BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2011 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
6.0 INCHES OF SNOW MEASURED AT SUMMIT THIS MORNING
AS DAMAGING NOR'EASTER LIFTS NORTH LEAVING BLUE
HILL OBSERVATORY WITH THREE NEW RECORDS
 
With 6.0 inches of snow measured at the summit this morning, this marks
the first time on record of two 1-inch or more snowfalls in October at
the Observatory. In addition, the October snowfall record of 6.8 inches
has been exceeded by a monthly snowfall total of now 8.5 inches. Lastly,
the daily snowfall total for October 29th has been broken but final
measurements are still being determined. The total precipitation for the
month is now over nine inches and is currently fourth highest on record
for October.
 
Aside from the snowfall event, winds have been very gusty today out of
the WNW with a peak gust of around 40 MPH thus far. Clouds have been
present all day, as pieces of stratus fractus have passed over the summit
this morning. A layer of cumulus has built its way in throughout the day.
Humidity has dropped since this morning and temperatures have just hit
above 40F within the past hour.
 
Tomorrow is supposed to be mostly clear as winds will calm overnight.
Expect temperatures in the mid to high 40s.
 
 
BHO Largest October 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
11) 1.5 on 29 October 2005
12) 1.3 on 23 October 2002
13) 1.0 on 19 October 1972
 
Earliest measurable snow was 0.2 inch on 9 October 1888.
Earliest trace of snow occurred on 8 October 1988 and 2001.
Trace or more has occurred in October in 40 of the last 125 years.
 
BHO Snowiest Octobers (inches):
 
1) 8.5 in 2011 (through 29th)
2) 6.8 in 1979
3) 4.2 in 1934
4) 3.0 in 1891
   3.0 in 1960
   3.0 in 1962
   3.0 in 2009

BHO Wettest Octobers (inches):
 
1) 14.72 in 2005
2) 11.76 in 1996
3) 10.84 in 1962
4) 9.96 in 2011 (through 29th)
5) 8.89 in 1932
6) 8.12 in 1955
7) 8.07 in 1989 
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M. 
Weather: Scattered cumulus, scattered altocumulus, few stratus fractus
drifting over summit, few altocumulus standing lenticularis along
horizon SSW-W, crepuscular rays E-SE
Temperature: 32F, Dew point: 32F; Wind: NW at 16G24 kts,
Wind: Direction variable W-N
Sea-level pressure: 29.83 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 30 miles, visibility SSW-W 40
24-hour snowfall: 6.0 inches
Snow depth: 6 inches
24-hour precip: 1.85 inches
6-hour min. temp: 31F
BHO SA 1155 60 SCT 80 SCT 30 101/32/32/3116G24/983/ FEW STFRA DRFTG OVR
SMT FEW ACSL ALG HRZN SSW-W CREPUSCULAR RAYS E-SE VSBY S-SW 40 WND
26V36/ 8/130 52044 ASOS 60025 MANUAL 600// ASOS 70191 MANUAL 70185 10032
20031
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cumulus, scattered altocumulus, scattered cirrus, few
cumulus fractus all quadrants, few altocumulus standing lenticularis
ENE-SE, band of stratocumulus along horizon all quadrants except SSW-SW,
few patches dense cirrus W-E
Temperature: 35F, Dew Point: 35F; Wind: NW at 18 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.95 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 65 miles 
BHO SA 1455 50 SCT 120 SCT 200 SCT 65 141/35/35/3118/995/ FEW CUFRA
ALQDS FEW ACSL ENE-SE BAND SC ALG HRZN ALQDS XCPT SSW-SW FEW PTCHS CI
W-E/ 8/242 51040 
 
1 P.M. 
Weather: Scattered cumulus/cumulus mediocris, few cumulus fractus all
quadrants
Temperature: 41F, Dew Point: 31F; Wind: NW at 18G28 kts,
Wind: Direction variable W-N
Sea-level pressure: 30.03 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hour max. temp: 41F 
BHO SA 1755 35 SCT 70 170/41/31/3118G28/003/ FEW CUFRA ALQDS WND 27V26/
8/200 51029 10041 20032
 
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....45    NORMAL.....56
MIN.....31    NORMAL.....39
MEAN....38    NORMAL.....47
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL....................-9
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH...................+93 [+3.0 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY............27    DEPARTURE.......+9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH...........298    DEPARTURE.......-88
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON..........373    DEPARTURE......-182
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....436    DIFFERENCE......-63
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY..............43 NNE AT  4:57 P.M.
                   AERO...................46 NNE AT  4:57 P.M.
                   ASOS...................44 NNE AT  4:58 P.M. 
                   DAVIS..................41 NNE AT  4:57 P.M. RMY 46
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY............26 N   AT  5:45 P.M. *
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE.............26 NNE AT  5:45 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE............26 NNE AT  4:59 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION........15.3 N
                   ASOS.................14.9
                   DAVIS................13.2 NNE [022 deg] **
* Last of several occurrences.
** Ice may have slowed Davis instrument.
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....1.85 DEPARTURE..........+1.70
                         ASOS..............1.91
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........9.96 DEPARTURE..........+5.84
                         ASOS..............9.99
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........54.02 DEPARTURE.........+12.30
                        ASOS..............54.45**
**ASOS data is in error due to system failure on 1/12-13
 
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........6.0  DEPARTURE........+6.0
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................8.5  DEPARTURE........+8.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON...............8.5  DEPARTURE........+8.5
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 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/.../.. 25 NW  AERO 26 MPH NNW RMY 25
10/29 45/31/38/-9/.../../.../..    43 NNE AERO 46 MPH NNE RMY 46
 
10/30 morning low temp: 31F; the normal low is now 39F
 
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.
 
****...new records still TBD from yesterday's snowfall event.
 
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 30
HIGH 75F IN 1946,1989
LOW 21F IN 1928
PRECIP 1.85 INCHES IN 1917
SNOWFALL 0.6 INCHES IN 2000 *  
PEAK GUST 66 NW IN 1963      
*...expected to be broken after final measurements are confirmed.
 
RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 31
HIGH 79F IN 1946
LOW 22F IN 1904
PRECIP 3.74 INCHES IN 1991
SNOWFALL TRACE IN 1906
PEAK GUST 70e S IN 1945
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George A. Tabeek