BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2011
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
WIDE ARRAY OF MID TO HIGH CLOUDS OBSERVED AT SUMMIT
AS STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM SW BRINGING RAIN, GUSTY
WINDS, AND EVEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF T-STORMS TONIGHT
 
There has been a wide array of mid to high clouds invading the
region throughout the day associated with a low pressure system
that will arrive tonight bringing rain and gusty winds. Since
this morning, sky conditions have become overcast with a
cirrostratus layer.
 
Winds have been gusty today out of the south, with an average
of about 18 mph. Hazy conditions today at the summit have also
kept visibility down to no more than 40 miles.
 
With this being a fast moving storm, the storm will move offshore
during the overnight hours leaving gusty winds and partly to mostly
cloudy skies tomorrow with eventual clearing tomorrow night. Expect
highs in the high 30s to low 40s.
 
DECEMBER AND 2011 SO FAR RANKING AMONG TEN WARMEST ON RECORD...
 
December will likely finish among the ten warmest on record,
following the warmest November on record.  The warm finish to
the year has raised the annual average to more than 50 deg F,
and 2011 is also likely to finish among the ten warmest on
record.  It has also been a very wet year, and the total of 62.25
inches through December 26th is the ninth highest on record with
one week left in the year. 
 
Warmest Decembers, deg F (1885-2010):
 
1) 38.1 in 2006
2) 37.3 in 2001
3) 37.2 in 1891
4) 36.9 in 1998
5) 36.7 in 1990
6) 36.6 in 1953
7) 36.3 in 1996
8) 36.0 in 1957
 
Through the 26th, December 2011 has averaged 38.1 deg F
 
 
Warmest Years, deg F (1885-2010):
 
1) 51.0 in 2010
2) 50.9 in 1999
3) 50.8 in 1998
4) 50.6 in 2006
5) 50.5 in 1953
6) 50.3 in 1990
   50.3 in 1991
8) 50.2 in 1949
9) 50.2 in 2001
 
Through December 26th, 2011 has averaged 50.4 deg F.
 
Wettest Years, inches (1886-2010):
 
1) 71.00 in 1998
2) 69.36 in 1996
3) 66.23 in 2005
4) 65.51 in 1972
5) 63.81 in 1920
6) 62.74 in 2010
7) 62.45 in 1983
8) 62.38 in 1975
9) 62.25 in 2011 (through Dec 26th)
10)60.35 in 2006
 
Through December 26th, the total precipitation for 2011 has been
62.25 inches, so this year will rank among the ten wettest on record.
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M. 
Weather: Scattered altocumulus, scattered cirrus, chaotic sky (altocumulus)
NE-S, few lower altocumulus SW-N, few cirrus N-SW, hazy
Temperature: 31F, Dew point: 26F, Wind: S at 13 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.10 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 25 miles, 35 miles E-S, hazy
6-hour min. temp: 29F
BHO SA 1155 90 SCT 130 SCT 180 SCT 200 SCT 220 SCT 25 193/31/26/1813/010/
AC CHAOTIC NE-S FEW LWR AC SW-N FEW CI N-SW HAZY SW-NW VSBY HIER E-S 35/
8/092 57017 10031 20029
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered altocumulus, scattered cirrus, broken cirrus, cirrostratus
layer invading sky from SW becoming overcast, hazy
Temperature: 40F, Dew Point: 29F; Wind: SSW at 15G24 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.09 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 40 miles, hazy
BHO SA 1455 180 SCT E220 BKN 250 BKN 40 188/40/29/2015G24/009/ CS INVADING SKY
FM SW BCMNG OVC HAZY/ 8/077 58005 
 
1 P.M. 
Weather: Broken altostratus, overcast cirrostratus, few cumulus fractus all
quadrants, few altocumulus ESE-WNW, sun dimly visible, hazy
Temperature: 43F, Dew Point: 36F; Wind: SSW at 17G24 kts,
Wind: Peak wind gust 28 kts SSW @ 12:35 P.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.96 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 50 miles 
6-hour max temp: 43F
BHO SA 1755 E140 BKN 220 OVC 50 145/43/36/2017G24/996/ FEW CUFRA ALQDS FEW AC
ESE-WNW SUN DMLY VSBL HAZY PK WND 2028/35/ 8/177 56043 10043 20031
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 26
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....41    NORMAL.....36
MIN.....29    NORMAL.....21
MEAN....35    NORMAL.....28
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................+7
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH....................+166 [+6.2 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............30   DEPARTURE.........+1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............696   DEPARTURE.......-159
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON....... ..1603   DEPARTURE.......-541
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....2074   DIFFERENCE......-471
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............32 NW  AT 10:56 A.M. *                
                   AERO..................35 NW  AT  9:52 A.M. 
                   ASOS..................35 NNW AT 10:56 A.M. 
                   DAVIS.................32 NW  AT  9:43 A.M.
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........26 NW  AT 10:56 A.M. * 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............25 NNW AT  9:51 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...........24 NW  AT  9:51 A.M.  
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.......13.0 NW
                   ASOS................12.6
                   DAVIS...............11.4 WNW [298 deg]
* Last of several occurrences
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00  DEPARTURE..........-0.15
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........3.56  DEPARTURE..........-0.25
                         ASOS..............3.60
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........62.25  DEPARTURE.........+11.78
                        ASOS..............62.69**
**ASOS data is in error due to system failure on 1/12-13/11
     
