Wednesday, August 30, 2023
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2023
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
SUNRISE: 0507E
SUNSET: 1822E
OVERCAST AND QUITE HUMID WITH PERIODIC RAIN SHOWERS…
Clouds have been the theme today with off and on periods
of rain showers and drizzle. 0.18″ of rain was measured
through 7am with an additional 0.20″ falling between 7am
and 1pm.
Despite the clouds and precipitation, the temperature has
made it to the mid 70s, with the dew point also rising
into the low 70s. As such it is quite stuffy outside,
although a breeze has developed which is at least helping
to move the air around.
The wind was light early this morning, even going calm for
3 non-consecutive hours between midnight and 5am. However,
a wind shift to the south-southwest to southwest around
8am, was accompanied by an uptick in wind speed as well.
The average speed for the day is only around 6mph, thanks
to all the hours of calm or near calm air early this morning.
However if we average the last few hours up to 1pm, the
average is closer to 11mph. The peak gust so far for the
day is around 26mph.
Visibility was poor early this morning with dense fog
shrouding the summit. We could only see 1/8th of a mile at
that time. However its been variable since the fog lifted
mid morning, of course being higher during “dry” periods
between rain showers. With the rain showers pushing out of
the area just prior to the 1pm observation, the visibility
has improved markedly to around 60 miles as a cold front now
approaches from the west!
The maximum temperature so far today has been 75F, which is
3 degrees below the normal high of 78F. The minimum temperature
since midnight is 68F, which is 7 degrees above the normal low
of 61F.
Through yesterday, Summer of 2023 (Jun-Aug) is now 8th wettest
on record going back to 1886. Here are the top 10 wettest
summers as compiled by our Chief Scientist, Mike Iacono.
BHO Highest Summer (June-August) Precipitation, inches (1886-2023):
1) 25.22 in 1998
2) 24.61 in 1955
3) 24.09 in 1938
4) 21.56 in 2006
5) 21.02 in 1922
6) 20.23 in 1982
7) 19.68 in 2021
8) 19.41 in 2023 (through 8/29)
9) 18.71 in 1989
10) 17.92 in 2013
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Today’s Observations:
7 A.M.
Weather: Sky obscured, vertical visibility 200ft, light rain showers
Temperature: 69F; Dew Point: 69F; Relative Humidity: 100%
Wind: SSE @ 3 kts, wind light
Sea-level pressure: 1007.2 mb; 29.74 in. Hg: falling unsteadily
Visibility: 1/8 mile, fog
6-hr Max temp: 69F
6-hr Min temp: 68F
24-hr Precip: 0.18 inches
BHO SA 1155 X W2 1/8RW-F 072/69/69/1503/974/ WND LGT/ 8//// 57011
6006/ 70018 10069 20068
10 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratus fractus, broken stratocumulus,
overcast altocumulus
Temperature: 72F; Dew Point: 72F; Relative Humidity: 99%
Wind: SW @ 12G18 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1005.7 mb; 29.70 in. Hg: falling, then more slowly
Visibility: 25 miles
3-hr Precip: 0.18 inches
BHO SA 1455 E6 BKN 15 BKN 60 OVC 25 057/72/72/2312G18/970/
L-B03E40/ 8/55/ 56015 6018/
1 P.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, scattered cumulus,
broken altocumulus
Temperature: 74F; Dew Point: 71F; Relative Humidity: 91%
Wind: WSW @ 10G18 kts
Sea-level pressure: 1004.3 mb; 29.66 in. Hg: falling, then more slowly
Visibility: 60 miles
6-hr Max temp: 74F
6-hr Min temp: 69F
6-hr Precip: 0.20 inches
BHO SA 1755 20 SCT 30 SCT E100 BKN 60 043/74/71/2410G18/966/
TCU DSNT NNE FEW LWR STFRA ALQDS RW-E36/ 8/870 56014 6020/
10074 20069
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SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2023
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…….76 NORMAL…..78
MIN…….61 NORMAL…..61
MEAN……69 NORMAL…..70
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR (1991-2020) NORMAL……….-1
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH…………………-52 [-2.0 DEGREES/DAY]
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JUL 2023 THRU JUN 2024)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….0 DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………….1 DEPARTURE……..-8
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON……………1 DEPARTURE…….-16
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……….0 DEPARTURE……..+1
COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON: JAN 2023 THRU DEC 2023)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………….4 DEPARTURE……..-1
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH…………..142 DEPARTURE…….-57
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………….564 DEPARTURE…….-22
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……..813 DEPARTURE……-249
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)……….E17 ENE @ 03:09 P.M.
VECTOR #1 (1-Sec)……….16 ENE @ 03:09 P.M.
VECTOR #2 (1-Sec)……….16 SE @ 10:44 A.M.
DAVIS #1……………….16 ENE @ 03:09 P.M.
DAVIS #2 ………………16 SE @ 10:44 A.M.
