BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
COLD TEMPERATURES OVERNIGHT HAVE CAUSED A SKIM OF 9/10
ICE COVER TO FORM ON BOTH HOUGHTON'S AND PONKAPOAG
 
The low temperature was 17F at Norwood Airport early this
morning the cold temperatures and calm wind below an inversion
(24F at the Observatory) overnight have allowed a nearly complete
cover of thin ice to form on both our nearby ponds which
had been open water. 
Our daily temperatures have averaged above normal now for just
about two weeks or since February 13. The month continues
close to 7 degrees warmer than normal.
 
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 26th is 34.2 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 26th 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 altocumulus lenticularis SW-W, thin smoke layer 
aloft to the NE-SE
Temperature: 28F, Dew point: 8F, Wind: SSE at 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.45 inches Hg, steady
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hour min. temp: 24F
BHO SA 1155 CLR 70 311/28/8/1507/045/ FEW ACSL SW-W THN
K LYR ALF NE-SE/ 8/040 58000 10028 20024
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered altocumulus/altocumulus lenticularis,
scattered cirrocumulus
Temperature: 40F, Dew Point: 17F; Wind: SSE at 12 kts,
Wind: Direction variable SE-SW
Sea-level pressure: 30.38 inches Hg, falling 
Visibility: 60 miles, distant haze increasing
BHO SA 1455 130 SCT 220 SCT 60 288/40/17/1612/038/ AC WSW-NW-NNE 
CC NW-NNE FEW PTCHS VIRGA S DSNT HZ INCR WND 13V23/ 8/049 58023
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Broken altocumulus translucidus, cumulus fractus, cumulus
all quadrants 
Temperature: 49F, Dew Point: 28F; Wind: S at 14G20 kts,
Wind: Direction variable SSE-SSW 
Sea-level pressure: 30.25 inches Hg, falling 
Visibility: 40 miles, except 50 miles N-NE, distant haze  
BHO SA 1755 E110 BKN 40 242/49/28/1814G20/025/ CUFRA/CU ALQDS
VSBY N-NE 50 INCR DSNT HZ WND 15V21/ 8/130 58046 10049 20028 
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....40    NORMAL.....39
MIN.....24    NORMAL.....21
MEAN....32    NORMAL.....30
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................+2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH....................+184 [+6.9 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............33   DEPARTURE..........-1
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............783   DEPARTURE........-182
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........3564   DEPARTURE........-938
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......4452   DIFFERENCE.......-889
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............44 WNW AT  4:52 A.M.         
                   AERO..................44 WNW AT  4:52 A.M. *   
                   ASOS..................43 WNW AT  4:52 A.M.       
                   DAVIS.................42 WNW AT 12:35 A.M. RMY N/A
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........30 W   AT  3:04 A.M. * 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............30 W   AT  3:04 A.M.   
DAVIS MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE AVERAGE...........29 WNW AT  2:02 A.M.   
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.........17.0 WNW 
                   ASOS..................15.8
                   DAVIS.................14.8 WNW [290 deg]
*...Last of several occurrences
 
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..........0.70   DEPARTURE..........-3.04
                         ASOS..............0.73
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........3.89   DEPARTURE..........-4.20
                        ASOS...............3.97
     
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0    DEPARTURE..........-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................0.7    DEPARTURE.........-14.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............17.2    DEPARTURE.........-27.2
 
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 N/A
2/26 40/24/32/+2/0.00/0.0/.../..    44 WNW AERO 44 MPH WNW RMY N/A
 
2/27 our morning low temp: 24F; the normal low is now 22F
 
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 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
 
RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 28
HIGH 62F IN 1976
LOW -2F IN 1907,1934
PRECIP 1.79 INCHES IN 1958
SNOWFALL 8.5 INCHES IN 2005
PEAK GUST 88e MPH SSW IN 1943
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling/Patrick Peters