BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2011
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
HIGH WINDS RAKE SUMMIT....  
WIND GUSTS REACH HURRICANE FORCE LATE LAST EVENING
NEW PEAK GUST RECORD FOR DECEMBER 27TH ESTABLISHED
ONLY ABOUT 0.3 INCH OF RAINFALL WITH INTENSE STORM
 
A peak gust of 78 MPH S was recorded by the automated ASOS
system very late last evening. The peak gust of 73 MPH S
on our 420C system set a new peak wind gust record for
December 27th, a record of 58 MPH W set just one year ago
on December 27,2010.
 
Here's the listing of peak gusts recorded:
 
ASOS.....................78 MPH S @ 11:12 P.M.
Maximum, Inc. Maestro....78 MPH
Aerovane.................74 MPH S @ 11:12 P.M.
420C gust recorded.......73 MPH S @ 11:12 P.M. (official new manual record)
Maximum, Inc. Merlin.....73 MPH SSE
Davis system.............71 MPH S @ 11:12 P.M.
R.M. Young...............70 MPH
 
The maximum temperature reached 55F at midnight and
at 1 A.M. this morning.  Rainfall totaled only 0.28 inch
in the standard gage and 0.31 inch for ASOS.
 
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 62.53
inches through December 27th is the seventh 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 27th, 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 27th, 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) 62.53 in 2011 (through the 27th)
8) 62.45 in 1983
9) 62.38 in 1975
10)60.35 in 2006
 
Through December 27th, the total precipitation for 2011 has been
62.53 inches, so this year will rank among the ten wettest on record.
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M. 
Weather: Scattered dense cirrus (layer NNE-SSE), few stratocumulus
distant ENE-ESE, few ACSL distant S-SSW, stratocumulus layer along the
horizon distant SSW-N
Temperature: 43F, Dew point: 36F, Wind: WSW at 15G22 kts,
Wind: Peak wind gust 26 kts WSW @ 6:15 A.M.,
Wind: Direction variable 
Sea-level pressure: 29.29 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 35 miles, distant haze
6-hour min. temp: 43F
24-hour precip: 0.28 inch
BHO SA 1155 220 SCT 35 920/43/36/2515G22/929/ FEW SC DSNT ENE-ESE
FEW ACSL DSNT S-SSW SC LYR XTDNG ALG HRZN DSNT SSW-N DNS CI LYR
NE-SE DSNT HZ PK WND 2526/15/ WND 19V26/ 8/542 53003 ASOS 70031
MANUAL 70028 10055 20043 
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cumulus, cumulus fractus forming, scattered stratocumulus and
stratocumulus lenticularis, scattered altocumulus/altocumulus lenticularis,
scattered dense cirrus (layer along horizon distant NE-SE)
Temperature: 45F, Dew Point: 35F; Wind: W at 13G20 kts,
Wind: Direction variable SW-WNW
Sea-level pressure: 29.33 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 55 miles, light distant haze
BHO SA 1455 30 SCT 65 SCT 220 SCT 55 933/45/35/2713G20/933/
CU/CUFRA FRMG ALQDS SCSL/ACSL ALQDS DNS CI DSNT NE-ESE LGT DSNT HZ
WND 22V29/ 8/842 51013 
 
1 P.M. 
Weather: Broken stratocumulus/cumulus, broken higher stratocumulus,
few stratocumulus lenticularis 
Temperature: 43F, Dew Point: 30F; Wind: W at 19G31 kts,
Wind: Peak wind gust 34 kts W @ 12:40 P.M.,
Wind: Direction variable SW to WNW
Sea-level pressure: 29.32 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 65 miles, mountain in cloud 70 NW   
6-hour max temp: 45F 
BHO SA 1755 E40 BKN 65 BKN 65 928/43/30/2719G31/932/ FEW MDT CU FEW SCSL VSB
MTN INCLD 70 NW PK WND 2834/40/ WND 23V30/ 8/8// 56005 10045 20042
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....55    NORMAL.....36
MIN.....28    NORMAL.....21
MEAN....42    NORMAL.....28
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.....................+14
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH....................+180 [+6.5 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............23   DEPARTURE........-14
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............719   DEPARTURE.......-173
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON....... ..1626   DEPARTURE.......-555
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....2117   DIFFERENCE......-491
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............73 S   AT 11:12 P.M. **                
                   AERO..................74 S   AT 11:12 P.M.  
                   ASOS..................78 S   AT 11:12 P.M.  
                   DAVIS.................71 S   AT 11:12 P.M. RMY 70 MPH 
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........52 SSE AT 11:13 P.M.  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............53 SSE AT 11:13 P.M. 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...........51 SSE AT 11:13 P.M.   
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.......21.6 SSW  
                   ASOS................19.7
                   DAVIS...............19.5 S [180 deg]
** New record for date; previous 58 MPH W in 2010
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.28  DEPARTURE..........+0.13
                         ASOS..............0.31
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........3.84  DEPARTURE..........-0.12
                         ASOS..............3.91
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........62.53  DEPARTURE.........+11.91
                        ASOS..............63.00**
**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.........-9.1
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON...............8.5  DEPARTURE.........-3.5
 
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 55/28/42/+14/..../.../.../..   73 S   AERO 74 MPH S   RMY 70
 
12/28  our morning low temp: 43F; the normal low is now 20F 
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 2011
12/27 - New record high wind gust of 73 MPH S;
surpasses 58 MPH W in 2010
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
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
 
RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 29
HIGH 72 IN 1984
LOW -19 IN 1933 (RECORD FOR DECEMBER)
PRECIP 1.91 INS. IN 1945
SNOWFALL 18.4 INS. IN 1945
PEAK GUST 95 MPH S IN 1966 (RECORD FOR DECEMBER)
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling