BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME ONLY ANOTHER LIGHT RAINFALL YESTERDAY A FEW VERY LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS TODAY The rainfall for April 1 was only 0.18 inch, or only 0.01 inch more than normal for the date so there has been no catching up on the increasing drought. A few very light showers of rain and snow were observed today. The monthly stats for March a delayed a day or so and will come out on March 3-4th. MARCH 2012 RANKS SECOND WARMEST ON RECORD THIS WEEKEND MARKS THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF BLIZZARD OF 1997 March 2012 finished just 0.1 degree shy of tying March 1946 for warmest March on record. In addition, January-March 2012 is the warmest on record as well as the driest on record. This past weekend marked the 15th anniversary of the infamous Blizzard of 1997. Precipitation began as rain on the morning of March 31, 1997, and transitioned to snow by early that afternoon as temperatures dropped from the lower 40s into the lower 30s. Heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and occasional thunder developed by evening and lasted through the morning of April 1st. The peak wind gust reached 62 mph from the NE late on the 31st. The total snowfall reached an incredible 30.0 inches on the summit! Total melted precipitation was 4.11 inches, including some rain that fell early in the event. The snow was quite damaging due to its heavy and wet nature. The snow had a relatively high water content with an overall snow to liquid ratio of about 1:7 or 1:8 for the event. The average temperature for March through the 31st is 43.4 deg F. March 2012 finished 2nd warmest on record by just 0.1 degree. BHO Warmest March, 1885-2012 (deg F) 1) 43.5 in 1946 2) 43.4 in 2012 3) 42.7 in 1945 4) 42.2 in 1903 5) 41.5 in 2010 January-March 2012 finished as the warmest start to any year on record. The average temperature from January 1st through March 31st is 36.3F. BHO Warmest January-March, 1886-2012 (deg F) 1) 36.3 in 2012 [NEW RECORD] 2) 35.0 in 2002 3) 34.7 in 1998 4) 33.9 in 1990 5) 33.2 in 1953 The total precipitation since January 1st through March 31st is 6.09 inches. January-March 2012 finished as the driest start to any year on record. BHO Driest January-March, 1886-2012 (inches) 1) 6.09 in 2012 [NEW RECORD] 2) 7.20 in 1947 3) 7.39 in 1985 4) 7.92 in 1894 5) 7.97 in 2004 BHO Highest Monthly Average Temperature Departures (1885-2012) 1) [+10] January 1913 2) [+9.6] March 1946 3) [+9.4] January 1932 4) [+9.0] January 1937 February 1984 5) [+8.9] March 2012 ** ** corrected from yesterday's report of of +9.0 Today's observations: 7 A.M. Weather: Overcast stratus/stratocumulus, break in overcast with line of clearing along horizon distant SW-WSW Temperature: 36F, Dew point: 34F, Wind: N at 10 kts Sea-level pressure: 29.65 inches Hg, rising Visibility: 35 miles 6-hour precip: 0.02 inch 24-hour precip: 0.18 inch 6-hour min. temp: 35F BHO SA 1155 E10 OVC 35 039/36/34/3510/965/ BINOVC/CLRG LINE ALG HRZN DSNT SW-WSW/ 8/6// 51021 ASOS 60002 MANUAL 6002/ ASOS 70017 MANUAL 70018 10038 20035 10 A.M. Weather: Overcast stratocumulus, bright spots in the overcast, dark bases Temperature: 38F, Dew Point: 34F; Wind: N at 12G21 kts, Wind: Direction variable NNW-NNE Sea-level pressure: 29.70 inches Hg, rising Visibility: 45 miles, E-SE 20 miles due to rain/snow showers, WNW 50 miles BHO SA 1455 E18 OVC 45 059/38/34/3612G21/970/ DRK BASES VCTY STN VIRGA DSNT ALQDS PCPN/SHRA/SHSN E-SE AND VSBY E-SE 20 VSBY WNW 50 WND 33V03/ WND GST TO 25 KTS PST HR/ 8/5// 51020 1 P.M. Weather: Scattered cumulus, broken stratocumulus, broken altocumulus cumulogenitus, moderate cumulus, dark bases, light rain/snow shower began and ended at unknown time, precipitation very light Temperature: 45F, Dew Point: 31F; Wind: ENE at 6 kts, Sea-level pressure: 29.69 inches Hg, falling Visibility: 60 miles, light distant haze, 40 NE-S due to rain/snow showers, NW 75 miles 6-hour precip: Trace 6-hour snowfall: Trace 6-hour max. temp: 45F BHO SA 1755 40 SCT E55 75 BKN 60 053/45/31/0606/969/ MDT CU DRK BASES VIRGA NNE-S VSBY 40 NE-S NW 75 RW-SW-BEUKN PCPN VRY LGT/ 8/260 58006 MANUAL 6000/ 10045 20036 WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 1 TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F) MAX.....50 NORMAL.....50 MIN.....34 NORMAL.....32 MEAN....42 NORMAL.....41 DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.......................+1 TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.......................+1 DEGREE HEATING DEGREE DAYS TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............23 DEPARTURE..........-1 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............23 DEPARTURE..........-1 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........4308 DEPARTURE.......-1180 TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......5429 DEPARTURE.......-1121 PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............20 SSW AT 3:37 P.M. AERO..................20 SSW AT 3:37 P.M. ASOS..................21 SSW AT 3:37 P.M. DAVIS.................20 SSW AT 3:37 P.M. THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........15 SSW AT 3:38 P.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............16 SSW AT 3:38 P.M. DAVIS MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE AVERAGE...........16 SSW AT 3:38 P.M. AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION........8.0 SSW ASOS.................7.6 DAVIS................7.4 SW [224 deg.] PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST) TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.18 DEPARTURE..........+0.01 ASOS..............0.17 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.18 DEPARTURE..........+0.01 ASOS..............0.17 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........6.27 DEPARTURE..........-7.90 ASOS..............6.32 SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST) TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0 DEPARTURE..........-0.2 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................0.0 DEPARTURE..........-7.5 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............24.2 DEPARTURE.........-32.9 PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MARCH - APRIL 2012 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 3/1 34/22/28/-3/1.05/3.3/000/00 40 ENE AERO 44 MPH ENE RMY 42 3/2 30/21/26/-5/0.01/0.1/000/00 23 ESE AERO 25 MPH ESE RMY 26 3/3 44/30/37/+5/0.35/0.6/000/00 27 W AERO 29 MPH SW RMY 28 3/4 39/30/35/+3/0.00/0.0/082/12 28 W AERO 28 MPH W RMY 28 3/5 35/22/29/-3/0.00/0.0/651/95 33 W AERO 35 MPH W RMY 35 3/6 37/16/27/-5/0.00/0.0/674/98 28 NW AERO 28 MPH NW RMY N/A 3/7 50/29/45/+12/0.00/0.0/608/88 40 SSW AERO 43 MPH SSW RMY 43 3/8 66/48/57/+24/0.00/0.0/499/72 59 SSW AERO 61 MPH SSW RMY N/A 3/9 57/31/44/+11/0.05/T/279/40 62 SSW