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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018  
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

WNW WIND BRINGS COLDER TEMPERATURES TO GREAT
BLUE HILL...TODAY IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE START OF THE GREAT BLIZZARD OF 1978...

Yesterday we observed a wind shift from SE to 
WNW just before 1:00 A.M. This caused temperatures 
to rapidly fall from 46F at 12:30 A.M. down to 17F 
at 2:00 A.M. this morning. 17F is the daily normal 
for minimum temperatures.
The wind shifted again today from WNW to SSW before
7:00 A.M. Winds today have been light to moderate.
Skies remained overcast most of the day with a 
few breaks in the afternoon. A couple quick
moving snow showers past the Observatory 
between 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. These showers
left only a trace of precipitation. Visibility
was variable and decreased throughout with a 
maximum of 70 miles at 7:00 A.M. 

FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS...GREAT BLIZZARD OF 1978
Forty years ago today, snow began at 10:43 AM and
continued for over 37 hours eventually leaving a
storm total of 30.1 inches of snow, which is 
currently the 4th greatest snowfall on record,
with wind gusts over 80 mph. The snow depth 
reached a peak of 33 inches after the storm on
the morning of February 8, 1978. The area took
weeks to recover from the deep snow and the
catastrophic coastal flooding. 

 
PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JANUARY 2018
 
TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 33.8  [0.0]
Avg. Min. 18.3 [+1.2]
Mean      26.1 [+0.6]
24-hour corrected mean: 26.4
Max. for month: 60F on 12th and 13th
Min. for month: -8F on  7th
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:  1199  [-27] 
Total for the season: 3321 [-210]
Total for last season: 3027

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 6.00 [+1.65]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 2.28 on the 12-13th

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 25.2 [+8.0]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 16.5 in. on 4th
 
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 14.7
Avg. corrected wind speed: 15.0
Prevailing wind direction: W at 16%
Peak gust and direction: 58 SSW on 13th
 
SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: N/A
Astronomical total minutes: N/A

Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Broken altocumulus and overcast altostratus
thin smoke layer WSW-NNE  
Temperature: 20F; Dew Point: 8F; Wind: SSW at 4 kts,
Wind: light  
Sea-level pressure: 29.69 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly  
Visibility: 70 miles 
6-hr Max temp: 20F
6-hr Min temp: 17F
24-hr precip: 0.00 ins.
24-hr snowfall: 0.0 
Snow depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1155 E110 BKN E200 OVC 70 269/20/08/2004/032/ THN K 
LYR WSW-NNE WND LGT/ 8/02/ 51019 10020 20017   

10 A.M.
Weather: Overcast altostratus and light snow 
Temperature: 25F; Dew Point: 7F; Wind: SSW at 8 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.39 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly
Visibility: 35 miles, except 50 miles ENE-SSW, distant fog 
SSW-ENE 
3-hr precip: Trace
3-hr snowfall: Trace 
BHO SA 1455 E60 OVC 35S- 291/25/07/2008/039/ NEW SNW PST 3 HRS 
TRACE VSBY 50 ENE-SSW DSNT FG SSW-ENE SUN DMLY VSBL/ 8/6// 50022 
MANUAL 6000/
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Overcast altostratus, break in overcast W-WNW and 
overhead, few cumulus distant NNW-S 
Temperature: 29F; Dew Point: 19F; Wind: SSW at 11G23 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.35 ins. Hg, rising then falling
Visibility: 40 miles
6-hr Max temp: 30F
6-hr Min temp: 20F
6-hr precip: Trace
6-hr snowfall: Trace
Snow depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1755 E95 OVC 40 278/29/19/2111G23/035/ NEW SNW PST 6 HRS
TRACE BINOVC W-WNW AND OVHD FEW CU DSNT NNW-S/ 8/12/ 58013 
MANUAL 6000/ 10030 20020 

SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2018

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....46   NORMAL.....35
MIN.....19   NORMAL.....17
MEAN....33   NORMAL.....26

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.............................+7
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH.............................+9 [+1.6 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............32   DEPARTURE..........-7
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............186   DEPARTURE..........-9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON..........3507   DEPARTURE........-219
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....3206   DIFFERENCE.......+301

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY....................47 WNW AT 11:47 A.M. 
                   AERO.........................47 WNW AT 11:47 A.M.
                   ASOS.........................47 W   AT 11:49 A.M.
                   DAVIS........................41 M   AT 11:49 A.M.** RMY 30 
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY......................32 WNW AT 11:49 A.M. *  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE...................32 W   AT 11:49 A.M.  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE..................29 M   AT 11:50 A.M.**
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..............14.6 WNW
                   ASOS.......................13.7 
                   DAVIS......................12.8 ** 
* Last of several occurrences
** Davis direction malfunctioning

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00  DEPARTURE......-0.14
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.99  DEPARTURE......+0.31
                         ASOS..............1.05  
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........6.99  DEPARTURE......+1.96
                         ASOS..............7.63

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0  DEPARTURE........-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................2.5  DEPARTURE.........0.0
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............37.0  DEPARTURE........+1.3

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 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

1/01 11/-5/3/-24/0.00/0.0/538/98        30 NW  AERO 30 NW  RMY 31
1/02 15/-2/7/-20/0.00/0.0/402/73        26 W   AERO 25 W   RMY 26  
1/03 28/11/20/-6/0.00/0.0/430/78        23 WSW AERO 20 WSW RMY N/A
1/04 28/18/23/-3/1.66/16.5/000/00       54 NNW AERO 60 NNW RMY 64
1/05 18/2/10/-16/0.00/0.0/431/78        53 W   AERO 53 W   RMY 57
1/06 10/-2/4/-22/0.00/0.0/554/100       43 WSW AERO 47 WSW RMY 47
1/07 14/-8/3/-23/0.00/0.0/549/99        37 WNW AERO 35 WNW RMY N/A 
1/08 33/14/24/-2/0.02/T/006/01          40 S   AERO 40 S   RMY 42 
1/09 40/25/33/+7/T/T/356/64             37 W   AERO 35 W   RMY 33
1/10 36/20/28/+3/0.00/0.0/553/99        30 W   AERO 30 W   RMY N/A
1/11 50/32/41/+16/0.00/0.0/056/10       33 S   AERO 32 S   RMY 34
1/12 60/45/53/+28/0.89/0.0/011/02       56 S   AERO 56 S   RMY 55
1/13 60/17/39/+14/1.39/0.0/265/47       58 SSW AERO 60 SSW RMY 62
1/14 21/11/16/-9/0.00/0.0/350/62        30 NW  AERO 30 NW  RMY N/A
1/15 18/11/15/-10/0.02/0.5/000/00       23 NNW AERO 21 N   RMY 23
1/16 31/18/25/0/0.00/0.0/153/27         17 SSE AERO 15 SSE RMY N/A 
1/17 32/29/31/+6/0.21/2.3/000/00        20 SE  AERO 17 SE  RMY N/A
1/18 29/16/23/-2/0.00/0.0/497/87        24 NW  AERO 23 NW  RMY 26 
1/19 34/17/26/+1/0.00/0.0/229/40        22 SSW AERO 20 SSW RMY N/A
1/20 45/27/36/+11/0.00/0.0/161/28       38 WSW AERO 37 WSW RMY 39 
1/21 47/34/41/+16/0.00/0.0/467/81       22 W   AERO 21 W   RMY N/A
1/22 37/34/36/+11/0.10/0.0/000/00       21 E   AERO 16 E   RMY N/A
1/23 55/33/44/+19/1.23/0.0/000/00       53 S   AERO 58 S   RMY 57 
1/24 37/22/30/+5/0.00/0.0/455/78        36 WNW AERO 35 WNW RMY 36 
1/25 29/17/23/-2/0.00/0.0/556/95        35 WNW AERO 36 WNW RMY 41 
1/26 32/15/24-1/0.00/0.0/581/99         28 WNW AERO 28 WNW RMY N/A
1/27 52/24/38/+13/0.00/0.0/406/69       43 SSW AERO 44 SSW RMY N/A
1/28 50/39/45/+20/0.06/0.0/000/00       35 SSW AERO 37 SSW RMY N/A
1/29 39/25/32/+7/0.03/0.3/000/00        37 NNE AERO 32 NNE RMY 35 
1/30 27/17/44/-4/0.39/5.6/000/00        35 NW  AERO 35 NW  RMY 38  
1/31 29/12/21/-5/0.00/0.0/544/91        36 S   AERO 32 S   RMY 35 

DAILY RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2018

01/04/18: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM SNOWFALL OF 16.5 INS. 
          PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 8.6 INS. SET IN 1923 AND 
          TIED IN 1942 

01/07/18: NEW DAILY RECORD LOW MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 
          -8F, PREVIOUS RECORD OF -7F WAS SET IN 1896

01/12/18: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 
          45F, PREVIOUS RECORD OF 42F WAS SET IN 2017

          NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 
          60F, PREVIOUS RECORD OF 59F WAS SET IN 2017

01/13/18: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 
          60F, PREVIOUS RECORD OF 57F WAS SET IN 1890 
          AND TIED IN 1932 

01/28/18: TIED DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 
          39F, PREVIOUS RECORD OF 39F WAS SET IN 1974

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 45/27/36/+10/..../0.0/.../..      36 SSW AERO 35 SSW RMY N/A 
2/2 34/08/21/-5/..../.../.../..       43 WNW AERO 46 WNW RMY 46 
2/3 25/04/15/-11/0.00/0.0/.../..      26 S   AERO 24 S   RMY 30 
2/4 45/23/34/+8/.../T/.../..          31 SSE AERO 29 S   RMY 30
2/5 46/19/33/+7/0.00/0.0/.../..       47 WNW AERO 47 WNW RMY 44

2/6 Low temp since midnight is 17F; normal low is now 17F

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

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 6
HIGH 54F IN 1909
LOW -10F IN 1895
PRECIP 1.88 INS. IN 1896
SNOWFALL 13.0 INS. IN 1978 [BLIZZARD OF 1978]
PEAK GUST 84e MPH NE IN 1978

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 7
HIGH 51F IN 1951,1953
LOW -8F IN 1910
PRECIP 2.12 INS. IN 1983
SNOWFALL 17.1 INS. IN 1978 [BLIZZARD OF 1978]
PEAK GUST 87e MPH SSE IN 1951

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Kaitlin Geagan and Ben Turner