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0  DEPARTURE.........-0.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................0.0  DEPARTURE.........-8.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON...............8.5  DEPARTURE.........-3.1
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 2011 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/AERO GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system gust when significant
RMY:  RMY = R.M. Young wind gust recording system added 8/9/2011
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
....: Data not yet available, records not finalized
 
12/1  46/33/40/+4/0.00/0.0/560/100   29 NW  AERO 29 MPH NW  RMY 27
12/2  49/31/40/+4/0.00/0.0/481/86    25 NW  AERO 28 MPH NW  RMY 28
12/3  43/30/37/+2/0.00/0.0/467/84    21 NW  AERO 22 MPH NW  RMY N/A
12/4  51/34/43/+8/0.00/0.0/211/38    28 SSW AERO 30 MPH S   RMY 29
12/5  62/44/53/+18/0.00/0.0/155/28   27 SSW AERO 28 MPH SSW RMY 28
12/6  58/49/54/+20/0.34/0.0/000/00   28 SSW AERO 30 MPH SSW RMY 30
12/7  56/43/50/+16/1.45/0.0/000/00   31 NNE AERO 28 MPH NNE RMY N/A
12/8  43/32/38/+5/0.96/0.0/513/93    57 NW  AERO 59 MPH NW  RMY 58  TSTM
12/9  50/31/41/+8/T/0.0/380/68       33 SSW AERO 35 MPH SSW RMY 36
12/10 43/27/35/+2/T/0.0/171/31       25 NW  AERO 28 MPH NW  RMY 27
12/11 36/23/30/-2/0.00/0.0/544/99    23 SSW AERO 23 MPH SSW RMY 24
12/12 47/29/38/+6/0.00/0.0/466/85    22 WSW AERO 22 MPH SW  RMY N/A
12/13 44/28/36/+4/0.00/0.0/520/95    23 WSW AERO 23 MPH WSW RMY N/A
12/14 40/33/37/+6/0.00/0.0/000/00    16 SSE AERO 17 MPH SSE RMY N/A
12/15 51/35/43/+12/0.02/0.0/000/00   47 S   AERO 46 MPH S   RMY N/A
12/16 52/36/44/+13/0.01/0.0/470/86   55 W   AERO 55 MPH W   RMY 49
12/17 41/24/33/+2/0.00/0.0/044/08    25 NNW AERO 25 MPH NNW RMY 26
12/18 26/15/21/-9/0.00/0.0/441/81    23 NNW AERO 22 MPH NNW RMY N/A
12/19 42/14/28/-2/0.00/0.0/452/83    44 SW  AERO 44 MPH SSW RMY 45
12/20 41/29/35/+5/0.00/0.0/392/72    28 WNW AERO 27 MPH WNW RMY 28
12/21 55/29/42/+12/0.04/0.0/000/00   36 SSW AERO 37 MPH SSW RMY N/A
12/22 55/46/51/+22/0.11/0.0/.../..   45 W   AERO 47 MPH W   RMY 48
12/23 47/28/38/+9/0.62/0.0/.../..    25 NW  AERO 25 MPH NW  RMY 26
12/24 29/18/24/-5/0.00/0.0/.../..    20 NW  AERO 17 MPH NW  RMY 20
12/25 39/17/28/-1/0.01/T/.../..      28 S   AERO 28 MPH S   RMY 29
12/26 41/29/35/+7/0.00/0/.../..      32 NW  AERO 35 MPH NW  RMY 33
 
12/27 our morning low temp: 28F; the normal low is now 21F 
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 2011
None so far.
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 27
HIGH 57 IN 1895,1949
LOW -4 IN 1903
PRECIP 2.43 INS. IN 1969
SNOWFALL 11.2 INS. IN 1947
PEAK GUST 58 W IN 2010
 
RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 28
HIGH 60 IN 1982
LOW -2 IN 1933
PRECIP 2.16 INS. IN 1967
SNOWFALL 9.5 INS. IN 1967
PEAK GUST 89 MPH SSE IN 1983
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George A. Tabeek