Tuesday, January 2, 2024
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0713E
SUNSET: 1623E
ABUNDANT SUNSHINE AND SEASONABLY COLD TEMPERATURES TODAY AT BLUE HILL….
Not a bad day for early January with wall to wall sunshine,
light wind, and seasonably cold temperatures. It really has not
been a bad start to the new month (and new year) so far,
as yesterday was also a pretty delightful day (considering
the time of year).
As mentioned, temperatures are pretty seasonable for today’s
date with readings starting the day in the upper teens, then
recovering to the mid-upper 30s by early this afternoon. The dew
point has been generally in the mid teens to low 20s, so the
air is relatively dry.
The wind has once again been on the light side today, with an
average speed of around 5mph. It started the day out of the
north to north-northwest, but has gradually backed to the west-
northwest and west. The peak gust so far (if we can call it that)
is around 12mph, occurring just after 12:30pm.
Visibility was around 50 miles to start the day, but has improved
to about 70 miles early this afternoon as the relative humidity
decreases.
The maximum temperature so far today is 37F degrees, this is 1
degree above the normal high of 36F. The minimum temperature since
midnight is 19F degrees, this is 2 degrees below the normal low
of 21F.
As we look back to the month of December, and the year of 2023
as a whole, here are just a couple of stats we can share at
this time. The month of December was the 2nd warmest on record,
and the year was also the 2nd warmest on record. Here are the
rankings as compiled by our Chief Scientist Mike Iacono.
BHO Highest December Approximated 24-Hour Mean Temperature,
deg F (1885-2023):
1) 42.9 in 2015
2) 38.3 in 2023
3) 38.1 in 2006
4) 37.5 in 2011
5) 37.3 in 2001
6) 37.2 in 1891
7) 36.9 in 1998
BHO Highest Annual Mean Temperature, deg F (1885-2023):
1) 51.7 in 2012
2) 51.5 in 2023
3) 51.3 in 2020
4) 51.2 in 2016
5) 51.1 in 2022
6) 51.0 in 2010
7) 50.9 in 1999
50.9 in 2021
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY STATS FOR DECEMBER 2023
TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 45.6 [+5.4]
Avg. Min. 31.8 [+6.9]
Mean 38.7 [+6.2]
24-hour corrected mean: 38.3
Max. for month: 61F on the 11th and 18th
Min. for month: 16F on the 22nd
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 808 [-198]
Total for the season: 1895 [-315]
Total for last season: 1910
COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units: 000 [ 000]
Total for the season: 715 [+038]
Total for last season: 889
PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 7.33 [+1.94]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 2.93 on the 17th-18th
SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 0.3 [-12.3]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.3 on the 6th
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 10.6 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed: 11.2 mph
Prevailing wind direction: West-Northwest [13%]
Peak gust and direction: 90 SSE on the 18th
SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 7182 of a possible 16470, or 44%
Astronomical total minutes: 7424 of a possible 17007, or 44%
————————————————————–
Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant N-SE, few cirrus distant
NW-NNE
Temperature: 20F; Dew Point: 15F; Relative Humidity: 81%
Wind: W @ 4kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1018.4 mb; 30.07 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 50 miles
6-hr Max temp: 24F
6-hr Min temp: 19F
24-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1155 CLR 50 184/20/15/2804/007/ FEW SC DSNT N-SE FEW CI DSNT
NW-NNE WND LGT/ 8/501 53007 10024 20019
10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant NE-E, few cirrus distant
NW-NE
Temperature: 28F; Dew Point: 22F; Relative Humidity: 77%
Wind: WNW @ 4 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1018.4 mb; 30.07 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 60 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 CLR 60 184/28/22/3004/007/ FEW SC DSNT NE-E FEW CI DSNT
NW-NE WND LGT/ 8/501 55000
1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant NE-E, few cirrus distant
NNW-NE
Temperature: 36F; Dew Point: 18F; Relative Humidity: 48%
Wind: WNW @ 4 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1015.7 mb; 29.99 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 37F
6-hr Min temp: 20F
6-hr Precip: 0.00 inches
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1755 CLR 70 157/36/18/3004/999/ FEW SC DSNT NE-E FEW CI DSNT
NNW-NE WND LGT/ 8/501 58027 10037 20020
————————————————————–
SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2024
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….37 NORMAL…..36
MIN…….25 NORMAL…..21
MEAN……31 NORMAL…..29
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL………..+2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………..+2 [+1.8 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………34 DEPARTURE……..-3
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………34 DEPARTURE……..-3
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………1929 DEPARTURE……-317
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….1929 DEPARTURE………0
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)……….E15 N @ 11:02 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….14 N @ 11:01 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….14 WNW @ 01:39 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….13 N @ 10:55 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………13 NW @ 01:40 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..15 N @ 11:03 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..14 N @ 11:01 P.M.
MERLIN…………………14 N
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……14 @ 11:03 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………11 N @ 11:01 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..11 @ 11:02 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..11 @ 10:58 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………11 N @ 11:03 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………10 NNE @ 10:58 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..10 N @ 11:02 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..11 N @ 11:17 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………11 @ 11:02 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL…….4.0 NNW [95 total miles]
VECTOR #1……………..4.8
VECTOR #2……………..4.9
DAVIS #1………………4.1 N
DAVIS #2………………4.3 NNE
RMY #1………………..4.6 N
RMY #2………………..4.9 N
RICHARDS (C5C)…………5.3
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.15
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.15
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2024)……..0.00 DEPARTURE…..-0.15
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M…………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH………………..0.0 DEPARTURE……-0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2023-2024)…….0.3 DEPARTURE…..-15.4
————————————————————–
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/+7/0.07/0.0/155/28 23 W VEC1 22 W RMY 23
12/5 38/28/33/-3/0.00/0.0/144/26 23 NNW VEC1 24 NW RMY 24
12/6 34/22/28/-7/0.01/0.3/100/18 21 N VEC1 21 N RMY 20
12/7 28/17/56/-12/0.00/0.0/121/22 18 NNW VEC1 18 NW RMY 19
12/8 42/24/33/-2/0.00/0.0/530/96 20 S VEC1 18 S RMY 18
12/9 52/33/43/+9/0.00/0.0/264/48 24 S VEC1 24 S RMY 24
12/10 60/43/52/+18/0.66/0.0/033/06 55 SSW VEC1 54 SSW RMY 53
12/11 61/33/47/+13/1.96/0.0/038/07 69 SSW VEC1 69 SSW RMY 71
12/12 42/29/36/+2/0.00/0.0/543/99 33 WNW VEC1 32 WNW RMY 34
12/13 43/28/36/+3/0.00/0.0/470/86 36 WNW VEC1 34 WNW RMY 36
12/14 34/22/28/-5/0.00/0.0/520/95 31 SW VEC1 31 SW RMY 32
12/15 53/30/42/+9/0.00/0.0/541/99 31 WNW VEC1 30 WNW RMY 28
12/16 50/36/43/+11/0.00/0.0/530/97 21 ESE VEC1 22 ESE RMY 22
12/17 55/37/46/+14/0.47/0.0/098/18 40 SSE VEC1 41 SSE RMY 41
12/18 61/42/52/+20/2.47/0.0/000/00 90 SSE VEC1 95 SSE RMY 101
12/19 46/30/38/+6/0.00/0.0/332/61 28 NW VEC1 28 NW RMY 26
12/20 41/26/34/+3/0.00/0.0/540/99 26 NNW VEC1 27 NNW RMY 28
12/21 34/20/27/-4/0.00/0.0/534/98 29 NNW VEC1 30 NNW RMY 28
12/22 34/16/25/-6/0.00/0.0/540/99 18 NNW VEC1 18 NNW RMY 19
12/23 42/26/34/+3/0.00/0.0/414/76 18 SSW VEC1 18 SSW RMY 16
12/24 46/35/41/+11/0.01/0.0/000/00 16 SE VEC1 16 SE RMY 16
12/25 53/41/47/+17/0.01/0.0/409/75 15 ENE VEC1 15 SE RMY 14
12/26 52/32/42/+12/0.00/0.0/245/45 18 SW VEC1 18 SW RMY 19
12/27 52/39/45/+15/0.02/0.0/000/00 18 SW VEC1 18 SW RMY 19
12/28 44/39/42/+13/0.72/0.0/000/00 40 NE VEC1 41 NE RMY 40
12/29 44/38/41/+12/0.06/0.0/000/00 18 N VEC1 18 N RMY 19
12/30 43/32/38/+9/0.07/0.0/000/00 24 WNW VEC1 24 WNW RMY 24
12/31 39/29/34/+5/0.00/0.0/110/20 21 NW VEC1 20 NW RMY 22
————————————————————–
DECEMBER DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
12/18: RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 61F;
BEATS OLD RECORD OF 59F SET IN 1928
12/18: RECORD PRECIPITATION OF 2.47 INS;
BEATS OLD RECORD OF 1.44 INS SET IN 1915
12/18: RECORD PEAK WIND GUST OF 90 MPH;
BEATS OLD RECORD OF 76e MPH SET IN 1978
————————————————————–
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 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
1/1 37/25/31/+2/0.00/0.0/…/.. 15 N VEC1 14 N RMY 15
1/2 The low since midnight is 19F, the daily normal low is 21F
————————————————————–
JANUARY DAILY RECORDS TO DATE
NONE.
————————————————————–
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2
HIGH 62F IN 1890
LOW -7F IN 1899,1918
PRECIP 2.10 INS. IN 1987
SNOWFALL 10.9 INS. IN 2014
PEAK GUST 85e MPH S IN 1942
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 3
HIGH 64F IN 2000
LOW -4F IN 1904
PRECIP 1.93 INS. IN 1999
SNOW 11.3 INS. 1996
PEAK GUST 92 MPH S IN 1960
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
