BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
WARM,DRY,AND HAZY AS HEAT SETTLES IN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS
 
Temperatures have climbed rapidly today as the 70 degree mark was reached
before noontime. Temperatures plateaued as high cirrus clouds passed over
but they have once again continued to rise as skies partially cleared.  
Today is not as dry as yesterday, however southwest flow is still keeping dew
points in the upper 40s/low 50s whereas yesterday they were in the mid 20s.
This southwest wind is also our source of heat for today and the next couple of
days, as temperatures are expected to be in the 80s over most local areas.
Marathon Monday is looking to be hot, dry, and partly sunny for those either
participating or spectating.
 
Substantial rainfall still does not appear likely anytime soon in the
forecast over the next week or so. There is a slight chance of showers over
the weekend as the storm system that has brought much severe weather to
the Midwest makes its way east.
 
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered altocumulus, few altocumulus standing lenticularis
distant NW, altocumulus cumulogenitus band NNE-SE, contrails N and ENE-S,
clear overhead, thin smoke layer SW-N, hazy
Temperature: 56F, Dew point: 46F, Wind: SW at 10 kts,
Wind: Direction variable S-W
Sea-level pressure: 29.99 inches Hg, rising then steady
Visibility: 30 miles, hazy
6-hour min. temp: 52F
BHO SA 1155 100 SCT 30 155/56/46/2210/999/ FEW ACSL DSNT NW ACCU BAND
NNE-SE CONTRAILS N AND ENE-S CLR OVD THN K LYR SW-N HAZY WND 18V27/ 8/060
51003 10057 20052
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered dense cirrus, scattered thin cirrus, lone cumulus
distant N, few altocumulus W-NW and SE-SSE, contrails SW and overhead, hazy
Temperature: 66F, Dew Point: 48F; Wind: WSW at 8 kts,
Wind: Direction variable SSW-WNW
Sea-level pressure: 29.98 inches Hg, steady
Visibility: 40 miles, hazy
BHO SA 1455 200 SCT 250 –SCT 40 153/66/48/2408/998/ LONE CU DSNT N FEW AC
W-NW AND SE-SSE CONTRAILS SW AND OVD HAZY WND 20V29/ 8/161 50002
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Broken cirrostratus, gradual clearing, few cumulus SW-N, few
altocumulus S-N and overhead, contrail overhead, sun dimly visible, hazy
Temperature: 72F, Dew Point: 54F; Wind: SW at 10 kts,
Wind: Direction variable S-W
Sea-level pressure: 29.92 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 45 miles, W-NW 65 miles, hazy
6-hour max. temp: 73F
BHO SA 1755 200 BKN 45 131/72/54/2310/992/ GRDL CLRNG FEW CU SW-N FEW AC S-N
AND OVD CONTRAIL OVD SUN DMLY VSBL HAZY VSBY HIER W-NW 65 WND 18V26/ 8/168
56022 10073 20056
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 14
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....70    NORMAL.....55
MIN.....44    NORMAL.....37
MEAN....57    NORMAL.....46
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................+11
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH......................+43 [+2.9 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............8   DEPARTURE.........-11
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............257   DEPARTURE.........-44
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........4542   DEPARTURE.......-1223
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......5670   DIFFERENCE......-1128
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............25 SSW AT  7:47 P.M.
                   AERO..................27 SSW AT  7:47 P.M.
                   ASOS..................26 SSW AT  7:47 P.M.
                   DAVIS.................27 SSW AT  7:47 P.M. RMY 28
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........21 SSW AT  7:48 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............20 SSW AT  7:48 P.M.
DAVIS MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE AVERAGE...........19 SSW AT  7:48 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.......11.1 WNW
                   ASOS................10.8
                   DAVIS...............10.2 WSW [255 deg.]
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00   DEPARTURE..........-0.16
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.34   DEPARTURE..........-2.02
                         ASOS..............0.31
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........6.43   DEPARTURE..........-9.93
                         ASOS..............6.46
     
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0    DEPARTURE..........-0.1
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................0.0    DEPARTURE..........-1.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............24.2    DEPARTURE.........-34.2
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR 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
 
4/1  50/34/42/+1/0.14/0.0/360/47    20 SSW AERO 20 MPH SSW RMY N/A
4/2  51/35/43/+2/0.04/T/353/46      35 NNW AERO 33 MPH NNW RMY 35
4/3  57/31/44/+2/0.00/0.0/724/94    36 NW  AERO 37 MPH NW  RMY 40
4/4  62/38/50/+8/T/0.0/688/89       40 NW  AERO 39 MPH NW  RMY 43
4/5  51/33/42/-1/0.00/0.0/660/85    29 NW  AERO 27 MPH NW  RMY 30
4/6  51/31/41/-2/0.00/0.0/623/80    26 NNW AERO 26 MPH NNW RMY 28
4/7  54/32/43/0/0.00/0.0/305/39     31 NW  AERO 32 MPH NW  RMY 32
4/8  51/37/44/0/0.00/0.0/086/11     32 NW  AERO 31 MPH NW  RMY 33
4/9  57/43/50/+6/T/0.0/323/41       44 W   AERO 42 MPH W   RMY 44
4/10 61/40/51/+6/0.00/0.0/600/76    32 W   AERO 31 MPH W   RMY 34
4/11 57/40/49/+4/0.00/0.0/397/50    21 NE  AERO 20 MPH NE  RMY 22
4/12 54/39/47/+2/0.16/0.0/.../..    25 NNW AERO 24 MPH NNW RMY 28
4/13 63/36/50/+4/0.00/0.0/.../..    24 W   AERO 23 MPH W   RMY 25
4/14 70/44/57/+11/0.00/0.0/.../..   25 SSW AERO 27 MPH SSW RMY 28
 
4/15 morning low temp: 52F; the normal low is now 38F
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR APRIL 2012
None so far.
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR APRIL 15
HIGH 81 IN 1896
LOW 23 IN 1943
PRECIP 1.75 IN. IN 2007
SNOWFALL 1.0 IN. IN 1916, 1962
PEAK GUST 66 MPH E IN 2007
 
RECORDS FOR APRIL 16
HIGH 87 IN 1896
LOW 23 IN 1943
PRECIP 2.45 IN. IN 1929
SNOWFALL 2.0 IN. IN 1904, 1962
PEAK GUST 73 MPH E IN 2007    
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George Tabeek