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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

FOG AND LIGHT RAIN PERSIST ALL DAY

An overcast layer of altostratus prevented temperatures from climbing any higher 
than 71F, which is 5F below the daily normal high. Distant fog reduced visibility 
to 10-20 miles all day. Although the rain was very light, it continues to fall 
through the morning and the early afternoon leaving us with 0.09 inches being 
measured for our daily total.

PRELIMINARY STATS FOR AUGUST 2016 

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 85.1 [+5.9]
Avg. Min. 65.0 [+3.2]
Mean      75.1 [+4.6]
24-hour corrected mean: 74.1
Max. for month: 95F on 12th
Min. for month: 54F on 23rd

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units: 318 [+132]  
Total for the season: 792 [+255]
Total for last season: 666

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 1.78 [-2.25]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.55 in. on 13th and 14th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 10.3
Avg. corrected wind speed: 10.8
Prevailing wind direction: SSW at 14%
Peak gust and direction: 40 SSW on 14th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 17460 mins. of possible 24780 or 70%
Astronomical total minutes: 18130 mins. of possible 25714 or 71%

The 24-hour corrected mean temperature for August of 74.1 deg F breaks
the previous record of 72.6 deg F set in 2012 for the warmest August.
August 2016 was 1.5 deg F warmer than the second warmest August on record
while previous records were all within 0.1-0.2 deg F of each other. The 
average maximum and minimum temperatures for August 2016 are also new records. 
The previous high average max was 83.2 deg F set in August 2005; the previous 
high average min was 64.9 deg F set in August 2001.

Summer 2016 was also the warmest summer on record with an average temperature
of 71.6 deg F.  This breaks the previous record of 71.3 deg F set in 2012.
Even with the extreme drought in the Boston area, summer 2016 only ranks as
third driest.

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

1) 74.1 in 2016
2) 72.6 in 2012
3) 72.5 in 1988
4) 72.4 in 2015
5) 72.3 in 2005
6) 72.1 in 2002

BHO Warmest Summers (Jun-Aug), deg F (1885-2016):

1) 71.6 in 2016
2) 71.3 in 2010
3) 70.8 in 1949
4) 70.6 in 1999
5) 70.4 in 1952
6) 70.2 in 2005

BHO Driest Summers (Jun-Aug), inches (1885-2016):

1) 3.48 in 1949
2) 3.54 in 1957
3) 4.90 in 2016
4) 5.24 in 1965
5) 5.43 in 1964
6) 5.45 in 1997


7 A.M. 
Weather: Broken altocumulus, overcast altostratus
Temperature: 69F; Dew Point: 68F; Wind: SW at 9 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.83 ins. Hg, steady, then rising
Visibility: 10 miles, distant fog in all directions
6-hr Max temp: 70F
6-hr Min temp: 68F
24-hr precip: 0.02 in.
BHO SA 1155 E100 BKN 140 OVC 10 102/69/68/2209/983/ DSNT FG/ 8/02/ 53003 
MANUAL 70002 ASOS 70002 10070 20068 

10 A.M.
Weather: Light rain, few cumulus in all directions, broken altocumulus,
overcast altostratus
Temperature: 70F; Dew Point: 69F; Wind: W at 4 kts,
Wind Speed: Light
Sea-level pressure: 29.85 ins. Hg, steady, rising, then steady again
Visibility: 10 miles, distant fog in all directions
3-hr precip: 0.04 in.
BHO SA 1455 E110 BKN 140 OVC 10R- 110/70/69/2704/985/ FEW CU ALQDS DSNT FG WND LGT/
8/12/ 51008 MANUAL 6004/ ASOS 60004

1 P.M.
Weather: Light rain, few cumulus in all directions, broken altocumulus, overcast altostratus
Temperature: 70F; Dew Point: 68F; Wind: SW at 4 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.84 ins. Hg, falling, then rising
Visibility: 20 miles, distant fog in all directions
6-hr Max temp: 71F
6-hr Min temp: 69F
6-hr precip: 0.07 in.
BHO SA 1755 E69 BKN 140 OVC 20R- 106/70/68/2204/984/ FEW CU ALQDS DSNT FG WND LGT/ 
8/12/ 55004 MANUAL 6007/ ASOS 60008 10071 20069
 
SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016 
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....80   NORMAL.....77
MIN.....65   NORMAL.....60 
MEAN....73   NORMAL.....68

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL........................+5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH......................+145 [+4.5 DEGREES/DAY]

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JAN TO DEC)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............8   DEPARTURE..........+4
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............318   DEPARTURE........+132
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............792   DEPARTURE........+255
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......666   DIFFERENCE.......+126   

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................21 SW  AT  6:56 A.M.
                   AEROVANE....................16 SW  AT  6:56 A.M.
                   ASOS........................21 SW  AT  8:48 A.M.
                   DAVIS.......................19 SSW AT  6:56 A.M. RMY 20
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................14 SSW AT  9:50 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................15 SSW AT 10:02 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................15 SSW AT 10:01 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.............10.6 SSW
                   ASOS......................10.7 
                   DAVIS......................9.8 SW [220 Deg.]
* Last of several occurrences

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.02  DEPARTURE......-0.09
                         ASOS..............0.02
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.02  DEPARTURE......+0.02
                         ASOS..............0.02
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........24.99  DEPARTURE.....-10.03
                         ASOS.............25.29
 
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/-2/0.02/320/37                 21 NE  AERO 20 ENE RMY 20
8/2  71/63/67/-5/0.12/000/00                 16 ENE AERO 16 ENE RMY 16
8/3  81/60/71/-1/0.00/603/70                 18 S   AERO 16 S   RMY 17
8/4  86/61/74/+2/0.00/833/97                 23 S   AERO 22 S   RMY 17 
8/5  87/61/74/+2/0.00/823/96                 29 S   AERO 29 S   RMY 30 
8/6  88/67/78/+6/T/419/49                    24 SSW AERO 23 SSW RMY 23   
8/7  89/65/77/+5/0.00/784/92                 26 WNW AERO 25 WNW RMY 26
8/8  87/63/75/+3/0.00/816/96                 23 W   AERO 21 W   RMY 22
8/9  90/65/78/+6/0.00/789/93                 25 SSW AERO 24 SSW RMY 25
8/10 76/66/71/+0/0.28/017/02                 30 SSW AERO 31 SSW RMY 33
8/11 93/73/83/+12/T/666/79                   22 SSW AERO 21 SSW RMY 22
8/12 95/74/85/+14/0.00/487/58                30 SW  AERO 30 SW  RMY 31 
8/13 78/67/73/+1/0.16/201/24                 25 NNW AERO 36 NNW RMY N/A TSTM
8/14 94/69/82/+11/0.39/701/84                39 SSW AERO 40 SSW RMY N/A TSTM
8/15 89/68/79/+8/0.00/758/91                 25 W   AERO 24 W   RMY 28
8/16 83/69/76/+5/0.02/125/15                 31 S   AERO 30 S   RMY N/A
8/17 84/68/76/+5/0.00/679/82                 38 W*  AERO 35 W   RMY 39
8/18 89/65/77/+6/T/635/77                    22 SW  AERO 20 SW  RMY 21 
8/19 86/68/77/+7/0.00/674/82                 17 S   AERO 16 SSE RMY 17  
8/20 86/65/76/+6/0.00/754/92                 25 S   AERO 23 S   RMY 25
8/21 87/62/75/+5/0.54/727/89                 25 S   AERO 22 SSE RMY N/A
8/22 78/59/69/-1/0.00/774/95                 31 NW  AERO 29 NW  RMY 32
8/23 80/54/67/-3/0.00/796/98                 23 WSW AERO 21 WSW RMY 23
8/24 87/62/75/+5/0.00/809/100                22 W   AERO 18 W   RMY 20
8/25 86/65/76/+7/0.00/629/78                 28 SW  AERO 23 SW  RMY 27
8/26 88/70/79/+9/0.25/458/57                 23 W   AER0 17 W   RMY 21
8/27 86/66/76/+7/0.00/761/95                 14 SE  AERO 12 SE  RMY 15
8/28 86/66/76/+7/0.00/718/90                 25 SSE AERO 20 SSE RMY 27
8/29 89/65/77/+8/0.00/589/74                 28 WNW AERO 23 W   RMY 29
8/30 83/59/71/+3/0.00/785/99                 18 S*  AERO 14 SW  RMY N/A
8/31 80/65/73/+5/T/000/00                    21 SW  AERO 16 SW  RMY 20

DAILY RECORDS FOR AUGUST 2016

8/11/16: DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 73F,
         TIES PREVIOUS RECORD SET IN 1900 AND 1988

8/12/16: DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 74F,
         TIES PREVIOUS RECORD SET IN 1988

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 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

9/1  Low temp since midnight is 68F; normal low is now 59F

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

RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 1
HIGH 93F IN 1969, 2010
LOW 47F IN 1975
PRECIP 2.32 INCHES IN 2013
PEAK GUST 59e MPH S IN 1945, SSW IN 1965

RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 2
HIGH 99F IN 1953 (SEPTEMBER MAXIMUM RECORD)
LOW 44F IN 1909
PRECIP 2.73 INCHES IN 1947
PEAK GUST 55e MPH WNW IN 1944

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