Thursday, March 2, 2017

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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

ICE PELLETS OBSERVED AT 9:00AM,
WINDS GUST OVER 50 MPH THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON

Westerly winds began gusting over 40 knots around
9:30AM EST and have continued through the 1:00PM
observation.  The peak gust so far has been 50 knots
or 58 MPH at 11:16AM EST.

Ice pellets and light rain were observed this morning
shortly before the winds picked up.  Temperatures began
to fall around the same time, reaching a max. of 48F
before the passing cold front.

PRELIMINARY STATS FOR FEBRUARY 2017

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 43.2 [+6.4] Avg. Min. 25.5 [+6.4] Mean      34.4 [+6.5] 24-hour corrected mean: 33.8
Max. for month: 71F on 24th
Min. for month:  7F on 10th

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 850 [-187] Total for the season: 3877 [-691] Total for last season: 3670

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 3.78 [-0.29] Greatest in 24 hrs: 1.60 on the 9th

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 31.5 [+17.6] Greatest in 24 hrs: 16.9 in. on 9th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 13.7
Avg. corrected wind speed: 14.0
Prevailing wind direction: WNW at 16%
Peak gust and direction: 54 NNE on 9th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 9,192 minutes of possible 17,148 or 54%
Astronomical total minutes: 9,527 minutes of possible 17,801 or 54%

The new daily high minimum temperature record of 47F on
February 24, 2017 ties as second-highest minimum temperature
for February at Blue Hill Observatory.  The three-day cumulative
temperature departure for February 23-25, 2017 of +79F ranks as
third highest three-day cumulative temperature departure for the
winter season.

Highest February Daily Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2017)

1) 71 on 24 Feb 2017
2) 68 on 24 Feb 1985
68 on 25 Feb 2017
4) 67 on 26 Feb 1957
67 on 25 Feb 1976
67 on 23 Feb 2017
7) 66 on 20 Feb 1930
66 on 19 Feb 1981
9) 65 on 18 Feb 1981
65 on 01 Feb 1989

BHO Warmest February Daily High Minimum Temperature, deg F (1885-2017)

1) 49 on 20 Feb 1981
2) 47 on 28 Feb 1910
47 on 23 Feb 1990
47 on 24 Feb 2017
5) 46 on 26 Feb 1957
6) 45 on 22 Feb 1954
45 on  5 Feb 1991
45 on 21 Feb 2002

BHO Warmest February 24-Hour Mean Temperature , deg F (1885-2017)

1) 34.9 in 1984
2) 34.3 in 2012
3) 34.0 in 1998
4) 33.9 in 1954
33.9 in 1981
6) 33.8 in 2017
7) 33.7 in 1976
8) 33.6 in 1997
33.6 in 2002

BHO Warmest Winter (Dec-Feb) 24-Hour Mean Temperature, deg F (1885-2017)

1) 34.9 in 2015-2016
2) 34.8 in 2001-2002
3) 34.3 in 2011-2012
4) 32.9 in 2016-2017
5) 32.6 in 1997-1998
6) 32.3 in 1936-1937
32.3 in 1998-1999
8) 32.2 in 1932-1933

BHO Highest Winter 3-Day Cumulative Temperature Departure, deg F (1885-2017)

1) +98 on 14-16 Jan 1995 (65/45/55/+30, 64/54/59/+34, 63/55/59/+34)
2) +80 on  4-6  Jan 2007 (53/40/47/+21, 61/46/54/+28, 66/48/57/+31)
3) +79 on 23-25 Feb 2017 (67/40/54/+24, 71/47/59/+29, 68/44/56/+26)
4) +77 on 18-20 Feb 1981 (65/42/54/+25, 66/43/55/+26, 60/49/55/+26)
+77 on  3-5  Feb 1991 (58/37/48/+22, 62/41/52/+26, 65/45/55/+29)
6) +75 on  7-9  Jan 2008 (54/39/47/+21, 65/45/55/+29, 59/42/51/+25)

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, few cirrus ENE-SSW
Temperature: 44F; Dew Point: 32F; Wind: W at 16G26 kts,
Peak Wind: 29 kts (33 MPH) WNW at 6:22 AM EST
Sea-level pressure: 29.35 ins. Hg, rising, then more quickly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 55F
6-hr Min temp: 44F
24-hr precip: Trace
24-hr snowfall: 0.0 in.
BHO SA 1155 49 SCT 70 939/44/32/2818G26/935/ FEW CI ENE-SSW PK WND 2929/22/
8/501 53024 10055 20044

10 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus
Temperature: 44F; Dew Point: 27F; Wind: W at 26G40 kts,
Peak Wind: 46 kts (53 MPH) W at 9:40AM EST
Sea-level pressure: 29.39 ins. Hg, rising, then more quickly
Visibility: 70 miles
3-hr precip: Trace
3-hr snowfall: Trace
BHO SA 1455 E59 BKN 70 951/44/27/2726G40/939/ PK WND 2746/40/
8/500 53012 MANUAL 600//

1 P.M.
Weather: Few cumulus in all directions
Temperature: 38F; Dew Point: 13F; Wind: W at 31G41 kts,
Peak Wind: 45 kts (52 MPH) W at 12:41PM EST
Sea-level pressure: 29.49 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 48F
6-hr Min temp: 37F
BHO SA 1755 CLR 70 988/38/13/2731G41/949/ FEW CU ALQDS PK WND 2745/41/
8/100 51037 MANUAL 600// 10048 20037

SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, FMARCH 1, 2017

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…..61   NORMAL…..40
MIN…..46   NORMAL…..22
MEAN….54   NORMAL…..31

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL……………………+23
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………+23 [+22.8 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………..11   DEPARTURE………-23
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..11   DEPARTURE………-23
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………..3888   DEPARTURE……..-714
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……3710   DIFFERENCE…….+178

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY……………….41 S   AT 1:18 P.M.
AERO……………………45 S   AT 1:19 P.M.
ASOS……………………45 SSW AT 1:19 P.M.
DAVIS…………………..45 SSW AT 1:19 P.M. RMY 45
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY…………………33 S   AT 1:18 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE………………33 S   AT 1:20 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE……………..29 SSW AT 1:19 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION………….19.4 S
ASOS………………….19.2
DAVIS…………………17.3 SW [220 deg.]

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M….0.00  DEPARTURE……-0.17
ASOS…………..0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH……….0.01  DEPARTURE……-0.17
ASOS…………..0.01
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR………..9.29  DEPARTURE……+0.69
ASOS……………N/A ***
*** ASOS annual total not available due to erroneous readings

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…………..52.3  DEPARTURE…….+4.8

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

2/1   40/25/33/+7/0.03/0.4/228/38           43 W   AERO 44 W   RMY 47
2/2   38/25/32/+6/T/T/265/44                36 WNW AERO 37 WNW RMY 36
2/3   30/19/25/-1/0.00/0.0/351/58           28 WNW AERO 29 WNW RMY 31
2/4   31/15/23/-3/0.00/0.0/590/97           31 WNW AERO 30 WNW RMY N/A
2/5   43/22/33/+7/0.00/0.0/092/15           38 SSW AERO 41 SSW RMY N/A
2/6   37/28/33/+7/0.00/0.0/503/82           41 WNW AERO 41 WNW RMY 43
2/7   37/30/34/+7/0.54/0.7/000/00           32 ENE AERO 31 ENE RMY 32
2/8   49/25/37/+10/T/0.0/136/22             25 W   AERO 25 W   RMY 31
2/9   35/8/22/-5/1.60/16.9/000/00           54 NNE AERO 53 NNE RMY 54 TSTM
2/10  24/7/16/-11/T/T/623/100               43 WNW AERO 50 WNW RMY 48
2/11  27/15/21/-6/0.14/2.9/000/00           21 SE  AERO 20 SE  RMY 19
2/12  32/17/25/-2/0.71/5.6/000/00           22 ENE AERO 28 ENE RMY N/A
2/13  32/20/26/-2/0.27/2.2/032/05           48 NW  AERO 60 NW  RMY 61
2/14  35/16/26/-2/0.00/0.0/634/100          23 NW  AERO 24 NW  RMY 24
2/15  40/25/33/+5/0.17/1.2/000/00           31 SE  AERO 33 NW  RMY N/A
2/16  33/23/28/0/0.17/1.6/077/12            38 WNW AERO 38 WNW RMY 40
2/17  38/19/29/+1/0.00/0.0/636/99           36 WNW AER0 35 WNW RMY 35
2/18  50/24/37/+8/0.00/0.0/587/91           31 SSW AERO 33 SSW RMY 34
2/19  58/42/50/+21/0.00/0.0/408/63          32 W   AERO 33 W   RMY 32
2/20  42/29/36/+7/0.00/0.0/644/99           25 NW  AERO 28 NW  RMY 27
2/21  44/25/35/+6/0.00/0.0/451/69           24 SSE AERO 22 SSW RMY 24
2/22  56/34/45/+16/T/0.0/466/71             24 SSW AERO 24 SSW RMY N/A
2/23  67/40/54/+24/0.00/0.0/612/93          36 SSW AERO 35 SSW RMY 37
2/24  71/47/59/+29/0.00/0.0/535/81          41 SSW AERO 41 SSW RMY 44
2/25  68/44/56/+26/0.15/0.0/246/37          37 WNW AERO 35 WNW RMY 46
2/26  44/28/36/+6/0.00/0.0/600/90           46 WNW AERO 50 W   RMY 44
2/27  52/26/39/+8/0.00/0.0/663/99           37 SW  AERO 40 SW  RMY 41
2/28  56/37/47/+16/T/0.0/148/22             22 SSE AERO 25 SSE RMY N/A

DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2017

2/09/17: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM SNOWFALL OF 16.9 INS.
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 14.0 INS. SET IN 2015

2/23/17: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 67F
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 62F SET IN 1990

2/24/17: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 71F
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 68F SET IN 1985

2/24/17: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 47F
PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 43F
WAS SET IN 1930 AND TIED IN 1985 AND 2000

2/25/17: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 68F
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 67F SET IN 1976

2/25/17: DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 44F,
TIES PREVIOUS RECORD SET IN 1930

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

3/1  61/46/54/+23/0.01/0.0/…/..          41 S   AERO 45 S   RMY 45

3/2  Low temp since midnight is 44F; normal low is now 22F

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

RECORDS FOR MARCH 2
HIGH 63 IN 2004
LOW -3 IN 1886
PRE 2.15 INS. IN 1983
SNOW 8.2 INS. IN 2009
WIND 75 MPH NW IN 1966

RECORDS FOR MARCH 3
HIGH 64 IN 1991
LOW -1 IN 1950
PRECIP 2.36 INS. IN 1972
SNOWFALL 12.8 INS. IN 1960
PEAK GUST 78e MPH E IN 1942

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Cecilia Borries-Strigle