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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018  
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

COASTAL STORM BRINGS LOW PRESSURE, STRONG NE 
WIND, AND HEAVY RAIN TO GREAT BLUE HILL...

A coastal storm has caused strong wind from the
NE. We had sustained winds in the range of 20 to 
35 MPH for most of day and a peak gust, so far, 
of 56 kts (65 MPH) by 4:00 P.M. The daily record 
is 75 MPH from the NW set back in 1966.

Along with the strong wind we also had heavy
rain for most of the day with a storm total
so far of 2.34 ins. of liquid precipitation.
This is already 0.19 ins above the previous
daily precipitation record of 2.15 ins. set
back in 1983. 

Temperatures remained seasonable today with a 
high of 40F by 1:00 P.M., which is the daily 
normal. Visibility was limited to 3 miles all
day due to fog and heavy rain. 

Yesterday temperatures were well above seasonable 
with a close to record breaking 61F. The daily 
record high maximum is 62F set back in 1972.
 
PRELIMINARY STATS FOR FEBRUARY 2018
 
TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max.: 45.1 [+8.3]
Avg. Min.: 27.3 [+8.2]
Mean:      36.2 [+8.3]
24-hour corrected mean: 36.1
Max. for month: 70 on 21st
Min. for month: 4F on  3rd
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:  801  [-236] 
Total for the season: 4122 [-446]
Total for last season: 3877

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 4.12 [+0.04]
Greatest in 24 hrs: N/A

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 10.2 [-3.7]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 5.8 in. on 17th-18th
 
WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.5
Avg. corrected wind speed: 12.8
Prevailing wind direction: WNW at 18%
Peak gust and direction: 47 WNW on 5th
 
SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: N/A
Astronomical total minutes: N/A

BHO Warmest February Daily Maximum Temperature, 
deg F (1885-2017):

1) 71 on 24 Feb 2017
2) 70 on 21 Feb 2018
3) 68 on 24 Feb 1985
   68 on 25 Feb 2017
   68 on 20 Feb 2018
6) 67 on 26 Feb 1957
   67 on 25 Feb 1976
   67 on 23 Feb 2017
9) 66 on 20 Feb 1930
   66 on 19 Feb 1981

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

1) 50 on 21 Feb 2018
2) 49 on 20 Feb 1981
3) 48 on 20 Feb 2018
4) 47 on 28 Feb 1910
   47 on 23 Feb 1990
   47 on 24 Feb 2017
7) 46 on 26 Feb 1957
8) 45 on 22 Feb 1954
   45 on 5 Feb 1991
   45 on 21 Feb 2002

BHO Warmest February 24-Hour Adjusted Mean Temperature, 
deg F (1885-2018):

1) 36.1 in 2018
2) 34.9 in 1984
3) 34.3 in 2012
4) 34.0 in 1998
5) 33.9 in 1954
   33.9 in 1981
7) 33.8 in 2017
8) 33.7 in 1976

BHO February Warmest Average Maximum Temperature, 
deg F (1885-2018):

1) 45.1 in 2018
2) 44.0 in 1976
3) 43.5 in 1981
4) 43.2 in 1984
   43.2 in 2017
6) 43.0 in 2012
7) 42.9 in 1954
   42.9 in 2002

BHO February Warmest Average Minimum Temperature, 
deg F (1885-2018):

1) 27.9 in 1998
2) 27.3 in 2018 
3) 27.1 in 1984
4) 26.4 in 2012
5) 26.3 in 1925
6) 26.2 in 1954
7) 25.7 in 1981
8) 25.5 in 1997
   25.5 in 2017
     
Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Heavy rain, fog, and overcast nimbostratus
Temperature: 35F; Dew Point: 35F; Wind: NE at 21G40 kts
Peak Wind: 46 kts (53 MPH) NE at 06:32 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.39 ins. Hg, falling, then more slowly        
Visibility: 3 miles
6-hr Max temp: 37F
6-hr Min temp: 35F
24-hr precip:  0.75 ins.
24-hr snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1155 E9 OVC 3R+F 954/35/35/0421G40/939/ PK WND 
0446/32/ 8/6// 56036 MANUAL 70075 ASOS 70068 10037 20035     

10 A.M.
Weather: Heavy rain, fog, and overcast nimbostratus
Temperature: 36F; Dew Point: 36F; Wind: NE at 26G47 kts
Peak Wind: 52 kts (60 MPH) at 09:17 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.28 ins. Hg, falling, then more quickly  
Visibility: 3 miles
3-hr precip: 0.73 ins.
3-hr snowfall: 0.0 ins.   
BHO SA 1455 E9 OVC 3R+F 914/36/36/0426G47/928/ PK WND 
0452/17/ 8/6// MANUAL 6073/ ASOS 60078 58040 

1 P.M.
Weather: Heavy rain, fog, and overcast nimbostratus
Temperature: 40F; Dew Point: 40F; Wind: NNE at 24G46 kts,
Peak Wind: 55 kts (63 MPH) at 12:32 P.M.  
Sea-level pressure: 29.27 ins. Hg, falling, then more slowly  
Visibility: 3 miles   
6-hr Max temp: 40F
6-hr Min temp: 34F
6-hr precip: 1.59 ins. 
6-hr snowfall: 0.0 ins.
Snow depth: 0 ins.
BHO SA 1755 E10 OVC 3R+F 911/40/40/0324G46/927/ PK WND 
0355/32/ 8/6// MANUAL 6159/ ASOS 60166 55003 10040 20034 

SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....61   NORMAL.....40
MIN.....37   NORMAL.....22
MEAN....49   NORMAL.....31

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL...........................+18
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH...........................+18 [+18.0 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............16   DEPARTURE.........-18
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH.............16   DEPARTURE.........-18
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON..........4138   DEPARTURE........-464
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....3888   DIFFERENCE.......+250

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................39 ENE AT 11:17 P.M. 
                   AERO........................37 ENE AT 10:05 P.M.
                   ASOS........................39 ENE AT 11:18 P.M.
                   DAVIS.......................36 M   AT 11:57 P.M ** RMY N/A
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................26 ENE AT 11:21 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................26 NE  AT 11:14 P.M.  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................24 M   AT 11:10 P.M.**
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.............11.9 ENE 
                   ASOS......................11.5  
                   DAVIS.....................10.4 ** 
** Davis direction malfunctioning

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.75  DEPARTURE......+0.57
                         ASOS..............0.68
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.76  DEPARTURE......+0.58
                         ASOS..............0.69  
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........10.87  DEPARTURE......+2.45
                         ASOS.............11.54

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0  DEPARTURE........-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................0.0  DEPARTURE........-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............44.7  DEPARTURE........-2.9

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/..../0.0/120/20      36 SSW AERO 35 SSW RMY N/A 
2/2  34/08/21/-5/..../2.5/223/37       43 WNW AERO 46 WNW RMY 46 
2/3  25/04/15/-11/0.00/0.0/557/92      26 S   AERO 24 S   RMY 30 
2/4  45/23/34/+8/.../T/000/00          31 SSE AERO 29 S   RMY 30
2/5  46/19/33/+7/0.00/0.0/464/76       47 WNW AERO 47 WNW RMY 44
2/6  31/17/24/+2/T/T/025/04            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  30/20/25/-2/0.00/0.0/501/81       38 WNW AERO 38 WNW RMY N/A
2/9  30/16/23/-4/0.00/0.0/384/62       28 S   AERO 25 S   RMY N/A
2/10 51/28/40/+13/..../0.0/000/00      31 S   AERO 30 S   RMY 31
2/11 46/36/41/+14/..../0.0/000/00      24 SW  AERO 21 SW  RMY N/A
2/12 53/27/40/+13/..../0.0/132/21      33 WNW AERO 33 WNW RMY N/A
2/13 31/21/26/-2/0.00/0.0/496/79       22 S   AERO 18 WNW RMY 21
2/14 46/25/36/+8/0.00/0.0/234/37       30 S   AERO 26 SSW RMY 29 
2/15 47/35/41/+13/..../0.0/000/00      23 SSW AERO 20 SSW RMY N/A
2/16 50/31/41/+13/..../0.0/000/00      45 W   AERO 44 W   RMY 42
2/17 38/23/31/+3/..../.../468/73       33 SSW AERO 29 SSE RMY 33
2/18 42/29/35/+6/..../.../451/70       32 WNW AERO 29 WNW RMY 34 
2/19 48/30/39/+10/..../0.0/.../..      39 SSW AERO 37 SSW RMY 40
2/20 68/48/58/+29/..../0.0/.../..      32 SSW AERO 30 SSW RMY N/A
2/21 70/50/60/+31/0.00/0.0/.../..      32 SW  AERO 30 SW  RMY 33
2/22 53/30/42/+13/..../0.8/.../..      30 N   AERO 28 N   RMY N/A 
2/23 41/28/35/+5/0.20/0.0/.../..       34 SW  AERO 20 SW  RMY N/A
2/24 54/35/45/+15/..../0.0/.../..      32 W   AERO 30 W   RMY 29
2/25 39/33/36/+6/..../T/000/00         33 ESE AERO 30 ESE RMY 33
2/26 48/35/42/+12/0.00/0.0/.../..      29 WNW AERO 25 WNW RMY 28
2/27 51/29/40/+9/0.00/0.0/.../..       26 WNW AERO 23 WNW RMY 25
2/28 59/37/48/+17/0.01/0.0/.../..      28 SSW AERO 25 SSW RMY 27 

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

3/01 61/37/49/+18/0.00/0.0/.../..    39 ENE AERO 37 ENE RMY N/A 

3/02 Low temp since midnight is 34F; normal low is now 22F

DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2018

2/20/18: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 68F
         PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 66F SET IN 1930
2/21/18: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 70F
         PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 62F SET IN 1930
2/21/18: NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 50F
         PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 45F SET IN 2002 

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

RECORDS FOR MARCH 2
HIGH 63 IN 2004
LOW -3 IN 1886
PRE 2.15 INS. IN 1983
SNOW 8.2 INS. IN 2009
WIND 75 MPH NW IN 1966

RECORDS FOR MARCH 3
HIGH 64 IN 1991
LOW -1 IN 1950
PRECIP 2.36 INS. IN 1972
SNOWFALL 12.8 INS. IN 1960
PEAK GUST 78e MPH E IN 1942

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Kaitlin Geagan