Thursday, August 31, 2023

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0508E
SUNSET:  1820E

A DELIGHTFUL DAY WITH ABUNDANT SUNSHINE AND MUCH DRIER AIR…

Other than some high cirrus clouds skirting the area, the
sky has been mainly on the clear side allowing for plenty
of bright sunshine. The best part however is the much lower
humidity levels as the dew points have dropped into the
upper 40s. Combined with temperatures in the low 70s and a
brisk northerly wind, it is just a delightful day out there!

The wind has been gusty today out of generally a north-
northwest direction. The average speed for the day thus far
is around 11mph. The peak gust so far for the day is around
30mph.

Visibility has been excellent with the view holding at around
70 miles all day!

The maximum temperature so far today has been 72F, which is
6 degrees below the normal high of 78F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 58F, which is 2 degrees below the normal low
of 60F.

Through yesterday, Summer of 2023 (Jun-Aug) is now tied for
7th wettest on record going back to 1886. Here are the top 10
wettest summers as compiled by our Chief Scientist, Mike Iacono.

BHO Highest Summer (June-August) Precipitation, inches (1886-2023):

1) 25.22 in 1998
2) 24.61 in 1955
3) 24.09 in 1938
4) 21.56 in 2006
5) 21.02 in 1922
6) 20.23 in 1982
7) 19.68 in 2021
19.68 in 2023 (through 8/30)
9) 18.71 in 1989
10) 17.92 in 2013

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cirrus, few stratocumulus distant WSW-WNW and
offshore distant NE-ESE
Temperature: 60F; Dew Point: 50F; Relative Humidity: 70%
Wind: NNW @ 13G20 kts, peak wind NNW 30 at 6:18 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1012.3 mb; 29.89 in. Hg: rising steadily
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 62F
6-hr Min temp: 58F
24-hr Precip: 0.20 inches
BHO SA 1155 250 SCT 70 123/60/50/3413G20/989/ FEW SC DSNT WSW-WNW
AND OFFSHR DSNT NE-ESE PK WND 3426/18/ 8/502 52030 70020 10062 20058

10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant N-NNE, few cirrus all
quadrants
Temperature: 67F; Dew Point: 49F; Relative Humidity: 53%
Wind: N @ 12G18 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1014.1 mb; 29.95 in. Hg: rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1455 CLR 70 141/67/49/3512G18/995/ FEW SC DSNT N-NNE
FEW CI ALQDS/ 8/502 51018

1 P.M.
Weather: Scattered cirrus, few stratocumulus distant N-NNE
Temperature: 71F; Dew Point: 48F; Relative Humidity: 44%
Wind: NNW @ 8G17 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1014.9 mb; 29.97 in. Hg: rising unsteadily
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 72F
6-hr Min temp: 60F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1755 250 SCT 70 149/71/48/3308G17/997/ FEW SC DSNT N-NNE/
8/502 52008 10072 20060

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SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2023

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….79   NORMAL…..78
MIN…….62   NORMAL…..61
MEAN……71   NORMAL…..69

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……….+2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………-50 [-1.9 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….0  DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………….1  DEPARTURE……..-9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON……………1  DEPARTURE…….-16
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……….0  DEPARTURE……..+1

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JAN 2023 THRU DEC 2023)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….6  DEPARTURE……..+1
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..148  DEPARTURE…….-56
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….570  DEPARTURE…….-21
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..827  DEPARTURE……-257

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)……….E29 WNW  @  04:29 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….28 WNW  @  04:29 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….29 WNW  @  04:26 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….29 W    @  04:29 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………26 SW   @  10:02 A.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..29 WNW  @  04:29 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..29 WNW  @  04:39 P.M.
MERLIN…………………M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……28      @  04:29 P.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………21 WNW  @  04:30 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..20      @  04:28 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..21      @  04:30 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………21 W    @  04:29 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………20 WNW  @  04:29 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..19 WNW  @  04:28 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..20 WNW  @  04:30 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………20      @  04:29 P.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..8.3 WNW [198 total miles] VECTOR #1………………8.6
VECTOR #2………………9.4
DAVIS #1……………….8.4 W
DAVIS #2……………….9.0 W
RMY #1…………………8.3 WSW
RMY #2…………………9.3 WSW
RICHARDS (C5C)………….8.9

