BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
STORM TOTAL 0.80 INCH RAIN
COOL AND CLOUDY WITH INTERMITTENT LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS
BRIEF AFTERNOON RAIN SHOWERS LEAVE 0.01 INCH
 
Yesterday's rainfall event left 0.80 inch on the summit. Although
this was on the lower end of rainfall totals, it was still much
needed precipitation. Another couple of brief showers passed over
the summit early this afternoon leaving 0.01 inch. Skies have been
broken to overcast for most of the day however there is some partial
clearing. This, along with the brief showers and a northwest wind have
kept temperatures in the high 50s for most of today. Similar conditions
are expected for tomorrow.
 
May 2012 tied for the 6th warmest May on record, and this was the
11th consecutive month to average above the current 30-year normal.
It was the 16th consecutive month to be warmer than the long-term
120-year average temperature.  The mean temperature for the year
to date for January through May is the warmest on record by
1.5 degrees F. The average minimum temperature for May was the
warmest on record, while the average maximum was not even in the
top 40 warmest. This is possibly a consequence of the frequent 
cloudiness.
 
MAY 2012 PRELIMINARY STATS
 
TEMPERATURE:
Average Max Temp:  67.9F [+1.6F]
Average Min Temp:  52.5F [+4.7F]
Mean Temp:  60.2F [+3.2F]
24-hr. Corr Mean Temp:  59.3F
Max Temp:  84F on 26th
Min Temp:  42F on  1st, 11th
Total heating degree day units (month):    174   [-97]
Total cooling degree day units (month):     38   [+17]
 
PRECIPITATION:
Total precipitation:  3.63 ins. [-0.48 ins.]
Greatest 24-hr precipitation:  N/A
Total snowfall:  0.0 [-0.1 in.]
 
WIND:
Avg wind speed: 9.4 MPH
Avg corrected wind speed:  10.0 MPH
Prevailing wind direction: S [17%]
Peak gust:  40 MPH S on 8th
Peak fastest mile: 31 MPH S on 8th
 
SUNSHINE:
Total Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 10584; poss. 26226 or 40%
Total astronomical minutes:         10985; poss. 27136 or 40%
 
 
Warmest Mays (deg F), 1885-2012
 
1) 61.4 in 1991
2) 61.0 in 1944
3) 60.9 in 2010
4) 59.4 in 1911
   59.4 in 1959
6) 59.3 in 1964
   59.3 in 2012
 
Warmest Jan-May (deg F), 1885-2012
 
1) 43.6 in 2012
2) 42.1 in 1998
3) 41.9 in 2010
4) 41.6 in 2002
5) 41.5 in 1991
 
Warmest May Average Minimum (deg F), 1885-2012

1) 52.5 in 2012
2) 51.2 in 1944
3) 50.5 in 1979
4) 50.4 in 2010
5) 50.3 in 1991
 
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
 
 
Longest Number of Consecutive Months Above 120-Year Mean
(using corrected mean temperature), and average departure in that time
 
1) 16 months, Feb 2011 - May 2012; +4.2 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: Broken stratus fractus, broken stratocumulus, ceiling ragged,
light distant haze
Temperature: 58F, Dew Point: 56F; Wind: NW at 14 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 29.66 inches Hg, increasing
Visibility: 40 miles, SSE-WNW 55 miles, NW-SE 30 miles
6-hour min. temp: 57F
24-hour precip: 0.61 inch
BHO SA 1155 E7 BKN 10 BKN 40 045/58/56/3114/966/ CIG RGD LGT DSNT HZ VSBY HIER
SSE-WNW 55 VSBY LWR NW-SE 30/ 8/700 51007 MANUAL 70061 ASOS 70059 10061 20057
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratus fractus, overcast stratocumulus, small break in overcast
SSW, few small cumulus distant SE-W, light distant haze, rain shower distant N,
virga distant W
Temperature: 59F, Dew Point: 53F; Wind: NW 15G22 kts,
Wind: Direction variable W-NNW
Sea-level pressure: 29.67 inches Hg, steady then increasing
Visibility: 40 miles, S-WSW 50 miles, N-E 35 miles
BHO SA 1455 E12 BKN 20 OVC 40 049/59/53/3115G22/967/ SM BINOVC SSW FEW SM CU DSNT
SE-W LGT DSNT HZ SHRA DSNT N VIRGA DSNT W VSBY HIER S-WSW 50 VSBY LWR N-E 35 WND
28V34/ 8/7// 53004
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratus fractus, overcast stratocumulus, small break in overcast
overhead, few lower cumulus distant W-WNW, scattered distant rain showers NNW-E
Temperature: 60F, Dew Point: 54F; Wind: NNW at 12 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 29.67 inches Hg, decreasing
Visibility: 40 miles, S-W 60 miles, NNW-E 12 miles
6-hour max. temp: 61F
6-hour precip: 0.01 inch
BHO SA 1755 E15 BKN 25 OVC 40 049/60/54/3312/967/ SM BINOVC OVD FEW LWR CU DSNT W-WNW
SCT DSNT SHRA NNW-E VSBY HIER S-W 60 VSBY LWR NNW-E 12 R-B45E50/ 8/7// 58000 MANUAL
6/0001 ASOS 6/0000 10061 20058
 
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 2
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....63    NORMAL.....71
MIN.....52    NORMAL.....53
MEAN....58    NORMAL.....62
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.......................-4
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.......................-6 [-3.2 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............7   DEPARTURE..........+2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............12   DEPARTURE..........+2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........4900   DEPARTURE.......-1407
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......6156   DIFFERENCE......-1256
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............39 SE  AT  5:57 P.M.
                   AERO..................39 SE  AT  5:59 P.M. *
                   ASOS..................37 SSE AT  6:01 P.M. 
                   DAVIS.................38 SSE AT  5:57 P.M. RMY 40
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.......... 26 SE  AT  6:01 P.M. *  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............25 SSE AT  6:02 P.M. 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...........25 SSE AT  6:01 P.M. 
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.......15.0 E
                   ASOS................13.3
                   DAVIS...............13.6 SE [127 deg.]
* Last of several occurrences....
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.61  DEPARTURE...........+0.45
                         ASOS..............0.59
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.80  DEPARTURE...........+0.47
                         ASOS..............0.78
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........14.04  DEPARTURE...........-9.42
                         ASOS.............14.03
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MAY 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
 
5/1  47/42/45/-8/0.65/0.0/000/00    33 SE  AERO 36 MPH SE  RMY 37
5/2  50/43/47/-6/0.05/0.0/000/00    16 ENE AERO 16 MPH ENE RMY 17
5/3  51/44/48/-5/0.08/0.0/000/00    14 SSE AERO 16 MPH SSE RMY N/A
5/4  56/47/52/-2/0.01/0.0/000/00    21 SSW AERO 25 MPH SSW RMY 23
5/5  57/46/52/-2/0.04/0.0/034/04    14 NE  AERO 15 MPH NE  RMY 15
5/6  58/45/52/-2/0.00/0.0/532/62    21 ENE AERO 21 MPH ENE RMY 21
5/7  67/48/58/+3/0.00/0.0/740/86    23 S   AERO 25 MPH S   RMY 25
5/8  57/48/53/-2/0.18/0.0/000/00    40 S   AERO 46 MPH S   RMY 46
5/9  61/54/58/+3/0.36/0.0/000/00    25 S   AERO 28 MPH S   RMY N/A
5/10 65/46/56/+1/0.98/0.0/234/27    33 W   AERO 36 MPH W   RMY 37
5/11 62/42/52/-4/T/0.0/539/62       30 WNW AERO 33 MPH WNW RMY 34
5/12 77/46/62/+6/0.00/0.0/862/99    30 W   AERO 30 MPH W   RMY 29
5/13 82/57/70/+14/0.00/0.0/314/36   27 S   AERO 29 MPH S   RMY 29
5/14 71/52/62/+5/0.05/0.0/096/11    23 S   AERO 24 MPH S   RMY 23
5/15 72/57/65/+8/0.43/0.0/123/14    32 S   AERO 35 MPH S   RMY 33
5/16 71/58/65/+8/0.12/0.0/141/16    23 S   AERO 24 MPH S   RMY N/A TSTM
5/17 69/50/60/+3/0.00/0.0/784/89    31 WNW AERO 32 MPH WNW RMY 26
5/18 69/49/59/+1/0.00/0.0/857/97    17 ESE AERO 17 MPH ESE RMY 17
5/19 74/51/63/+5/0.00/0.0/876/99    15 WNW AERO 15 MPH WNW RMY 16
5/20 79/56/68/+10/0.00/0.0/727/82   17 SE  AERO 17 MPH SE  RMY 17
5/21 64/52/58/-1/0.02/0.0/009/01    17 NE  AERO 16 MPH NNE RMY 18
5/22 61/56/59/0/0.54/0.0/000/00     23 NE  AERO 23 MPH NE  RMY 23 
5/23 75/57/66/+7/0.00/0.0/366/41    15 S   AERO 16 MPH S   RMY 15
5/24 75/59/67/+8/0.00/0.0/751/84    20 SSE AERO 21 MPH SE  RMY 21
5/25 73/57/65/+5/0/01/0.0/054/06    26 S   AERO 25 MPS S   RMY 25
5/26 84/63/74/+14/0.00/0.0/350/39   24 SSW AERO 24 MPH SW  RMY 23
5/27 75/62/69/+9/0.00/0.0/817/91    27 NNE AERO 24 MPH S   RMY 24
5/28 72/58/65/+4/0.00/0.0/585/65    22 S   AERO 21 MPH S   RMY 20
5/29 78/59/69/+8/0.11/0.0/360/40    24 N   AERO 24 MPH N   RMY 25  TSTM 
5/30 73/62/68/+7/T/0.0/009/01       22 WSW AERO 23 MPH WSW RMY 25
5/31 80/63/72/+11/0.00/0.0/823/91   23 WNW AERO 23 MPH W   RMY 24
 
6/1  67/53/60/-2/0.00/.../..        28 ENE AERO 28 MPH ENE RMY 29
6/2  63/52/58/-4/0.80/.../..        39 SE  AERO 39 MPH SE  RMY 40
 
6/3  morning low temp: 57F; the normal low is now 53F
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR MAY 2012
5/16 - TIED DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMP OF 58F;
ties the record of 58F in 1951 and 1961.
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR JUNE 2012
None so far
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR JUNE 3
HIGH 98F IN 1919
LOW 38F IN 1929
PRECIP 2.40 INS 2006
PEAK GUST 47 MPH NW IN 1998
 
RECORDS FOR JUNE 4
HIGH 99F IN 1919 [Record for month]
LOW 41F IN 1915,1926
PRECIP 1.52 INS IN 2007
PEAK GUST 48 MPH SSE IN 1983 
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George Tabeek/Mike Iacono