BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
SUNSHINE AND MILDER TEMPS. BY AFTERNOON
 
After a colder than normal start with a low
of 34F (normal low is 38F), temperatures
have warmed more than yesterday to 53F by 2 PM EDT.
This is very close to our normal maximum for
the date of 54F.
 
The record-breaking month of October has come to an end.  Overall,
the month can be summed up as warm, wet, and snowy.  Three new daily
record snowfalls were set in October.  Below are a few notable stats
as well as the preliminary stats for the month.
 
The first freeze of the fall season on the summit occurred on October
27 with a minimum temperature of 32F.  The long term average date of
the first freeze is October 20.
 
BHO Largest October single storm snowfalls (inches):
1) 6.8 on 10 October 1979
2) 6.0 on 29-30 October 2011
3) 4.2 on 13 October 1934
4) 3.0 on 23 October 1891
   3.0 on 24-25 October 1960
   3.0 on 26 October 1962
     3.0 on 18 October 2009
8) 2.5 on 27 October 2011
9) 2.0 on 14 October 1913
   2.0 on 10 October 1925
 
The earliest measurable snowfall was 0.2 inch on 9 October 1888.
The earliest trace of snow occurred on 8 October 1988 and 2001.
A trace or more has occurred in October in 40 of the last 125 years.
 
BHO Snowiest Octobers (inches):
1) 8.5 in 2011
2) 6.8 in 1979
3) 4.2 in 1934
 
BHO Wettest Octobers (inches):
1) 14.72 in 2005
2) 11.76 in 1996
3) 10.84 in 1962
4)  9.96 in 2011
5)  8.89 in 1932
6)  8.12 in 1955
7)  8.07 in 1989
 
OCTOBER 2011 PRELIMINARY STATS
Average Max Temp:  61.1F [+0.8F]
Average Min Temp:  46.5F [+3.6F]
Mean Temp:  53.8F [+2.2F]
24-hr. Corr Mean Temp:  53.1F
Max Temp:  82F on 9th
Min Temp:  30F on 28th
Total heating degree day units (month):  351  [-71]
Total heating degree day units (season): 426 [-165] *start July 1
Total cooling degree day units (month):   12   [+9]
Total cooling degree day units (season): 736 [+178] *start  Jan 1
Total precipitation:  9.96 ins. [+5.54 ins.]
Total snowfall:  8.5 ins. [+8.3 ins.]
Avg wind speed:  12.0 MPH W 13%
Avg corrected wind speed:  12.3 MPH W 13%
Peak gust:  44 MPH S on 20th
Peak fastest mile:  35 MPH S on 20th
October average wind speed of 12.3 (corrected) MPH was
sixth lowest on record.
SUNSHINE....
Total astronomical minutes: 11088; possible 20551; OR 54%
Total card minutes from Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder:
10692; possible 19824; or 54%, just one point less than average.
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M. 
Weather: Clear, few cumulus and stratocumulus distant
to the E-SE, heavy dew, light frost  
Temperature: 37F, Dew point: 34F; Wind: N at 8 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.40 inches Hg, rising, now steady
Visibility: 20 miles, except 50 miles above inversion WNW,
thin fog below inversion all quadrant estimated top 4 hundred
feet over city north  
Snow depth: Trace
6-hour min. temp: 34F
BHO SA 1155 CLR 20 295/37/34/3608/040/ FEW CU/SC DSNT E-SE
THN F BLOW INVSN/SMT PTCH DNS SHLW GF 4 ESE
VSBY 50 ABV INVSN WNW HVY DEW AND LIGHT FROST/
8/800 51010 10037 20034
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, line of small cumulus distant ESE-SSE,
Temperature: 48F, Dew Point: 39F; Wind: NE at 3 kts,
Wind: Light and variable
Sea-level pressure: 30.40 inches Hg, falling but the
same reading as three hours ago
Visibility: 20 miles, NW-N 15, NE 15, thin smoke layer
SW-N-E, dark smoke layer NW-NE, hazy all quadrants 
BHO SA 1455 CLR 20 295/48/39/0403/040/ LINE OF SML CU DSNT
ESE-SSE THN K LYR SW-N-E DRK K LYR NW-NE VSBY NW-N 15
NE 12 WNW 50/MTN VSBL HAZY ALQDS WND L/V/ 8/100 55000
 
1 P.M. 
Weather: Clear, stratocumulus, stratus distant offshore
NE-E, cirrus distant WSW-NNW
Temperature: 53F, Dew Point: 36F; Wind: E at 2 kts,
Wind: Light and variable
Sea-level pressure: 30.35 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 55 miles, distant haze, thin smoke layer
NW-N and aloft NNE-E, visibility lower N-E   
6-hour max. temp: 53F
BHO SA 1755 CLR 55 276/53/36/E0802/035/
SC/STRA ALG HRZN DSNT OFFSHR NE-E CI DSNT WSW-NNW
THN K LYR NW-N AND ALF NE-E VSBY LWR N-E DSNT HZ
WND L/V/ 8/501 58021 10053 20037
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....50    NORMAL.....55
MIN.....38    NORMAL.....38
MEAN....44    NORMAL.....47
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL....................-3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH....................-3 (DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY............21    DEPARTURE........+2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............211   DEPARTURE........+2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON..........447    DEPARTURE......-163
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....503    DIFFERENCE......-56
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY..............25 ENE AT 11:05 A.M. 
                   AERO...................24 ENE AT 11:05 A.M. 
                   ASOS...................25 ENE AT 11:05 A.M.
                   DAVIS..................23 NE  AT 11:04 A.M. RMY 24
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY............20 E   AT 11:05 A.M. 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE.............20 E   AT 11:05 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE............17 ENE AT 11:05 A.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.........9.1 NNE 
                   ASOS..................9.0
                   DAVIS.................8.4 NE [050 deg]
 
