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