BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
COOL AND PLEASANT WEATHER CONTINUES,
CLOUDS FROM HERMINE APPROACH FROM THE SOUTH
 
High pressure continued to sit over the region today, bringing
with it another day of extremely pleasant weather. Clear skies began the
day but cloudiness from Hermine continued to move in during the day.
After a record-breaking August, temperatures have been slightly cooler
than average with out second below normal day in a row temperature wise.
 
For the 1 o'clock observation, a few Cumulus clouds crossed the sky from
the SSW to the East with temperatures in the lower 70's.  Dry and windy
conditions prevailed as a small brush fire broke out approximately 15
miles North Northwest of the observatory. 
 
 
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
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 0 [-16] 
Total for the season: 10 [-15]
Total for last season: 1
 
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: Few Cumulus ESE-SSW
Temperature: 63F; Dew Point: 57F; Wind: N at 10 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.25 ins. Hg, rising unsteadily
Visibility: 70 miles, except 50 SE-SW
6-hr Max temp: 63F
6-hr Min temp: 58F
24 HR-PRECIP: 0.00
BHO SA 1155 CLR 70 244/63/57/0410/025/ FEW CU ESE-SSW
VSBY 50 SE-SW/ 8/1// 52017 10063 20058
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered Cumulus
Temperature: 70F; Dew Point: 57F; Wind: ENE at 11 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.27 ins. Hg, rising
Visibility: 70 miles, except 55 SE-SW
BHO SA 1455 28 SCT 70 253/70/57/0611/027/ VSBY 55 SE/SW/ 8/1//
51009
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Few cumulus E-SSW
Temperature: 70F; Dew Point: 53F; Wind: ENE at 12 kts,
Wind Speed: Light
Sea-level pressure: 30.29 ins. Hg, rising then falling but higher
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 71F
6-hr Min temp: 63F
BHO SA 1755 CLR 80 258/70/53/0612/029/ SMK DRFTING E-W 15
NNW OF OBSRVTRY FRM BRUSH FIRE/ 8/1// 50005 10071 20063
 
 
SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2016
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....71   NORMAL.....76
MIN.....56   NORMAL.....59
MEAN....64   NORMAL.....67
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL........................-3
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH........................-4 [-0.9 DEGREES/DAY]
 
COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JAN TO DEC)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............0   DEPARTURE..........-4
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH...............5   DEPARTURE..........-6
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............797   DEPARTURE........+249
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......697   DIFFERENCE.......+100
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............1   DEPARTURE...........0
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH...............1   DEPARTURE..........-3
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON.............11   DEPARTURE.........-18
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE........10   DIFFERENCE.........+1  
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................16 E   AT 9:30 A.M.
                   AEROVANE....................12 E   AT 9:30 A.M.
                   ASOS........................16 NE  AT 9:30 A.M.
                   DAVIS.......................14 N   AT 9:30 A.M. RMY N/A
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................12 E   AT 9:29 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................12 ENE AT 3:00 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................11 NE  AT 9:31 A.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..............7.3 NE
                   ASOS.......................7.8
                   DAVIS......................6.8 NE [40 Deg.]
* Last of several occurrences
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00  DEPARTURE......-0.12
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.09  DEPARTURE......-0.25
                         ASOS..............0.10
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........25.06  DEPARTURE.....-10.30
                         ASOS.............25.37
 
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  AER0 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 N/A
 
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  72/64/68/0/0.09/.../..                  21 NNW AERO 16 NNW RMY 20
9/2  76/58/67/-1/0.00/.../..                 23 ENE AERO 17 NE  RMY 23
9/3  71/56/64/-3/0.00/.../..                 16 E   AERO 12 E   RMY 22
 
9/4  Low temp since midnight is 57F; 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 4
HIGH 90F IN 1953, 1973
LOW 46F IN 1987
PRECIP 3.22 INCHES IN 1922
PEAK GUST 47 MPH SE IN 1966
 
RECORDS FOR SEPTEMBER 5
HIGH 90F IN 1971
LOW 45F IN 1906
PRECIP 1.37 INCHES IN 1907
PEAK GUST 46 MPH NW IN 1994
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Robert Millette