BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
SEASONABLE DAY AT SUMMIT PROVIDES EXCELLENT HIKING WEATHER
AUGUST 2012 WAS WARMEST ON RECORD...
 
Temperatures today have been fairly consistent with the average
temperatures for this time of year. The low temperature today was
60F and temperatures are currently in the lower to mid 70's. Humidity
has dropped off since this morning providing excellent hiking weather.
 
Visibility has been nice the entire day; around 60 miles or so. There have
been lots of altocumulus clouds passing over the summit which have had an
immediate affect on today's temperature trend. There have even been some
cumulus congestus clouds seen forming beginning early this afternoon. Winds
have been on the calmer side and predominately out of the SSW.
 
August finished as the warmest on record, though there was no extreme
heat and there were no daily high maximum temperatures. The warmth
was more modest but persistent with 26 of the 31 days during the month
being above average.  Sunshine was very high with 69% of the possible
bright sunshine being recording, making this the seventh sunniest
August on record. 
 
AUGUST 2012 PRELIMINARY STATS
 
TEMPERATURE:
Average Max Temp:  82.5F [+3.3F]
Average Min Temp:  64.6F [+2.8F]
Mean Temp:  73.6F [+3.1F]
24-hr. Corr Mean Temp:  72.6F
Max Temp:  91F on 4th
Min Temp:  56F on 19th, 29th, 30th
Total heating degree day units (month):     0    [-16]
Total cooling degree day units (month):   273    [+87]
 
PRECIPITATION:
Total precipitation:  3.74 ins. [-0.29 in.]
Greatest 24-hr precipitation:  N/A
 
WIND:
Avg wind speed:  9.3 MPH
Avg corrected wind speed:  10.0 MPH
Prevailing wind direction: S [16%]
Peak gust:  37 MPH S on 5th
Peak fastest mile: 28 MPH SSW on 5th
 
SUNSHINE:
Total Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 17,124 of possible 24,780 or 69%
Total astronomical minutes:         17,767 of possible 25,727 or 69%
 
 
August 2012 was the warmest on record and the wind speed tied for the
third lowest. August sunshine was seventh highest on record.
 
BHO Warmest August Corrected Mean Temperature (deg F), 1885-2012:
 
1) 72.6 in 2012
2) 72.5 in 1988
3) 72.3 in 2005
4) 72.1 in 2002
5) 72.0 in 2001
 
BHO Lowest August Corrected Mean Wind Speed (mph), 1885-2012:
 
1)  9.5 in 1996
    9.5 in 2008
3) 10.0 in 1899
   10.0 in 2009
   10.0 in 2012
6) 10.1 in 1900
   10.1 in 1901
 
BHO Highest August Sunshine (hours), 1885-2012:
 
1) 303.7 in 1971
2) 303.0 in 1969
3) 298.1 in 1932
4) 296.7 in 1970
5) 296.6 in 1995
6) 286.1 in 1941
7) 285.4 in 2012
 
 
Summer 2012 average temperature tied for the seventh warmest on
record, while the wind speed was the lowest on record.
 
BHO Warmest Jun-Aug Corrected Mean Temperature (deg F), 1885-2012:
 
1) 71.3 in 2010
2) 70.8 in 1949
3) 70.6 in 1999
4) 70.4 in 1952
5) 70.2 in 2005
6) 70.1 in 1994
7) 70.0 in 2012
   70.0 in 1973
 
BHO Lowest Jun-Aug Corrected Mean Wind Speed (mph), 1885-2012:
 
1) 10.2 in 2012
2) 10.3 in 2008
   10.3 in 2009
4) 10.7 in 1906
5) 10.8 in 2011
 
 
The temperature for the first eight months of 2012 was the warmest
on record, and the wind speed was the lowest for January to August.
 
