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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2018  
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

ARCTIC COLD AND BITTER WIND CHILLS ON STRONG WEST WINDS...

Behind the powerful storm of two days ago, strong winds have pulled
Arctic air down into New England this weekend. The low temperature
was 2F this morning, and with a sustained wind speed of 22 mph at
7 AM, this produced wind chills near -20F at sunrise today. As of
early afternoon, the temperature had climbed to only 9F, and that
is the high temperature so far today. This is well above the record
low maximum temperature for January 6 of 3F set in 1896. The record
low for today of -14F in 1896 was well out of range, but the record
low temperature for January 7 of -7F, also set in 1896 may be
reached tomorrow morning. Strong winds have continued today out of 
the west with two peak gusts of 43 mph out of the west at 12:45 PM
and 1:20 PM this afternoon.  Drifting snow has been severe in the
instrument enclosure and in the upper sections of the summit access
road today with over two foot drifts in the road this morning. 

Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant NE-SSW, few altocumulus
distant NNW-NE, wind chill -20F
Temperature: 2F; Dew Point: -11F; Wind: W at 22G29 kts,
Peak wind: 30 kts (35 mph) W at 6:00 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.89 ins. Hg, rising 
Visibility: 55 miles, light distant haze
6-hr Max temp: 2F
6-hr Min temp: 2F
24-hr precip: 0.00 ins.
24-hr snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow depth: 17 ins.
BHO SA 1155 CLR 55 121/2/-11/2622G29/989/ FEW SC DSNT NE-SSW 
FEW AC DSNT NNW-NE LGT DSNT HZ WND CHILL -20F PK WND 2630/00/ 
8/530 4/017 51023 10002 20002

10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus offshore distant NE-ENE, 
few altocumulus NW-NE, wind shill -16F
Temperature: 5F; Dew Point: -11F; Wind: W at 21G32 kts,
Peak wind: 32 kts (37 mph) W at 9:52 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.97 ins. Hg, rising
Visibility: 70 miles
3-hr precip: 0.00 ins. 
BHO SA 1455 CLR 70 149/5/-11/2721G32/997/ FEW SC DSNT OFFSHR 
NE-ENE AND SSE-SSW FEW AC NW-NE WND CHILL -16F PK WND 2732/52/ 
8/530/ 53028

1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratocumulus distant offshore ENE-ESE
and south, few altocumulus WSW-NE and SSW
Temperature: 8F; Dew Point: -9F; Wind: W at 25G37 kts,
Peak wind: 37kts (43 mph) W at 12:45 P.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.95 ins. Hg, falling 
Visibility: 70 miles
6-hr Max temp: 9F
6-hr Min temp: 2F
6-hr precip: 0.00 ins.
6-hr snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow depth: 17 ins.
BHO SA 1755 CLR 70 143/8/-9/2825G37/995/ FEW SC DSNT OFFSHR 
ENE-ESE AND S FEW AC WSW-NE AND SSW PK WND 2837/45/ 8/530 
56006 10009 20002


SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....18   NORMAL.....34
MIN......2   NORMAL.....18
MEAN....10   NORMAL.....26

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL..........................-16
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH..........................-69 [-14.0 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............55  DEPARTURE.........+16
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............262  DEPARTURE.........+69
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON..........2384  DEPARTURE........-113
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....2184  DIFFERENCE.......+200

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................53   W AT  3:42 P.M.
                   AERO........................53   W AT  3:42 P.M. **
                   ASOS........................49 WNW AT  7:42 P.M.
                   DAVIS.......................N/A*                    RMY 57
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................40   W AT  3:05 P.M. **
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................32   W AT 11:00 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................N/A*
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.............26.3   W
                   ASOS......................N/A*
                   DAVIS.....................N/A*
*ASOS and Davis anemometers malfunctioning
** Last of several occurrences

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00  DEPARTURE......-0.14
                         ASOS..............0.01
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........1.66  DEPARTURE......+0.94
                         ASOS..............1.97
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........1.66  DEPARTURE......+0.94
                         ASOS..............1.97

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0  DEPARTURE........-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH...............16.5  DEPARTURE.......+13.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............25.9  DEPARTURE........+7.1

PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 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

12/01 50/35/43/+6/0.04/0.0/262/47        28 NW  AERO 29 NW  RMY 30
12/02 42/29/36/0/0.00/0.0/033/06         20 NNW AERO 18 NNW RMY N/A
12/03 42/32/37/+1/0.00/0.0/172/31        14 N   AERO 10 N   RMY N/A 
12/04 43/32/38/+3/0.00/0.0/522/94        16 E   AERO 14 E   RMY N/A 
12/05 58/34/46/+11/0.18/0.0/000/00       62 S   AERO 66 S   RMY 65
12/06 56/32/44/+9/0.54/0.0/160/29        52 S   AERO 55 S   RMY N/A
12/07 44/30/37/+3/0.00/0.0/540/98        25 WSW AERO 24 WSW RMY 25
12/08 38/28/33/-1/0.00/0.0/116/21        21 W   AERO 18 W   RMY 20
12/09 34/28/31/-3./0.70/5.5/000/00       23 NNW AERO 23 NNW RMY 23 
12/10 35/27/31/-2/0.02/0.1/384/70        30 W   AERO 30 W   RMY 27 
12/11 38/29/34/+1/T/T/301/55             23 W   AERO 21 W   RMY 22
12/12 43/31/37/+4/0.06/0.0/000/00        35 W   AERO 31 W   RMY N/A
12/13 31/18/25/-7/0.00/0.0/372/68        44 W   AERO 44 W   RMY 44
12/14 27/14/21/-11/T/T/257/47            35 WSW AERO 33 W   RMY 34 
12/15 24/12/18/-14/0.00/0.0/011/02       25 W   AERO 23 W   RMY N/A
12/16 32/17/25/-6/0.00/0.0/382/70        33 W   AERO 35 W   RMY 36
12/17 27/14/21/-10/0.00/0.0/425/78       21 NW  AERO 21 NW  RMY 20
12/18 35/20/28/-3/T/T/011/02             20 SSE AERO 16 SSE RMY 20
12/19 49/34/42/+12/0.00/0.0/185/34       36 WNW AERO 35 SW  RMY 38  
12/20 42/26/34/+4/T/T/447/82             41 W   AERO 40 W   RMY 45 
12/21 32/23/28/-2/0.00/0.0/533/98        26 NW  AERO 24 NW  RMY 27
12/22 32/21/27/-2/..../.../000/00        18 E   AERO 17 E   RMY N/A
12/23 36/24/30/+1/..../.../000/00        31 WSW AERO 28 WSW RMY 31
12/24 35/29/32/+3/..../.../191/35        30 ENE AERO 25 ENE RMY N/A
12/25 35/21/28/0/..../.../098/18         50 W   AERO 54 W   RMY 47
12/26 24/13/19/-9/0.00/0.0/529/97        39 W   AERO 39 W   RMY 41     
12/27 19/6/13/-15/0.00/0.0/530/97        28 WNW AERO 25 WNW RMY N/A
12/28 10/1/6/-22/0.00/0.0/..../..        37 WNW AERO 44 WNW RMY 43          
12/29 13/-3/5/-22/0.00/0.0/164/30        25 W   AERO 25 W   RMY 27
12/30 14/1/8/-19/0.03/0.5/016/03         21 W   AERO 18 W   RMY 24
12/31 10/0/5/-22/0.00/0.0/175/32         32 WNW AERO 32 WNW RMY 35

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

1/1 11/-5/3/-24/0.00/0.0/.../..         30 NW  AERO 30 NW  RMY 31
1/2 15/-2/7/-20/0.00/0.0/.../..         26 W   AERO 25 W   RMY 26  
1/3 28/11/20/-6/0.00/0.0/.../..         23 WSW AERO 20 WSW RMY N/A
1/4 28/18/23/-3/1.66/16.5/000/00        54 NNW AERO 60 NNW RMY 64
1/5 18/2/10/-16/0.00/0.0/.../..         53 W   AERO 53 W   RMY 57

1/6 Low temp since midnight is 2F; normal low is now 18F

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

RECORDS FOR JANUARY 6
HIGH 66F IN 2007
LOW -14F IN 1896
PRECIP 3.10 INS. IN 1889 [RECORD FOR MONTH]
SNOWFALL 7.5 INS. IN 1893
PEAK GUST 70 MPH WNW IN 1959

RECORDS FOR JANUARY 7
HIGH 60F IN 1930
LOW -7F IN 1896
PRECIP 1.97 INS. IN 1977
SNOWFALL 16.0 INS. IN 1977
PEAK GUST 74 MPH NW IN 1968

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Mike Iacono