BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 LEAP DAY ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME SNOW BEGAN CLOSE TO 12 NOON TODAY AFTER CLOUDY MORNING SNOW MELTED AS IT FELL BETWEEN NOON AND 1 P.M. ACCUMULATING SNOW BEGAN AT 1:15 P.M. WITH 0.1 INCH MEASURED TODAY MAY MARK 16TH CONSECUTIVE DAY WITH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS. The sun was seen only dimly through the thickening cloud cover this morning and therefore there will be no sunshine recorded for today. The light snow began just before noon and melted as it fell until the first tenth of an inch accumulated by 1:15 P.M. Temperatures which reached a high of 35F this morning fell back rather quickly after the snow began to 32F at 1 P.M. and 31F by 1:20 P.M. We'll soon be losing our high ranking for least snowfall during any February. An inch of snow today means 1.7 for the month as we drop below 5th place in least snowfall for any February. We hope to have an observer at midnight to measure and determine exactly how much snow falls today, the last day of February and of meteorological winter. 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 28th is 34.4 deg F. Looks like it will be our 2nd warmest February. 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 27th is 34.4 degrees F. Looks like it will be our 2nd warmest winter. 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 28th is 37.8 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: Broken altostratus/altocumulus, overcast dense cirru/cirrostratus, few lower altocumulus lenticularis, thin spots in the overcast, parahelion (sun dog) left of sun to east Temperature: 30F, Dew point: 14F, Wind: ENE at 2 kts (speed estimated), Wind: Light Sea-level pressure: 30.35 inches Hg, falling then rising Visibility: 30 miles, except 25 miles W-N and 50 miles SE-S, smoke layer extending SW-NW-NNE along horizon, distant haze mostly W-N 6-hour min. temp: 28F BHO SA 1155 E75 BKN 220 OVC 30 276/30/XX/E0602/035/ FEW LWR AC/ACSL OVC PTLY THN PARAHELION E VSBY W-N 25 SE-S 50 K LYR XTDNG SW-NW-NNE DSNT HZ MSTLY W-N WND LGT/ 8/077 55005 10030 20028 10 A.M. Weather: Overcast altostratus translucidus, sun dimly visible, bright spots in overcast distant SE-S Temperature: 34F, Dew Point: 15F; Wind: E at 4 kts, Sea-level pressure: 30.32 inches Hg, falling Visibility: 40 miles, except 30 miles NE-SE, 50 miles W-NW BHO SA 1455 E65 OVC 40 268/34/15/1004/032/ SUN DMLY VSB BRGHT SPTS IOVC DSNT SE-S VSBY NE-SE 30 W-NW 50 LGT DSNT HZ/ 8/01/ 56008 1 P.M. Weather: Obscured sky with light snow Temperature: 32F, Dew Point: 28F; Wind: E at 4 kts, Wind: Light Sea-level pressure: 30.27 inches Hg, falling Visibility: 1.5 miles, lowering BHO SA 1755 W10 X 11/2S- 249/32/28/0804/027/ VSBY LWRG PST HR SNW MELTING AS IT FALLS/ 8//// 58019 MANUAL 6000/ ASOS 6000 10035 20030 WEATHER SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F) MAX.....47 NORMAL.....40 MIN.....30 NORMAL.....22 MEAN....39 NORMAL.....31 DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................+8 TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH....................+198 [+6.9 DEGREES/DAY] HEATING DEGREE DAYS TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............28 DEPARTURE..........-6 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............837 DEPARTURE........-197 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........3618 DEPARTURE........-952 TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......4522 DIFFERENCE.......-904 PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............42 WNW AT 2:12 A.M. AERO..................43 WNW AT 2:12 A.M. ASOS..................40 WNW AT 2:12 A.M. DAVIS.................42 NW AT 2:11 A.M. RMY N/A THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........26 WNW AT 8:55 A.M. * MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............26 WNW AT 8:46 A.M. DAVIS MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE AVERAGE...........27 WNW AT 2:12 A.M. AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION....... ASOS................13.6 DAVIS...............12.7 WNW [300 deg] * last of several occurrences.. PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST) TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00 DEPARTURE..........-0.17 ASOS..............0.00 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.70 DEPARTURE..........-3.37 ASOS..............0.73 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........3.89 DEPARTURE..........-4.53 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.........-15.3 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............17.2 DEPARTURE.........-28.2 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/+14/0.03/0.0/276/42 40 W AERO 42 MPH W RMY 39 2/24 39/32/36/+6/0.44/0.1/000/00 37 W AERO 37 MPH W RMY 42 2/25 41/29/35/+5/T/T/410/62 61 W AERO 60 MPH WSW RMY N/A 2/26 40/24/32/+2/0.00/0.0/665/100 44 WNW AERO 44 MPH WNW RMY N/A 2/27 50/24/37/+6/0.00/0.0/467/70 33 S AERO 35 MPH S RMY N/A 2/28 47/30/39/+8/0.00/0.0/637/95 42 WNW AERO 43 MPH WNW RMY N/A 2/29 our morning low temp: 28F; 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): LEAP YEAR: RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 29 HIGH 56F IN 1976 LOW 4F IN 1992 PRECIP 0.64 INCHES IN 1968 SNOWFALL 3.5 INCHES IN 1968 PEAK GUST 60 MPH NE IN 1968 RECORDS FOR MARCH 1 HIGH 62 IN 1972 LOW -3 IN 1886 PRECIP 1.65 INS. IN 1900 SNOWFALL 9.4 INS. IN 1949 PEAK GUST 78 WSW IN 1966 TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling