Wednesday, March 4, 2015

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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

SNOW TRANSITIONS TO RAIN OVERNIGHT, 2.8 INCHES OF
NEW SNOW BRINGS SEASONAL TOTAL WITHIN 1.2 INCHES
OF ALL TIME RECORD

Light snow began just after 6:30 PM EST last evening,
dropping 2.8 inches of snow before transitioning
to rain just before midnight. Light rain continued into
the early morning hours, before ending at 4:01 AM EST.

Temperatures that dipped briefly yesterday afternoon,
climbed to the 32F mark at midnight this morning, climbing
once more to 37F early this morning. By the 1:00 PM EST
observation a maximum reading of 41F had been recorded.
Seasonal snowfall has now reached 143.2 inches, just
1.2 inches below the snowiest season on record set
in 1995-1996.
PRELIMINARY STATS FOR FEBRUARY 2015

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 25.6 [-11.2] Avg. Min.  6.8 [-12.3] Mean     16.2 [-11.7] Corrected mean: 17.0
Max. for month: 39 on 2/22
Min. for month: -8 on 2/16
Number of days with temperature at or below zero: 6

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units;   1360 [+323] Total for the season:  4708 [+140] Total for last season: 4591

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 6.17 [+2.10]

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 83.6 [+69.7]

SUNSHINE:
Astronomical total minutes:   7695/17769 or 43%
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 7440/17148 or 43%

BHO Coldest Months, deg F (1885-2014)

1) 13.5 in Feb, 1934
2) 15.5 in Jan, 1920
3) 16.3 in Jan, 1888
4) 16.4 in Feb, 1885
5) 17.0 in Feb, 2015
6) 17.1 in Feb, 1923
7) 17.2 in Jan, 1912
17.2 in Jan, 1918
17.2 in Jan, 2004
10) 17.4 in Jan, 1893
17.4 in Dec, 1989

BHO Coldest February Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2015)

1) 37 in 1923
2) 39 in 1969
39 in 2015
4) 40 in 1978
5) 41 in 1905
41 in 1924
41 in 1934
8) 42 in 1958

Records below:
BHO Greatest Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.8 on 26-28 Jan, 2015
3) 30.3 on 3-5 Mar, 1960
4) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
5) 30.0 on 31 Mar – 1 Apr, 1997
6) 29.8 on 6-8 Mar, 2013
7) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
8) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
9) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
10) 24.3 on 5-7 Dec, 2003
11) 23.0 on 5-7 Mar, 2001
12) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
13) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
14) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969

BHO Greatest February Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
3) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
4) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
5) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
6) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
7) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
8) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969

BHO Snowiest February, inches (1885-2015):

1) 83.6 in 2015 (through Feb 28 at 10:00 AM EST)
2) 65.4 in 1969
3) 51.3 in 2003
4) 45.2 in 1967
5) 40.4 in 1920
6) 39.7 in 2013
7) 37.0 in 1893

BHO Snowiest January-February, inches (1886-2015):

1) 126.5 in 2015 (through Feb 28 at 10:00 AM EST)
2) 77.9 in 1948
3) 70.2 in 2005
4) 68.7 in 1904
5) 67.5 in 1920
6) 66.9 in 1994

BHO Greatest Snow Depth, inches (1895-2015):
1) 46 in February 2015
2) 43 in March 1969
3) 42 in January 1948
4) 41 in February 1969
5) 39 in February 1948
6) 38 in February 1920
7) 33 in February 1978
33 in January 1996
9) 31 in February 2003
31 in February 2011
11)30 in March 1960
30 in March 1978

Today’s Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Overcast altostratus
Temperature: 35F; Dew Point: 35F; Wind: WSW at 11 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.72 ins. Hg, rising, then more quickly
Visibility: 35 miles, except 25 miles NE-ESE, thin fog in all directions
6-hr max temp: 37F
6-hr min temp: 33F
24-hr precip: 0.38 inches
24-hr snowfall: 2.8 inches
Snow depth: 37 inches
BHO SA 1155 E140 OVC 35 066/35/35/2411/972/
VSBY NE-ESE 25 MI THN FG ALQDS NEW SNW PST 24 HRS 2.8 INS/
8/02/ 4/037 53020 ASOS 60002 70040 MANUAL 70038 10037 20033

10 A.M.
Weather: Overcast altostratus, few cumulus fractus
distant SW-NNE
Temperature: 38F; Dew Point: 34F; Wind: SW at 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.78 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 35 miles, thin fog in all directions
BHO SA 1455 E110 OVC 35 083/38/34/2309/978/
CUFRA DSNT SW-NNE THN FG ALQDS/ 8/72/ 51017

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken altostratus, thin overcast cirrostratus,
few cumulus fractus in all directions
Temperature: 40F; Dew Point: 30F; Wind W at 18G26 kts
Sea-Level Pressure: 29.78 ins. Hg, rising, then falling
Visibility: 60 miles, except 40 miles ESE-SSW
6 Hr Max temp: 41F
6 hr min temp: 35F
BHO SA 1755 E160 BKN 200 -OVC 60 086/40/30/2718G26/978/
VSBY ESE-SSW 40 MI FEW CUFRA ALQDS PK WND 2726/46/
8/727 50003 10041 20035
SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX…..32   NORMAL…..41
MIN…..13   NORMAL…..23
MEAN….23   NORMAL…..32