RMY #1 (Instantaneous)…..15 ENE @ 03:09 P.M.
RMY #2 (Instantaneous)…..16 SE @ 10:44 A.M.
MERLIN…………………14 ENE
RICHARDS (C5C) (Inst)……14 @ 03:04 P.M.
FASTEST MILE:
CONTACTING ANEMOMETER/OFFICIAL………………11 ENE @ 03:09 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #1 AVERAGE…………..11 @ 02:46 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE VECTOR #2 AVERAGE…………..12 @ 03:09 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #1 AVERAGE……………12 ENE @ 02:47 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS #2 AVERAGE……………12 ENE @ 03:10 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #1 AVERAGE……………..11 ENE @ 03:10 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RMY #2 AVERAGE……………..12 ENE @ 03:10 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE RICHARDS (C5C) AVERAGE………12 @ 03:10 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION:
CONTACTING/OFFICIAL……..5.4 ESE [130 total miles]
VECTOR #1………………5.9
VECTOR #2………………6.4
DAVIS #1……………….5.9 ESE
DAVIS #2……………….6.2 ESE
RMY #1…………………6.0 ESE
RMY #2…………………6.4 ESE
RICHARDS (C5C)………….6.6
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST):
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……..0.18 DEPARTURE…..+0.06
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH…………..5.48 DEPARTURE…..+1.81
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR…………..40.25 DEPARTURE…..+5.88
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PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR AUGUST CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/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
8/1 76/58/67/-6/0.00/763/88 24 NW VEC1 24 NW RMY 24
8/2 75/54/65/-8/0.00/830/96 23 SSW VEC1 22 SSW RMY 23
8/3 79/59/69/-4/0.00/725/84 32 SSW VEC1 34 SSW RMY 34
8/4 77/62/70/-3/T/172/20 29 SSW VEC1 29 SSW RMY 29
8/5 83/66/75/+2/0.00/523/61 18 NW VEC1 16 WNW RMY 17
8/6 82/60/71/-2/0.00/839/98 20 W VEC1 19 W RMY 19
8/7 72/65/69/-4/0.14/034/04 29 SSE VEC1 30 SSE RMY 29
8/8 82/68/75/+3/0.47/187/22 39 S VEC1 42 S RMY 42
8/9 82/66/74/+2/0.00/756/89 39 WNW VEC1 38 WNW RMY 38
8/10 83/64/74/+2/0.02/254/30 28 SSW VEC1 27 SSW RMY 28
8/11 80/63/72/+0/0.07/810/96 36 W VEC1 36 W RMY 38
8/12 84/61/73/+1/0.00/733/87 26 SSW VEC1 26 SSW RMY 26
8/13 84/68/76/+4/0.07/629/75 26 SSW VEC1 26 SSW RMY 27 TSTM
8/14 82/63/73/+1/T/536/64 25 W VEC1 24 W RMY 29
8/15 70/64/67/-5/0.70/000/00 28 NE VEC1 27 NE RMY 28
8/16 68/64/66/-6/T/000/00 18 ESE VEC1 19 ENE RMY 18
8/17 70/62/66/-6/T/116/14 15 E VEC1 14 E RMY 14
8/18 79/61/70/-1/1.48/298/36 32 W VEC1 34 W RMY 33 TSTM
8/19 72/57/65/-6/0.00/371/45 29 W VEC1 30 W RMY 30
8/20 81/59/70/-1/0.00/764/93 23 W VEC1 22 W RMY 21
8/21 84/64/74/+3/0.85/384/47 29 NE VEC1 30 ENE RMY 29
8/22 75/59/67/-4/0.00/792/97 29 NNE VEC1 29 NNE RMY 29
8/23 76/56/66/-5/0.00/805/99 20 NNE VEC1 20 NNE RMY 20
8/24 78/58/68/-3/0.02/568/70 24 S VEC1 24 S RMY 23
8/25 69/58/64/-6/1.48/000/00 35 S VEC1 36 S RMY 37
8/26 83/68/76/+6/0.00/500/62 23 SSW VEC1 22 SSW RMY 22
8/27 75/61/68/-2/0.00/…/.. 20 NE VEC1 20 NE RMY 20
8/28 73/61/67/-3/0.00/…/.. 17 SSE VEC1 17 SE RMY 17
8/29 76/61/69/-1/0.11/…/.. 17 ENE VEC1 16 ENE RMY 15
8/30 The low since midnight is 68F, the daily normal low is 61F
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DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated)
RECORDS FOR AUGUST 30
HIGH 94F IN 1953
LOW 39F IN 1965
PRECIP 2.75 INCHES IN 1936
PEAK GUST 43 MPH NW IN 1965
RECORDS FOR AUGUST 31
HIGH 94F IN 1953
LOW 42F IN 1976
PRECIP 2.46 INCHES IN 1954
PEAK GUST 125 MPH SE IN 1954 [CAROL – RECORD FOR MONTH]
TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Matt Douglas
