BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2012 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES AND OVERCAST
FEBRUARY 2012 WAS SECOND WARMEST AND FOURTH DRIEST ON RECORD...
WINTER 2011-12 WAS SECOND WARMEST AND SECOND LEAST SNOWY ON RECORD...
 
Seasonable temperatures and overcast skies were observed at the summit
today. An altostratus layer has been present all day associated
with the passing cold front to the south that brought severe weather to
the Ohio and Tennessee Valley areas. Visibility has been around 45 miles,
with higher visibility off to the NW as Grand Monadnock is in sight. It has
been relatively dry here at the summit today with dew points in the mid
20s. Cold air will make its way in tomorrow night associated with a high
pressure system building in from Canada. From this, we can also expect
mostly clear skies for the next couple of days with highs in the mid 30s.
 
We continue to finalize stats for February and meteorological winter.
 
FEBRUARY 2012 PRELIMINARY STATS
 
TEMPERATURE:
Average Max Temp:  43.3F [+6.5F]
Average Min Temp:  26.3F [+7.2F]
Mean Temp:  34.8F [+6.9F]
24-hr. Corr Mean Temp:  34.3F
Max Temp:  58F on  1st
Min Temp:  12F on 13th
Total heating degree day units (month):    870 [-164]
Total heating degree day units (season): 3,651 [-919] *start July 1
PRECIPITATION:
Total precipitation:  1.08 ins. [-2.99 in.]
Greatest 24-hr precipitation:  0.44 ins. on 24th
Total snowfall:  3.7 ins. [-12.3 ins.]
Greatest 24-hr snowfall:  3.0 ins. on 29th
Greatest 7AM snow depth:  Trace on 11th
WIND:
Avg wind speed:  12.3 MPH
Avg corrected wind speed:  12.7 MPH
Prevailing wind direction: W [17%]
Peak gust:  61 MPH W on 25th
Peak fastest mile:  44 MPH WSW on 25th
 
 
The total snowfall for the winter season (Dec-Feb) was the SECOND
lowest on record.
 
Least Snowy Winters (Dec-Feb), inches, 1885-2011
1)  3.3 in 1936-1937
2) 11.7 in 2011-2012
3) 12.0 in 1888-1889
4) 13.6 in 1991-1992
5) 13.8 in 1979-1980
6) 13.9 in 2006-2007
 
 
February was a very dry month and ranked FOURTH driest on record.   
 
Driest Februarys, inches, 1886-2011
1) 0.71 in 1987
2) 1.04 in 1901
3) 1.07 in 1980
4) 1.08 in 2012
5) 1.12 in 1895
6) 1.58 in 1947
 
 
February has also been extremely warm.
The month finished as the SECOND warmest February on record.
 
Warmest Februarys, deg F, 1885-2011
1) 34.9 in 1984
2) 34.3 in 2012 
3) 34.0 in 1998
4) 33.9 in 1954
   33.9 in 1981
5) 33.7 in 1976
 
 
The winter season (Dec-Feb) ranked as the SECOND warmest on record.    
 
Warmest Winters (Dec-Feb), deg F, 1885-2011
1) 34.8 in 2001-2002
2) 34.3 in 2011-2012
3) 32.6 in 1997-1998
4) 32.3 in 1936-1937
   32.3 in 1998-1999
6) 32.2 in 1932-1933
 
 
The November through February mean temperature was the WARMEST
on record.
 
Warmest Nov-Feb, deg F, 1885-2011
1) 37.7 in 2011-2012
2) 37.6 in 2001-2002
3) 35.4 in 1948-1949
4) 35.1 in 1990-1991
5) 34.8 in 1953-1954
   34.8 in 2006-2007
 
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M. 
Weather: Broken altostratus (2 layers), few stratus fractus moving
overhead, few altocumulus W-N, few altocumulus standing lenticularis E-S,
smoke layer WSW-NE, light distant haze
Temperature: 35F, Dew point: 24F, Wind: WSW at 9 kts  
Sea-level pressure: 29.67 inches Hg, steady then rising
Visibility: 50 miles, W-NNW 70 miles
24-hour precip: 0.12 in.
6-hour min. temp: 33F
BHO SA 1155 E100 BKN 130 BKN 50 048/35/24/2509/967/ FEW STFRA MOVG OVD FEW
AC W–N FEW ACSL E-S K LYR WSW-NE LGT DSNT HZ VSBY HIER W-NNW 70/ 8/770
53010 MANUAL 70012 ASOS 70014 10036 20033
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Overcast altostratus
Temperature: 35F, Dew Point: 24F; Wind: W at 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.65 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 45 miles, WSW-NNW 70 miles  
BHO SA 1455 E90 OVC 45 040/35/24/2607/965/ FEW LWR ACSL DSNT ESE-S LGT
DSNT HZ VSBY HIER WSW-NNW 70/ 8/07/ 58008
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Broken altostratus, overcast altostratus, few stratus fractus
moving overhead, cumulus band distant WSW-N below overcast layer, few
faint altocumulus standing lenticularis distant SW-WSW, sun dimly visible,
distant haze
Temperature: 37F, Dew Point: 22F; Wind: WSW at 7 kts,
Wind: Direction variable SSW-W
Sea-level pressure: 29.60 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 45 miles, W-WNW 65 miles
6-hour max. temp: 38F
BHO SA 1755 E120 BKN 140 OVC 45 024/37/22/2507/960/ FEW STFRA MOVG OVD CU
BAND DSNT WSW-N BLO OVC LYR FEW FAINT ACSL DSNT SW-WSW SUN DMLY VSBL DSNT
HZ VSBY HIER W-NNW 65 WND 21V28/ 8/77/ 58016 10038 20034
 
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 3
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....44    NORMAL.....41
MIN.....30    NORMAL.....23
MEAN....37    NORMAL.....32
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................+5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH......................-3 [-1.2 DEGREES]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............28   DEPARTURE..........-5
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............104   DEPARTURE..........+4
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........3755   DEPARTURE........-915
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......4635   DEPARTURE........-880 
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............27 W   AT 11:52 P.M. *
                   AERO..................29 SW  AT  8:44 P.M.
                   ASOS..................28 SSW AT  7:50 P.M.
                   DAVIS.................27 SSW AT  7:49 P.M. RMY 28
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........22 W   AT 11:51 P.M. *
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............21 W   AT 11:47 P.M.
DAVIS MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE AVERAGE...........21 SSW AT  7:29 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.......13.6 SSE
                   ASOS................12.9
                   DAVIS...............11.8 SSW [204 deg]
*...Last of several occurrences
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.12   DEPARTURE..........-0.05
                         ASOS..............0.14
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........1.41   DEPARTURE..........+0.89
                         ASOS..............1.43
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........5.68   DEPARTURE..........-3.26
                        ASOS...............5.76
     
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0    DEPARTURE..........-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................4.0    DEPARTURE..........+2.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............24.2    DEPARTURE.........-22.7
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY & MARCH 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 35/28/32/+1/0.38/3.0/000/00    30 E   AERO 30 MPH E   RMY N/A
 
3/1  34/22/28/-3/1.05/3.3/000/00    40 ENE AERO 44 MPH ENE RMY 42
3/2  30/21/26/-5/..../0.1/000/00    23 ESE AERO 25 MPH ESE RMY 26
3/3  44/30/37/+5/..../0.6/.../..    27 W   AERO 29 MPH SW  RMY 28
 
3/4  morning low temp: 33F; the normal low is 23F
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2012
There were none.
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR MARCH 2012
None so far.
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR MARCH 4
HIGH 69 IN 1974
LOW  -5 IN 1950
PRECIP 1.80 IN 1960
SNOWFALL 17.3 IN 1960
PEAK GUST 81e MPH SSW IN 1971
 
RECORDS FOR MARCH 5
HIGH 64 IN 1979
LOW -2 IN 1948
PRECIP 1.76 INS. IN 2001
SNOWFALL 13.0 INS. IN 1891
PEAK GUST 76e MPH WNW IN 1971
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George Tabeek