BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY 
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2011
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
INTENSE NOR'EASTER BRINGS RECORD SNOWFALL, HEAVY FOG...
 
A significant winter storm originating from the southeastern
U.S. moved into southern New England on Wednesday bringing
high winds, heavy fog and record-breaking snowfall. Initial
effects of the storm began around 1AM followed by rapid
intensification over the next six or so hours. By the 0700E
observation, 10.9 inches of snowfall had been recorded along with
sustained winds of 25-30 mph and peak gusts around 50 mph, therefore
causing tremendous snow drifts. This accumulation easily surpassed
the existing record of 6.0 inches for Jan. 12 set back in 1923.
 
Blowing snow and fog reduced visibilities to as low as 1/8 mile,
while numerous reports of thunder and lightning were made in
surrounding suburban communities. As of 1300E, 16.7 inches of total
snowfall had been recorded (snow water equivalent equal to 1.89
inches) with a few more inches possible by the end of the day.
 
Today's observations: 
 
7 A.M.  
Weather: Heavy snow, fog, drifting snow
Temperature: 31F, Dew point: 31F; Wind: NE at 26G43 kts, 
Wind: Direction variable N to E
Peak wind last hour: 43 kts NE at 0643E
Sea-level pressure: 29.37 inches Hg, falling rapidly
Visibility: 1/8 mile, blowing snow and fog
6-hour min. temp: 31F
6-hour precip: 1.29 inches
24-hour precip: 1.29 inches
Total new snow past 24 hours: 10.9 inches
Total snow depth on ground: 14 inches
BHO SA 1155 W2 1/8S+F 946/31/31/0426G43/937/ DRFTG SNW
TOTAL NEW SNW PST 24 HRS 10.9 INS PRESFR PK WND 0443/43
WND 35V90/ 8//// 58088 4/014 MANUAL 6129/ ASOS 6138/ MANUAL
70129 ASOS 70138
 
10 A.M.  
Weather: Heavy snow, fog, drifting snow
Temperature: 26F, Dew point: 26F; Wind: NW at 19G30 kts,
Wind: Direction variable W to NNE
Wind: Gradually backing past hour
Peak wind last hour: 33 kts N at 0913E
Sea-level pressure: 29.21 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 1/8 mile, blowing snow and fog
3-hour precip: 0.43 inch
Total new snow past 3 hours: 5.0 inches
BHO SA 1455 W2 1/8S+F 895/26/26/3319G30/922/ DRFTG SNW
TOTAL NEW SNW PST 3 HRS 5.0 INS WND GRDLY BACKING PST HR
PK WND 3633/13 WND 28V03/ 8//// 56051 MANUAL 6043/ ASOS 6035/
 
1 P.M.   
Weather: Overcast stratocumulus, broken stratocumulus,
light snow, fog
Temperature: 26F, Dew point: 25F; Wind: Estimated WNW at 22G30 kts, 
Wind: Direction variable WSW to N
Peak wind last hour: 36 kts NW at 1230E
Sea-level pressure: 29.23 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 1 1/4 miles, light snow and fog
6-hour max. temp: 31F
6-hour precip: 0.60 inch
Total new snow past 6 hours: 5.8 inches
Storm total: 16.7 inches
Total snow depth on ground: 18 inches
BHO SA 1755 E8 BKN 12 OVC 11/4S-F 898/26/25/3022G30/923/ TOTAL NEW 
SNW PST 6 HRS 5.8 INS STORM TOTAL 16.7 INS PK WND 3136/30 WND 25V35/ 
8/72/ 55003 4/018 MANUAL 6060/ ASOS 6//// 10031 20025
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 11
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....30     NORMAL.....34
MIN.....16     NORMAL.....18
MEAN....23     NORMAL.....26
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.................-3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH................+37 [+3.2 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY............42    DEPARTURE........+3
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH...........387    DEPARTURE.......-36
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON.........2639    DEPARTURE......-113
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE....2708    DIFFERENCE......-69
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY..............22 NNW AT  3:43 A.M.
                   AEROVANE...............24 NNW AT  3:43 A.M.
                   ASOS...................21 NNW AT  3:46 A.M. 
                   DAVIS..................23 WNW AT  5:48 A.M. 
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY........... 15 NW  AT  6:25 P.M. *
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE.............15 NW  AT  6:26 A.M.   
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE............26 WNW AT  6:26 A.M.  
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..........8.9 NW
                   ASOS...................7.8              
                   DAVIS..................8.4 NNW [332 DEG]
*Last of several occurrences
   
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....1.29  DEPARTURE........+1.13
                         ASOS..............1.38
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........1.66  DEPARTURE........-0.02
                         ASOS..............1.75  
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........1.66  DEPARTURE........-0.02
                        ASOS...............1.75
 
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M.........10.9  DEPARTURE.......+10.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH...............13.1  DEPARTURE........+7.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............36.1  DEPARTURE.......+17.0 
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 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
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
....: Data not yet available, records not finalized
 
1/1  57/37/47/+20/0.00/0.0/.../..    25 S
1/2  47/33/40/+13/0.21/0.0/.../..    38 WNW  AERO 44 MPH WNW
1/3  33/23/28/+1/0.00/0.0/.../..     40 NW   AERO 48 MPH NW
1/4  37/21/29/+2/0.00/0.0/.../..     29 SSW  AERO 35 MPH SSW
1/5  37/22/30/+3/0.00/0.0/.../..     35 W    AERO 38 MPH W
1/6  30/17/24/-2/0.00/0.0/.../..     16 WNW
1/7  33/20/27/+1/T/T/.../..          19 NNE
1/8  30/26/28/+2/0.14/1.7/.../..     23 NNW
1/9  32/20/26/0/0.02/0.5/.../..      38 W   AERO 42 MPH W
1/10 33/18/26/0/0.00/0.0/.../..      32 WNW AERO 37 MPH WNW
1/11 30/16/23/-3/0.00/0.0/.../..     22 NNW
 
1/12 our morning low temp: 25F; the normal low is now 18F
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2011
None so far.                             
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 12
HIGH 57F IN 1913, 1975
LOW -15F IN 1886
PRECIP 1.46 INS. IN 1900
SNOW 6.0 INS. IN 1923
WIND 84e MPH S IN 1980
 
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 13
HIGH 57F IN 1890,1932
LOW -10F IN 1912,1914
PRECIP 1.54 INS. IN 1979
SNOWFALL 12.6 INS. IN 1964
PEAK GUST 74 MPH NE IN 1964
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Eli Melaas