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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

OVERCAST SKIES REMAIN THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...
JULY TIES FOR FIFTH WARMEST ON RECORD...

An overcast cloud layer prevented temperatures from rising higher
than 67F today which is only 3F higher than the overnight low of 64F.
Overcast skies persisted through the 1:00PM EST observation. Light rain
began shortly past 7:00AM EST and brought a total of 0.09 in. of precip.
by 1:00PM EST.

PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JULY 2016 

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 84.8 [+4.0]
Avg. Min. 64.6 [+1.7]
Mean      74.7 [+2.8]
24-hour corrected mean: 74.0
Max. for month: 96F on 22nd, 25th, and 26th
Min. for month: 56F on 10th and 11th

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units: 317 [+95]  
Total for the season: 474 [+123]
Total for last season: 394

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 1.50 [-2.52]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.56 in. on 30th-31st

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 10.2
Avg. corrected wind speed: 10.7
Prevailing wind direction: W at 13%
Peak gust and direction: 45 NNW on 23rd

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 17736 mins. of possible 26862 or 66%
Astronomical total minutes: 18430 mins. of possible 27720 or 66%

The 24-hour corrected mean temperature for July of 74.0 deg F ties
with 2011 for the fifth warmest July on record and the warmest since
2013. The warmest July occurred in 2010.  

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

1) 75.1 in 2010
2) 74.9 in 1952
3) 74.1 in 1994
   74.1 in 2013
5) 74.0 in 2011
   74.0 in 2016
7) 73.8 in 1999
8) 73.5 in 1949
9) 73.2 in 2012

The heat wave that ended Thursday, July 28, 2016 with 92 degrees is
ranked our third longest heat wave with 7 days.  The last day of the 
heat wave was also the 11th day of 90-degree heat this month. This 
ranks as the second greatest total of 90-degree days for July.

BHO Longest Heat Waves (Consecutive Days with Tmax 90F or more; 1885-2016):
1) 9 days, Aug 11-19, 2002
2) 8 days, Aug 10-17, 1944
3) 7 days, Jul 22-28, 2016 
4) 6 days, Aug 28-Sep 2, 1953 
   6 days, Jul 24-29, 1963
   6 days, Jul 16-21, 1977
   6 days, Jul 6-11, 1988
   6 days, Jul 16-21, 1991
   6 days, Jul 15-20, 2013
10) 5 days, Jul 2-6, 1911
   5 days, Jul 7-11, 1912
   5 days, Aug 25-29, 1948
   5 days, Aug 7-11, 1949
   5 days, Jul 15-19, 1982 
   5 days, Jul 14-18, 2012

BHO July Greatest Number of 90-Degree Days (1885-2016):
1) 14 in 1952
2) 11 in 2016 
3) 10 in 1949
   10 in 1963
   10 in 2010
   10 in 2013
7) 9 in 1911
8) 8 in 1983
   8 in 1988

Today's Observations:

7 A.M. 
Weather: Scattered cumulus, broken altostratus
Temperature: 67F; Dew Point: 62F; Wind: NE at 4 kts,
Wind Speed: light
Sea-level pressure: 30.14 ins. Hg, rising, then more quickly
Visibility: 15 miles, except 20 miles SSE-SW and 40 miles N-SSE,
distant showers W
6-hr Max temp: 67F 
6-hr Min temp: 64F
24-hr precip: 0.00 in.
BHO SA 1155 19 SCT E69 OVC 15 208/67/62/0404/014/ VSBY SSE-SW 20
VSBY N-SSE 40 DSNT SHWRS W WND LGT/ 8/220 53017 10067 20064

10 A.M.
Weather: Few cumulus fractus in all directions, broken stratocumulus,
broken nimbostratus, light rain
Temperature: 66F; Dew Point: 64F; Wind: calm 
Sea-level pressure: 30.14 ins. Hg, rising, then falling 
Visibility: 20 miles, except 15 miles SW-NNE, distant fog
3-hr precipitation: 0.05 in.
BHO SA 1455 E84 BKN 110 BKN 20R- 208/66/64/0000/014/ FEW CUFRA ALQDS
VSBY SW-NNE 15 DSNT FG WND LGT/ 8/720 55000 MANUAL 6005/ ASOS 60005

1 P.M.
Weather: Scattered cumulus fractus, broken cumulus,
overcast nimbostratus, light rain
Temperature: 67F; Dew Point: 63F; Wind: Estimated N at 3 kts,
Wind Speed: Light 
Sea-level pressure: 30.16 ins. Hg, rising, then falling
Visibility: 20 miles, except 10 miles WSW-N, distant fog
6-hr Max temp: 67F 
6-hr Min temp: 65F
6-hr precipitation: 0.09 in.
BHO SA 1755 5 SCT E26 BKN 110 OVC 20R- 213/67/63/E3503/016/ VSBY WSW-N 10
DSNT FG WND LGT/ 8/72/ 50005 MANUAL 6009/ ASOS 60009 10067 20065

SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....75   NORMAL.....81
MIN.....65   NORMAL.....63 
MEAN....70   NORMAL.....72

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.........................-2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.........................-2 [-2.2 DEGREES/DAY]

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JAN TO DEC)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............5   DEPARTURE..........-2
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH...............5   DEPARTURE..........-2
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............479   DEPARTURE........+121
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......407   DIFFERENCE........+72   

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................21  NE   AT   4:19 P.M.   
                   AEROVANE....................20  ENE  AT   4:18 P.M.          
                   ASOS........................21  NE   AT   2:36 P.M.        
                   DAVIS.......................20  NE   AT   2:35 P.M. RMY 20
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................14  NE   AT   4:18 P.M.     
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................15  ENE  AT   4:19 P.M.        
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................13  NE   AT   4:18 P.M.        
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION...............8.3 ENE
                   ASOS........................8.5   
                   DAVIS.......................7.3 ENE [060 Deg.]
*Last of several occurrences

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..........0.02  DEPARTURE......-0.13
                         ASOS..............0.01
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........23.21  DEPARTURE......-7.93
                         ASOS.............23.52
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JULY 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
                                     
7/1  84/67/76/+6/0.20/520/57                 32 S   AERO 35 S   RMY 34 TSTM 
7/2  76/61/69/-1/0.00/811/91                 31 W   AERO 34 W   RMY 32 
7/3  83/57/70/-1/0.00/766/84                 23 W   AERO 23 W   RMY 23
7/4  87/61/74/+3/0.00/847/93                 28 SSW AERO 28 SSW RMY 28
7/5  80/65/73/+2/0.29/309/34                 16 S   AERO 16 S   RMY N/A
7/6  92/68/80/+9/0.00/864/95                 22 WSW AERO 24 WSW RMY 22
7/7  77/61/69/-2/0.00/409/45                 21 NE  AERO 20 ENE RMY N/A
7/8  67/58/63/-9/0.02/000/00                 25 NE  AERO 25 NE  RMY 26 
7/9  64/57/61/-11/0.09/000/00                20 NE  AERO 18 NE  RMY 17
7/10 66/56/61/-11/0.04/000/00                16 NE  AERO 16 NE  RMY 16
7/11 77/56/67/-5/0.00/415/46                 20 NNE AERO 21 NNE RMY 20
7/12 86/60/73/+1/0.00/848/94                 23 S   AERO 23 S   RMY 23
7/13 89/64/77/+5/0.00/874/97                 30 S   AERO 30 S   RMY 33
7/14 84/66/75/+3/0.01/360/40                 38 S   AERO 41 S   RMY 43
7/15 93/71/82/+10/0.00/665/74                23 W   AERO 23 W   RMY 23
7/16 93/69/81/+9/0.00/699/78                 25 WSW AERO 24 WSW RMY 24
7/17 83/72/78/+6/0.00/671/75                 18 ENE AERO 16 ENE RMY 19 TSTM
7/18 93/70/82/+10/0.05/500/56                41 WNW AERO 41 WNW RMY 43 TSTM
7/19 85/62/74/+2/0.00/802/90                 28 NW  AERO 28 NW  RMY 27
7/20 83/59/71/-1/0.00/837/94                 23 NW  AERO 23 NW* RMY 24
7/21 89/63/76/+4/0.00/852/96                 28 W   AERO 26 W   RMY N/A
7/22 96/70/83/+11/0.09/806/91                33 SW  AERO 35 SW  RMY 35 TSTM   
7/23 95/68/82/+10/T/796/90                   45 NNW AERO 48 NNW RMY 44
7/24 91/64/78/+6/0.00/873/99                 20 WNW AERO 20 W*  RMY 20 
7/25 96/70/83/+11/0.00/528/60                25 S   AERO 28 S   RMY 27
7/26 95/70/83/+11/0.00/843/96                26 W   AERO 26 WNW*RMY 27   
7/27 94/68/81/+9/0.00/762/87                 21 ESE AERO 21 WNW RMY 19
7/28 92/71/82/+10/0.00/638/73                23 SW  AERO 22 SW  RMY 23  
7/29 80/68/74/+2/0.15/384/44                 20 NNW AERO 20 NNW RMY 20 
7/30 85/65/75/+3/0.41/722/83                 21 W   AERO 18 W   RMY 20
7/31 72/66/69/-3/0.15/009/01                 20 ENE AERO 18 ENE RMY 18


PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 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

8/1  75/65/70/-2/0.02/.../..                 21 NE  AERO 20 ENE RMY 20

8/2  Low temp since midnight is 64F; normal low is now 63F

DAILY RECORDS FOR JULY 2016
7/25/16: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 96F,
BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 94F SET IN 1963 AND 1987
     
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated): 

RECORDS FOR AUGUST 2
HIGH 101F IN 1975 [STATION RECORD MAXIMUM - Tied with 8/10/1949]
LOW 50 IN 1929, 1947
PRECIP 1.59 INCHES IN 1946
PEAK GUST 50 MPH SW IN 2006

RECORDS FOR AUGUST 3
HIGH 96F IN 1930
LOW 50F IN 1976
PRECIP 1.45 INCHES IN 1979
PEAK GUST 52 MPH NW IN 2008 [TSTM]

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Cecilia Borries-Strigle / Lizzy Suzedell / Mike Iacono