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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

MID-DAY THUNDERSTORM LEAVES OVER AND INCH OF PRECIPITATION 
ON GREAT BLUE HILL...

Another thunderstorm moved over the hill today with rain 
beginning around 9:15 A.M. EST. The rain was heavy most of
the time and so far we measured 1.12 inches of precipitation.
Although well above the daily normal of 0.15 inches, it is not
close to the record of 1.68 inches set back in 1983. The high 
temp. so far today has been a seasonable 81F but dropped down
to 70F by 1:00 P.M. after the thunderstorm moved through. The 
wind continued to be from the south today and was moderate with
frequent gust over 20 kts (23 MPH) at times, especially during 
the thunderstorm. 

PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JULY 2018

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 83.9 [+3.1]
Avg. Min. 63.7 [+0.8]
Mean      73.8 [+1.9]
24-hour corrected mean: 73.6
Max. for month: 94F on  1st and 3rd
Min. for month: 54F on  7th

COOLING DEGREE DAYS
Total cooling units:   296 [+74]
Total for the season:  455 [+104]
Total for last season: 421

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 3.84 [-0.18]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 1.36 in on 17th-18th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 9.8
Avg. corrected wind speed: 10.4
Prevailing wind direction: S at 19%
Peak gust and direction: 41 SSW on 26th  

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 18642 minutes of possible 26682 or 70%
Astronomical total minutes: 19402 minutes of possible 27744 or 70%

BHO Warmest July Mean Temperature (24-hr corrected mean), 
deg F (1885-2018):

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)  73.6 in 2018
9)  73.5 in 1949
10) 73.2 in 2012

Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, broken altocumulus 
Temperature: 76F; Dew Point: 71F; Wind: SSW at 12G22 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.12 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 25 miles, distant haze in all directions 
6-hr Max temp: 76F
6-hr Min temp: 72F
24-hr Precip: 0.19 ins.  
BHO SA 1155 18 SCT E100 BKN 250 BKN 25 206/76/71/2012G22/012/ 
DSNT HZ/ 8/538 50002 MANUAL 70019 ASOS 70019 10076 20072

10 A.M.
Weather: Rain, scattered stratus fractus, broken stratocumulus, 
broken altostratus/ nimbostratus
Temperature: 72F; Dew Point: 69F; Wind: WSW at 9G17 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.15 ins. Hg, rising, then falling 
Visibility: 30 miles, except S-W 15 miles and 3 miles W-NNE
3-hr Precip: 0.16 ins.  
BHO SA 1455 12 SCT E30 BKN 110 BKN 30R 211/72/69/2409G17/015/ 
RB15 TSB30 VSBY S-W 15 W-NNE 3F DSNT FG NNE-S/ 53005 MANUAL 
6016/ ASOS 60011    

1 P.M.
Weather: Fog and rain, scattered stratus fractus, broken stratus, 
overcast nimbostratus  
Temperature: 70F; Dew Point: 70F; Wind: S at 8G15 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.11 ins. Hg, falling steadily 
Visibility: 5 miles, except 3 miles 
6-hr Max temp: 81F
6-hr Min temp: 70F
6-hr precip: 1.12 ins.
BHO SA 1755 10 SCT E40 BKN E100 OVC 5RF 196/70/70/1908G15/011/ 
VSBY SSW-NNE 3F PTCHS GF BLO SMT ALQDS/ 8/62/ 58015 MANUAL 6112/ 
ASOS 60116 10081 20070  

SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018 

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....88   NORMAL.....81
MIN.....74   NORMAL.....63
MEAN....81   NORMAL.....72

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.........................+9
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH........................+22 [+7.1 DEGREES/DAY]

COOLING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JAN TO DEC)
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............16   DEPARTURE..........+9
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............43   DEPARTURE.........+21
TOTAL COOLING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............489   DEPARTURE........+125
TOTAL COOLING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......452   DEPARTURE.........+46

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY.....................35 NW  AT 12:52 P.M.
                   AERO..........................32 NW  AT 12:52 P.M.* 
                   ASOS..........................34 NW  AT 12:52 P.M.
                   DAVIS.........................34 NW  AT 12:51 P.M. RMY 35
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.......................26 NW  AT 12:51 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE....................24 NW  AT 12:52 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE...................26 NW  AT 12:52 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION...............10.3 SW
                   ASOS........................10.9
                   DAVIS.......................10.1 SW   [227 deg.]
*Last of several occurrences

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.19  DEPARTURE......+0.04
                         ASOS..............0.19
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.19  DEPARTURE......-0.26
                         ASOS..............0.19 
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........34.20  DEPARTURE......+2.94
                         ASOS.............35.77

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JULY-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
M:    Missing data

7/01 94/72/83/+13/0.00/667/73       21 ESE AERO 18 ESE RMY 19 
7/02 90/68/79/+9/0.00/858/94        21 S   AERO 21 S   RMY 22
7/03 94/69/82/+11/0.00/657/72       20 SSW AERO 18 SW  RMY 19 TSTM
7/04 89/73/81/+10/0.00/884/97       17 NE  AERO 15 NE  RMY 16
7/05 91/73/82/+11/0.00/865/95       29 SSW AERO 28 SSW RMY N/A
7/06 80/59/70/-1/0.56/018/02        37 NNW AERO 38 SW  RMY 40 TSTM
7/07 78/54/66/-5/0.00/900/99        22 N   AERO 18 N   RMY N/A 
7/08 83/57/70/-2/0.00/890/98        23 S   AERO 21 S   RMY 22  
7/09 88/60/74/+2/0.00/852/94        23 SW  AERO 23 SW  RMY 24 
7/10 91/63/77/+5/0.10/751/83        24 W   AERO 22 W   RMY N/A
7/11 73/62/68/-4/0.63/705/78        28 NE  AERO 25 NE  RMY 27 TSTM
7/12 77/56/67/-5/0.00/867/96        16 NW  AERO 15 NW  RMY N/A 
7/13 84/61/73/+1/0.00/568/63        23 SSE AERO 23 SSE RMY 24
7/14 80/61/71/-1/0.00/540/60        18 S   AERO 16 S   RMY 19
7/15 84/65/75/+3/T/521/58           16 S   AERO 15 S   RMY 14 
7/16 83/67/75/+3/0.00/682/76        23 S   AERO 23 S   RMY 23 
7/17 88/67/78/+6/1.34/430/48        31 SW  AERO 30 SW  RMY 32 TSTM 
7/18 81/63/72/0/0.02/769/86         21 NW  AERO 22 NW  RMY 23 
7/19 80/56/68/-4/0.00/874/98        21 S   AERO 17 SSE RMY 19 
7/20 83/62/73/1/0.00/864/97         21 SE  AERO 17 ESE RMY 19
7/21 76/59/68/-4/0.00/738/83        23 ENE AERO 20 ENE RMY N/A
7/22 76/63/69/-3/0.29/009/01        29 ESE AERO 28 ESE RMY N/A
7/23 82/71/77/+5/0.09/327/37        32 S   AERO 30 S   RMY 32 
7/24 85/72/79/+7/T/698/79           31 S   AERO 29 S   RMY 29 
7/25 82/71/77/+5/..../159/18        35 SSE AERO 32 SSE RMY N/A 
7/26 83/69/76/+5/..../158/18        41 SSW AERO 39 SSW RMY N/A TSTM
7/27 88/69/79/+7/..../605/69        25 S   AERO 23 SSW RMY 26
7/28 87/71/79/+7/0.00/569/65        28 S   AERO 26 S   RMY 29
7/29 82/67/75/+3/0.00/768/88        18 W   AERO 16 W   RMY 18
7/30 82/64/73/+1/0.00/470/54        18 W   AERO 16 W   RMY 17
7/31 86/63/75/+3/0.00/739/85        16 SSW AERO 15 W   RMY N/A

DAILY RECORDS FOR JULY 2018

07/01/18: DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 72F, 
          TIES PREVIOUS RECORD OF 72F SET IN 1968

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
M:    Missing data

8/1  82/66/74/+2/T/.../..           31 S   AERO 30 S   RMY 31
8/2  92/74/83/+11/0.00/.../..       30 SW  AERO 28 SW  RMY 31 
8/3  88/74/81/+9/0.19/.../..        35 NW  AERO 32 NW  RMY 35 

8/4 Low temp since midnight is 72F; normal low is now 63F

DAILY RECORDS FOR AUGUST 2018

08/04/18: DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 74F, 
          BREAK PREVIOUS RECORD OF 71F SET IN 1928, 1969, AND 1979

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: Kaitlin Geagan