34
2/9   49/33/41/+14/T/0.0/149/24           31 SSE  VEC1 N/A    RMY 32
2/10  60/31/46/+19/0.00/0.0/603/97        43 W    VEC1 N/A    RMY 51
2/11  43/31/37/+10/0.00/0.0/625/100       41 WNW  VEC1 N/A    RMY 46
2/12  48/28/38/+10/0.00/0.0/339/54        22 SW   VEC1 N/A    RMY 24
2/13  42/33/38/+10/0.00/0.0/069/11        28 NE   VEC1 N/A    RMY 36
2/14  50/34/42/+14/0.00/0.0/475/75        30 NW   VEC1 33 NW  RMY 35
2/15  56/35/46/+18/0.00/0.0/279/44        39 SSW  VEC1 44 SSW RMY 49
2/16  61/50/56/+28/T/0.0/108/17           29 W    VEC1 31 W   RMY 34
2/17  56/23/40/+11/0.06/0.1/000/00        44 NNW  VEC1 46 NNW RMY 46
2/18  39/19/29/0/0.00/0.0/643/100         41 NW   VEC1 42 NNW RMY 47
2/19  44/30/37/+8/0.00/0.0/129/20         32 S    VEC1 35 S   RMY 36
2/20  59/41/50/+21/0.00/0.0/208/32        35 W    VEC1 36 W   RMY 40
2/21  41/31/36/+7/0.22/1.4/000/00         26 W    VEC1 27 W   RMY 27
2/22  42/30/36/+6/0.23/0.5/242/37         33 WNW  VEC1 35 WNW RMY 36
2/23  32/25/29/-1/0.91/3.5/000/00         29 NNW  VEC1 M  M   RMY 21
2/24  33/16/25/-5/0.01/T/290/44           39 NW   VEC1 M  M   RMY 47
2/25  19/9/14/-16/0.02/0.5/000/00         17 NNW  VEC1 19 NNW RMY 19
2/26  35/16/26/-5/T/T/060/09              22 NNE  VEC1 23 W   RMY 24
2/27  33/22/28/-3/0.00/0.0/394/59         22 NNW  VEC1 23 ESE RMY 25
2/28  34/25/30/-1/0.40/3.3/000/00         32 ESE  VEC1 33 ESE RMY 34

DAILY RECORDS

02/03/2023: NEW RECORD MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF -11F,
THIS BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF -7F SET IN 1955

02/04/2023: NEW RECORD MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF -14F,
THIS BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF -4F SET IN 1886 AND 1908

02/10/2023: NEW RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 60F,
THIS BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF 56F SET IN 1909

02/16/2023: NEW RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 50F,
THIS BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF 41F SET IN 1976. THIS ALSO
TIES THE WARMEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR FEBRUARY SET
IN 2018

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MARCH CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/VEC1/RMY GUST
VEC1: Vector #1 1-second gust
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system (Instantaneous)
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
M:    Missing data

3/1   43/27/35/+4/0.00/0.0/…/..         20 NW   VEC1 21 SE  RMY 21
3/2   40/34/37/+5/0.31/0.0/…/..         35 NW   VEC1 36 NW  RMY 39
3/3   44/29/37/+5/0.01/0.1/…/..         33 NW   VEC1 34 NW  RMY 36
3/4   33/28/31/-1/0.82/3.3/…/..         48 E    VEC1 49 NE  RMY 52

3/5  The low since midnight is 25, the daily normal low is 24F

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

RECORDS FOR MARCH 5
HIGH 64 IN 1979
LOW -2 IN 1948
PRECIP 1.76 INS. IN 1920, 2001
SNOWFALL 12.0 INS. IN 1917
PEAK GUST 76e MPH WNW IN 1971

RECORDS FOR MARCH 6
HIGH 66 IN 1894
LOW 3 IN 1948, 2007
PRECIP 1.85 INS. IN 2001
SNOWFALL 15.5 INS. IN 2001
PEAK GUST 82 MPH S IN 1959

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas