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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

PLEASANT WEATHER CONTINUES AS HIGH PRESSURE BRINGS DRY CONDITIONS 
AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES

Skies remained mostly clear today with some diurnal cumulus popping 
up by the early afternoon. Temperatures rose to 85F, and dew points 
dropped to the mid 50s creating conditions for a very pleasant summer 
day. Winds were light again today but had shifted to a SW direction. 

PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JULY 2016 

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 84.7 [+3.9]
Avg. Min. 64.6 [+1.7]
Mean      74.7 [+2.8]
24-hour corrected mean: 74.0
Max. for month: 96F on 22nd and 25th
Min. for month: 56 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: Sky clear
Temperature: 68F; Dew Point: 56F; Wind: W at 6 kts,
Wind Speed: light
Sea-level pressure: 30.18 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 68F 
6-hr Min temp: 61F
24-hr precip: 0.12 in.
BHO SA 1155 CLR 70 221/68/56/2606/018/ SKC WND LGT/ 8/000 
51007 10068 20061

10 A.M.
Weather: Few cumulus SSE-SE and SW-NNW
Temperature: 80F; Dew Point: 54F; Wind: WSW at 4 kts,
Wind: Light and variable SSW-W
Sea-level pressure: 30.18 ins. Hg, falling, then rising 
Visibility: 70 miles
BHO SA 1455 CLR 70 220/80/54/2404/018/ FEW CU SSE-SE AND 
SW-NNW WND 20V28 WND LGT/ 8/100 55001


1 P.M.
Weather: Scattered cumulus
Temperature: 83F; Dew Point: 56F; Wind: SW at 5 kts,
Wind: Light and variable S-WSW
Sea-level pressure: 30.14 ins. Hg, falling, then more quickly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 85F 
6-hr Min temp: 68F
6-hr precipiatation: 0.00 in.
BHO SA 1755 59 SCT 70 208/83/56/2205/014/ WND LGT 
AND VRB/ 8/100 56012 10085 20068

SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016 
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....81   NORMAL.....81
MIN.....60   NORMAL.....63 
MEAN....71   NORMAL.....72

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.........................-1
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.........................-8 [-2.9 DEGREES/DAY]

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JAN TO DEC)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............6   DEPARTURE..........-1
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............13   DEPARTURE..........-9
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............487   DEPARTURE........+114
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......430   DIFFERENCE........+57   

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................18  S    AT   6:36 P.M.   
                   AEROVANE....................16  S    AT   6:48 P.M.          
                   ASOS........................17  SSW  AT   6:36 P.M.        
                   DAVIS.......................15  SW   AT   6:27 P.M. RMY 17
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................12  SSW  AT   6:33 P.M.     
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................14  S    AT   5:53 P.M.        
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................12  SSW  AT   6:33 P.M.        
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION...............7.2 N
                   ASOS........................7.5   
                   DAVIS.......................6.7 E [095 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..........0.14  DEPARTURE......-0.31
                         ASOS..............0.12
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........23.33  DEPARTURE......-8.11
                         ASOS.............23.63
 
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/-1/0.00/831/91                 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  71/63/67/-5/0.12/.../..                 16 ENE AERO 16 ENE RMY 16
8/3  81/60/71/-1/0.00/.../..                 18 S   AERO 16 S   RMY 17

8/4  Low temp since midnight is 61F; 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 4
HIGH 95F IN 1928
LOW 48F IN 1900
PRECIP 1.68 INS IN 1983
PEAK GUST 48 MPH SW IN 1974

RECORDS FOR AUGUST 5
HIGH 98F IN 1955
LOW 48F IN 1929,1972
PRECIP 3.03 INCHES IN 1893
PEAK GUST 60e MPH SW 1977

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Cecilia Borries-Strigle and Lizzy Suzedell