BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2012 LABOR DAY 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
DENSE EARLY MORNING FOG EARLY TODAY
WEATHER TURNS BRIGHT AND SUNNY FOR LABOR DAY
FINE HOLIDAY WEEKEND WEATHER 
TEMPERATURES RISE TO 70'S WITH A SUNNY SKY TODAY
 
AUGUST 2012 WAS WARMEST ON RECORD...
 
August finished as the warmest on record, though there was no extreme
heat and there were no new 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:  1.00 in. [28th]
 
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: Obscurement with heavy fog, heavy dew all surfaces 
Temperature: 60F; Dew Point: 60F; Wind: E at 6 kts,
Wind: Wind light
Sea-level pressure: 30.22 ins. Hg, rising then more slowly
Visibility: 1/16 mile, dense fog
6-hour min. temp: 57F
BHO SA 1155 W2 X 1/16F 232/60/60/0806/022/ HVY DEW ALL SFCS/ 8////
51010 10061 20057
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Broken variable scattered stratocumulus,
moderatue cumuloform tops W-NNE
Temperature: 69F; Dew Point: 58F; Wind: E at 4 kts,
Wind: Light  
Sea-level pressure: 30.24 ins. Hg, rising then falling
Visibility: 30 miles, fog along/offshore NE-E, visibility
to the NE 15 miles, south 35 miles, WNW 45 miles,
distant haze
BHO SA 1455 E12V BKN 30 240/69/58/0804/024/ BKN V SCT SC MDT CUFRM
TOPS W-NNE FG ALG SHR NE-E VSBY NE-E 15 S 35 WNW 45  DSNT HZ/
8/500 50008
 
1 P.M. 
Weather: Scattered cumulus, few moderate cumulus, scattered
cirrus, thin smoke layer aloft distant NE  
Temperature: 75F; Dew Point: 60F; Wind: E at 6 kts,
Wind: Light and variable 
Sea-level pressure: 30.21 ins. Hg, falling
Visibility: 50 miles, NE, 35 miles 
6-hour max. temp: 75F 
BHO SA 1755 25 SCT 300 SCT 50 229/75/60/0806/021/ FEW MDT CU THN K LYR
ALF DSNT NE VSBY NE 35 DSNT HZ WND LGT/ 8/201 58011 10075 20060 
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....80    NORMAL.....76
MIN.....60    NORMAL.....59
MEAN....68    NORMAL.....68
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.....................+2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.....................+2 [1.0 deg/day]
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.............21 ENE AT  4:38 P.M.
                   AERO..................20 ENE AT  4:38 P.M. 
                   ASOS..................21 ENE AT  4:28 P.M.
                   DAVIS.................20 NE  AT  4:38 P.M. RMY 20
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY...........14 ENE AT  4:25 P.M.   
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE............14 ENE AT  4:43 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...........15 ENE AT  1:57 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION........7.8 S
                   ASOS.................7.3
                   DAVIS................7.1 ESE [110 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...........-0.22
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........25.35   DEPARTURE...........-9.89
                         ASOS.............25.26
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR AUGUST & 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
 
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
 
9/1 75/60/68/0/0.00/.../..          27 ENE AERO 25 MPH ENE RMY 23
9/2 80/60/70/+2/0.00/.../..         21 ENE AERO 20 MPH ENE RMY 20
 
9/3 our morning low temp: 57F; the normal low is now 59F
 
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 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)
 
RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 4
HIGH 90F IN 1953, 1973
LOW 46F IN 1987
PRECIP 3.22 INCHES IN 1922
PEAK GUST 47 MPH SE IN 1966
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Skilling/Patrick Peters