BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02186
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
MONDAY, MARCH 01, 2004
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

SPECIAL REPORT...1 P.M.
STATS AND DISCUSSION
FEBRUARY AND WINTER 2003-2004

(we're not reporting the daily stats today as we're working
up the February and winter data )
We'll pick up the daily stats starting tomorrow...

TODAY'S DISCUSSION....

High thin clouds and very hazy conditions today with the very mild
temperatures and a light seabreeze prevailing early this afternoon.
Temperatures are heading into the mid-50's after a very mild early
morning low of 38 degrees...

The combined precipitation for January and February of
3.48 inches is the third lowest on record.  Only
2.04 inches in 1980 and 3.09 inches in 1901 were
drier.  The Jan-Feb combined snowfall of 11.5 inches
is the eighth lowest on record and the least
snow for these months since 6.1 inches in 1992.
The least snow for Jan-Feb was 3.1 inches in 1937.
The seasonal snowfall of 41.7 inches is very close
to the normal through this date.

Here is the list of Februarys that had
the most sunshine:

1987  71 percent
1901  67
2004  65 (0.3 hour more than 1968 )
1968  65
1978  65
1980  64
1895  63

Sunshine for the month came out at 65 percent of possible
and way above the average of 48%. In hours, though it edged
into position as third sunniest February.

SOME AMAZING SUNSHINE STATS!

JANUARY-FEBRUARY....SUNNIEST ON ENTIRE RECORD
FEBRUARY 2004.....3RD SUNNIEST ON RECORD
WINTER 2003-2004..4TH SUNNIEST ON RECORD

It's  been an amazing two very sunny winter months (January and February)
with the most sunshine for those two months combined in our records
dating back to 1886.  The winter actually came in as our 4th sunniest
on the entire record.

FEBRUARY STATS....
Mean temp: 29.5 [ +1.2 ]
Max. 52/29th
Min. 08/16th
HDD: 1023 [ - 11 ]

Precip: 1.76 ins. [ -2.30 ]
Greatest in 24 hours 1.15 ins. 6-7th
Snowfall: 3.0 ins. [ - 9.7 ]
Max. snow depth: 3 inches, 1,2nd
Days with one inch on ground or more: 13
Peak gust: 62 MPH WNW on 8th [Aerovane ]
Prevailing wind: NW 25%
Av. wind speed: 14.0 MPH (our corrected average )
Max. barometer: 30.72 ins. on 17th @ 8:55 a.m.
Days with fog: 6

Robert Skilling