Tuesday, February 4, 2014

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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

LIGHT SNOWFALL YESTERDAY TOTALED 2.8 INCHES
TEMPERATURES FALLING THROUGHOUT THE DAY FROM
MID 30’S EARLY TO LOW 20’S BY LATE LAST EVENING
LOW OF 18F CLOSE TO NORMAL OF 17F THIS MORNING
MILD START TO FEBRUARY–10.5 ABOVE NORMAL

The light snow which began close to 9:30 A.M. yesterday
continued throughout the day before ending during the
early evening.  A total of 2.8 inches giving a water
equivalent of 0.32 inch was measured this morning.

Temperatures averaged 15 degrees milder than normal
during the first two days of the month but returned
to just 3 degrees on the plus side yesterday. Readings
were falling throughout the day from 36F at the start
of the day to 22F last night at midnight.

All monthly data below is preliminary.
Keep posted for a monthly discussion on our website,
bluehillobservatory.org.

THE PRELIMINARY JANUARY 2014 STATS

[Departures are relative to the 1981-2010 averages]

TEMPERATURE: Deg. F
Avg. Max. 33.2 [-0.6] Avg. Min. 16.7 [-0.4] Mean      25.0 [-0.5] 24-hr. corrected mean: 24.8
Max. temp: 57F on 6th and 11th
Min. temp: -4F  on 4th
Total heating degree day units: 1240 [+14] Total seasonal heating units:   3517 [-14 less than average] [Season starts 7/1] Seasonal total this date 2012:  3126 [391 more than last season]

PRECIPITATION: Inches
Total: 4.62 [+0.27] Greatest in 24 hours: 1.26 inches (2nd-3rd)
Total snowfall: 33.1 [+16.0] Greatest in 24 hours: 14.3 inches (2nd-3rd)

WIND
Av. speed (uncorrected): 14.3 mph (corrected)
Av. speed (corrected):   14.5 mph
Prevailing direction: W 25%

SUNSHINE
Total astronomical minutes: 8538 of possible 17702 or 48%
Total Campbell Stokes card minutes; 8202 of possible 17130 or 48% [+2%]

BHO Snowiest January’s, inches (1886-2014)

1) 56.3 in 1948
2) 48.2 in 2011
3) 48.0 in 1904
4) 47.6 in 1996
5) 46.0 in 1966
6) 44.8 in 2005
7) 44.5 in 1923
8) 38.3 in 1987
9) 35.6 in 1978
10) 33.1 in 2014

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Thin broken cirrus and cirrostratus, layer of stratocumulus
along and offshore NE-ESE, few altocumulus lenticulris N-E and also
in the distant SSE-S, total snowfall past 24 hours 2.8 inches,
thin coating rime ice this morning.
Temperature: 19F; Dew Point: 15F; Wind: NW at 11 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.39 ins. Hg, increasing then more slowly
Visibility: 20 miles, except 25 miles WNW, thin fog and hazy
6-hr. min temp: 18F
Total precip. past 24 hours: 0.32 inch
Total snowfall ast 24 hours: 2.8 inches
Total snow on the ground: 3 inches
BHO SA 1155 250 –BKN 20 291/19/15/3211/039/ SC LYR ALG/OFFSHR NE-ESE
FEW AC N-E AND DSNT SE-S VSBY WNW 25 THN F HAZY ALQDS THN RIME ICE
TOTAL NEW SNW 24 HRS 2.8 INS/ 8/548 4/003 53018 MANUAL 70032 ASOS 70032
10023 20018

10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cirrus (lower layer SE-SW), thin overcast cirrostratus,
few cirrocumulus lenticularis SE-S
Temperature: 25F Dew Point: 17F; Wind: NNW at 7 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.44 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 25 miles, thin smoke layer SSW-W and NNE-E, hazy all quadrants
BHO SA 1455 250 SCT 300 –OVC 25 309/25/17/3307/044/ LWR CI/CS SE-SW
FEW CCSL SE-S THN K LYR HRZNS SSW-W AND NNE-E HAZY ALQDS/ 8/007 51018

1 P.M.
Weather: Thin scattered cirrus, few cumulus fractus and small cumulus to the
south-southwest and to the west-northwest, cumulus distant ESE
Temperature: 32F; Dew Point: 19F; Wind: W at 4 kts,
Wind: Light
Sea-level pressure: 30.40 ins. Hg, falling then more rapidly
Visibility: 35 miles, except NE-SE 25 miles, WNW 45 miles, distant haze
6-hr max. temp: 33F
BHO SA 1755 300 –SCT 35 293/32/19/2704/040/ FEW CUFRA/SML CU S-SW
AND WNW CU DSNT ESE VSBY NE-SE 25 WNW 45 DSNT HZ WND LGT/ 8/101 58016
10033 20019

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…..36    NORMAL…..35
MIN…..22    NORMAL…..17
MEAN….29    NORMAL…..26

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL…………………….+3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………+32 [+10.5 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………..36  DEPARTURE………..3
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..85  DEPARTURE………-33
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………..3602  DEPARTURE………-46
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……3249  DIFFERENCE…….+353

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY………………22 MNE AT  2:35 P.M.
AERO…………………..18 NNE AT  3:31 P.M.
ASOS…………………..22 NNE AT  2:35 P.M.
DAVIS………………….21  N  AT  2:36 P.M. RMY 21
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY………………..14 NNE AT  2:33 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE……………..15 NNE AT  2:36 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE…………….14 NNE AT  2:32 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION…………  9.0 N
ASOS…………………..9.4
DAVIS………………….7.9 N [360 deg.]

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M… 0.32  DEPARTURE…………..+0.19
ASOS…………..0.32
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH……… 0.32  DEPARTURE………….-0.08
ASOS…………..0.32
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR………..4.94  DEPARTURE………….+0.19
ASOS…………..5.25

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..2.8    DEPARTURE…………..+2.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH…………..2.8    DEPARTURE…………..+1.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON…………51.6    DEPARTURE………….+17.0

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2014 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/AERO GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system gust
RMY:  RMY = R.M. Young wind gust recording system added 8/9/2011
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized

1/1  26/16/21/-6/0.00/0.0/505/92          25 W   AERO 25 MPH W   RMY 27
1/2  24/00/12/-15/0.97/10.9/000/00        39 NNE AERO 39 MPH NNE RMY 39
1/3  12/-3/05/-21/0.38/4.7/270/49         36 N   AERO 39 MPH N   RMY 34
1/4  25/-4/11/-15/0.00/0.0/545/99         35 SSW AERO 37 MPH SSW RMY 38
1/5  42/23/33/+7/0.08/0.0/259 47          30 SE  AERO 32 MPH SE  RMY 42
1/6  57/25/41/+15/0.29/0.0/006/01         41 S   AERO 46 MPH S   RMY 48
1/7  25/06/16/-10/0.00/0.0/555/100        44 WNW AERO 46 MPH WNW RMY 42
1/8  21/3/12/-14/0.00/0.0/550/99          28 WSW AERO 29 MPH WSW RMY N/A
1/9  28/13/21/-5/0.00/0.0/540/97          23 WNW AERO 24 MPH WNW RMY 27
1/10 37/17/27/+2/0.05/0.3/000/00          17 SSW AERO 18 MPH SW  RMY N/A
1/11 57/37/47/+22/0.67/0.0/000/00         50 S   AERO 59 MPH S   RMY 59
1/12 51/32/42/+17/0.04/0.0/292/52         41 W   AERO 44 MPH W   RMY 42
1/13 50/30/40/+15/0.00/0.0/473/84         33 S   AERO 36 MPH S   RMY 37
1/14 49/41/45/+20/0.83/0.0/000/00         35 S   AERO 37 MPH S   RMY 32
1/15 46/33/40/+15/0.00/0.0/374/66         24 W   AERO 23 MPH W   RMY N/A
1/16 40/34/37/+12/0.00/0.0/000/00         14 ENE AERO 13 MPH ENE RMY 14
1/17 44/33/39/+14/0.00/0.0/541/95         21 SW  AERO 21 MPH SW  RMY 22
1/18 37/30/34/+9/0.82/4.2/000/00          18 E   AERO 17 MPH E   RMY 18
1/19 32/27/30/+5/0.03/0.5/304/53          28 SW  AERO 35 MPH SW  RMY 34
1/20 39/23/31/+6/0.00/0.0/023/04          38 W   AERO 41 MPH W   RMY 42
1/21 23/8/16/-9/0.30/9.0/006/01           29 WNW AERO 30 MPH WNW RMY 32
1/22 15/3/9/-16/0.12/3.1/237/41           36 N   AERO 35 MPH N   RMY 34
1/23 20/-1/10/-15/0.00/0.0/418/72         30 W   AERO 29 MPH W   RMY 30
1/24 16/2/9/-16/0.00/0.0/571/98           28 WNW AERO 25 MPH WNW RMY N/A
1/25 36/12/24/-1/0.01/0.2/053/09          60 SSW AERO 66 MPH SSW RMY 64
1/26 22/12/17/-8/0.00/0.0/405/69          45 W   AERO 43 MPH W   RMY 41
1/27 45/17/31/+6/0.02/0.0/024/04          46 S   AERO 46 MPH S   RMY 49
1/28 18/9/14/-11/0.00/0.0/455/77          33 W   AERO 31 MPH W   RMY 32
1/29 24/11/17/-8/0.01/0.2/410/69          28 W   AERO 23 MPH W   RMY 27
1/30 29/10/20/-6/0.00/0.0/590/99          25 S   AERO 20 MPH S   RMY 28
1/31 40/18/29/+3/0.00/0.0/138/23          29 SSW AERO 24 MPH SSW RMY 28

2/1  45/30/38/+12/0.00/0.0/…/..         24 S   AERO 23 MPH S   RMY 25
2/2  53/33/43/+17/0.00/0.0/…/..         22 S   AERO 21 MPH WNW RMY 21
2/3  36/22/29/+3/0.32/2.8/000/00          22 NNE AERO 18 MPH NNE RMY 21

2/4  morning low temp: 18F; the normal low is now 17F

DAILY RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2014
1/21 – New record daily snowfall of 9.0 ins.; this surpasses
7.6 ins. in 2011.

DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2014
None so far.

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

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 4
HIGH 63F IN 1991
LOW -4F IN 1886, 1908
PRECIP 1.80 INS. IN 1926
SNOWFALL 15.0 INS. IN 1961
PEAK GUST 89 MPH SSE IN 1972

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 5
HIGH 65F IN 1991
LOW -14F IN 1918
PRECIP 1.55 INS. IN 2001
SNOWFALL 16.0 INS. IN 1907
PEAK GUST 67 MPH WNW IN 1969

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling