BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02186
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
  
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2008     
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME UNLESS NOTED 
 
SUNNY TODAY WITH WARMEST WEATHER SINCE AUGUST 1ST  
YESTERDAY WAS WINDIEST DAY (13.1 MPH) SINCE JULY 27TH
 
Finally, both yesterday and today, we are experiencing a return
to much more normal weather for the month of August. 
Temperatures had reached the mid-80's early this afternoon, 
our highest readings since 85 degrees on the first of the month.
This month continues to average close to 2 degrees cooler
than normal to date.
 
The absence of any significant wind so far this month left us
with an daily wind average of just over 7 mph through 16 days.
This quite likely ranks right up there among the calmest two
weeks on record at the Observatory. Sunday's average of 13.1 MPH
WSW was our highest daily average since 13.1 MPH on July 27th.
Prior to yesterday, only two days this month had averaged 10 MPH.
An average of 10.5 MPH and 10.0 MPH were recorded on the 4th 
and 6th respectively. 
 
Today's observations:
 
8 A.M. EDT
Weather: Scattered altocumulus and altocumulus lenticularis
Temperature: 69F, Dew point: 62F,  Wind: SSW at 5 kts,
Wind: direction gradually backing 
Sea-level pressure: 29.97 inches Hg, steady 
Visibility: 30 miles, light haze 
6-hourly minimum temperature: 64F 
24-hourly rainfall: 0.00 inches
BHO SA 1155 85 SCT 30 148/69/62/2105/997/ FEW ACSL LGT HZ 
WND GRDLY BACKING/ 8/040 51007 10069 20064 
 
11 A.M. EDT
Weather:  Clear, cumulus forming
Temperature: 80F, Dew point: 62F, Wind: SSW at 14 kts 
Sea-level pressure: 29.96 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 35 miles, light haze  
BHO SA 1455 CLR 35 146/80/62/2014/996/
CUFRA/CU FRMG LGT HZ/ 8/100 58002 
 
2 P.M. EDT
Weather: Scattered cumulus, cumulus congestus
Temperature: 83F, Dew point: 60F, Wind: SW at 12G21 kts 
Sea-level pressure: 29.92 inches Hg, fallingrising
Visibility: 35 miles, light haze 
6-hourly max. temp. 85F 
BHO SA 1755 50 SCT 35 133/83/60/2212G21/992/ 
MDT CU ALQDS LGT HZ WND 18V27/ 8/200 58013 10085 20069
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....80    NORMAL.....79
MIN.....59    NORMAL.....61
MEAN....70    NORMAL.....70
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL..............0 
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH............-34 [-2.2 DEGREES/DAY]
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY............28 WSW AT 11:58 A.M. *   
                   AEROVANE.............28 WSW AT  1:18 P.M.     
                   ASOS.................29 WSW AT  3:57 P.M.     
                   DAVIS................29  W  AT 10:40 A.M.         
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY..............22  W  AT  2:16 P.M.     
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE...........21  W  AT  2:17 P.M.      
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE..........23 WSW AT  2:17 P.M.     
                   AVERAGE............. 13.1 WSW  
                   ASOS................ 12.2 
                   DAVIS................13.2 WSW [240 deg]  
* Last of several occurrences.
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00   DEPARTURE......-0.13  
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........4.45   DEPARTURE......+2.27  
                         ASOS..............4.50   
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........35.38   DEPARTURE......+3.79   
                         ASOS.............37.93 #
# Includes erroneous ASOS precipitation data on 2/13/08.
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 2008 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/AERO GUST
AERO: Aerovane recording wind system gust when significant
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
....: Data not yet available, records not finalized
 
8/1  85/66/76/+4/0.00/719/83     16 WSW    
8/2  80/65/73/+1/0.80/346/40     21 NW    TSTM 
8/3  81/61/71/-1/0.56/422/49     52 NW    Aero 55 MPH NW TSTM
8/4  79/60/70/-2/0.01/731/85     25 WNW  
8/5  72/63/68/-4/T/377/44        21 NE  
8/6  64/60/62/-10/0.55/000/00    31 ESE  
8/7  72/61/67/-4/.../009/01      21 SW    TSTM
8/8  77/59/68/-3/.../442/52      23 ENE   TSTM
8/9  78/59/69/-2/0.00/534/63     16 SSE
8/10 80/61/71/0/0.08/474/56      24 ESE   TSTM 
8/11 67/61/64/-7/0.06/025/03     25 E 
8/12 72/58/65/-6/0.18/134/16     21 NNW   TSTM 
8/13 79/59/69/-2/0.00/778/93     18 WSW
8/14 78/63/71/+1/T/334/40        21 NNW   
8/15 79/62/71/+1/1.32/125/15     18 SSW   TSTM
8/16 79/61/70/0/0.01/647/78      23 WSW
8/17 80/59/70/0/0.00/787/95      28 WSW
 
8/18 morning low temp. 64F; our normal low is now 61F
      
NEW DAILY RECORDS FOR AUGUST
 
8/3 - PEAK GUST OF 52 MPH FROM THE NW IS NEW RECORD FOR THE
      DATE; PREVIOUS RECORD 41 MPH NE IN 1964
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR AUGUST 18
HIGH 93F IN 2002
LOW 47F IN 1824
PRECIP 5.75 INCHES IN 1955 [DIANE]
PEAK GUST 46 MPH WNW 2007
 
RECORDS FOR AUGUST 19
HIGH 90F IN 1906, 1966, 2002
LOW 48F IN 1958
PRECIP 7.02 INCHES IN 1955 [DIANE - RECORD FOR MONTH]
PEAK GUST 78 MPH ENE 1991
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED By: Robert Skilling