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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017  
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

HIGH WINDS AND COLD, DRY AIR

Winds today have been high today out of the WNW. The peak gust at Blue Hill by 2:00 P.M. EST was 45 MPH at 1:41 P.M. It was clear in the morning, but by the afternoon there was a layer of broken cumulus clouds. The air has been very cold today with a minimum temperature this morning of 9F. It warmed to a max of 19F by the 1:00 P.M. observation. The air has been very dry as well. The dew point at 1:00 P.M. was -3F. Pressure has been very high today. Despite the cold and unpleasant wind, it looks like a beautiful day outside.


PRELIMINARY STATS FOR FEBRUARY 2017
 
TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 43.2 [+6.4]
Avg. Min. 25.5 [+6.4]
Mean      34.4 [+6.5]
24-hour corrected mean: 33.8
Max. for month: 71F on 24th
Min. for month:  7F on 10th
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units: 850 [-187] 
Total for the season: 3877 [-691]
Total for last season: 3670

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 3.78 [-0.29]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 1.60 on the 9th

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 31.5 [+17.6]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 16.9 in. on 9th
 
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 13.7
Avg. corrected wind speed: 14.0
Prevailing wind direction: WNW at 16%
Peak gust and direction: 54 NNE on 9th
 
SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 9,192 minutes of possible 17,148 or 54%
Astronomical total minutes: 9,527 minutes of possible 17,801 or 54%


The new daily high minimum temperature record of 47F on
February 24, 2017 ties as second-highest minimum temperature
for February at Blue Hill Observatory.  The three-day cumulative
temperature departure for February 23-25, 2017 of +79F ranks as
third highest three-day cumulative temperature departure for the
winter season.

Highest February Daily Maximum Temperature, deg F (1885-2017)

1) 71 on 24 Feb 2017 
2) 68 on 24 Feb 1985
   68 on 25 Feb 2017
4) 67 on 26 Feb 1957
   67 on 25 Feb 1976
   67 on 23 Feb 2017 
7) 66 on 20 Feb 1930
   66 on 19 Feb 1981
9) 65 on 18 Feb 1981
   65 on 01 Feb 1989

BHO Warmest February Daily High Minimum Temperature, deg F (1885-2017)

1) 49 on 20 Feb 1981
2) 47 on 28 Feb 1910
   47 on 23 Feb 1990
   47 on 24 Feb 2017
5) 46 on 26 Feb 1957
6) 45 on 22 Feb 1954
   45 on  5 Feb 1991
   45 on 21 Feb 2002

BHO Warmest February 24-Hour Mean Temperature , deg F (1885-2017)

1) 34.9 in 1984
2) 34.3 in 2012
3) 34.0 in 1998
4) 33.9 in 1954
   33.9 in 1981
6) 33.8 in 2017
7) 33.7 in 1976
8) 33.6 in 1997
   33.6 in 2002

BHO Warmest Winter (Dec-Feb) 24-Hour Mean Temperature, deg F (1885-2017)

1) 34.9 in 2015-2016
2) 34.8 in 2001-2002
3) 34.3 in 2011-2012
4) 32.9 in 2016-2017
5) 32.6 in 1997-1998
6) 32.3 in 1936-1937
   32.3 in 1998-1999
8) 32.2 in 1932-1933

BHO Highest Winter 3-Day Cumulative Temperature Departure, deg F (1885-2017)

1) +98 on 14-16 Jan 1995 (65/45/55/+30, 64/54/59/+34, 63/55/59/+34)
2) +80 on  4-6  Jan 2007 (53/40/47/+21, 61/46/54/+28, 66/48/57/+31)
3) +79 on 23-25 Feb 2017 (67/40/54/+24, 71/47/59/+29, 68/44/56/+26)
4) +77 on 18-20 Feb 1981 (65/42/54/+25, 66/43/55/+26, 60/49/55/+26)
   +77 on  3-5  Feb 1991 (58/37/48/+22, 62/41/52/+26, 65/45/55/+29)
6) +75 on  7-9  Jan 2008 (54/39/47/+21, 65/45/55/+29, 59/42/51/+25)
 
  
Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Few cumulus N-SW
Temperature: 20F; Dew Point: -1F; Wind: WNW at 10G17 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.40 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 16F
6-hr Min temp:  9F
24-hr precip: Trace
24-hr snowfall: Trace
BHO SA 1155 CLR 70 294/10/M1/3010G17/040/ FEW CU N-SW
NEW SNW PST 24 HRS TRACE/ 8/100 51012 10016 20009

10 A.M.
Weather: Broken cumulus
Temperature: 15F; Dew Point: -9F; Wind: W at 15G27 kts,
Peak Wind: 32 kts (37 MPH) WNW at 9:43 AM EST
Sea-level pressure: 30.36 ins. Hg, rising then falling 
Visibility: 70 miles
BHO SA 1455 E64 BKN 70 281/15/M9/2815G27/036/ PK WND 2932/43/ 8/100 58013

1 P.M.
Weather: Broken cumulus
Temperature: 19F; Dew Point: -3F; Wind: WNW at 19G34 kts,
Peak Wind: 37 kts (43 MPH) WNW at 12:24 PM EST
Sea-level pressure: 30.32 ins. Hg, falling, then less quickly
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 19F
6-hr Min temp: 10F
BHO SA 1755 E24 BKN 70 266/19/M3/2919G34/032/ PK WND 3037/24/ 8/100 56015 
10019 20010


SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....36   NORMAL.....41
MIN.....19   NORMAL.....23
MEAN....28   NORMAL.....32

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.........................-4
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH........................+29 [+9.5 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............37   DEPARTURE..........+4
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............72   DEPARTURE.........-29
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........3949   DEPARTURE........-720
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......3778   DIFFERENCE.......+171

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................38 W AT 9:58 P.M.
                   AERO........................44 W AT 9:58 P.M.                  
                   ASOS........................41 W AT 9:59 P.M.
                   DAVIS.......................39 W AT 7:38 P.M. RMY N/A
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................33 W AT 9:42 P.M.*
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................30 W AT 9:42 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................30 W AT 7:39 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.............14.1 W
                   ASOS......................13.4
                   DAVIS.....................12.8 NW [310 deg.]
*last of multiple occurrences

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M...Trace  DEPARTURE......-0.17
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.01  DEPARTURE......-0.51
                         ASOS..............0.01
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........9.29  DEPARTURE......+0.35
                         ASOS...............N/A ***
*** ASOS annual total not available due to erroneous readings

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M........Trace  DEPARTURE.......-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................0.0  DEPARTURE.......-1.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............52.3  DEPARTURE.......+3.8


PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/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
M:    Missing data

2/1   40/25/33/+7/0.03/0.4/228/38           43 W   AERO 44 W   RMY 47
2/2   38/25/32/+6/T/T/265/44                36 WNW AERO 37 WNW RMY 36
2/3   30/19/25/-1/0.00/0.0/351/58           28 WNW AERO 29 WNW RMY 31
2/4   31/15/23/-3/0.00/0.0/590/97           31 WNW AERO 30 WNW RMY N/A
2/5   43/22/33/+7/0.00/0.0/092/15           38 SSW AERO 41 SSW RMY N/A
2/6   37/28/33/+7/0.00/0.0/503/82           41 WNW AERO 41 WNW RMY 43
2/7   37/30/34/+7/0.54/0.7/000/00           32 ENE AERO 31 ENE RMY 32
2/8   49/25/37/+10/T/0.0/136/22             25 W   AERO 25 W   RMY 31
2/9   35/8/22/-5/1.60/16.9/000/00           54 NNE AERO 53 NNE RMY 54 TSTM
2/10  24/7/16/-11/T/T/623/100               43 WNW AERO 50 WNW RMY 48
2/11  27/15/21/-6/0.14/2.9/000/00           21 SE  AERO 20 SE  RMY 19
2/12  32/17/25/-2/0.71/5.6/000/00           22 ENE AERO 28 ENE RMY N/A
2/13  32/20/26/-2/0.27/2.2/032/05           48 NW  AERO 60 NW  RMY 61
2/14  35/16/26/-2/0.00/0.0/634/100          23 NW  AERO 24 NW  RMY 24  
2/15  40/25/33/+5/0.17/1.2/000/00           31 SE  AERO 33 NW  RMY N/A
2/16  33/23/28/0/0.17/1.6/077/12            38 WNW AERO 38 WNW RMY 40
2/17  38/19/29/+1/0.00/0.0/636/99           36 WNW AER0 35 WNW RMY 35
2/18  50/24/37/+8/0.00/0.0/587/91           31 SSW AERO 33 SSW RMY 34
2/19  58/42/50/+21/0.00/0.0/408/63          32 W   AERO 33 W   RMY 32
2/20  42/29/36/+7/0.00/0.0/644/99           25 NW  AERO 28 NW  RMY 27
2/21  44/25/35/+6/0.00/0.0/451/69           24 SSE AERO 22 SSW RMY 24  
2/22  56/34/45/+16/T/0.0/466/71             24 SSW AERO 24 SSW RMY N/A
2/23  67/40/54/+24/0.00/0.0/612/93          36 SSW AERO 35 SSW RMY 37
2/24  71/47/59/+29/0.00/0.0/535/81          41 SSW AERO 41 SSW RMY 44
2/25  68/44/56/+26/0.15/0.0/246/37          37 WNW AERO 35 WNW RMY 46
2/26  44/28/36/+6/0.00/0.0/600/90           46 WNW AERO 50 W   RMY 44
2/27  52/26/39/+8/0.00/0.0/663/99           37 SW  AERO 40 SW  RMY 41
2/28  56/37/47/+16/T/0.0/148/22             22 SSE AERO 25 SSE RMY N/A

DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2017

2/09/17: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM SNOWFALL OF 16.9 INS. 
         PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 14.0 INS. SET IN 2015

2/23/17: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 67F
         PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 62F SET IN 1990

2/24/17: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 71F
         PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 68F SET IN 1985

2/24/17: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 47F
         PREVIOUS RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 43F
         WAS SET IN 1930 AND TIED IN 1985 AND 2000

2/25/17: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 68F
         PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 67F SET IN 1976

2/25/17: DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 44F,
         TIES PREVIOUS RECORD SET IN 1930

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR MARCH CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/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
M:    Missing data

3/1  61/46/54/+23/0.01/0.0/.../..          41 S   AERO 45 S   RMY 45
3/2  55/26/41/+10/T/T/.../..               58 W   AERO 61 W   RMY 59 
3/3  36/19/28/-4/..../.../.../..           38 W   AERO 44 W   RMY N/A

3/4  Low temp since midnight is 9F; normal low is now 23F

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

RECORDS FOR MARCH 4 
HIGH 69 IN 1974 
LOW -5 IN 1950
PRECIP 1.80 IN 1960
SNOWFALL 17.3 IN 1960 
PEAK GUST 81e MPH SSW IN 1971

RECORDS FOR MARCH 5
HIGH 64 IN 1979
LOW -2 IN 1948
PRECIP 1.76 INS. IN 2001
SNOWFALL 13.0 INS. IN 1891
PEAK GUST 76e MPH WNW IN 1971

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