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.20 DEPARTURE…..+0.08
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..5.68 DEPARTURE…..+1.89
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR…………..40.45 DEPARTURE…..+5.96

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR AUGUST CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/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

8/1   76/58/67/-6/0.00/763/88             24 NW  VEC1 24 NW  RMY 24
8/2   75/54/65/-8/0.00/830/96             23 SSW VEC1 22 SSW RMY 23
8/3   79/59/69/-4/0.00/725/84             32 SSW VEC1 34 SSW RMY 34
8/4   77/62/70/-3/T/172/20                29 SSW VEC1 29 SSW RMY 29
8/5   83/66/75/+2/0.00/523/61             18 NW  VEC1 16 WNW RMY 17
8/6   82/60/71/-2/0.00/839/98             20 W   VEC1 19 W   RMY 19
8/7   72/65/69/-4/0.14/034/04             29 SSE VEC1 30 SSE RMY 29
8/8   82/68/75/+3/0.47/187/22             39 S   VEC1 42 S   RMY 42
8/9   82/66/74/+2/0.00/756/89             39 WNW VEC1 38 WNW RMY 38
8/10  83/64/74/+2/0.02/254/30             28 SSW VEC1 27 SSW RMY 28
8/11  80/63/72/+0/0.07/810/96             36 W   VEC1 36 W   RMY 38
8/12  84/61/73/+1/0.00/733/87             26 SSW VEC1 26 SSW RMY 26
8/13  84/68/76/+4/0.07/629/75             26 SSW VEC1 26 SSW RMY 27 TSTM
8/14  82/63/73/+1/T/536/64                25 W   VEC1 24 W   RMY 29
8/15  70/64/67/-5/0.70/000/00             28 NE  VEC1 27 NE  RMY 28
8/16  68/64/66/-6/T/000/00                18 ESE VEC1 19 ENE RMY 18
8/17  70/62/66/-6/T/116/14                15 E   VEC1 14 E   RMY 14
8/18  79/61/70/-1/1.48/298/36             32 W   VEC1 34 W   RMY 33 TSTM
8/19  72/57/65/-6/0.00/371/45             29 W   VEC1 30 W   RMY 30
8/20  81/59/70/-1/0.00/764/93             23 W   VEC1 22 W   RMY 21
8/21  84/64/74/+3/0.85/384/47             29 NE  VEC1 30 ENE RMY 29
8/22  75/59/67/-4/0.00/792/97             29 NNE VEC1 29 NNE RMY 29
8/23  76/56/66/-5/0.00/805/99             20 NNE VEC1 20 NNE RMY 20
8/24  78/58/68/-3/0.02/568/70             24 S   VEC1 24 S   RMY 23
8/25  69/58/64/-6/1.48/000/00             35 S   VEC1 36 S   RMY 37
8/26  83/68/76/+6/0.00/500/62             23 SSW VEC1 22 SSW RMY 22
8/27  75/61/68/-2/0.00/731/91             20 NE  VEC1 20 NE  RMY 20
8/28  73/61/67/-3/0.00/416/52             17 SSE VEC1 17 SE  RMY 17
8/29  76/61/69/-1/0.11/096/12             17 ENE VEC1 16 ENE RMY 15
8/30  79/62/71/+2/0.27/215/27             29 WNW VEC1 28 WNW RMY 29

8/31 The low since midnight is 58F, the daily normal low is 60F

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

RECORDS FOR AUGUST 31
HIGH 94F IN 1953
LOW 42F IN 1976
PRECIP 2.46 INCHES IN 1954
PEAK GUST 125 MPH SE IN 1954 [CAROL – RECORD FOR MONTH]

RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 1
HIGH 93F IN 1969, 2010
LOW 47F IN 1975, 2017
PRECIP 2.32 INCHES IN 2013
PEAK GUST 59e MPH S IN 1945, SSW IN 1965

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas