Wednesday, April 3, 2024

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2024
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0522E
SUNSET:  1813E

STORMY CONDITIONS ARRIVE AT BLUE HILL WITH RAIN BEGINNING WITH A
WINTRY MIX THIS MORNING, WIND RAMPING UP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON…

A period of light rain moved through the area last evening into
the overnight leaving 0.07″ of water in the rain gauge by 7am
this morning. A lull in the action came to an end just after 9am
when rain began. The rain quickly starting mixing with sleet, and
even some snow for a time between 10-11am. The sleet came down
hard enough that it was starting to accumulate, however the heavier
precipitation rates didn’t last long enough to muster the 0.1″
needed to call it measurable. As such, it will go down as a trace
of frozen for the day, at least to this point. An additional 0.08″
of liquid was in the gauge for the period between 7am-1pm.

Temperatures are definitely below normal today with readings only
making it to around 41F briefly. We’ve actually spent most of the
day in the mid to upper 30s.

Winds were steady all morning averaging at around 10-15mph, but
there has been a noticeable increase in gust speeds as we moved
past noon-time. Winds have been averaging around 20mph for the
past hour or so with frequent gusts now exceeding 30mph. The peak
gust so far is 38mph, which has occurred just before the 1pm
observation.

Visibility started the day at around 40 miles, but of course has
decreased with the onset of the precipitation. Even still, the view
has remained, on average, around 10-15 miles since the mid morning
hours.

The maximum temperature so far today is 41F degrees, which is 10
degrees below the normal high of 51F. The minimum temperature since
midnight is 36F degrees, which is 3 degrees above the normal low of
33F.

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PRELIMINARY STATS FOR MARCH 2024

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 47.9 [+3.8] Avg. Min. 33.0 [+6.1] Mean      40.5 [+5.0] 24-hour corrected mean: 39.7
Max. for month: 59F on the 17th and 31st
Min. for month: 18F on the 1st

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:    753 [-162] Total for the season:  4641 [-706] Total for last season: 4532

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units:    000 [ 000] Total for the season:   000 [ 000] Total for last season:  000

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 9.49 [+3.97] Greatest in 24 hrs: 2.49 on the 23rd

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: Trace [-15.0] Greatest in 24 hrs: Trace on the 11th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 29th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.5 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   12.9 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   West-Northwest [22%] Peak gust and direction:  53 NW on the 11th and WNW on the 21st

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 9612 of a possible 21516, or 45%
Astronomical total minutes: 9966 of a possible 22290, or 45%

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Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Overcast altostratus, few breaks in overcast distant NNE-ESE,
higher clouds visible distant NNE-ESE
Temperature: 39F; Dew Point: 30F; Relative Humidity: 70%
Wind: E @ 13G21 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1014.7 mb; 29.96 in. Hg: falling, then rising
Visibility: 40 miles, hazy
6-hr Max temp: 39F
6-hr Min temp: 36F
24-hr Precip:  0.07 inches
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1155 E60 OVC 40 147/39/30/0913G21/996/ FEW BINOVC DSNT NNE-ESE
HIER CLDS VSBL DSNT NNE-ESE HAZY/ 8/02/ 53008 6000/ 70007 10039 20036

10 A.M.
Weather: Overcast nimbostratus, light sleet and rain, few breaks in
overcast distant N-ENE, few stratocumulus distant N-NE, higher clouds
visible distant N-ENE
Temperature: 39F; Dew Point: 33F; Relative Humidity: 80%
Wind: E @ 14G24 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1014.7 mb; 29.96 in. Hg: rising, then falling
Visibility: 12 miles, 20 miles N-E, 8 miles SSW-WSW, thin fog
3-hr Precip:  0.01 inches
3-hr Snowfall: Trace
BHO SA 1455 E80 OVC 12IP-R- 147/39/33/0914G24/996/ FEW BINOVC DSNT N-ENE
FEW SC DSNT N-NE HIER CLDS VSBL DSNT N-ENE THN F ALQDS R-B10 IP-B19
VSBY 20 N-E 8 SSW-WSW TOTAL NEW SNW PST 3 HRS TRACE/ 8/52/ 50000 6001/

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus, overcast nimbostratus
Temperature: 38F; Dew Point: 35F; Relative Humidity: 91%
Wind: E @ 21G33 kts, peak wind E 38 mph at 12:47 P.M.
Sea-level pressure: 1012.0 mb; 29.88 in. Hg: falling, then more rapidly
Visibility: 15 miles, thin fog
6-hr Max temp: 41F
6-hr Min temp: 37F
6-hr Precip:  0.08 inches
6-hr Snowfall: Trace
Snow Depth: 0 inches
BHO SA 1755 E25 BKN 55 OVC 15 120/38/35/0921G33/988/ THN F ALQDS
R-E11B29E53 PK WND 0933/47/ TOTAL NEW SNW PST 6 HRS TRACE/ 8/52/ 58027
6008/ 10041 20037

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SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2024

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….47   NORMAL…..50
MIN…….35   NORMAL…..33
MEAN……41   NORMAL…..41

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL………….0
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH……………………+7 [+3.3 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY……………24  DEPARTURE………0
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH……………41  DEPARTURE……..-7
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON…………4682  DEPARTURE……-713
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE…….4572  DEPARTURE……+110

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)……….E25 E    @  01:07 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….25 E    @  01:07 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….25 ENE  @  01:07 P.M.
DAVIS #1……………….24 ENE  @  01:07 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………25 ENE  @  01:07 P.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..25 NE   @  11:14 A.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..26 NE   @  11:42 A.M.
MERLIN………………….M
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……23      @  11:42 A.M.

FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………16 ENE  @  12:44 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..16      @  11:42 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..18      @  11:44 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………18 ENE  @  11:43 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………18 ENE  @  11:44 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..17 ENE  @  11:42 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..18 ENE  @  11:44 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………17      @  11:43 A.M.

AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL…….9.5 ENE [228 total miles] VECTOR #1……………..9.3
VECTOR #2……………..9.8
DAVIS #1………………9.9 ENE
DAVIS #2………………9.7 ENE
RMY #1………………..9.3 ENE
RMY #2………………..9.6 NE
RICHARDS (C5C)…………9.9

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.07 DEPARTURE…..-0.10
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..0.07 DEPARTURE…..-0.26
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR (2024)…….20.12 DEPARTURE…..+5.77

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……-0.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON (2023-2024)……26.1 DEPARTURE…..-41.2

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MARCH 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
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)

3/1   41/18/30/-1/0.00/0.0/649/96         30 NW  VEC1 30 WNW RMY 33
3/2   50/32/41/+9/1.16/0.0/000/00         44 SSE VEC1 46 SE  RMY 42
3/3   55/42/49/+17/0.24/0.0/130/19        32 SSE VEC1 33 SSE RMY 32
3/4   49/36/43/+11/0.01/0.0/116/17        24 ENE VEC1 22 ENE RMY 23
3/5   42/36/39/+7/0.14/0.0/000/00         21 E   VEC1 21 E   RMY 21
3/6   51/39/45/+12/0.44/0.0/000/00        28 NE  VEC1 28 NE  RMY 29
3/7   42/37/40/+7/1.06/0.0/000/00         44 NNE VEC1 44 NNE RMY 42
3/8   45/32/39/+6/0.00/0.0/682/98         35 NNE VEC1 36 NNE RMY 38
3/9   40/32/36/+3/0.21/0.0/000/00         32 E   VEC1 32 E   RMY 31
3/10  51/36/44/+10/1.07/0.0/245/35        45 WNW VEC1 46 SE  RMY 45
3/11  43/30/37/+3/T/T/515/73              53 NW  VEC1 54 NW  RMY 58
3/12  54/33/44/+10/0.00/0.0/680/96        43 NW  VEC1 41 NW  RMY 45
3/13  54/33/44/+10/0.00/0.0/667/94        26 SSE VEC1 25 NNW RMY 25
3/14  58/36/47/+12/0.00/0.0/627/88        23 ENE VEC1 22 NE  RMY 21
3/15  44/37/41/+6/0.02/0.0/000/00         24 N   VEC1 23 NNW RMY 25
3/16  58/36/47/+12/0.00/0.0/510/71        29 S   VEC1 26 S   RMY 26
3/17  59/40/50/+14/0.04/0.0/390/54        38 NW  VEC1 38 NW  RMY 40
3/18  49/33/41/+5/0.00/0.0/558/77         38 W   VEC1 37 W   RMY 38
3/19  46/30/38/+2/0.00/0.0/575/79         44 NW  VEC1 43 NW  RMY 46
3/20  51/29/40/+3/0.11/T/190/26           50 WNW VEC1 50 WNW RMY 51
3/21  38/24/31/-6/T/T/704/96              53 WNW VEC1 53 WNW RMY 52
3/22  40/21/31/-6/T/T/427/58              29 WNW VEC1 29 WNW RMY 32
3/23  44/30/37/-1/2.49/T/000/00           48 NNW VEC1 47 NNW RMY 51
3/24  41/23/32/-6/0.00/0.0/460/62         38 NNW VEC1 39 NNW RMY 42
3/25  39/31/25/-3/0.00/0.0/343/46         41 ENE VEC1 41 NE  RMY 40
3/26  36/32/34/-5/0.15/0.0/000/00         38 NE  VEC1 38 NE  RMY 39
3/27  53/36/45/+6/0.10/0.0/038/05         23 NE  VEC1 24 NE  RMY 23
3/28  49/42/46/+7/1.72/0.0/000/00         23 NNW VEC1 23 NNW RMY 22
3/29  50/34/42/+2/0.53/T/136/18           48 NW  VEC1 48 NW  RMY 52
3/30  55/34/45/+5/0.00/0.0/729/96         45 NW  VEC1 44 NW  RMY 47
3/31  59/39/49/+8/0.00/0.0/595/78         31 WNW VEC1 31 WNW RMY 32

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MARCH DAILY RECORDS TO DATE

NONE…

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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR APRIL 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
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)

4/1   56/40/48/+7/0.00/0.0/…/..         20 SSE VEC1 20 SSE RMY 19
4/2   47/35/41/+/0.07/0.0/…/..          25 E   VEC1 25 E   RMY 25

4/3 The low since midnight is 36F, the daily normal low is 33F.

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APRIL 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 APRIL 3
HIGH 76 IN 1892
LOW 16 IN 1894
PRECIP 2.18 IN. IN 1990
SNOWFALL 8.0 IN. IN 1915
PEAK GUST 83e MPH NW IN 1977 [RECORD FOR MONTH]

RECORDS FOR APRIL 4
HIGH 76 IN 2010
LOW 12 IN 1954
PRECIP 1.45 IN. IN 1987
SNOWFALL 7.3 IN. IN 2016
PEAK GUST 80 MPH WNW IN 1963

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas