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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

HEAVY RAIN THURSDAY BRINGS 1.41 INCHES OF NEW PRECIP TO
GREAT BLUE HILL- SHOWERS AND BRIEF PERIOD OF SMALL HAIL TODAY

Rain fell nearly continuously and heavily for several hours
on Thursday, totaling 1.41 inches of new precipitation. Precip
now sits 2.04 inches above normal for the month so far, and
0.62 inches above normal for the year.

Overnight temperatures stayed warmer than normal, dipping 
to a low this morning of 42F, some 7 degrees above normal.
Yesterday's average daily temperature of 49F also represented
the first warmer than normal day since the 2nd of the month.

Periodic rain showers were observed through late morning
to early afternoon today. Briefly, from 11:20 AM EST to
11:24 AM EST light rain showers and small hail fell from
a cumulonimbus overhead, dropping hail less than a quarter
inch in diameter. By the 1:00 PM EST observation showers and
vertically stunted cumulonimbus were noted in nearly every
part of the sky reducing visibility drastically in several
areas. Temperatures so far for the day have warmed to a 
maximum of 51F. 


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 (thru 4/8)
8) 14.0 in 1982
9) 13.5 in 1987
10) 12.2 in 1917


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: Scattered cumulus/stratocumulus, scattered cirrus,
showers distant WSW-NW 
Temperature: 44F; Dew Point: 38F; Wind: SSW at 16G22 kts 
Sea-level pressure: 29.47 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly 
Visibility: 80 miles, except 30 miles WSW-NW, distant showers
6-hr Max temp: 56F 
6-hr Min temp: 42F
24-hr precip: 1.37 in. 
BHO SA 1155 9 SCT 230 SCT 80 980/44/38/2116G22/947/ 
VSBY WSW-NW 40 MI SHWRS DSNT WSW-NW/ 8/402 51019 
ASOS 70147 MANUAL 70137 10056 20042 
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Broken stratocumulus/cumulus, showers distant
WSW-WNW and NNW, moderate cumulus in all directions
Temperature: 49F; Dew Point: 36F; Wind: WSW at 13G20 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 29.50 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 75 miles, except 30 miles WSW-WNW and NNW, distant showers
BHO SA 1455 E35 BKN 75 989/49/36/2513G20/950/ VSBY WSW-WNW AND 
NNW 30 MI SHWRS DSNT WSW-WNW AND NNW MDT CU ALQDS/ 8/200 51009
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Broken cumulus/cumulonimbus, cumulonimbus
distant NNE-ESE and SW-NNW moving NNE, light rain showers
begin 12:15 PM EST end 12:17 PM EST, few cumulus distant
E-SSW, small hail measured with diameter of 0.2 inches  
Temperature: 51F; Dew Point: 35F; Wind: W at 13G20 kts,
Peak Wind: 32 kts WSW at 12:20 PM EST 
Sea-level pressure: 29.52 ins. Hg, rising, then more quickly
Visibility: 35 miles, except 75 miles N and SE-S,
distant showers
6-hr Max temp: 51F 
6-hr Min temp: 44F
6-hr rainfall: Trace (included trace of small hail) 
BHO SA 1755 E65 BKN 35 995/51/35/2613G20/952/ RW-B15E17 CB DSNT 
NNE-ESE AND SW-NNW MOV NNE VSBY N AND SE-S 75 MI FEW CU E-SSW 
GS DIAMETER 0.2 INS PK WND 2532/20 8/900 53006 MANUAL 6//// 
10051 20044    

 
SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016 
  
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....56   NORMAL.....52
MIN.....41   NORMAL.....35 
MEAN....49   NORMAL.....43

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.........................+6
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH........................-24 [-3.6 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............16   DEPARTURE..........-6
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............184   DEPARTURE.........+24
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........4603   DEPARTURE.......-1041
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......5909   DIFFERENCE......-1306

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................53 SSE AT  3:10 P.M. 
                   ASOS........................54 S   AT  2:57 P.M.   
                   DAVIS.......................55 SSE AT  2:57 P.M. RMY 55
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................42 SSE AT  2:48 P.M.   
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................36 S   AT  3:10 P.M.  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................36 S   AT  3:10 P.M.  
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..............24.3 S
                   ASOS.......................22.4   
                   DAVIS......................21.7 S [180 Deg.]

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....1.37  DEPARTURE......+1.20
                         ASOS..............1.47
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........3.23  DEPARTURE......+2.04
                         ASOS..............3.54
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........15.81  DEPARTURE......+0.62 
                         ASOS.............16.55

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)  
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0  DEPARTURE.......-0.1
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH...............15.0  DEPARTURE......+13.8
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............57.5  DEPARTURE.......-3.9

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)
3....: 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/+24/0.19/0.0/000/00          31 NNW AERO 38 NNW RMY 32
3/11  56/38/47/+13/0.10/0.0/331/47          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/+6/0.36/T/000/00             32 E   AERO 33 E   RMY N/A
3/15  45/39/42/+7/1.05/0.0/000/00           36 ENE AERO 38 ENE RMY 34
3/16  48/39/44/+9/0.05/0.0/036/05           25 E   AERO 28 E   RMY N/A
3/17  63/40/52/+16/0.11/0.0/361/50          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   35/19/27/-16/0.00/0.0/.../..          25 NW  AERO N/A    RMY 27
4/6   41/21/31/-12/..../0.0/.../..          44 S   AERO N/A    RMY N/A   
4/7   56/41/49/+6/..../0.0/000/00           53 SSE AERO 59 SSE RMY 55

4/8   low temp since midnight is 42F; normal now 35F

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 8
HIGH 87 IN 1991
LOW 17 IN 1888
PRECIP 1.78 IN. IN 1956
SNOWFALL 9.3 IN. IN 1956
PEAK GUST 70 MPH S IN 2000

RECORDS FOR APRIL 9
HIGH 83 IN 1991
LOW 18 IN 1888
PRECIP 2.38 IN. IN 1935
SNOWFALL 11.0 IN. IN 1917
PEAK GUST 72 MPH WNW IN 1962

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Brian Fitzgerald/Cecilia Strigle