BHO Warmest Jan-Aug Corrected Mean Temperature (deg F), 1885-2012:
 
1) 53.5 in 2012
2) 53.0 in 2010
3) 52.0 in 1991
4) 51.9 in 1949
   51.9 in 1998
   51.9 in 2002
7) 51.7 in 1999
 
BHO Lowest Jan-Aug Corrected Mean Wind Speed (mph), 1885-2012:
 
1) 11.6 in 2012
2) 12.2 in 2005
3) 12.3 in 2008
   12.3 in 2009
5) 12.5 in 2001
 
 
The consecutive string of warmer than average months relative to
the long-term mean has reached 19 months since early last year.
 
Longest Number of Consecutive Months Above 120-Year Mean
(using corrected mean temperature), and average departure in that time
 
1) 19 months, Feb 2011 - Aug 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: Scattered altocumulus (2 layers), few cumulus distant NE-E, few
altocumulus cumulogenitus NE-S, virga SE, clear overhead, crepuscular rays
NE-SE
Temperature: 65F; Dew Point: 57F; Wind: S at 4 kts,
Wind: Wind light
Sea-level pressure: 30.13 ins. Hg, increasing then decreasing
Visibility: 60 miles
6-hour min. temp: 60F
BHO SA 1155 70 SCT 100 SCT 60 203/65/57/1904/013/ FEW CU DSNT NE-E FEW
ACCU NE-S VIRGA SE CLR OVD CREP RAYS NE-SE WND LGT/ 8/250 50003 10065
20060
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered cumulus congestus, scattered altocumulus standing
lenticularis, scattered altocumulus, few altocumulus castellanus E-WSW,
crepuscular rays E-WSW
Temperature: 72F; Dew Point: 56F; Wind: SSW at 5 kts,
Wind: Light and variable (SSE-W)
Sea-level pressure: 30.12 ins. Hg, decreasing slightly
Visibility: 60 miles
BHO SA 1455 60 SCT 70 SCT 100 SCT 201/72/56/2005/012/ FEW ACC E-WSW CREP
RAYS E-WSW WND 15V26/ 8/260 55002
 
1 P.M. 
Weather: Broken cumulus, broken altocumulus standing lenticularis,
broken altocumulus cumulogenitus, few dark bases E-SW, crepuscular rays
distant S-SW, cumulus congestus forming along horizon beyond city N,
distant haze
Temperature: 75F; Dew Point: 58F; Wind: WSW at 6 kts,
Wind: Light and variable (SSW-WNW)
Sea-level pressure: 30.10 ins. Hg, decreasing
Visibility: 55 miles, distant haze 
6-hour max. temp: 77F 
BHO SA 1755 60 BKN 70 BKN 100 BKN 193/75/58/2506/010/ FEW DRK BASES E-SW
CREP RAYS DSNT S-SW CU CONG FRMG ALG HRZN BYND CTY N DSNT HZ WND 21V29/
8/260 55008 10077 20065
 
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....75    NORMAL.....76
MIN.....60    NORMAL.....59
MEAN....68    NORMAL.....68
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................0
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH......................0
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............27 ENE AT  9:52 A.M.
                   AERO..................25 ENE AT  9:52 A.M.
                   ASOS..................25 ENE AT  9:53 A.M.
                   DAVIS.................22 ENE AT  9:52 A.M. RMY 23
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........17 ENE AT 10:04 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............16 ENE AT  1:57 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...........15 ENE AT  1:57 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.......10.0 ENE
                   ASOS.................9.8
                   DAVIS................9.2 ENE [063 deg]
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00   DEPARTURE...........-0.11
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.00   DEPARTURE...........-0.11
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........25.35   DEPARTURE...........-9.78
                         ASOS.............25.26
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 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
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
 
9/1 75/60/68/0/0.00/.../..          27 ENE AERO 25 MPH ENE RMY 23
 
9/2 morning low temp: 60F; the normal low is now 59F
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 2012 CALENDAR DAY DATA
 
8/1  82/65/74/+2/0.58/390/45        33 W   AERO 33 MPH W   RMY 35  *
8/2  87/67/77/+5/T/648/75           20 W   AERO 20 MPH W   RMY 20
8/3  90/70/80/+8/0.00/707/82        23 SW  AERO 23 MPH SW  RMY 23
8/4  91/72/82/+10/0.00/713/83       22 S   AERP 21 MPH S   RMY 23
8/5  87/72/80/+8/0.14/660/77        37 S   AERO 37 MPH SSW RMY 37
8/6  82/67/75/+3/0.00/710/83        25 WNW AERO 27 MPH WNW RMY 26
8/7  84/65/75/+3/0.00/725/85        23 S   AERO 21 MPH S   RMY 23
8/8  87/65/76/+4/0.00/578/68        20 S   AERO 18 MPH S   RMY 18  *
8/9  89/68/79/+7/0.00/630/77        25 S   AERO 23 MPH S   RMY 25
8/10 84/70/77/+6/0.87/228/27        32 SE  AERO 32 MPH SE  RMY 32 TSTM
8/11 84/69/77/+6/0.00/464/55        25 S   AERO 27 MPH S   RMY 27
8/12 83/70/77/+6/0.03/420/50        24 S   AERO 23 MPH S   RMY 23
8/13 84/66/75/+4/0.00/787/94        21 WNW AERO 20 MPH WNW RMY 19
8/14 81/64/73/+2/0.00/451/54        18 W   AERO 18 MPH SW  RMY 19
8/15 83/63/73/+2/0.89/358/43        33 W   AERO 33 MPH W   RMY 32 TSTM
8/16 82/64/73/+2/T/714/86           23 WNW AERO 22 MPH WNW RMY 21
8/17 84/65/75/+4/T/729/88           26 S   AERO 26 MPH SSW RMY 27
8/18 69/62/66/-5/0.22/0/0           18 WNW AERO 17 MPH WNW RMY 16
8/19 73/56/65/-5/T/353/43           17 N   AERO 16 MPH NNW RMY 16
8/20 77/61/69/-1/0.00/312/38        16 SSW AERO 15 MPH SSW RMY 16
8/21 81/62/72/+2/0.01/539/66        21 W   AERO 20 MPH W   RMY 19 
8/22 82/62/72/+2/0.00/766/94        17 W   AERO 17 MPH SW  RMY N/A
8/23 85/63/74/+4/0.00/771/95        21 SSW AERO 21 MPH SSW RMY 21
8/24 80/65/73/+3/0.00/648/80        18 W   AERO 16 MPH W   RMY 16
8/25 80/64/72/+3/0.00/492/61        20 ESE AER0 18 MPH ESE RMY 18
8/26 80/63/72/+3/0.00/675/84        17 SW  AERO 15 MPH SW  RMY 16
8/27 84/61/73/+4/0.00/650/81        28 S   AERO 29 MPH S   RMY N/A
8/28 82/66/74/+5/1.00/327/41        29 SSW AERO 30 MPH SSW RMY 30
8/29 74/56/65/-4/0.00/795/100       22 NNW AERO 21 MPH NNW RMY 21
8/30 79/56/68/0/0.00/777/98         29 W   AERO 27 MPH W   RMY N/A
8/31 86/63/75/+7/0.00/750/95        31 WSW AERO 30 MPH WSW RMY 31
 
* Minimum temperature corrected from 66 to 65 for 8/1
* Minimum temperature corrected from 68 to 65 for 8/8
* Mean temperature corrected from 78 to 76 for 8/8
* Temperature departure corrected from +6 to +4 for 8/8
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 2012
None thus far.
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 2
HIGH 99F IN 1953 (SEPTEMBER MAXIMUM RECORD)
LOW 44F IN 1909
PRECIP 2.73 INCHES IN 1947
PEAK GUST 55e MPH WNW IN 1944
 
RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 3
HIGH 95F IN 1929
LOW 43F IN 1983
PRECIP 3.82 INCHES IN 1972 (TROPICAL STORM CARRIE)
PEAK GUST 58 MPH NNE IN 1972 (TROPICAL STORM CARRIE)
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: George Tabeek