AERO 63 MPH SSW RMY N/A 3/10 37/27/32/-1/T/T/168/24 32 WNW AERO 33 MPH WNW RMY N/A 3/11 56/27/42/+8/0.00/0.0/681/97 35 SW AERO 37 MPH SW RMY 36 3/12 72/40/56/+22/0.00/0.0/620/88 23 SW AERO 25 MPH SW RMY N/A 3/13 68/46/57/+23/0.08/0.0/347/49 30 SSW AERO 31 MPH SSW RMY 31 3/14 51/36/44/+9/T/0.0/007/01 23 NE AERO 23 MPH ENE RMY 22 3/15 42/33/38/+3/T/0.0/014/02 16 ENE AERO 15 MPH E RMY 15 3/16 43/32/38/+3/0.05/0.0/000/00 16 NNW AERO 16 MPH NNW RMY 17 3/17 51/40/46/+10/0.00/0.0/079/11 21 SSW AERO N/A RMY 24 3/18 72/38/55/+19/0.00/0.0/652/91 27 SW AERO 27 MPH SW RMY 27 3/19 77/44/61/+25/0.00/0.0/667/92 24 NE AERO 24 MPH NE RMY 25 3/20 78/41/60/+23/0.00/0.0/662/91 22 SSW AERO 22 MPH SW RMY 25 3/21 76/54/65/+28/0.00/0.0/556/76 25 SW AERO 26 MPH SW RMY 27 3/22 81/54/68/+31/0.00/0.0/668/91 22 SW AERO 21 MPH SW RMY 22 3/23 75/56/66/+28/T/0.0/509/69 31 NNW AERO 31 MPH NNW RMY 33 3/24 56/44/50/+12/0.00/0.0/052/07 22 E AERO 20 MPH E RMY 17 3/25 47/40/44/+6/0.02/0.0/000/00 17 ESE AERO 16 MPH ESE RMY N/A 3/26 45/29/37/-2/T/0.0/477/64 47 NW AERO 48 MPH NW RMY 47 3/27 47/24/36/-3/0.00/0.0/718/96 40 NW AERO 39 MPH NW RMY 39 3/28 48/33/41/+2/0.05/0.0/038/05 30 S AERO 31 MPH S RMY 30 3/29 47/36/42/+2/T/0.0/008/01 31 NNW AERO 33 MPH NNW RMY 34 3/30 50/32/41/+1/0.07/T/683/90 35 NW AERO 37 MPH NW RMY 35 3/31 41/35/38/-3/0.09/T/061/08 18 ENE AERO 15 MPH ENE RMY 17 4/1 50/34/42/+1/0.18/0.0/.../.. 20 SSW AERO 20 MPH SSW RMY N/A DAILY RECORDS FOR MARCH 2012 3/8 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 48F; surpasses the previous record of 42F set in 1995 and 2009. 3/8 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMP OF 66F; surpasses the previous record of 63F set in 1942 and 1995. 3/12 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMP OF 72F; surpasses the previous record of 67F set in 1977. 3/12 - NEW EARLY SEASON RECORD (NESR) HIGH TEMPERATURE of 72F; surpasses the previous record of 71F set on 3/9/2000. 3/18 – NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMP OF 72F; surpasses the previous record of 69F set in 2011. 3/19 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMP OF 77F; surpasses the previous record of 70 in 2010. 3/21 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 54F; surpasses the previous record of 51F in 1913 and 1921. 3/22 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 54F; surpasses the previous record of 45F in 1902. 3/22 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMP OF 81F; surpasses the previous record of 71F in 1948. 3/23 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 56F; surpasses the previous record of 49F in 1949. 3/23 - NEW EARLY SEASON RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE of 56F; surpasses the previous record of 55F set on 3/17/1990 3/24 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 44F; surpasses the previous record of 42F in 1908. DAILY EXTREMES Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated): RECORDS FOR APRIL 2 HIGH 77 IN 1967 LOW 14 IN 1919 PRECIP 1.83 IN. IN 1970 SNOWFALL 13.0 IN. IN 1887 PEAK GUST 76 MPH SSW IN 1970 RECORDS FOR APRIL 3 HIGH 76 IN 1892 LOW 16 IN 1894 PRECIP 2.18 IN. IN 1990 SNOWFALL 8.0 IN. IN 1915 PEAK GUST 83e MPH NW IN 1977 [RECORD FOR MONTH] TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling/Patrick Peters If you do not wish to receive this Daily Discussion and Climate Summary from the Blue Hill Observatory, please send an email to sitemaster@bluehill.org.