Tuesday, December 5, 2023
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0658E
SUNSET: 1612E
MAINLY CLOUDY AND CHILLY TODAY WITH A LIGHT NORTHERLY WIND…
After a few breaks of sun early this morning, clouds have filled
back in leaving us with overcast skies as we push through the
afternoon hours. Virga can be seen offshore in a developing ocean
effect band that promises to bring some snow shower activity to
parts of southeastern Mass tonight and early tomorrow. Here on the
hill, its possible we may see our first measurable snow of the
season late tonight or early tomorrow. The last measurable snow
here at Blue Hill was on March 15, 264 days ago. As it stands
right now, this is tied for the 7th longest period between
measurable snowfall through yesterday. Please see below for the
list of rankings.
Temperatures have remained on the chilly side today with readings
holding in the 30s.
As mentioned, the wind has been on the light side for the most part
today with an average speed of around 9mph. The highest gust so
far today is around 23mph, occurring between 1-2am this morning.
Visibility has been excellent today with views of 70-80 miles!
The maximum temperature so far today is 38F degrees, this is 5
degrees below the normal high of 43F. The minimum temperature since
midnight is 32F degrees, which is 4 degrees above the normal low
of 28F.
As mentioned above, we are currently tied for 7th place for the
longest period without measurable snow. Here is the list of ranks
as compiled by our Chief Scientist, Mike Iacono.
BHO Longest Periods Without Measurable Snowfall (1886-2023):
1) 304 days, 15 March 1999 – 13 January 2000
2) 287 days, 17 March – 29 December, 1941
3) 276 days, 28 March – 29 December, 2015
4) 270 days, 6 March – 1 December, 1902
5) 269 days, 22 March – 16 December, 1973
6) 265 days, 12 March – 2 December, 1983
7) 264 days, 13 March – 2 December, 1966
264 days, 15 March – 4 December, 2023 (through yesterday)
9) 262 days, 12 March – 29 November, 1948
262 days, 14 April 1953 – 1 January 1954
————————————————————–
Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, virga distant ESE-S
Temperature: 32F; Dew Point: 27F; Relative Humidity: 80%
Wind: NNW @ 9G16 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1013.9 mb; 29.94 in. Hg: rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 38F
6-hr Min temp: 32F
24-hr Precip: 0.01 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1155 E30 BKN 70 139/32/27/3309G16/994/ VIRGA DSNT ESE-S/
8/500 51026 6000/ 70001 10038 20032
10 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, thin broken cirrus, virga distant NW
and distant N-ESE
Temperature: 34F; Dew Point: 26F; Relative Humidity: 73%
Wind: NNW @ 10G17 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1016.0 mb; 30.00 in. Hg: rising, then more rapidly
Visibility: 70 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 E30 BKN 250 -BKN 70 160/34/26/3310G17/000/ VIRGA DSNT NW
AND DSNT N-ESE/ 8/501 53021
1 P.M.
Weather: Overcast stratocumulus, few breaks in overcast distant SE-S,
virga distant NNE-SE
Temperature: 34F; Dew Point: 26F; Relative Humidity: 71%
Wind: NNW @ 4 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1015.6 mb; 29.99 in. Hg: steady, then falling
Visibility: 80 miles
6-hr Max temp: 38F
6-hr Min temp: 32F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1755 E30 OVC 80 156/34/26/3404/999/ FEW BINOVC DSNT SE-S
VIRGA DSNT NNE-SE WND LGT/ 8/5// 58004 10038 20032
————————————————————–
SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2023
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….49 NORMAL…..44
MIN…….37 NORMAL…..28
MEAN……43 NORMAL…..36
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……….+7
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………+31 [+7.6 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………22 DEPARTURE……..-7
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………83 DEPARTURE…….-31
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………1170 DEPARTURE……-148
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….1075 DEPARTURE…….+95
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)……….E23 W @ 12:55 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….22 W @ 12:55 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….22 W @ 01:03 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….22 W @ 12:52 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………21 W @ 01:03 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..23 W @ 12:55 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..23 W @ 01:03 P.M.
MERLIN…………………M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……23 @ 12:55 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………15 W @ 01:03 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..16 @ 12:55 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..15 @ 01:05 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………15 W @ 12:56 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………15 W @ 01:05 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..15 W @ 12:55 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..15 W @ 01:05 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………15 @ 12:55 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL…….6.9 WNW [166 total miles]
VECTOR #1……………..7.4
VECTOR #2……………..8.0
DAVIS #1………………7.3 WNW
DAVIS #2………………7.4 NW
RMY #1………………..7.2 WNW
RMY #2………………..7.8 NW
RICHARDS (C5C)…………7.9
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.01 DEPARTURE…..-0.17
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.87 DEPARTURE…..+0.17
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR…………..52.24 DEPARTURE…..+3.07
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.2
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.9
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2023-2024)…..TRACE DEPARTURE……-3.4
————————————————————–
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 51/38/45/+8/0.04/0.0/213/38 29 SW VEC1 28 SW RMY 29
12/2 48/43/46/+9/T/0.0/000/00 18 SSW VEC1 19 SSW RMY 19
12/3 44/41/43/+7/0.76/0.0/000/00 31 ENE VEC1 32 ENE RMY 33
12/4 49/37/43/+7/0.07/0.0/…/.. 23 W VEC1 22 W RMY 23
12/5 The low since midnight is 32F, the daily normal low is 28F
————————————————————–
DECEMBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
NONE…
————————————————————–
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 5
HIGH 65 IN 2001
LOW -1 IN 1926
PRECIP 2.86 INS. IN 1993
SNOWFALL 7.0 INS. IN 1893, 1895, 1926, 1981
PEAK GUST 67 MPH WNW IN 1961, S IN 1973
RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 6
HIGH 70 IN 2001
LOW 5 IN 1901,1935
PRECIP 2.78 INS. IN 2003
SNOWFALL 17.0 INS. IN 2003
PEAK GUST 74 MPH NW IN 1981
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
