Thursday, October 17, 2024

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0600E
SUNSET:  1658E

A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS WITH A COOL ONSHORE FLOW….

A mix of sun and clouds has been the theme today with clouds
encroaching from two different directions. Low level stratocumulus
are pushing in from off the ocean as the flow has turned onshore
today. Upper level cirrostratus and cirrus are streaming in from
the south as a rather large ocean storm churns well to the south-
southeast of the region. While this storm attempts to approach
the region, it’ll ultimately be blocked by high pressure building
to the north. Regardless, the onshore flow and some mainly high
cloudiness will be with us through tomorrow.

Temperatures are still on the cool side with readings once again
below normal levels expected for today. The low this morning was
in the mid 30s here on the summit and as a result there was some
frost observed here early this morning, marking the first frost
of the season. Temperatures have recovered to the low to mid 50s
early this afternoon. Dew point readings have been creeping up
from the low 30s early this morning to the low 40s by early
this afternoon. This is mainly due to the wind bringing some
moisture in from off the ocean.

The wind has been a bit variable in terms of speed, getting a bit
breezy at times, then going light at other times. It started out
of the north early this morning, but veered to more of a east to
northeasterly direction as the morning progressed. The average
speed for the day so far is around 9mph. The peak gust thus far
is of 22mph, which occurred just after 11:30am.

Visibility was a perfect 90 miles early this morning, but has
decreased a bit as the dew point rises, now around 70 miles early
this afternoon.

The maximum temperature so far today is 54F, which is 7 degrees
below the normal high of 61F. The minimum temperature since midnight
is 35F, which is 9 degrees below the normal low of 44F.

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant NNE-SE-S, few altocumulus
distant S and distant WSW-W, few cirrus distant ESE-SW
Temperature: 37F; Dew Point: 32F; Relative Humidity: 81%
Wind: N @ 9G16 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1024.6 mb; 30.26 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 90 miles
6-hr Max temp: 37F
6-hr Min temp: 35F
24-hr Precip:  0.00 inches
BHO SA 1155 CLR 90 246/37/32/3609G16/026/ FEW SC DSNT NNE-SE-S
FEW AC DSNT S AND DSNT WSW-W FEW CI DSNT ESE-SW/ 8/551 50009
10037 20035

10 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, broken cirrostratus, broken cirrus
Temperature: 50F; Dew Point: 40F; Relative Humidity: 67%
Wind: E @ 6 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1024.9 mb; 30.27 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 80 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1455 E25 BKN 200 BKN 250 BKN 80 249/50/40/0906/027/ WND LGT/
8/505 50003

1 P.M.
Weather: Scattered cirrostratus, broken cirrus, few stratocumulus
all quadrants
Temperature: 53F; Dew Point: 40F; Relative Humidity: 59%
Wind: NE @ 6 kts, wind light and variable
Sea-level pressure: 1025.5 mb; 30.28 in. Hg: rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 54F
6-hr Min temp: 37F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1755 200 SCT E250 BKN 70 255/53/40/0506/028/ FEW SC ALQDS
WND L/V/ 8/506 51006 10054 20037

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SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2024

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….56  NORMAL…..61
MIN…….38  NORMAL…..44
MEAN……47  NORMAL…..52

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL…………..-5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………..-5 [-0.5 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2024 THRU JUN 2025)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………18  DEPARTURE……..+5
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..161  DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….231  DEPARTURE…….-48
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..206  DEPARTURE…….+25

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JAN 2024 THRU DEC 2024)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….0  DEPARTURE………0
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………….0  DEPARTURE……..-6
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….757  DEPARTURE…….+81
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..704  DEPARTURE…….+53

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)……….E32 NW   @   12:27 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….31 NW   @   11:19 A.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….32 WNW  @   10:29 A.M.
DAVIS #1……………….30 WNW  @   10:39 A.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………29 NW   @   10:38 A.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..32 NW   @   11:19 A.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..32 NW   @   10:38 A.M.
MERLIN…………………31 NW
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)…..OTS

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………22 NW   @   01:40 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..21      @   12:32 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..23      @   10:21 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………21 NW   @   12:32 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………22 NW   @   10:21 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..21 NW   @   12:32 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..22 NW   @   10:21 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE……..OTS

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL…….13.0 NW  [313 total miles] VECTOR #1……………..12.8
VECTOR #2……………..13.5
DAVIS #1………………13.2 NW
DAVIS #2………………13.2 NW
RMY #1………………..12.3 NW
RMY #2………………..13.2 NW
RICHARDS (C5C)………….OTS

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.18
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.53 DEPARTURE…..-2.03
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2024)…….43.57 DEPARTURE…..+2.34

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 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

10/1   66/55/61/+3/T/134/19               28 ENE VEC1 28 ENE RMY 29
10/2   66/52/59/+1/T/252/36               21 ENE VEC1 20 ENE RMY 20
10/3   72/52/62/+5/0.00/592/85            23 S   VEC1 23 S   RMY 23
10/4   74/54/64/+7/0.00/452/65            23 SW  VEC1 22 SW  RMY 22
10/5   72/52/62/+5/T/457/66               24 NNW VEC1 23 NNW RMY 24
10/6   65/47/56/0/0.00/655/95             20 SE  VEC1 19 SE  RMY 18
10/7   60/51/56/0/0.27/021/03             29 SSE VEC1 29 SSE RMY 31
10/8   64/45/55/0/0.00/663/97             21 NW  VEC1 21 NW  RMY 21
10/9   64/46/55/0/T/639/94                24 W   VEC1 23 WNW RMY 23
10/10  60/42/51/-4/0.00/616/91            36 NW  VEC1 36 NW  RMY 38
10/11  67/40/54/0/0.00/635/94             28 WSW VEC1 27 WSW RMY 27
10/12  71/48/60/+6/0.00/652/97            44 NW  VEC1 43 NW  RMY 45
10/13  50/44/47/-7/0.20/007/01            32 ENE VEC1 32 ENE RMY 30
10/14  51/38/45/-8/0.06/000/00            35 NW  VEC1 34 WNW RMY 36
10/15  55/35/45/-8/0.00/617/93            31 W   VEC1 30 WNW RMY 31
10/16  56/38/47/-5/0.00/615/93            32 NW  VEC1 31 NW  RMY 32

10/17  The low since midnight is 35F, the daily normal low is 44F.

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OCTOBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE

NONE.

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

RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 17
HIGH 86F IN 1947
LOW 25F IN 1886
PRECIP 1.87 INCHES IN 1989
SNOWFALL TRACE IN 1970
PEAK GUST 61 MPH E IN 2019

RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 18
HIGH 82F IN 1908
LOW 26F IN 1939
PRECIP 2.79 INCHES IN 1975
SNOWFALL 3.0 INCHES IN 2009
PEAK GUST 66 MPH S IN 1967

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas