BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY 
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2015   
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT TOTALS 2.9 INS, SEASONAL
SNOWFALL NOW 140.4 INCHES - 4 INCHES FROM ALL TIME RECORD

Snow which began to fall lightly after yesterday afternoon's
1:00 PM EST observation continued through the overnight hours
before ending after 1:00 AM EST this morning. A total of
2.9 inches were recorded, adding to our seasonal total which
now stands at 140.4 inches, just 4.0 inches from the all time
record set in the 1995-1996 season.

Overcast skies were slow to clear this morning, with relatively
poor visibility through the 10:00 AM EST observation at just 
30 miles. Winds were on the increase as well, and by the 1:00 
PM EST observation the peak gust for the day had been recorded
at 39 MPH W @ 1:17 PM EST with a maximum temperature of 34F
so far.

THE PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 2015 STATS

TEMP. Deg. F
Av. Max. 25.6 [-11.2]
Av. Min.  6.8 [-12.3]
Mean     16.2 [-11.7]
Corrected mean: 17.0  
Max. for month: 39 on 2/22
Min. for month: -8 on 2/16
Number of days with temperature at or below zero: 6
Total heating units;   1360 [+323] 
Total for the season:  4708 [+140] 
Total for last season: 4591 

PRECIP: Inches

Total: 6.17 [+2.10]

SNOWFALL: Inches 
Total: 83.6 [+69.7] [greatest total any month of record] 
Now approaching the all-time record for any season on 
record with total this season of 140.4.
The all-time record is 144.4 inches in 1995-96.  

SUNSHINE: 
Last report available showed 36% of possible 
through 2/22.  The entire month will soon be 
completed and list here. 

BHO Coldest Months, deg F (1885-2014)

1) 13.5 in Feb, 1934
2) 15.5 in Jan, 1920
3) 16.3 in Jan, 1888
4) 16.4 in Feb, 1885
5) 17.0 in Feb, 2015  
6) 17.1 in Feb, 1923 
7) 17.2 in Jan, 1912
   17.2 in Jan, 1918
   17.2 in Jan, 2004
10) 17.4 in Jan, 1893
   17.4 in Dec, 1989

BHO Greatest Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.8 on 26-28 Jan, 2015
3) 30.3 on 3-5 Mar, 1960
4) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
5) 30.0 on 31 Mar - 1 Apr, 1997
6) 29.8 on 6-8 Mar, 2013
7) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
8) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
9) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
10) 24.3 on 5-7 Dec, 2003
11) 23.0 on 5-7 Mar, 2001
12) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
13) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
14) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969

BHO Greatest February Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):

1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
3) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015 
4) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
5) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
6) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
7) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
8) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969

BHO Snowiest February, inches (1885-2015):

1) 83.6 in 2015 (through Feb 28 at 10:00 AM EST)
2) 65.4 in 1969
3) 51.3 in 2003
4) 45.2 in 1967
5) 40.4 in 1920
6) 39.7 in 2013
7) 37.0 in 1893

BHO Snowiest January-February, inches (1886-2015):

1) 126.5 in 2015 (through Feb 28 at 10:00 AM EST)
2) 77.9 in 1948
3) 70.2 in 2005
4) 68.7 in 1904
5) 67.5 in 1920
6) 66.9 in 1994

BHO Greatest Snow Depth, inches (1895-2015):
1) 46 in February 2015
2) 43 in March 1969
3) 42 in January 1948
4) 41 in February 1969
5) 39 in February 1948
6) 38 in February 1920   
7) 33 in February 1978
   33 in January 1996
9) 31 in February 2003
   31 in February 2011
11)30 in March 1960
   30 in March 1978

Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Broken altocumulus, showers distant NE-ENE
Temperature: 26F; Dew Point: 23F; Wind: W at 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.95 ins. Hg, falling, then rising  
Visibility: 30 miles, light fog
6-hr max temp: 26F
6-hr min temp: 25F
24-hr precip: 0.24 inches
24-hr snowfall: 2.9 inches
Snow depth: 36 inches 
BHO SA 1155 E70 BKN 30 143/26/23/2709/995/ 
SHWRS DSNT NE-ENE LGT FG ALQDS NEW SNW PST 24 HRS 2.9 INS/ 
8/070 4/038 55009 ASOS 60001 70025 MANUAL 70024 10026 20025

10 A.M. 
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, broken altocumulus,
broken cirrus, thin fog
Temperature: 31F; Dew Point: 22F; Wind: WNW at 14G21 kts
Peak Gust: 25 kts W @ 9:30 AM EST
Sea-level pressure: 29.95 ins. Hg, rising, then falling
Visibility: 30 miles, thin fog
BHO SA 1455 40 SCT E100 BKN 140 BKN 30 141/31/22/3014G21/995/ 
THN FG ALQDS PK WND 2725/30/ 8/531 58002 

