BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012 INDEPENDENCE DAY
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
LIGHT RAIN AND FOG THIS MORNING GIVE WAY TO PARTIAL CLEARING
WARM AND MUGGY THIS AFTERNOON
 
Light rain showers ahead of a warm front dropped 0.36 inch of rain this
morning, but has since moved offshore. It has been very muggy up here today
with dew points in the mid 60s and even low 70s! Winds have been out of the
S-SW, but not too strong. Visibility has been down for most of the morning but
has since cleared up a bit, now currently about 20-25 miles.
 
This afternoon will be mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Temperatures
will be in the high 80s, and some spots will even see temperatures climb into
the low 90s. Tonight's firework shows should be fine in terms of there being no
rain, however skies may be mostly cloudy but clearing is expected. With today's warmth,
the streak of above normal days will extend to 7. Believe it or not, such a warm streak
has not occurred since late May!
 
Happy 4th of July!
 
 
JUNE 2012 PRELIMINARY STATS
 
TEMPERATURE:
Average Max Temp:  73.4F [-1.6F]
Average Min Temp:  56.1F [-1.0F]
Mean Temp:  64.8F [-1.3F]
24-hr. Corr Mean Temp:  64.3F
Max Temp:  94F on 21st
Min Temp:  47F on  4th, 5th
Total heating degree day units (month):     96    [+22]
Total heating degree day units (season): 4,984 [-1,387] *start July 1
Total cooling degree day units (month):     97     [-8]
Total cooling degree day units (season):   150    [+21] *start Jan 1
 
PRECIPITATION:
Total precipitation:  4.45 ins. [+0.14 in.]
Greatest 24-hr precipitation:  1.38 ins. on 25th
Hail: Trace on 7th (1/8 inch diameter)
 
WIND:
Avg wind speed: 10.4 MPH
Avg corrected wind speed:  10.9 MPH
Prevailing wind direction: S [14%]
Peak gust:  48 MPH NNW on 23rd
Peak fastest mile:  34 MPH NNW on 23rd
 
SUNSHINE:
Total Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 14,342 or 55%
Total astronomical minutes:         14,953 of possible 27,362 or 55%
 
Officially, with the June 2012 average temperature finishing below the
30-year normal, the incredible streak of warmer-than-normal months comes
to an end for one warm-streak-measuring method.
 
Longest Number of Consecutive Months Above 30-Year Normal
(using NWS mean temperature), and average departure in that time
1) 15 months, Jul 1998 - Sep 1999; +2.7 deg F
2) 14 months, Jan 1931 - Feb 1932; +3.0 deg F
3) 14 months, Nov 1952 - Dec 1953; +2.8 deg F
4) 13 months, Aug 1990 - Aug 1991; +3.0 deg F
5) 11 months, Jan 2010 - Nov 2010; +3.0 deg F
6) 11 months, Jul 2011 - May 2012; +4.4 deg F
 
However, for the other warm-streak-measuring method below, preliminary
indications show that the streak continues.  The corrected mean
temperature for June 2012 of 64.3F just squeaked above the 120-year mean
for June of 64.1F.
 
Longest Number of Consecutive Months Above 120-Year Mean
(using corrected mean temperature), and average departure in that time
1) 17 months, Feb 2011 - Jun 2012; +4.0 deg F
2) 15 months, Jun 1990 - Aug 1991; +3.1 deg F
3) 15 months, Jul 1998 - Sep 1999; +3.0 deg F
4) 13 months, Nov 2009 - Nov 2010; +3.7 deg F
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M.
Weather: Light rain with scattered stratus fractus, overcast nimbostratus,
stratus fractus drifting below summit
Temperature: 69F; Dew Point: 68F; Wind: S at 13 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.83 in Hg, falling
Visibility: 13 miles, 15 miles E-S-WNW, 10 miles NW-N, light rain/fog
24-hour precip: 0.17 inch
6-hour min. temp: 66F
BHO SA 1155 35 SCT E100 OVC 13VR-F 101/69/68/1913/983/ STFRA DRFTG BLO SMT VSBY
HIER E-S-WNW 15 VSBY LWR NW-N 10 VSBY DCRSNG PST HR R-BUKN CTD/ 8/72/ 58003
ASOS 60016 MANUAL 60017 10069 20066
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered stratus fractus, scattered cumulus, distant fog all quadrants,
light distant haze, visibility increasing all quadrants
Temperature: 75F; Dew Point: 72F; Wind: SW at 10 kts,
Wind: Direction variable S-WNW
Sea-level pressure: 29.80 in Hg, falling  
Visibility: 20 miles, 25 miles SE-SSW, 10 miles NNW-NE, distant fog/haze,
visibility increasing all quadrants
3-hour precip: 0.20 inch
BHO SA 1455 15 SCT E35 BKN 20 091/75/72/2310/980/ DSNT F ALQDS LGT DSNT HZ VSBY
HIER SE-SSW 25 VSBY LWR NNW-NE 10 VSBY INCRSNG ALQDS WND 18V29/ 8/700 58010
ASOS 60020 MANUAL 60020
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JULY 3
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....85    NORMAL.....80
MIN.....63    NORMAL.....62
MEAN....74    NORMAL.....71
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.......................+3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH......................+16 [+5.1 DEGREES/DAY]
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............23 W   AT  12:52 A.M.
                   AERO..................21 W   AT  12:53 A.M.
                   ASOS..................21 WNW AT  12:53 A.M.
                   DAVIS.................22 WNW AT  12:52 A.M. RMY 20
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........15 WNW AT   1:03 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............15 NW  AT   1:04 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...........15 WNW AT  12:53 A.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION........8.3 NWW
                   ASOS.................8.1
                   DAVIS................7.4 WNW [291 deg]
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.17   DEPARTURE...........+0.06
                         ASOS..............0.16
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.18   DEPARTURE...........-0.15
                         ASOS..............0.16
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........17.87   DEPARTURE...........-9.43
                         ASOS.............17.78
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JUNE & JULY 2012 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/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
 
