BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
FRIGID, CALM, AND MOSTLY SUNNY TODAY AT SUMMIT
 
Low temperature of 7F was read at the summit this morning. Temperatures
since have climbed into the upper teens by late morning and by 1:00 EST
the high temperature of the day read 23F. Winds have been predominately
out of the WNW and have decreased in speed since earlier this morning,
which helps to eliminate the wind chill factor.
 
This cold Arctic air will exit the region this evening and clouds will
progressively build in. Temperatures tomorrow are expected to reach the
upper 30s and may even reach the low 40s by Friday.
 
December, 2011 ended as the 2nd warmest on record.  The month also broke
the trend of snowy Decembers that have occurred in the past few years.
December 2011 recorded only a trace of snowfall, which is a first since
December 1999.  December 2011 and year end statistics are below.
 
DECEMBER 2011 PRELIMINARY STATS
Average Max Temp:  45.4F [+6.8F]
Average Min Temp:  29.6F [+5.8F]
Mean Temp:  37.5F [+6.3F]
24-hr. Corr Mean Temp:  37.5F
Max Temp:  62F on 5th
Min Temp:  14F on 19th
Total heating degree day units (month):    846 [-194]
Total heating degree day units (season): 1,753 [-576] *start July 1
Total precipitation:  3.84 ins. [-0.72 in.]
Greatest 24-hr precipitation:  2.41 ins. on 7-8th
Total snowfall:  Trace [-10.7 ins.]
Avg wind speed:  13.0 MPH
Avg corrected wind speed:  13.4 MPH
Prevailing wind direction: SSW [14%]
Peak gust:  73 MPH S on 27th
Peak fastest mile:  52 MPH SSE on 27th
SUNSHINE...
Total astronomical minutes: 8,549 of possible 17,037; or 50%
Total Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 8,298 of possible 16,470; or 50%
 
Warmest Decembers, deg F (1885-2011):
1) 38.1 in 2006
2) 37.5 in 2011
3) 37.3 in 2001
4) 37.2 in 1891
5) 36.9 in 1998
6) 36.7 in 1990
7) 36.6 in 1953
8) 36.3 in 1996
9) 36.0 in 1957
 
Warmest Years, deg F (1885-2011):
1) 51.0 in 2010
2) 50.9 in 1999
3) 50.8 in 1998
4) 50.6 in 2006
5) 50.5 in 1953
6) 50.4 in 2011
7) 50.3 in 1990
   50.3 in 1991
9) 50.2 in 1949
   50.2 in 2001
 
Wettest Years, inches (1886-2011):
1) 71.00 in 1998
2) 69.36 in 1996
3) 66.23 in 2005
4) 65.51 in 1972
5) 63.81 in 1920
6) 62.74 in 2010
7) 62.53 in 2011 
8) 62.45 in 1983
9) 62.38 in 1975
10)60.35 in 2006
 
NOTE: Use of new 30-year normals for temperature and precipitation for
the period 1981-2010 began on January 1st, 2012.


Today's observations:
 
7 A.M. 
Weather: Clear, altocumulus band distant NE-SE, hazy
Temperature: 8F, Dew point: 0F, Wind: WNW at 13 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.06 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 25 miles, hazy 
6-hour min. temp: 7F
BHO SA 1155 CLR 25 178/8/0/3013/006/ AC BAND DSNT NE-SE HAZY/ 8/030 52003
10010 20007
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few altocumulus standing lenticularis distant all quadrants,
lone altocumulus radiatus N-SE, few patches cirrus all quadrants, thin smoke
layer SW-N-E, hazy
Temperature: 15F, Dew Point: 5F; Wind: WNW at 10 kts,
Wind: Direction variable WSW-NW
Sea-level pressure: 30.09 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 40 miles, hazy
BHO SA 1455 CLR 40 190/15/5/3010/009/ FEW ACSL DSNT ALQDS LONE AC RADIATUS
N-SE FEW PTCHS CI ALQDS THN K LYR SW-N-E HAZY WND 25V32/ 8/042 50012
 
1 P.M. 
Weather: Scattered altocumulus standing lenticularis, scattered dense cirrus,
scattered thin cirrus, few altocumulus NW-N, few patches dense cirrus all
quadrants, light distant haze
Temperature: 23F, Dew Point: 4F; Wind: W at 8 kts,
Wind: Direction variable SW-WNW
Sea-level pressure: 30.02 inches Hg, falling 
Visibility:  50 miles, light distant haze
6-hour max. temp: 23F
BHO SA 1755 150 SCT 200 SCT 250 –SCT 50 167/23/4/2608/002/ FEW AC NW-N FEW
PTCHS DNS CI ALQDS LGT DSNT HZ WND 22V30/ 8/042 58023 10023 20008
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 3

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....30    NORMAL.....35
MIN.....11    NORMAL.....18
MEAN....21    NORMAL.....26
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................-5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.....................+23  [+7.5 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............44   DEPARTURE.........+5
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............92   DEPARTURE........-22
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON....... ..1845   DEPARTURE.......-598
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....2332   DIFFERENCE......-487
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............39 NW  AT  6:27 P.M.
                   AERO..................38 NW  AT  6:27 P.M.
                   ASOS..................38 NNW AT  6:27 P.M.
                   DAVIS.................37 NW  AT  6:27 P.M. RMY 39
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........27 WNW AT 11:22 P.M. *
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............25 NW  AT 10:56 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...........25 NW  AT  6:29 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.......15.0 WNW
                   ASOS................14.0
                   DAVIS...............13.1 NW [308 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..........0.03  DEPARTURE..........-0.41
                         ASOS..............0.04
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........0.03  DEPARTURE..........-0.41
                        ASOS...............0.04
     
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0  DEPARTURE..........-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH..............Trace  DEPARTURE..........-1.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON...............8.5  DEPARTURE..........-6.6
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 2011 AND JANUARY 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
 
12/1  46/33/40/+4/0.00/0.0/560/100   29 NW  AERO 29 MPH NW  RMY 27
12/2  49/31/40/+4/0.00/0.0/481/86    25 NW  AERO 28 MPH NW  RMY 28
12/3  43/30/37/+2/0.00/0.0/467/84    21 NW  AERO 22 MPH NW  RMY N/A
12/4  51/34/43/+8/0.00/0.0/211/38    28 SSW AERO 30 MPH S   RMY 29
12/5  62/44/53/+18/0.00/0.0/155/28   27 SSW AERO 28 MPH SSW RMY 28
12/6  58/49/54/+20/0.34/0.0/000/00   28 SSW AERO 30 MPH SSW RMY 30
12/7  56/43/50/+16/1.45/0.0/000/00   31 NNE AERO 28 MPH NNE RMY N/A
12/8  43/32/38/+5/0.96/0.0/513/93    57 NW  AERO 59 MPH NW  RMY 58  TSTM
12/9  50/31/41/+8/T/0.0/380/68       33 SSW AERO 35 MPH SSW RMY 36
12/10 43/27/35/+2/T/0.0/171/31       25 NW  AERO 28 MPH NW  RMY 27
12/11 36/23/30/-2/0.00/0.0/544/99    23 SSW AERO 23 MPH SSW RMY 24
12/12 47/29/38/+6/0.00/0.0/466/85    22 WSW AERO 22 MPH SW  RMY N/A
12/13 44/28/36/+4/0.00/0.0/520/95    23 WSW AERO 23 MPH WSW RMY N/A
12/14 40/33/37/+6/0.00/0.0/000/00    16 SSE AERO 17 MPH SSE RMY N/A
12/15 51/35/43/+12/0.02/0.0/000/00   47 S   AERO 46 MPH S   RMY N/A
12/16 52/36/44/+13/0.01/0.0/470/86   55 W   AERO 55 MPH W   RMY 49
12/17 41/24/33/+2/0.00/0.0/044/08    25 NNW AERO 25 MPH NNW RMY 26
12/18 26/15/21/-9/0.00/0.0/441/81    23 NNW AERO 22 MPH NNW RMY N/A
12/19 42/14/28/-2/0.00/0.0/452/83    44 SW  AERO 44 MPH SSW RMY 45
12/20 41/29/35/+5/0.00/0.0/392/72    28 WNW AERO 27 MPH WNW RMY 28
12/21 55/29/42/+12/0.04/0.0/000/00   36 SSW AERO 37 MPH SSW RMY N/A
12/22 55/46/51/+22/0.11/0.0/499/91   45 W   AERO 47 MPH W   RMY 48
12/23 47/28/38/+9/0.62/0.0/000/00    25 NW  AERO 25 MPH NW  RMY 26
12/24 29/18/24/-5/0.00/0.0/332/61    20 NW  AERO 17 MPH NW  RMY 20
12/25 39/17/28/-1/0.01/T/058/11      28 S   AERO 28 MPH S   RMY 29
12/26 41/29/35/+7/0.00/0.0/448/82    32 NW  AERO 35 MPH NW  RMY 33
12/27 55/28/42/+14/0.26/0.0/060/11   73 S   AERO 74 MPH S   RMY 70
12/28 55/25/40/+12/0.02/0.0/311/57   51 S   AERO 54 MPH S   RMY N/A
12/29 31/19/25/-3/0.00/0.0/528/100   40 W   AERO 39 MPH W   RMY N/A
12/30 40/26/33/+5/0.00/0.0/049/09    16 SW  AERO 14 MPH SW  RMY 17
12/31 38/32/35/+8/T/0.0/000/00       23 WNW AERO 20 MPH WNW RMY 23
 
1/1   51/35/42/+16/0.01/0.0/494/90   35 S   AERO 35 MPH S   RMY 37
1/2   48/30/39/+12/..../T/.../..     36 W   AERO 36 MPH W   RMY 37
1/3   30/11/21/-5/0.00/0.0/.../..    39 NW  AERO 38 MPH NW  RMY 39
 
1/4   the morning low temp: 7F; the normal low is now 18F
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 2011
12/27 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH WIND GUST OF 73 MPH S;
surpasses the previous record of 58 MPH W set in 2010
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2012
None so far.
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 4
HIGH 60F IN 2000
LOW -8F IN 1904, 1981
PRECIP 1.79 INS. IN 1982
SNOW 8.6 INS. 1923, 1941
PEAK GUST 84 MPH S IN 1982
 
RECORDS FOR JANUARY 5
HIGH 61F IN 2007
LOW -9F IN 1981
PRECIP 0.98 INS. IN 1993
SNOW 4.5 INS. IN 1891
PEAK GUST 70 MPH WNW IN 1959
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George A. Tabeek