Thursday, January 2, 2025
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0713E
SUNSET: 1624E
VERY WINDY AND CHILLIER TODAY UNDER MAINLY SUNNY SKIES….
We have some rather strong cold air advection taking place today
coinciding with a rather tight pressure gradient. This is a recipe
for strong winds and so far today has not disappointed in that
regard.
On the bright side (no pun intended), there has been plenty of
sunshine today after the gloomy weather of the past couple of days.
Temperatures are still above normal today, but are cooler than they’ve
been the past week or so. We have just reached the low 40s between
noon and 1pm after starting the day in the low to mid 30s. The slow
rise in temperature is a good sign of the cold air advection taking
place, attempting to fight off heating from the sun and the added
heating from the west wind downsloping toward coastal areas. Another
indicator of the cold air advection is the lower dew point values,
which today have remained in the teens.
Of course the wind is the big story today. The west to west-
northwesterly breeze has been averaging around 23mph for the day so
far. We’ve seen frequent gusts over 50mph over the past few hours.
The peak gust so far is 60mph which occurred at 11:59am.
Visibility has been excellent all day, rising from 60 miles early
this morning to 80 miles by early this afternoon.
The maximum temperature for today is 41F degrees, which is 5 degrees
above the normal high of 36F. The minimum temperature since midnight
is 33F degrees, which is 12 degrees above the normal low of 21F.
As with many other recent years, 2024 ended up warmer than average.
Below are the years with the warmest annual 24-hour mean temperature,
as compiled by our chief scientist, Mike Iacono.
BHO Warmest Annual Approximated 24-Hour Mean Temperature, deg F
(1885-2024):
1) 51.7 in 2012
2) 51.5 in 2023
3) 51.3 in 2020
51.3 in 2024
5) 51.2 in 2016
6) 51.1 in 2022
7) 51.0 in 2010
8) 50.9 in 1999
50.9 in 2021
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY STATS FOR DECEMBER 2024
TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 40.4 [+0.2]
Avg. Min. 25.5 [+0.6]
Mean 33.0 [+0.5]
24-hour corrected mean: 32.9
Max. for month: 62F on the 11th
Min. for month: 4F on the 23rd
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 989 [-017]
Total for the season: 1932 [-278]
Total for last season: 1895
COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units: 0 [ 000]
Total for the season: 768 [+091]
Total for last season: 715
PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 7.58 [+2.19]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 3.43 on the 11th-12th
SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 12.6 [ 0.0]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 9.4 on the 20th
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 11.4 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed: 11.9 mph
Prevailing wind direction: West [13%]
Peak gust and direction: 65 SSW on the 11th
SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 9264 of a possible 16470, or 56%
Astronomical total minutes: 9558 of a possible 16999 or 56%
————————————————————–
Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered altocumulus/altostratus, few stratocumulus distant
all quadrants
Temperature: 33F; Dew Point: 19F; Relative Humidity: 57%
Wind: W @ 19G28 kts, peak wind W 44mph at 6:30 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1003.1 mb; 29.62 in. Hg: rising, then more rapidly
Visibility: 60 miles
6-hr Max temp: 36F
6-hr Min temp: 33F
24-hr Precip: 0.17 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1155 95 SCT 60 031/33/19/2819G28/962/ FEW SC DSNT ALQDS
PK WND 2838/30/ 8/570 53019 70017 10036 20033
10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant all quadrants, few altocumulus
distant WNW-N-E, few cirrus distant NW-N-E
Temperature: 37F; Dew Point: 18F; Relative Humidity: 46%
Wind: W @ 22G42 kts, peak wind W 48mph at 9:49 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1005.4 mb; 29.69 in. Hg: rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 80 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 CLR 80 054/37/18/2822G42/969/ FEW SC ALQDS FEW AC DSNT
WNW-N-E FEW CI DSNT NW-N-E PK WND 2842/49/ 8/551 51023
1 P.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, few cirrus distant NW-NNE
Temperature: 41F; Dew Point: 18F; Relative Humidity: 39%
Wind: WNW @ 24G44 kts, peak wind W 60mph at 11:59 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1004.4mb; 29.66 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 80 miles
6-hr Max temp: 41F
6-hr Min temp: 33F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1755 45 SCT 80 044/41/18/2924G44/966/ FEW CI DSNT NW-NNE
PK WND 2852/59/ 8/501 55010 10041 20033
————————————————————–
SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2025
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….47 NORMAL…..36
MIN…….36 NORMAL…..21
MEAN……42 NORMAL…..29
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL…………+13
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………+13 [+12.8 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2024 THRU JUN 2025)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………23 DEPARTURE…….-14
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………23 DEPARTURE…….-14
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………1955 DEPARTURE……-291
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….1929 DEPARTURE…….+26
PEAK WIND GUST (MPH):
Note: Instruments designated #1 = Main Tower, #2 = South Tower,
F420C, Contacting, Merlin, and Richards are all on Main Tower.
E=Estimated
F420C (Official)………..44 W @ 10:25 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….45 W @ 10:25 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….41 W @ 10:25 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….44 W @ 10:25 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………41 W @ 10:25 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..44 W @ 10:25 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..44 W @ 10:25 P.M.
MERLIN………………….M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)…..OTS
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………29 W @ 11:46 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..29 @ 10:27 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..28 @ 10:27 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………31 W @ 10:27 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………29 WNW @ 09:52 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..27 WNW @ 10:27 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..27 W @ 10:27 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE……..OTS
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..12.9 WNW [309 total miles]
VECTOR #1………………12.7
VECTOR #2………………13.2
DAVIS #1……………….13.3 W
DAVIS #2……………….12.9 WNW
RMY #1…………………12.3 WNW
RMY #2…………………13.0 WNW
RICHARDS (C5C)…………..OTS
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.17 DEPARTURE…..+0.02
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.55 DEPARTURE…..+0.40
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2025)……..0.55 DEPARTURE…..+0.40
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2024-2025)……12.6 DEPARTURE……-3.1
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 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
12/1 37/23/30/-7/0.00/0.0/452/81 21 WSW VEC1 21 WSW RMY 21
12/2 38/22/30/-7/0.00/0.0/551/99 18 W VEC1 18 W RMY 18
12/3 36/20/28/-8/0.00/0.0/411/74 21 NW VEC1 21 WNW RMY 21
12/4 39/22/31/-5/0.13/T/394/71 30 S VEC1 31 S RMY 33
12/5 37/31/34/-2/0.40/3.0/072/13 43 WNW VEC1 43 WNW RMY 47
12/6 31/23/27/-8/0.00/0.0/514/93 39 NW VEC1 39 W RMY 42
12/7 37/22/30/-5/T/T/408/74 25 S VEC1 25 S RMY 26
12/8 47/28/38/+3/0.02/T/198/36 37 SSW VEC1 37 SSW RMY 40
12/9 47/34/41/+7/0.41/0.0/187/34 28 ENE VEC1 28 E RMY 29
12/10 42/31/37/+3/0.15/0.0/000/00 31 NE VEC1 32 NE RMY 34
12/11 62/36/49/+15/3.38/0.0/000/00 65 SSW VEC1 67 SSW RMY 70 TSTM
12/12 53/25/39/+5/0.05/0.0/460/84 51 WNW VEC1 49 WNW RMY 51
12/13 31/19/25/-8/0.00/0.0/514/94 30 WNW VEC1 30 W RMY 30
12/14 33/17/25/-8/0.00/0.0/546/100 20 NW VEC1 19 NNW RMY 20
12/15 34/17/26/-7/0.00/0.0/377/69 17 N VEC1 17 N RMY 16
12/16 45/29/37/+5/T/0.0/005/01 35 SSE VEC1 35 SSE RMY 35
12/17 59/41/50/+18/0.25/0.0/360/66 48 SSW VEC1 50 SSW RMY 50
12/18 50/36/43/+11/0.57/0.0/507/93 21 S VEC1 21 S RMY 21
12/19 44/30/37/+5/0.13/0.0/425/78 31 NW VEC1 31 NW RMY 32
12/20 32/24/28/-3/1.17/9.4/000/00 28 NNE VEC1 29 N RMY 29
12/21 26/12/19/-12/0.00/0.0/262/48 38 NW VEC1 38 NW RMY 41
12/22 17/6/12/-19/0.00/0.0/544/100 33 NW VEC1 33 NW RMY 35
12/23 26/4/15/-16/0.00/0.0/420/77 21 S VEC1 21 SSW RMY 20
12/24 31/19/25/-5/0.02/0.2/082/15 29 WSW VEC1 29 WSW RMY 30
12/25 31/20/26/-4/0.00/0.0/540/99 18 NNW VEC1 19 NNW RMY 21
12/26 38/23/31/+1/0.00/0.0/240/44 15 N VEC1 15 N RMY 15
12/27 42/21/32/+2/0.00/0.0/480/88 20 SSW VEC1 20 SSW RMY 21
12/28 45/31/38/+9/0.18/0.0/000/00 21 SW VEC1 21 SSW RMY 21
12/29 53/44/49/+20/0.05/0.0/000/00 32 S VEC1 33 S RMY 31
12/30 56/42/49/+20/0.67/0.0/126/23 40 S VEC1 43 S RMY 45
12/31 53/37/45/+16/0.00/0.0/…/.. 29 E VEC1 29 E RMY 28
1/1 The low since midnight is 41F, the daily normal low is 21F.
————————————————————–
DECEMBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
12/11 NEW PRECIPITATION RECORD OF 3.38″; OLD RECORD 2.36″ IN 1992
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 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
1/1 47/36/42/+13/0.55/0.0/…/.. 44 W VEC1 45 W RMY 44
1/2 The low since midnight is 33F, the daily normal low is 21F.
————————————————————–
JANUARY DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
NONE.
————————————————————–
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2
HIGH 62F IN 1890
LOW -7F IN 1899,1918
PRECIP 2.10 INS. IN 1987
SNOWFALL 10.9 INS. IN 2014
PEAK GUST 85e MPH S IN 1942
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 3
HIGH 64F IN 2000
LOW -4F IN 1904
PRECIP 1.93 INS. IN 1999
SNOW 11.3 INS. 1996
PEAK GUST 92 MPH S IN 1960
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