6/1  67/53/60/-2/0.00/742/82        28 ENE AERO 28 MPH ENE RMY 29
6/2  63/52/58/-4/0.80/000/00        39 SE  AERO 39 MPH SE  RMY 40
6/3  62/50/56/-6/0.01/082/09        31 N   AERO 28 MPH N   RMY 29
6/4  50/47/49/-14/0.58/000/00       44 NNE AERO 43 MPH NNE RMY 43
6/5  54/47/51/-12/0.23/009/01       23 NNE AERO 18 MPH NNE RMY N/A
6/6  63/48/56/-7/0.01/310/34        16 ENE AERO 14 MPH ENE RMY 15
6/7  70/50/60/-4/0.27/328/36        31 NE  AERO 31 MPH NE  RMY 32 TSTM,1/8" HAIL
6/8  76/51/64/0/0.03/502/55         25 WSW AERO 25 MPH WNW RMY 26 TSTM
6/9  76/56/66/+2/T/822/90           25 WNW AERO 24 MPH WNW RMY 24
6/10 78/56/67/+2/0.00/868/95        21 E   AERO 18 MPH E   RMY 18
6/11 76/55/66/+1/0.00/521/57        23 S   AERO 21 MPH S   RMY 22
6/12 73/57/65/0/0.03/320/35         29 S   AERO 29 MPH S   RMY 30
6/13 63/60/62/-3/0.59/000/00        25 S   AERO 23 MPH S   RMY N/A
6/14 69/58/64/-2/0.00/624/68        32 NNE AERO 29 MPH NE  RMY 31
6/15 68/54/61/-5/0.00/890/97        28 ENE AERO 24 MPH ENE RMY 25
6/16 64/51/58/-8/T/485/53           28 NE  AERO 24 MPH NE  RMY 27
6/17 67/50/59/-8/0.00/752/82        21 E   AERO 17 MPH E   RMY 19
6/18 68/50/59/-8/0.00/761/83        21 S   AERO 20 MPH S   RMY 20
6/19 73/53/63/-4/0.00/284/31        24 SW  AERO 23 MPH SW  RMY 24 
6/20 93/62/78/+10/0.00/844/92       22 SW  AERO 22 MPH SW  RMY N/A
6/21 94/74/84/+16/0.00/872/95       22 NW  AERO 22 MPH NW  RMY 21
6/22 93/69/81/+13/0.13/633/69       42 W   AERO 39 MPH W   RMY 43 TSTM
6/23 85/61/73/+5/0.35/504/55        48 NNW AERO 50 MPH NNW RMY 46 TSTM  
6/24 82/59/71/+2/0.00/715/78        22 NW  AERO 21 MPH NW  RMY 21
6/25 71/59/65/-4/1.38/193/21        32 S   AERO 32 MPH S   RMY 32 TSTM
6/26 71/56/64/-5/T/339/37           35 NW  AERO 36 MPH NW  RMY 36 TSTM
6/27 76/55/66/-3/T/321/35           29 W   AERO 28 MPH W   RMY 30
6/28 83/59/71/+1/0.00/833/91        25 WNW AERO 24 MPH WNW RMY 26
6/29 86/65/76/+6/0.04/549/60        29 WNW AERO 28 MPH WNW RMY 30
6/30 89/67/78/+8/0.00/850/93        32 W   AERO 33 MPH W   RMY 33
 
7/1  89/67/78/+8/0.01/..../..       33 WSW AERO 32 MPH WSW RMY 34
7/2  84/66/75/+5/T/..../..          23 W   AERO 22 MPH W   RMY 23
7/3  85/63/74/+3/0.00/.../..        23 W   AERO 21 MPH W   RMY 20
 
7/4  morning low temp: 66F; the normal low is now 62F
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR JUNE 2012
6/4 - NEW DAILY RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMP OF 50F;
surpasses the previous record of 51F in 1891.
6/21 - NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMP OF 94F;
surpasses the previous record of 92F in 1949.
6/21 - TIED DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 74F;
ties the current record of 74F in 1923.
6/22 - TIED DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMP OF 93F;
ties the current record of 93F in 1921.
6/22 - TIED DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 69F;
ties the current record of 69F in 1892.
6/25 - NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION OF 1.38 INS;
surpasses the previous record of 1.10 ins. in 2006.
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR JULY 2012
None so far.
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR JULY 4
HIGH 98F IN 1911, 1919, 1949
LOW 48F IN 1914
PRECIP 1.78 IN 1950
PEAK GUST 50e MPH WNW IN 1949
 
RECORDS FOR JULY 5
HIGH 98F IN 1911
LOW 48F IN 1920, 1927 & 1979
PRECIP 1.45 INS IN 1922
PEAK GUST 44e N IN 1944
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George Tabeek