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 OCTOBER........9.96 DEPARTURE..........+5.54
                         ASOS..............9.99
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........54.02 DEPARTURE.........+12.00
                        ASOS..............54.45**
**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.........0.0
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE OCTOBER..............8.5  DEPARTURE........+8.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON...............8.5  DEPARTURE........+8.3
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 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:  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
 
10/1  70/55/63/+6/0.88/085/12      24 NE  AERO N/A        RMY 25 TSTM
10/2  64/54/59/+3/0.03/000/00      24 NNE AERO 27 MPH NNE RMY 26
10/3  67/53/60/+4/0.04/329/47      20 S   AERO 22 MPH S   RMY 22
10/4  65/52/59/+3/1.87/307/44      24 NW  AERO 25 MPH NNW RMY 25 TSTM
10/5  63/42/53/-2/T/468/70         43 WNW AERO 42 MPH WNW RMY 44
10/6  60/40/50/-5/0.00/677/98      31 NW  AERO 35 MPH WNW RMY 36
10/7  61/39/50/-5/0.00/654/95      17 SW  AERO 18 MPH SW  RMY N/A
10/8  78/49/64/+10/0.00/651/95     22 WSW AERO 23 MPH WSW RMY 24
10/9  82/61/72/+18/0.00/663/97     21 W   AERO 23 MPH W   RMY 24
10/10 81/59/70/+16/0.00/653/96     23 NW  AERO 23 MPH NW  RMY 23
10/11 65/52/59/+6/0.00/433/64      17 E   AERO 17 MPH E   RMY 18
10/12 59/51/55/+2/0.06/041/06      23 ENE AERO 23 MPH ENE RMY N/A
10/13 62/55/59/+7/1.00/000/00      28 NNE AERO 28 MPH NNE RMY 27
10/14 69/57/63/+11/0.58/000/00     36 SSW AERO 38 MPH SSW RMY 39 TSTM
10/15 64/51/58/+6/0.00/566/85      42 SSW AERO 44 MPH SSW RMY 44
10/16 63/51/57/+6/0.00/550/83      42 WSW AERO 43 MPH WSW RMY 41
10/17 63/50/57/+6/0.01/575/87      36 SSW AERO 38 MPH SSW RMY 37
10/18 67/51/59/+8/T/211/32         27 SW  AER0 27 MPH SW  RMY N/A
10/19 57/54/56/+5/1.70/000/00      40 NE  AERO 40 MPH NE  RMY 42
10/20 68/53/61/+11/0.40/287/44     44 S   AERO 48 MPH S   RMY 48
10/21 63/46/55/+5/0.00/611/94      27 SSW AERO 31 MPH SSW RMY 31
10/22 60/43/52/+2/T/285/44         20 W   AERO 20 MPH W   RMY 20
10/23 53/40/47/-2/0.00/342/53      17 NW  AERO 18 MPH NW  RMY N/A
10/24 61/44/53/+4/T/372/58         21 S   AERO 22 MPH SSE RMY 22
10/25 59/42/51/+2/0.01/617/97      33 W   AERO 37 MPH W   RMY 35
10/26 46/40/43/-5/0.05/000/00      18 W   AERO 20 MPH W   RMY 20
10/27 45/32/39/-9/1.48/2.5/000/00  28 N   AERO 28 MPH N   RMY 29
10/28 44/30/37/-11/0.00/0.0/593/94 25 NW  AERO 26 MPH NNW RMY 25
10/29 45/31/38/-9/1.55/4.0/063/10  43 NNE AERO 46 MPH NNE RMY 46
10/30 41/31/36/-11/0.30/2.0/576/92 40 NNW AERO 45 MPH NNW RMY N/A
10/31 50/32/41/-6/0.00/0.0/481/76  17 WNW AERO 17 MPH WNW RMY 18
 
11/1  50/38/44/-3/0.00/0.0/286/46/ 25 ENE AERO 24 MPH ENE RMY 24
 
11/2  our morning low temp: 34F; the normal low is now 38F
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 2011
10/4 - NEW DAILY RECORD PRECIPITATION OF 1.87 INCHES;
surpasses the previous record of 1.07 set in 1986.
10/9 - NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMP OF 82F;
surpasses the previous record of 81F set in 1909.
10/9 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 61F;
surpasses the previous record of 60F set in 1970.
10/27 - NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 2.5 INCHES;
surpasses the previous record of 0.1 inch in 1957.
10/29 - NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 4.0 INCHES;
surpasses the previous record of 1.5 inches in 2005
10/30 - NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 2.0 INCHES;
surpasses the previous record of 0.6 inches in 2000.
 
NEW MONTHLY RECORD FOR OCTOBER 2011
Total snowfall of 8.5 inches; previous record was
6.8 inches in October 1979.
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER 2
HIGH 81 IN 1950
LOW 22 IN 1965
PRECIP 1.67 INCHES IN 1970
SNOWFALL 0.2 IN 1906,1951
PEAK GUST 63 WSW IN 1973
 
RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER 3
HIGH 75 IN 1990
LOW 21 IN 1891
PRECIP 1.92 INCHES IN 1951
SNOWFALL 0.1 IN 1951
PEAK GUST 96e SSE IN 1951
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling