Thursday, October 2, 2014

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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

BIG RAINSTORM–MOSTLY ON OCTOBER 1 FALLS SHORT
OF SPOILING AND ALL-TIME DRY SEPTEMBER BY HOURS
RAINFALL EXTENDS OVER 3 DAYS 9/30 THRU 10/2
AND TOTAL REACHES JUST OVER 2 INCHES AS OF
OUR MORNING OBSERVATION TODAY

A couple of hundredths of rain fell in some light drizzle
during the evening of September 29 but the important
drought-denting rain began during the morning of September 30
and then took a break in the afternoon with the total of 0.12
inch for the day.  Much more important rainfall began on
October 1 continuing into the 2nd.  A total of 1.85 inches
was measured for the 24 hours ending 8 A.M. EDT on October 2
and some intermittent light rain and drizzle was continuing….

SEPTEMBER OFFICIALLY COMES TO A CLOSE AS THE
DRIEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD A BLUE HILL OBSERVATORY,
SURPASSING A 100 YEAR OLD RECORD

On the last day of September 0.12 inches of new rain fell
prior to midnight completing the month with 0.41 inches
of precipitation, breaking a new record as the driest
September since records began in 1885. The old record of
0.45 inches was set 100 years ago in 1914. September of
2014 also ranks as the 8th driest of any month since records
began.

BHO Driest Septembers, inches (1885-2014)

1) 0.41 in 2014
2) 0.45 in 1914
3) 0.62 in 1948
4) 0.69 in 1980
5) 0.72 in 1930
6) 0.74 in 1915

BHO Driest Months, inches (1885-2014)

1) 0.06 in March, 1915
2) 0.13 in July, 1952
3) 0.14 in June, 1999
4) 0.22 in October, 1924
5) 0.31 in March, 2006
6) 0.33 in July, 1957
7) 0.39 in October, 1994
8) 0.41 in September, 2014
9) 0.45 in September, 1914
10) 0.50 in May, 1944
0.50 in October, 1946

Steadier rain began at the station since mid morning,
with 0.87 inches falling at the station between 7:00 AM
and 1:00 PM EST, total 0.90 inches since midnight EST.
Thick fog has also been reducing visibility at times
to 1/16 of a mile with winds from the NNE gusting to
29 MPH just prior to the 1:00 PM EST observation.

SEPTEMBER 2014 PRELIMINARY STATS

TEMPERATURE [deg. F] Av. Max. 74.4 [+2.8] Av. Min. 55.6 [+1.0] Mean     65.0 [+1.9] 24-hour corr. mean: 64.5
Max. temp. for month: 91 on 2nd
Min, temp. for month: 43 on 19th
Total heating degree day units: 99 [-18] Total seasonal heating   units: 101 [-41] Total cooling degree day units: 108 [+48] Total seasonal cooling   units: 587 [-10]

PRECIPITATION [ins.] Total: 0.41 Departure of -3.65
Greatest one calendar day: 0.17 [on the 13th] Greatest in 24 hours 0.17 [on the 13th] Annual Precipitation as of 9/30 at Midnight: 31.59
Annual Precipitation Departure: -7.49

WIND
Av. wind speed:       9.9  MPH
Av. corr. wind speed: 10.2 MPH
Prevailing direction: WNW @ 11%

SUNSHINE
Total astronomical minutes: N/A at this time but soon
Total Campbell Stokes card minutes: N/A at this time but soon

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Overcast stratus fractus, drifting over and below the
summit, light rain, drizzle and fog occurring
Temperature: 53F; Dew Point: 53F; Wind: NNE at 15 kts,
Wind: Gust to 24 kts past hour
Sea-level pressure: 30.14 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 1 mile, but 1/8 mile N, 2 miles E-S
6-hr max temp: 55F
6-hr min temp: 53F
24-hr precip: 1.85 ins.
BHO SA 1155 E3 OVC 1R-L-F 208/53/53/0315/014/ STFRA DRFTG OVR BLO SMT
VSBY W 1 N 1/8 E-S 2 R- INMT L- VRY LGT WND GST 24 KTS PST HR/
8/6// 51007 ASOS 60019 MANUAL 6XXX/ ASOS 70188 MANUAL 70185 10055 20053

10 A.M.
Weather: Overcast stratus fractus, occasionally drifting over
the summit, light drizzle and fog occurring, intermittent light rain
Temperature: 53F; Dew Point: 53F; Wind: NNE at 10 kts,
Wind: Gust to 22 kts past hour
Sea-level pressure: 30.17 ins. Hg, rising, more slowly
Visibility: 1 mile variable 1/2 to 2 in drizzle and fog
3-hr precip: 0.03 in.
BHO SA 1455 E4 OVC 1VL-F 218/53/53/0210/017/ INTMT R- VSBY 1/2V2
WND GST 22 KTS PST HR/ 8/6// 51010 MANUAL 6003/ ASOS 60003

1 P.M.
Weather: Overcast stratus fractus, light drizzle and thin fog,
precipitation very light
Temperature: 52F; Dew Point: 52F; Wind: NNE at 8G18 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.15 ins. Hg, falling slightly
Visibility: 8 miles, except NW 6 miles N 9 miles
6-hr max temp: 53F
6-hr min temp: 52F
6-hr precip: 0.04 in.
BHO SA 1755 E9 OVC 8L- 210/52/52/0308G18/015/ THN F
PCPN VRY LGT/ 8/6// 58008 MANUAL 6004/ ASOS 60003
10053 20052

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…..56    NORMAL…..66
MIN…..55    NORMAL…..49
MEAN….56    NORMAL…..57

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL…………………….-1
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………….-1 [DEGREE/DAY]

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JAN TO DEC)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………0  DEPARTURE………..-1
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………0  DEPARTURE………..-1
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………587  DEPARTURE……….-10
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….696  DIFFERENCE……..-109

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………9  DEPARTURE………..+1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………9  DEPARTURE………..+1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………110  DEPARTURE……….-41
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….148  DIFFERENCE………-38

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY………………33 NE  AT 10:46 P.M.
ASOS…………………..38 NE  AT 10:46 P.M.
DAVIS………………….36 NNE AT 10:46 P.M. RMY 36
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY………………..21 NE  AT 10:46 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE……………..21 NE  AT 11:05 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE…………….20 NNE AT 10:47 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION…………14.2
ASOS…………………13.3
DAVIS………………..12.2 NNE (030 degrees)
* last of several occurrences

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M….1.85  DEPARTURE……..+1.69
ASOS…………..1.88
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH……….N/A   DEPARTURE……….N/A
ASOS…………..1.91
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR………..N/A   DEPARTURE……….N/A
ASOS…………. N/A

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/RMY 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

9/1  88/69/79/+11/0.00/710/90             16 W   RMY 19
9/2  91/70/81/+13/0.00/495/63             24 S   RMY 27 TSTM
9/3  83/67/75/+8/0.00/681/87              24 NW  RMY 27
9/4  86/61/74/+7/0.00/758/97              20 SW  RMY 22
9/5  89/66/78/+11/0.00/731/94             25 SSW RMY 29
9/6  90/67/79/+12/T/481/62                33 SSW RMY 36 TSTM
9/7  77/62/70/+4/0.03/687/89              26 NW  RMY N/A
9/8  74/57/66/+0/0.00/601/78              25 ENE RMY 25
9/9  71/59/65/-1/0.00/384/50              23 ENE RMY 23
9/10 71/58/65/0/0.00/329/43               20 NE  RMY 20
9/11 78/60/69/+4/0.00/099/13              31 SW  RMY 35
9/12 72/51/62/-3/0.00/735/97              25 NNW RMY 22
9/13 67/50/59/-5/0.17/159/21              23 E   RMY 24
9/14 66/47/57/-7/0.00/685/91              25 NW  RMY 24
9/15 67/43/55/-9/0.00/698/93              17 W   RMY 18
9/16 66/52/59/-4/T/030/04                 16 SW  RMY 16
9/17 72/50/61/-2/0.00/722/98              16 NW  RMY 17
9/18 74/52/63/+1/0.00/578/78              21 N   RMY 23
9/19 56/43/50/-12/0.00/702/95             21 NE  RMY 23
9/20 71/45/58/-4/T/515/70                 29 S   RMY 30
9/21 80/61/71/+10/0.06/176/24             26 SSE RMY 27
9/22 72/48/60/-1/0.00/701/96              33 W   RMY 35
9/23 70/44/57/-3/0.00/712/98              20 W   RMY 20
9/24 69/52/61/+1/0.00/543/75              21 NE  RMY 21
9/25 59/52/56/-4/0.00/000/00              20 NE  RMY 19
9/26 73/52/63/+4/0.00/654/91              19 NNE RMY 19
9/27 84/58/71/+12/0.00/…/..             17 NNW RMY N/A
9/28 86/63/75/+17/0.00/…/..             17 SW  RMY 18
9/29 75/55/65/+7/0.03/…/..              25 NE  RMY 26
9/30 56/54/55/-3/0.12/000/00              24 NNE RMY N/A

10/1 56/55/56/-1/N/A/000/00               33 NE  RMY 36

10/2 morning low temp: 53F since midnight; normal low now 48F

DAILY RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 2014:
9/27 – Maximum temperature of 84F;
equaled record high maximum set in 1998
9/28 – Maximum temperature of 86F;
surpassed record high maximum of 82F set in 1959

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

RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 2
HIGH 85F IN 1968
LOW 29F IN 1899
PRECIP 1.75 INCHES IN 1984
PEAK GUST 52e MPH S IN 1952, 52 NNW IN 1984

RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 3
HIGH 82F IN 1922
LOW 28F IN 1899
PRECIP 1.76 INCHES IN 1979
PEAK GUST 62 MPH WNW IN 1964

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling