BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012 ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME EXCELLENT VISIBILITY, DEW POINTS IN SINGLE DIGITS FEBRUARY SNOWFALL AND PRECIPITATION AND WINTER SNOWFALL AMONG THE LOWEST ON RECORD... Clear skies and excellent visibility for many areas today as high pressure builds in over the region. Grand Monadnock was clearly visible this morning out to our NW and still is currently. Winds gusts have been sporadic throughout the day, with a peak gust of 44 MPH at 4:52 AM following a 61 mph gust yesterday. The average wind speed today is currently 17.1 mph. Relative humidity has dropped off dramatically since yesterday, currently in the 20s. For tonight, expect mostly clear skies with temperatures in the low 20s. As for tomorrow, expect increasing clouds associated with an approaching frontal system which is currently over the Midwest. This frontal system is on track to stay north of our area, so no precipitation is expected until later this week. High temperatures tomorrow will be in the upper 40s, with some areas having the chance to see the low 50s. The total snowfall for February of 0.7 inch will be among the lowest totals ever recorded for the month. Least Snowy Februarys, inches, 1885-2011 1) 0.4 in 1937 2) 0.6 in 1984 3) 1.0 in 1925 1.0 in 1998 5) 1.5 in 1941 The total snowfall for the winter season (Dec-Feb) so far of 8.7 inches is also one of the lowest totals on record. Least Snowy Winters (Dec-Feb), inches, 1885-2011 1) 3.3 in 1936-1937 2) 12.0 in 1888-1889 3) 13.6 in 1991-1992 4) 13.8 in 1979-1980 5) 13.9 in 2006-2007 This has also been a very dry month with a total of only 0.70 inch of precipitation. This may also finish among the driest Februarys on record. Driest Februarys, inches, 1886-2011 1) 0.71 in 1987 2) 1.04 in 1901 3) 1.07 in 1980 4) 1.12 in 1895 5) 1.58 in 1947 February has also been extremely warm, and this month will also likely finish among the warmest Februarys on record. The corrected mean temperature for this month through the 24th is 34.3 deg F. Warmest Februarys, deg F, 1885-2011 1) 34.9 in 1984 2) 34.0 in 1998 3) 33.9 in 1954 33.9 in 1981 5) 33.7 in 1976 The winter season (Dec-Feb) may rank among the warmest on record, which are listed below. The winter mean temperature for the 2011-12 season through February 25th is 34.3 degrees F. Warmest Winters (Dec-Feb), deg F, 1885-2011 1) 34.8 in 2001-2002 2) 32.6 in 1997-1998 3) 32.3 in 1936-1937 32.3 in 1998-1999 5) 32.2 in 1932-1933 The November through February mean temperature is also very warm and the mean for this season for November 1st through February 25th is 37.7 degrees, which is now just over the warmest on record set in 2001-2002. Warmest Nov-Feb, deg F, 1885-2011 1) 37.6 in 2001-2002 2) 35.4 in 1948-1949 3) 35.1 in 1990-1991 4) 34.8 in 1953-1954 34.8 in 2006-2007 Today's observations: 7 A.M. Weather: Clear, few faint altocumulus standing lenticularis S-W-NE, few faint altocumulus distant NNE, light distant haze Temperature: 24F, Dew point: 7F, Wind: WNW at 18G30 kts, Wind: Peak gust 32 kts WNW at 6:22 AM Wind: Direction variable WSW-NW Sea-level pressure: 30.14 inches Hg, rising Visibility: 75 miles 6-hour min. temp: 24F 24-hour precip: Trace 24-hour snowfall: Trace BHO SA 1155 CLR 75 207/24/7/2918G30/014/ FEW FAINT ACSL DSNT S-W-NE FEW FAINT AC DSNT NNE LGT DSNT HZ PK WND 2932/22 WND 25V32/ 8/040 52061 10028 20024 10 A.M. Weather: Clear, few dense cirrus SE-SW Temperature: 31F, Dew Point: 5F; Wind: WNW at 15G22 kts, Wind: Peak gust 30 kts WNW at 9:31 AM Wind: Direction variable WSW-NNW Sea-level pressure: 30.24 inches Hg, rising Visibility: 85 miles BHO SA 1455 CLR 85 242/31/5/2915G22/024/ FEW DNS CI SE-SW PK WND 2930/31 WND 25V33/ 8/002 51035 1 P.M. Weather: Clear, few cirrus SE-SW and overhead Temperature: 38F, Dew Point: 5F; Wind: WNW at 14G22 kts, Wind: Peak gust 28 kts WNW at 12:09 PM Sea-level pressure: 30.28 inches Hg, rising Visibility: 85 miles BHO SA 1755 CLR 85 253/38/5/2914G22/028/ FEW CI SE-SW AND OVD PK WND 2928/09 WND 26V35/ 8/001 50011 10038 20024 WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F) MAX.....41 NORMAL.....39 MIN.....29 NORMAL.....21 MEAN....35 NORMAL.....30 DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................+5 TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH....................+182 [+7.1 DEGREES/DAY] HEATING DEGREE DAYS TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............30 DEPARTURE..........-5 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............750 DEPARTURE........-182 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........3531 DEPARTURE........-937 TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......4416 DIFFERENCE.......-885 PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............61 W AT 11:43 A.M. AERO..................60 WSW AT 1:45 P.M. * ASOS..................61 W AT 11:43 A.M. DAVIS.................61 WSW AT 1:46 P.M. RMY 64 MPH THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........44 WSW AT 1:46 P.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............41 W AT 11:44 A.M. AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.........24.7 W ASOS..................22.5 DAVIS.................21.2 W [268 deg] *...Last of several occurrences PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST) TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....Trace DEPARTURE..........-0.16 ASOS..............0.00 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.70 DEPARTURE..........-2.88 ASOS..............0.73 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........3.89 DEPARTURE..........-4.04 ASOS...............3.97 SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST) TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........Trace DEPARTURE..........-0.5 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................0.7 DEPARTURE.........-13.8 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............17.2 DEPARTURE.........-26.7 PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 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 2/1 58/31/45/+19/T/0.0/174/29 39 WNW AERO 40 MPH WNW RMY 41 2/2 40/28/34/+8/T/0.0/000/00 25 WNW AERO 25 MPH WNW RMY N/A 2/3 37/22/30/+4/0.00/0.0/574/95 28 NW AERO 28 MPH NW RMY 29 2/4 43/24/34/+8/0.00/0.0/498/82 28 WNW AERO 31 MPH WNW RMY 30 2/5 34/18/26/0/0.00/0.0/597/98 18 W AERO 17 MPH W RMY N/A 2/6 49/24/37/+11/0.00/0.0/599/98 33 WSW AERO 32 MPH WSW RMY 34 2/7 43/27/35/+8/0.00/0.0/596/97 24 NNW AERO 28 MPH NNW RMY 24 2/8 37/17/27/0/0.00/0.0/388/63 22 N AERO 21 MPH N RMY 24 2/9 45/26/36/+9/0.00/0.0/607/98 21 NW AERO 21 MPH W RMY 21 2/10 49/30/40/+13/0.02/0.0/467/75 32 SSW AERO 35 MPH SSW RMY 34 2/11 36/27/32/+5/0.13/0.6/012/02 33 NW AERO 33 MPH NW RMY N/A 2/12 28/13/21/-6/0.00/0.0/621/99 46 WNW AERO 48 MPH WNW RMY 50 2/13 40/12/26/-2/0.00/0.0/535/85 43 W AERO 42 MPH W RMY 44 2/14 43/29/36/+8/0.00/0.0/082/13 23 SSW AERO N/A RMY 23 2/15 43/36/40/+12/T/0.0/000/00 21 SSW AERO 22 MPH SSW RMY N/A 2/16 45/30/38/+12/0.07/0.0/127/20 24 S AERO 27 MPH S RMY N/A 2/17 49/32/41/+13/0.01/0.0/224/35 29 WNW AERO 29 MPH WNW RMY 31 2/18 45/29/37/+8/0.00/0.0/521/81 30 W AERO 30 MPH W RMY 31 2/19 44/26/35/+6/0.00/0.0/626/97 23 NW AERO 22 MPH NW RMY 23 2/20 39/24/32/+3/0.00/0.0/577/89 37 NNW AERO 37 MPH NNW RMY 37 2/21 42/22/32/+3/T/0.0/469/72 30 S AERO 30 MPH S RMY 31 2/22 55/36/46/+17/0.00/0.0/419/64 28 W AERO 28 MPH W N/A 2/23 52/35/44/+14/0.03/0.0/.../.. 40 W AERO 42 MPH W RMY 39 2/24 39/32/36/+6/0.44/0.1/.../.. 37 W AERO 37 MPH W RMY 42 2/25 41/29/35/+5/T/T/.../.. 61 W AERO 60 MPH WSW RMY 64 2/26 morning low temp: 24F; the normal low is now 21F DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2012 None so far. DAILY EXTREMES Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated): RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 26 HIGH 67F IN 1957 LOW -7F IN 1928 PRECIP 2.24 INCHES IN 1979 SNOWFALL 11.1 INCHES IN 1933 PEAK GUST 66 MPH W IN 1961 RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 27 HIGH 61F IN 1976 LOW -8F IN 1900 PRECIP 0.90 INCHES IN 1922 SNOWFALL 6.0 INCHES IN 1922 PEAK GUST 67 MPH W IN 1985 TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George Tabeek