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL……………………….-9
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH………………………-20 [-6.9 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY…………..42  DEPARTURE………..+9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH………….121  DEPARTURE……….+20
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON………..4829  DEPARTURE………+160
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE……4669  DIFFERENCE……..+119

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY………………33 S     AT 11:27 P.M.
ASOS…………………..35 S     AT 11:27 P.M.
DAVIS………………….33 S     AT 11:26 P.M. RMY N/A
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY………………..28 S     AT 11:26 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE……………..26 S     AT 11:28 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE…………….25 S     AT 11:27 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION…………12.6 S
ASOS…………………12.7
DAVIS………………..11.3 SW [230 degrees] * last of several occurrences..

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M….0.38  DEPARTURE…..+0.21
ASOS…………..0.40
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH……….0.62  DEPARTURE…..+0.10
ASOS…………..0.65
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR……….11.96  DEPARTURE…..+3.15
ASOS……………N/A ***
*** ASOS annual totals not available due to erroneous readings
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M……….2.8  DEPARTURE……+2.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH…………….5.7  DEPARTURE……+4.2
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON………….143.2  DEPARTURE…..+94.7

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOWFALL/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/RMY GUST
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
….: Data not yet available, records not finalized
2/1  28/8/18/-8/0.00/0.0/582/97               29 WNW RMY N/A
2/2  29/8/19/-7/1.53/16.5/000/00              44 NE  RMY 46
2/3  21/0/11/-15/0.00/0.0/593/98              31 NW  RMY N/A
2/4  36/14/25/-1/0.00/0.0/164/27              31 S   RMY 33
2/5  34/4/19/-7/0.15/3.5/000/00               38 NW  RMY 39
2/6  19/-2/9/-17/0.00/0.0/392/64              28 NW  RMY 27
2/7  25/14/20/-7/…./…/000/00              25 WSW RMY N/A
2/8  29/11/20/-7/…./…/000/00              30 NNE RMY 29
2/9  19/12/16/-11/…./…/000/00             29 N   RMY 28
2/10 28/12/20/-7/…./…/081/13              29 N   RMY 29
2/11 24/15/20/-7/0.03/1.4/000/00              30 N   RMY 29
2/12 28/14/21/-6/0.02/0.6/000/00              31 NW  RMY N/A
2/13 20/2/11/-17/0.00/0.0/630/100             35 NW  RMY 35
2/14 26/1/14/-14/…./…/241/38              24 NW  RMY N/A
2/15 18/-6/6/-22/…./…/000/00              53 NW  RMY 59
2/16 17/-8/5/-23/0.00/0.0/606/95              43 NW  RMY N/A
2/17 21/5/13/-15/0.12/2.0/064/10              18 NW  RMY 16
2/18 28/15/22/-7/…./…/039/06              17 W   RMY N/A
2/19 26/6/16/-13/0.02/0.3/116/18              40 W   RMY 43
2/20 15/0/8/-21/0.00/0.0/630/97               38 W   RMY 40
2/21 32/3/18/-11/…./…/462/71              39 SSW RMY 42
2/22 39/27/33/+4/…./…/327/50              25 WSW RMY N/A
2/23 28/1/15/-15/0.00/0.0/204/31              38 WNW RMY 44
2/24 18/-6/6/-24/…./…/574/87              26 S   RMY 27
2/25 32/11/22/-8/…./…/650/98              35 W   RMY 36
2/26 21/15/18/-12/0.04/0.6/000/00             25 NE  RMY 24
2/27 25/9/17/-14/0.00/0.0/669/100             20 NW  RMY N/A
2/28 30/5/18/-13/0.00/0.0/671/100             22 NW  RMY N/A

3/1  29/14/22/-9/…./…/…/..              25 SSW RMY 25
3/2  35/22/29/-2/…./…/…/..              44 WNW RMY 48
3/3  3213/23/-9/…./2.8/…/..               33 S   RMY N/A

3/4 morning low temp: 33F since midnight, normal low is now 23

DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2015

– NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL FOR 2 FEBRUARY 2015
SNOWFALL 16.5 INS. surpasses previous record:
5.5 ins. in 1916, 1934

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

RECORDS FOR MARCH 4
HIGH 69 IN 1974
LOW -5 IN 1950
PRECIP 1.80 IN 1960
SNOWFALL 17.3 IN 1960
PEAK GUST 81e MPH SSW IN 1971

RECORDS FOR MARCH 5
HIGH 64 IN 1979
LOW -2 IN 1948
PRECIP 1.76 INS. IN 2001
SNOWFALL 13.0 INS. IN 1891
PEAK GUST 76e MPH WNW IN 1971

TODAY’S REPORT PREPARED BY: Brian Fitzgerald