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus
Temperature: 33F; Dew Point: 19F; Wind WNW at 22G29 kts
Peak Gust: 31 kts W @ 12:08 PM EST
Sea-Level Pressure: 29.96 ins. Hg, rising, then falling
Visibility: 40 miles, Hazy
6 Hr Max temp: 34F
6 hr min temp: 25F
BHO SA 1755 E43 BKN 40 145/33/19/2922G29/996/ 
HAZY PK WND 2831/08/ 8/500 50004 10034 20025

 
SUMMARY FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2015

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....29   NORMAL.....40
MIN.....14   NORMAL.....22
MEAN....22   NORMAL.....31

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL............................-9
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH............................-9 [-9.2 DEGREES/DAY] 
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............43  DEPARTURE...........+9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............43  DEPARTURE...........+9     
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........4751  DEPARTURE.........+149
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......4602  DIFFERENCE........+118

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY..................25 SSW   AT  1:20 P.M.* 
                   ASOS.......................26 SSW   AT  1:19 P.M. 
                   DAVIS......................24 SSW   AT 12:50 P.M. RMY 25
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY....................22 SSW   AT  1:19 P.M. 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE.................22 SSW   AT  1:21 P.M.     
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE................20 SSW   AT  1:21 P.M.       
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION............9.4 S  
                   ASOS.....................10.2   
                   DAVIS....................9.2 SW [215 degrees] 
* last of several occurrences..
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.24  DEPARTURE.....+0.06
                         ASOS..............0.25
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.24  DEPARTURE.....+0.06  
                         ASOS..............0.25  
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........11.58  DEPARTURE.....+3.11
                         ASOS...............N/A *** 
*** ASOS annual totals not available due to erroneous readings


SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........2.9  DEPARTURE......+2.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................2.9  DEPARTURE......+2.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON.............140.4  DEPARTURE.....+93.4 

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOWFALL/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/RMY GUST
RMY:  R.M. Young wind gust recording system 
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
....: Data not yet available, records not finalized


2/1  28/8/18/-8/0.00/0.0/582/97               29 WNW RMY N/A
2/2  29/8/19/-7/1.53/16.5/000/00              44 NE  RMY 46
2/3  21/0/11/-15/0.00/0.0/593/98              31 NW  RMY N/A            
2/4  36/14/25/-1/0.00/0.0/164/27              31 S   RMY 33
2/5  34/4/19/-7/0.15/3.5/000/00               38 NW  RMY 39
2/6  19/-2/9/-17/0.00/0.0/392/64              28 NW  RMY 27    
2/7  25/14/20/-7/..../.../000/00              25 WSW RMY N/A
2/8  29/11/20/-7/..../.../000/00              30 NNE RMY 29
2/9  19/12/16/-11/..../.../000/00             29 N   RMY 28
2/10 28/12/20/-7/..../.../081/13              29 N   RMY 29
2/11 24/15/20/-7/0.03/1.4/000/00              30 N   RMY 29
2/12 28/14/21/-6/0.02/0.6/000/00              31 NW  RMY N/A
2/13 20/2/11/-17/0.00/0.0/630/100             35 NW  RMY 35
2/14 26/1/14/-14/..../.../241/38              24 NW  RMY N/A
2/15 18/-6/6/-22/..../.../000/00              53 NW  RMY 59
2/16 17/-8/5/-23/0.00/0.0/606/95              43 NW  RMY N/A
2/17 21/5/13/-15/0.12/2.0/064/10              18 NW  RMY 16
2/18 28/15/22/-7/..../.../039/06              17 W   RMY N/A
2/19 26/6/16/-13/0.02/0.3/116/18              40 W   RMY 43
2/20 15/0/8/-21/0.00/0.0/630/97               38 W   RMY 40
2/21 32/3/18/-11/..../.../462/71              39 SSW RMY 42
2/22 39/27/33/+4/..../.../327/50              25 WSW RMY N/A
2/23 28/1/15/-15/0.00/0.0/.../..              38 WNW RMY 44
2/24 18/-6/6/-24/..../.../.../..              26 S   RMY 27
2/25 32/11/22/-8/..../.../.../..              35 W   RMY 36
2/26 21/15/18/-12/0.04/0.6/.../..             25 NE  RMY 24
2/27 25/9/17/-14/0.00/0.0/.../..              20 NW  RMY N/A
2/28 30/5/18/-13/0.00/0.0/.../..              22 NW  RMY N/A

3/1  29/14/22/-9/..../.../.../..              25 SSW RMY 25

morning low temp: 25F since midnight, normal low is now 22

DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2015

- NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL FOR 2 FEBRUARY 2015
SNOWFALL 16.5 INS. surpasses previous record: 
5.5 ins. in 1916, 1934

DAILY EXTREMES 
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):  

RECORDS FOR MARCH 2
HIGH 63 IN 2004
LOW -3 IN 1886
PRE 2.15 INS. IN 1983
SNOW 8.2 INS. IN 2009
WIND 75 MPH NW IN 1966

RECORDS FOR MARCH 3
HIGH 64 IN 1991
LOW -1 IN 1950
PRECIP 2.36 INS. IN 1972
SNOWFALL 12.8 INS. IN 1960
PEAK GUST 78e MPH E IN 1942

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Brian Fitzgerald