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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018  
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

CLEAR, COOL, AND, DRY DAY AFTER YESTERDAY'S 
MIXED PRECIPITATION.... 

Light snow began yesterday around 10:40 A.M.
Light snow continued until just before 2:00 P.M. 
and then switched over to rain. We measured
a total of 1.1 inches of snow before the rain 
began. We measured 0.62 ins. of precipitation, 
0.11 ins. from the snow and 0.52 ins. from rain.
Visibility ranged from 45-40 miles due to a 
distant fog at each observation. Today skies were 
partly cloudy with a mixture of stratocumulus and 
cirrostratus clouds.
So far our high for the day of 30F was at midnight. 
Temperatures dropped down to 20F before 10:00 A.M., 
and then temperatures began to slowly rise for a 
high of 28F since 10:00 A.M. With winds from the 
south yesterday afternoon we hit an above
seasonable max of 42F around 7:30 P.M. The wind 
then changed direction and has been from the WNW 
for most of today making temperatures slightly 
below normal. 

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: 8274 minutes of possible 17130 or 48%
Astronomical total minutes:   8550 minutes of possible 17666 or 48%

Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Broken altocumulus, broken cirrostratus  
Temperature: 22F; Dew Point: 16F; Wind: NNW at 11G20 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.19 ins. Hg, rising unsteadily   
Visibility: 45 miles, distant fog in all directions
6-hr Max temp: 30F
6-hr Min temp: 22F
24-hr precip: 0.62 ins.
24-hr snowfall: 1.1 ins.
Snow depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1155 E190 BKN E220 BKN 45 223/22/16/3311G20/019/ 
NEW SNW PST 24 HRS 1.1 INS FEW SC DSNT ESE-W DSNT FG 
ALQDS/ 8/586 52037 MANUAL 70062 ASOS 70064 10030 20022  

10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, scattered cirrostratus 
Temperature: 23F; Dew Point: 14F; Wind: NW at 15G22 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.26 ins. Hg, rising, then more slowly 
Visibility: 40 miles, distant fog in all directions  
3-hr precip: 0.00 ins.
3-hr snowfall: 0.0 ins.  
BHO SA 1455 28 SCT 200 SCT 40 248/23/14/3215G22/026/ 
DSNT FG ALQDS/ 8/505 51025 
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, scattered cirrostratus  
Temperature: 28F; Dew Point: 18F; Wind: NW at 10G16 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.24 ins. Hg, steady then falling
Visibility: 40 miles, distant fog in all directions
6-hr Max temp: 28F
6-hr Min temp: 20F
6-hr precip: 0.00 ins.
6-hr snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow depth: 0 in.
BHO SA 1755 35 SCT 200 SCT 40 241/28/18/3210G16/024/ 
DSNT FG ALQDS/ 8/505 58007 10028 20020

SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....42   NORMAL.....35
MIN.....21   NORMAL.....18
MEAN....32   NORMAL.....27

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.............................+5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH............................+12 [+1.5 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............33   DEPARTURE..........-5
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............260   DEPARTURE.........-13
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON..........3581   DEPARTURE........-222
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....3269   DIFFERENCE.......+312

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY....................45 SW  AT 7:22 P.M. 
                   AERO.........................46 SW  AT 7:22 P.M.
                   ASOS.........................46 SSW AT 7:23 P.M.
                   DAVIS........................46 M   AT 7:23 P.M.** RMY 47 
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY......................33 SW  AT 7:07 P.M.   
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE...................35 SSW AT 7:09 P.M.  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE..................33 M   AT 7:07 P.M.**
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..............10.5 E
                   ASOS.......................11.1 
                   DAVIS.......................9.6 ** 
** Davis direction malfunctioning

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.62  DEPARTURE......+0.48
                         ASOS..............0.64
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........1.61  DEPARTURE......+0.66
                         ASOS..............1.69  
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........7.61  DEPARTURE......+2.31
                         ASOS..............8.27

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........1.1  DEPARTURE........+0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................3.6  DEPARTURE........+0.1
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............38.1  DEPARTURE........+1.4

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 27/17/22/-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 31/17/24/+2/T/T/.../..            26 SSW AERO 23 SSW RMY 23 
2/7 42/21/32/+5/0.62/1.1/000/00       45 SW  AERO 46 SW  RMY 47

2/8 Low temp since midnight is 20F; normal low is now 18F

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

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 8
HIGH 60F IN 1933
LOW -9F IN 1934
PRECIP 2.50 INS. IN 1945
SNOWFALL 16.1 INS. IN 2013
PEAK GUST 63e MPH NE IN 1945, 2013

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 9
HIGH 58F IN 1990
LOW -21F IN 1934 [LOWEST TEMPERATURE ON RECORD]
PRECIP 2.12 INS. IN 1969
SNOWFALL 16.9 INS. IN 2016
PEAK GUST 89 MPH NE IN 1969

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Kaitlin Geagan