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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

ANOTHER APRIL SNOW STORM BRINGS 7.3 INS OF NEW SNOW
-NEW DAILY SNOWFALL RECORD, DAILY LOW MAXIMUM TEMP RECORD

A second April snow storm in consecutive days brought 7.3 inches
of snow beginning before sunrise and ending by 6:49 PM EST last
evening. Snow fell in a couple rounds, with a period of snow pellets
and freezing drizzle creating glaze ice during the middle of the
day. Yesterday's maximum temperature was just 28F, setting a new
daily record low maximum temperature, breaking the previous record
of 32F set and tied in 1896, 1908 and 1975. 

April 2016 has now seen 15.0 inches of snow fall in just the first
week, currently placing this month in the top ten snowiest Aprils.
Overnight, temperatures dipped to 19F, nearly matching today's daily
record minimum of 15F set in 1995.

By today's 1:00 PM EST observation skies were nearly completely
cloudless with the exception of a few stratocumulus in the distance
to the ENE-S. Temperatures had managed to reach a maximum of
32F so far.


BHO Lowest April Daily Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2016):

1) 21 on 7 April 1982
2) 27 on 1 April 1923
3) 28 on 6 April 1982
   28 on 4 April 2016
5) 29 on 2 April 1911
6) 30 on 5 April 1995

BHO Snowiest April, inches (1886-2016):

1) 24.2 in 1996
2) 21.5 in 1894
3) 19.0 in 1887
4) 16.2 in 1916
5) 15.4 in 1907
6) 15.1 in 1997
7) 15.0 in 2016 (through April 4th)
8) 14.0 in 1982
9) 13.5 in 1987
 

The 24-hour corrected mean temperature for March of 40.7 deg F 
ties for the eighth warmest on record. It's been a warm start
to the year, and the first three months of 2016 were the
fourth warmest on record. 

BHO Warmest March, deg F (1885-2016):

1) 43.5 in 1946
2) 43.4 in 2012
3) 42.7 in 1945
4) 42.2 in 1903
5) 41.5 in 2010
6) 41.2 in 1921
7) 40.8 in 2000
8) 40.7 in 1977
   40.7 in 2016
10) 40.5 in 1973

BHO Warmest Jan-Mar, deg F (1885-2016):

1) 36.3 in 2012
2) 35.0 in 2002
3) 34.7 in 1998
4) 34.1 in 2016
5) 33.9 in 1990
6) 33.2 in 1953
7) 33.0 in 2006


PRELIMINARY STATS FOR MARCH 2016

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 49.7 [+5.4]
Avg. Min. 32.3 [+5.7]
Mean      41.0 [+5.5]
24-hour corrected mean: 40.7
Max. for month: 75 on 9th
Min. for month: 16 on 3rd

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 736 [-180]  
Total for the season: 4419 [-1065]
Total for last season: 5743

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 3.21 [-2.37]
Greatest in 24 hrs: N/A
 
SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 4.4 [-8.3]
Greatest in 24 hrs: N/A

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.9
Avg. corrected wind speed: 13.2
Prevailing wind direction: S at 10%
Peak gust and direction: 63 S on the 31st

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 10386 mins. of possible 21516 or 48%
Astronomical total minutes:   10763 mins. of possible 22286 or 48%


Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Thin broken cirrus, showers distant E-SSW,
few stratocumulus distant offshore NE-S, few altocumulus
lenticularis distant SSW-NNW
Temperature: 21F; Dew Point: 13F; Wind: N at 12G18 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.22 ins. Hg, rising, then more quickly
Visibility: 75 miles, except 30 miles E-SSE, 50 miles S-SSW,
obscured by distant showers
6-hr Max temp: 23F 
6-hr Min temp: 19F
24-hr precip: 0.60 ins.
24-hr snowfall: 6.9 ins.
snow depth: 7 ins.  
BHO SA 1155 E250 -BKN 75 235/21/13/3612G18/022/ VSBY E-SSE 30 MI 
S-SSW 50 MI SHWRS DSNT E-SSW FEW SC DSNT OFFSHR NE-S FEW ACSL 
DSNT SSW-NNW NEW SNW PST 24 HRS 6.9 INS STORM TOTAL 7.3 INS/ 
8/541 4/007 53036 ASOS 70062 MANUAL 70060 10023 20019 

10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant NE-SSW, few 
cirrus in all directions
Temperature: 29F; Dew Point: 14F; Wind: NNE at 8G16 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.28 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 75 miles
BHO SA 1455 CLR 70 254/29/14/0208G16/028/ FEW SC DSNT NE-SSW 
FEW CI ALQDS/ 8/501 51019 

1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant ENE-S
Temperature: 32F; Dew Point: 8F; Wind: NNW at 9G18 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.25 ins. Hg, falling, then more slowly
Visibility: 75 miles
6-hr Max temp: 33F 
6-hr Min temp: 20F
BHO SA 1755 CLR 75 244/32/8/3309G18/025/ FEW SC DSNT ENE-S/ 
8/500 56010 10033 20020


SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016 
  
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....28   NORMAL.....51
MIN.....21   NORMAL.....33 
MEAN....25   NORMAL.....42

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL........................-17
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.........................-2 [-0.7 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............40   DEPARTURE.........+17
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............96   DEPARTURE..........+2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........4515   DEPARTURE.......-1063
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......5831   DIFFERENCE......-1316

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................29 NNE AT  3:51 P.M. 
                   ASOS........................27 NNE AT  3:51 P.M.  
                   DAVIS.......................26 NE  AT  3:11 P.M. RMY 25
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................19 NNE AT  3:51 P.M.    
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................20 NE  AT  3:12 P.M. 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................18 NNE AT  3:12 P.M. 
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..............9.3 N
                   ASOS.......................9.4   
                   DAVIS......................8.0 NNE [020 Deg.]

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.60  DEPARTURE......+0.43
                         ASOS..............0.62
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........1.82  DEPARTURE......+1.14
                         ASOS..............2.04
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........14.40  DEPARTURE......-0.28 
                         ASOS.............15.05

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)  
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........6.9  DEPARTURE.......+6.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH...............15.0  DEPARTURE......+14.2
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............57.5  DEPARTURE.......-3.5

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MARCH CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/ AERO/RMY GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system 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

3/1   45/30/38/+7/0.00/0.0/602/89           54 W   AERO 60 W   RMY 53
3/2   52/21/37/+6/0.41/0.0/204/30           44 WNW AERP 47 NW  RMY 42
3/3   34/16/25/-7/0.00/0.0/641/94           30 WNW AERO 36 WNW RMY N/A
3/4   30/24/27/-5/0.04/0.5/000/00           32 N   AERO 38 N   RMY 34
3/5   35/20/28/-4/0.00/0.0/536/78           31 N   AERO 36 N   RMY N/A
3/6   40/25/33/+1/0.00/0.0/593/86           21 SSE AERO 21 SSE RMY N/A
3/7   49/29/39/+6/0.00/0.0/173/25           43 SSW AERO 48 SSW RMY 45
3/8   55/35/45/+12/0.00/0.0/647/93          23 S   AERO 24 S   RMY N/A
3/9   75/38/57/+24/0.00/0.0/594/85          32 S   AERO 36 S   RMY 33
3/10  64/50/57/+24/..../0.0/000/00          31 NNW AERO 38 NNW RMY 32
3/11  56/38/47/+13/T/0.0/331/47             28 NNW AERO 36 NNW RMY 29
3/12  58/31/45/+11/0.00/0.0/650/92          30 SW  AERO 33 SW  RMY 30 
3/13  63/46/55/+21/0.00/0.0/525/74          32 NW  AERO 35 NW  RMY 30
3/14  46/36/41/+6/..../T/000/00             32 E   AERO 33 E   RMY N/A
3/15  45/39/42/+7/..../0.0/000/00           36 ENE AERO 38 ENE RMY 34
3/16  48/39/44/+9/..../0.0/036/05           25 E   AERO 28 E   RMY N/A
3/17  63/40/52/+16/..../0.0/361/50          44 NW  AERO 48 NW  RMY 45
3/18  51/33/42/+6/0.01/0.0/305/42           43 WNW AERO 45 WNW RMY 43
3/19  44/25/35/-1/0.00/0.0/706/97           25 NNW AERO 28 NNW RMY 26
3/20  35/23/29/-8/..../.../387/53           25 NE  AERO 28 NE  RMY 25
3/21  41/26/34/-3/..../.../323/44           30 WNW AERO 33 WNW RMY 32
3/22  48/28/38/+1/..../.../684/93           33 W   AERO 37 W   RMY 36
3/23  62/39/51/+13/0.01/0.0/007/01          35 NE  AERO 40 NE  RMY 39
3/24  39/34/37/-1/..../0.0/015/02           31 ENE AERO 33 ENE RMY 32
3/25  55/37/46/+8/..../.../007/01           22 NNW AERO 22 NNW RMY 24 
3/26  43/30/37/-2/0.00/0.0/269/36           22 N   AERO 24 N   RMY N/A  
3/27  46/30/38/-1/0.00/0.0/376/50           23 SSE AERO 24 SSE RMY 22  
3/28  43/35/39/+0/0.41/0.0/000/00           33 W   AERO N/A    RMY N/A
3/29  50/34/42/+2/0.00/0.0/499/66           46 WNW AERO N/A    RMY 46
3/30  58/29/44/+4/0.00/0.0/713/94           33 S   AERO N/A    RMY N/A
3/31  69/41/55/+14/0.00/0.0/579/76          63 S   AERO N/A    RMT 65

4/1   66/54/60/+19/..../0.0/.../..          39 SSW AERO N/A    RMY 43
4/2   54/40/47/+6/..../0.0/.../..           23 SSW AERO N/A    RMY N/A        
4/3   40/23/32/-10/..../7.7/.../..          46 W   AERO N/A    RMY 55
4/4   28/21/25/-17/0.68/7.3/000/00          29 NNE AERO N/A    RMY 25

4/5   low temp since midnight is 19F; normal now 34F

DAILY RECORDS FOR MARCH 2016

3/9/16: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 75F,
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 71F SET BACK IN 2000.

3/10/16: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 50F,
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 42F SET AND TIED IN 1977, 2006

DAILY RECORDS FOR APRIL 2016

4/1/16: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 54F,
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 51F SET IN 1948

4/4/16: NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 7.3 INS, 
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 3.7 INS SET IN 1975

4/4/16: NEW DAILY RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 28F,
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 32F SET AND TIED IN 1896, 1908, 1975

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

RECORDS FOR APRIL 5
HIGH 81 IN 1928
LOW 15 IN 1995
PRECIP 2.15 IN. IN 1987
SNOWFALL 4.0 IN. IN 1898
PEAK GUST 76 MPH WNW IN 1963

RECORDS FOR APRIL 6
HIGH 82 IN 1921
LOW 16 IN 1982
PRE 1.72 INS IN 1886
SNOW 12.3 INS IN 1982
WIND 71e MPH WNW IN 1940

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Brian Fitzgerald