BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY 
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012  
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

COMFORTABLE, CALM CONDITIONS;
TEMPERATURES REMAIN A LITTLE ON THE WARM SIDE

The warm beginning to the month continues.

This morning's low on the summit of 65F was close to the normal of 63F.
A temperature inversion was quite apparent on two fronts: 1) a noticeable
smoke/haze layer trapped beneath the inversion, and 2) much cooler
temperatures in the lower elevations (Taunton 55F, Norwood 56F, Hingham
58F).

Temperatures this afternoon are also running a couple of degrees above
normal with a high of at least 83F so far.

Winds have been quite low much of the day, averaging only about 5 mph
for the day so far.  The wind direction has shifted from an E component
this morning to more of a SW component this afternoon, although it has
been quite variable with the low wind conditions.

Today's observations:
 
7 A.M. 
Weather: Scattered thin cirrus, broken thin cirrus, inversion
dissipating, smoke layer along horizon all quadrants, smoke layer aloft
distant WNW-NNE, light distant haze
Temperature: 70F; Dew Point: 59F; Wind: E at 4 kts,
Wind: Light 
Sea-level pressure: 30.03 ins. Hg, rising    
Visibility: 75 miles, light distant haze  
6-hour min. temp: 65F
BHO SA 1155 250 –SCT 300 –BKN 75 169/70/59/1004/003/ INVSN DSSPTNG
K LYR ALG HRZN ALQDS K LYR ALF DSNT WNW-NNE LGT DSNT HZ WND LGT/
8/001 52007 10070 20065   

10 A.M. 
Weather: Scattered cirrostratus, scattered thin cirrus, broken thin
cirrus, few small cumulus forming all quadrants except NE-ENE,
cirrostratus SE-SW, smoke layer aloft distant SW-NW-NE, light distant
haze
Temperature: 77F; Dew Point: 60F; Wind: Estimated WNW at 2 kts,
Wind: Light and variable
Sea-level pressure: 30.03 ins. Hg, falling then rising 
Visibility: 65 miles, light distant haze     
BHO SA 1455 220 SCT 250 –SCT 300 –BKN 65 170/77/60/E3002/003/ FEW SML
CU FRMG ALQDS XCPT NE-ENE CS SE-SW K LYR ALF DSNT SW-NW-NE
LGT DSNT HZ WND LGT AND VRB/ 8/105 53001
 
1 P.M.    
Weather: Scattered cumulus, scattered altocumulus, broken cirrostratus,
broken thin cirrus (2 levels), few small cumulus all quadrants except
N-E, few moderate cumulus distant SE, few altocumulus in the vicinity
of the station ENE-S, cirrostratus E-S-W and overhead, partial halo,
distant haze
Temperature: 81F; Dew Point: 60F; Wind: WSW at 5 kts,
Wind: Light and variable
Sea-level pressure: 30.00 ins. Hg, falling
Visibility: 55  miles, distant haze 
BHO SA 1755 45 SCT 120 SCT E200 BKN 250 BKN 300 BKN 55
159/81/60/2505/000/ FEW SML CU ALQDS XCPT N-E FEW MDT CU DSNT SE FEW
AC VCTY STN ENE-S CS E-S-W AND OVHD PARTIAL HALO DSNT HZ WND LGT AND
VRB/ 8/257 58011 10082 20070 

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 6

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....82    NORMAL.....81
MIN.....67    NORMAL.....63
MEAN....75    NORMAL.....72
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.....................+3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH....................+36 [+5.8 DEGREES/DAY]

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............25 WNW AT  3:32 P.M. *
                   AERO..................27 WNW AT 10:33 A.M.
                   ASOS..................24 W   AT  3:32 P.M.
                   DAVIS.................24 WNW AT 10-11 A.M. RMY 26
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........18 SW  AT 12:10 A.M. *
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............18 W   AT  3:32 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...........18 SW  AT  12-1 A.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.......10.9 WNW
                   ASOS................10.4
                   DAVIS...............10.0 W [269 deg]
* last of several occurrences...

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 MONTH..........0.72   DEPARTURE...........-0.18
                         ASOS..............0.72
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........22.33   DEPARTURE...........-9.56
                         ASOS.............22.27

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 2012 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/AERO GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system gust
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

8/1  82/66/74/+2/0.58/.../..        33 W   AERO 33 MPH W   RMY 35
8/2  87/67/77/+5/T/.../..           20 W   AERO 20 MPH W   RMY 20
8/3  90/70/80/+8/0.00/.../..        23 SW  AERO 23 MPH SW  RMY 23
8/4  91/72/82/+10/0.00/.../..       22 S   AERP 21 MPH S   RMY 23
8/5  87/72/80/+8/0.14/.../..        37 S   AERO 37 MPH SSW RMY 37
8/6  82/67/75/+3/0.00/.../..        25 WNW AERO 27 MPH WNW RMY 26

8/7  morning low temp: 65F; the normal low is now 63F

DAILY RECORDS FOR AUGUST 2012
8/4 - TIED DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 72F;
ties the current record of 72F in 1974.

DAILY EXTREMES 
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR AUGUST 7
HIGH 95F IN 1924
LOW 51F IN 2004
PRECIP 3.32 INCHES IN 1926
PEAK GUST 51 MPH NE 1975

RECORDS FOR AUGUST 8
HIGH 93F IN 1909,1949
LOW 47F IN 1903
PRECIP 3.08 INCHES IN 1976
PEAK GUST 45 MPH WNW IN 1958

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Sean Fankhauser