BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02186
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2010 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
DRY WEATHER PATTERN CONTINUES AND RAINFALL
TOTALS CONTINUE TO FALL FARTHER BELOW NORMAL
 
August continues the dry weather pattern which
also prevailed during July. In fact, less than
normal rainfall has prevailed each month starting
with April.
March had 393% of normal precipitation with a
record 18.81 inches.  Thus, the year still shows
a surplus of over 7 inches. However, since April 1
our total precipitation is 10.47 inches or 61% of
normal. If March had had normal precipitation we 
would currently be below normal for the year by 
6.45 inches instead of being above normal by 
over 7 inches. 
 
Today's observations: 
 
7 A.M.
Weather: Broken dense cirrus, overcast cirrus, altocumulus, few
altocumulus castellanus, lenticularis, chaotic sky, thin spots
in the overcast
Temperature: 68F, Dew point: 62F; Wind: ENE at 2 kts (estimated),
Sea-level pressure: 29.96 inches Hg, rising 
Visibility: 20 miles, thin smoke layer near horizon to
the northwest thru north, visibility 25 above inversion
to the west-northwest, thin fog below inversion southwest
thru northwest dissipating
24-hour rainfall: 0.00
6-hour minimum temp: 65F
BHO SA 1155 E200 BKN 250 OVC 20 144/68/62/E0602/996/
AC/FEW ACC/FEW ACSL SE ALQDS CHAOTIC SKY DNS CI ALQDS
OVC PTLY THN THN FG BLO INVSN SW-NW THN K LYR ALG HRZN NW-N
VSBY 25 WNW ABV INVSN HAZY/ 8/092 51010 10068 20065 
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered altocumulus, altocumulus chaotic,
scattered dense cirrus, thin broken cirrus, cumulus
forming all quadrants
Temperature: 78F, Dew point: 56F; Wind: ESE at 5 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 29.96 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 40 miles, WNW 45 miles, distant haze
BHO SA 1455 150 SCT 220 SCT 250 –BKN 40 146/78/56/1205/996/
CU FRMG ALQDS AC CHAOTIC PTCHS DNS CI AND CC/ 8/192 53002 
 
1 P.M. 
Weather: Scattered cumulus/stratocumulus, broken altocumulus
with two layers, few moderate cumulus
Temperature: 77F, Dew point: 60F; Wind: ENE at 10 kts,
Wind: Direction variable NNE to E
Sea-level pressure: 29.96 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 50 miles, except 45 miles west-northwest,
distant haze 
6-hour maximum temp: 80F
BHO SA 1755 60 SCT 80 SCT E150 BKN 50 144/77/60/0710/996/ FEW MDT CU
VSBY WNW 45 LGT DSNT HZ WND 03V10/ 8/47/ 58002 10080 20068 
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....80     NORMAL.....80
MIN.....66     NORMAL.....62
MEAN....73     NORMAL.....71                                                                         
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR AVERAGE.................+2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.................+36 [+3.1 DEGREES/DAY]
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............22 NNE AT  8:40 A.M.
                   AEROVANE..............23 NNE AT  8:38 A.M.   
                   ASOS..................22 NNE AT  8:41 A.M. 
                   DAVIS.................21 NE  AT  8:12 A.M.  
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........16 NNE AT  8:39 A.M. 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............15 ENE AT  3:34 P.M.    
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.......... 15 NNE AT  8:39 A.M.    
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION........9.0 NNE   
                   ASOS.................8.9 
                   DAVIS................8.8 NE [040 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..........1.03  DEPARTURE........-0.37
                         ASOS..............1.03
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........38.38  DEPARTURE........+7.57
                         ASOS.............38.07 **
** ASOS missing rainfall due to system failure on 6/24-25
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 2010 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/AERO GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system gust when significant
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
....: Data not yet available, records not finalized
 
8/1  79/59/69/-3/0.00/512/59   22 SE
8/2  82/61/72/0/0.00/614/71    24 S
8/3  83/64/74/+2/0.00/397/46   32 SSW AERO 36 MPH SSW
8/4  89/71/80/+8/0.00/421/49   27 SSW
8/5  89/71/80/+8/0.86/103/12   30 W   AERO 35 MPH W    TSTM
8/6  85/62/74/+2/0.00/693/81   33 W   AERO 36 MPH W
8/7  79/58/69/-2/0.00/768/90   28 SSW
8/8  84/63/74/+3/0.00/664/78   30 S
8/9  91/69/80/+9/T/.../..      25 WSW
8/10 87/69/78/+7/0.17/.../..   18 WSW
8/11 80/66/73/+2/0.00/.../..   22 NNE
 
8/12 our morning low temp: 65F; the normal low is 62F
 
NEW DAILY RECORDS FOR AUGUST 2010 
None
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR AUGUST 12
HIGH 99F IN 1944
LOW 48F IN 1930
PRECIP 1.89 INCHES IN 1979
PEAK GUST 50 MPH NE IN 1983
 
RECORDS FOR AUGUST 13
HIGH 98F IN 1944, 2002
LOW 47F IN 1902, 1957
PRECIP 2.92 INCHES IN 1989
PEAK GUST 52 MPH SSE IN 1963
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling/Hari Anbarasu