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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2015 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

ANOTHER BRILLIANT DAY, CLEAR CONDITIONS PREVAIL
WITH NEAR SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES

Temperatures reached a slightly warmer than normal 69F,
some 6 degrees above the daily normal high for the beginning
of October. Overnight, temperatures dipped to 49F, just 3
degrees above the daily norm. 

At this morning's 7:00 AM EST observation, smoke was clearly
visible from a boat fire along the Quincy shoreline. Some capping
in the atmosphere, along with a light northerly breeze aggregated
smoke into a dense layer to the SE of the station. Otherwise, only
a few thin cirrus were visible in the distance, along with a few
stratocumulus distant offshore. 

By today's 1:00 PM EST observation skies were still largely 
clear with only a few small cumulus in the distance to the
SE-NW. Some high cirrus were visible as well under good visibility
of 75 miles in all directions. A maximum temperature of 
63F had been reached so far.
  

SEPTEMBER Details below:

BHO Warmest Septembers (NWS mean), deg F (1885-2015):

1) 68.2 in 2015
2) 66.9 in 1961
3) 66.5 in 1930
4) 66.4 in 1999
5) 66.2 in 2002
   66.2 in 2005

BHO Warmest September Average Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2015):

1) 77.8 in 2015
2) 76.6 in 1930
3) 75.7 in 2007
4) 75.6 in 1959
5) 75.5 in 1961

BHO Warmest September Average Minimum Temperature, deg F (1885-2015):

1) 58.8 in 1988
2) 58.5 in 2015
3) 58.2 in 1961
   58.2 in 1999
5) 57.8 in 2005

BHO Warmest Aug-Sep (24-hour adjusted mean), deg F (1885-2015):

1) 69.8 in 2015
2) 68.9 in 2005
3) 68.6 in 2002
4) 68.2 in 2010
5) 67.8 in 1959 

BHO Slowest September Mean Wind Speed, mph (1885-2015):

1) 10.3 in 2015
2) 10.5 in 2014
3) 10.6 in 2013
4) 10.7 in 2011
5) 10.9 in 1917
   10.9 in 2003

BHO Sunniest Septembers, hours (1885-2015):

1) 267.7 in 1983  [74%]
2) 266.9 in 1941  [74%]
3) 265.9 in 2007  [74%]
4) 255.3 in 1948  [71%]
5) 251.9 in 2015  [70%]
6) 251.0 in 1967  [70%]
7) 246.8 in 1952  [69%]
   246.8 in 1978  [69%]

BHO Sunniest Aug-Sep, hours (1885-2015):

1) 555.1 in 2015  [72%]
2) 553.0 in 1941  [72%]
3) 536.0 in 2007  [69%]
4) 527.3 in 2014  [68%]
5) 520.2 in 1932  [67%]
6) 515.3 in 1921  [67%]
7) 514.3 in 1968  [67%]


PRELIMINARY STATS FOR SEPTEMBER 2015

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 77.8 [+6.2]
Avg. Min. 58.5 [+3.9]
Mean      68.2 [+5.1]
Corrected mean: 67.3
Max. for month: 97 on 8th
Min. for month: 46 on 27th

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units: 144 [+84]  
Total for the season: 810 [+213]
Total for last season: 587

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 42 [-75]  
Total for the season: 43 [-99]
Total for last season: 101

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 3.88 [-0.18]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 2.53 inches from 9/29-30
 
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 10.1
Avg. corrected wind speed: 10.3
Prevailing wind direction: SSW @ 13%
Peak gust and direction: 47 S on the 30th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 15114 mins. of possible 21582 or 70%
Astronomical total minutes:   15766 mins. of possible 22472 or 70%

Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant offshore NE-ESE,
few thin cirrus distant in all directions 
Temperature: 50F; Dew Point: 46F; Wind: NNW at 7 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.14 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility:  70 miles, thin smoke layer in all direction, 
dark smoke layer SE, light distant haze 
6-hr Max temp: 55F  
6-hr Min temp: 49F
24-hr precip: 0.00 ins. 
BHO SA 1155 CLR 70 208/50/46/3407/014/ FEW SC DSNT OFFSHR NE-ESE 
FEW CI DSNT ALQDS THN K LYR ALQDS DRK K LYR SE LGT DSNT HZ ALQDS/ 
8/501 51025 10055 20049

10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few cumulus NNE-S and SW, few cirrus distant
in all directions
Temperature: 58F; Dew Point 39F; Wind: NNW at 7 kts, 
Sea-level pressure: 30.17 ins. Hg, rising, then steady
Visibility: 75 miles 
BHO SA 1455 CLR 75 217/58/39/3307/017/ 
FEW CU NNE-S AND SW FEW CI DSNT ALQDS/ 8/101 51009

1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few small cumulus SE-NW,
few cirrus in all directions
Temperature: 62F; Dew Point: 40F; Wind: NW  at 8G17 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.14 ins. Hg, steady, then falling 
Visibility: 75 miles
6-hr Max: 63F 
6-hr Min: 50F
6-hr precip: none  
BHO SA 1755 CLR 75 207/62/40/3108G17/014/ 
FEW SML CU SE-NW FEW CI ALQDS/ 8/101 58010 10063 20050


SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 
  
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....69   NORMAL.....63 
MIN.....46   NORMAL.....46 
MEAN....58   NORMAL.....55 
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL........................+3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.......................-23  [-3.5 DEGREES/DAY]
 
COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JAN TO DEC)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............0   DEPARTURE...........0
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH...............0   DEPARTURE..........-2
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............810   DEPARTURE........+211
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......587   DIFFERENCE.......+223

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............7   DEPARTURE..........-4
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............86   DEPARTURE.........+20
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............129   DEPARTURE.........-80
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......171   DIFFERENCE........-42
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................20  W   AT  2:49 P.M. 
                   ASOS........................20  WNW AT  1:27 P.M.  
                   DAVIS.......................19  W   AT  2:48 P.M. RMY 20
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.................... 14  WNW AT  1:26 P.M.  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................15  WNW AT  2:28 P.M.  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................12  WNW AT  2:28 P.M.  
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..............8.9 NW 
                   ASOS.......................9.2    
                   DAVIS..................... 7.7 NW [320 DEG] 

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M.....0.00  DEPARTURE.....-0.15
                         ASOS...............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH...........0.52  DEPARTURE.....-0.52
                         ASOS...............0.50
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........34.19  DEPARTURE.....-5.46
                         ASOS................N/A ***
*** ASOS annual total not available due to erroneous readings

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/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

9/1  81/65/73/+5/0.00/766/97               20 SSW RMY 20
9/2  89/64/77/+9/0.00/732/93               20 SW  RMY 21  
9/3  85/66/76/+9/T/612/78                  17 E   RMY N/A TSTM 
9/4  72/58/65/-2/0.00/297/38               31 ENE RMY N/A
9/5  77/55/66/-1/0.00/748/96               14 SW  RMY 18
9/6  87/57/72/+5/0.00/753/97               21 SSW RMY 22
9/7  92/63/78/+12/0.00/727/94              23 WSW RMY 24
9/8  97/70/84/+18/0.00/693/90              22 WSW RMY 24
9/9  92/70/81/+15/0.00/683/89              30 SSW RMY 33
9/10 73/62/68/+3/0.32/000/00               29 NE  RMY N/A
9/11 70/59/65/0/0.59/084/11                33 NE  RMY N/A
9/12 75/58/67/2/0.02/380/50                18 SSE RMY 25 
9/13 66/60/63/-1/0.42/000/00               25 E   RMY N/A
9/14 70/53/62/-2/0.00/550/73               33 W   RMY 35
9/15 82/56/69/+5/0.00/736/98               23 W   RMY N/A
9/16 84/62/73/+10/0.00/711/95              17 NW  RMY N/A
9/17 87/64/76/+13/0.00/723/97              17 SW  RMY 16
9/18 86/64/75/+13/0.00/712/96              21 SSW RMY 21
9/19 80/62/71/+9/0.00/480/65               22 S   RMY N/A
9/20 74/55/65/+3/T/552/75                  24 S   RMY N/A  
9/21 65/50/58/-3/0.00/646/88               29 ENE RMY 30
9/22 67/55/61/+0/0.00/183/25               21 E   RMY 21
9/23 72/50/61/+1/0.00/677/93               15 E   RMY N/A
9/24 72/56/64/+4/0.00/696/96               22 E   RMY 21   
9/25 66/53/60/0/0.00/556/77                21 E   RMY 20 
9/26 63/49/56/-3/0.00/633/88               25 ENE RMY 25
9/27 71/46/59/+0/0.00/688/96               17 S   RMY 18
9/28 81/57/69/+11/0.00/428/60              22 SSW RMY 24
9/29 82/65/74/+16/0.09/320/45              28 S   RMY N/A
9/30 75/53/64/+6/2.44/000/00               47 S   RMY 51  TSTM

10/1 55/51/53/-4/..../.../..               39 NE  RMY N/A
10/2 51/47/49/-8/..../.../..               40 NE  RMY 43 
10/3 51/45/48/-8/..../000/00               38 NE  RMY N/A 
10/4 55/49/52/-4/0.00/.../..               35 E   RMY 40
10/5 59/46/53/-3/T/.../..                  21 NE  RMY 20 
10/6 68/43/56/+1/0.00/.../..               17 NW  RMY 17
10/7 69/46/58/+3/0.00/.../..               20 W   RMY 20

10/8 low since midnight is 49F; normal low is now 46F  

DAILY RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2015

**9/7 DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 92F 
TIES PREVIOUS RECORD SET IN 2007**

**9/8 DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 97F
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 93F SET IN 2007**

**9/8 DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 70F
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 69F SET IN 1999**

**9/9 DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 92F
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 91F SET IN 2002**

**9/9 DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 70F
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 69F SET IN 1999**

**9/17 DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 87F
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 86F SET IN 1915, 1941, AND 1991**

**9/18 DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 64F
TIES PREVIOUS RECORD SET IN 1992**

**9/30 DAILY RECORD PRECIP OF 2.44 INS BREAKS PREVIOUS
RECORD OF 1.93 INCHES SET IN 1946**

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

RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 8
HIGH 81F IN 1916,1990
LOW 28F IN 1919
PRECIP 2.31 INCHES IN 1891
SNOWFALL TRACE IN 1988, 2001 (EARLIEST DATE)
PEAK GUST 60 MPH NE IN 1996

RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 9
HIGH 82F IN 2011
LOW 29F IN 1907,1937
PRECIP 2.54 INCHES IN 1976
SNOWFALL 0.2 INCHES IN 1888
PEAK GUST 81e MPH S IN 1976 (RECORD FOR MONTH)

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Brian Fitzgerald