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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018  
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

MODERATE WIND FROM THE NORTH BRINGS COOLER 
TEMPERATURES TO GREAT BLUE HILL...

Snow began overnight some time after 2:00 A.M.
and we received 1.2 ins by 7:00 A.M. During the
day today we had a few drizzle/snow showers 
which left only a trace of precipitation on top
of Great Blue Hill. Most of the snow which we 
measured at 7:00 A.M. had melted by 1:00 P.M.
Wind from the north increased throughout the day 
today. We had a moderate wind from the north, 
with frequent gust over 25 MPH in the morning 
and increasing to frequently gusting over 35 MPH 
in the afternoon. So far today we have a peak gust 
of 36 kts (41 MPH) by 1:00 P.M. This caused  
slightly cooler but still close to seasonable 
temperatures with a high so far of 37F. This is 
4 degrees below the normal of 41F. Overnight 
temperatures continue to be above normal with a 
low so far of 29F. This is 6 degrees above the 
daily normal of 23F. 
As the humidity dropped today the sky opened 
and the sun came out after 3 days of overcast
skies. We also saw an increase in visibility
from 35 miles at 7:00 A.M. to 70 miles at 1:00 P.M.
   
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: 0.86 ins. on 10th-11th

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: Overcast stratus 
Temperature: 30F; Dew Point: 29F; Wind: N at 14G24 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.96 ins. Hg, rising, then more rapidly         
Visibility: 35 miles, distant fog in all directions 
6-hr Max temp: 32F
6-hr Min temp: 29F
24-hr precip:  0.12 ins.
24-hr snowfall: 1.2 ins.
Snow depth: 1 ins.
BHO SA 1155 E12 OVC 35 145/30/29/0114G24/996/ NEW SNW PST 24 
HRS 1.2 INS DSNT FG ALQDS/ 8/6// 4/001 53007 MANUAL 70012 
ASOS 70012 10032 20029 

10 A.M.
Weather: Very light snow and overcast stratus  
Temperature: 32F; Dew Point: 31F; Wind: N at 18G28 kts,
Peak wind: 32 kts (37 MPH) at 9:07 A.M.
Sea-level pressure: 29.97 ins. Hg, rising then steady  
Visibility: 60 miles, except 35 ENE-S, distant fog in
all directions 
3-hr precip: Trace 
3-hr snowfall: Trace   
BHO SA 1455 E17 OVC 60S- 148/32/31/0118G28/997/ NEW SNW 
PAST 3 HRS TRACE VSBY 35 ENE-S DSNT FG ALQDS PCPN VRY LGT 
PK WND 0132/07/ 8/6// 51003 MANUAL 600// 

1 P.M.
Weather:  Broken stratocumulus, broken cirrostratus 
Temperature: 37F; Dew Point: 28F; Wind: NNE at 18G33 kts
Sea-level pressure: 29.98 ins. Hg, rising then falling 
Visibility: 70 miles 
6-hr Max temp: 37F
6-hr Min temp: 30F
6-hr precip: Trace
6-hr snowfall: Trace
Snow depth: 0 in.
BHO SA 1755 E30 BKN 200 BKN 70 151/37/28/0318G33/998/ 
NEW SNW PAST 6 HRS TRACE PK WND 0336/36/ 8/508 51003
 MANUAL 600// 10037 20030 

SUMMARY FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2018

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....39   NORMAL.....41
MIN.....34   NORMAL.....23
MEAN....37   NORMAL.....32

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL............................+5
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH...........................+32 [+7.8 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............28   DEPARTURE..........-5
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............102   DEPARTURE.........-32
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON..........4224   DEPARTURE........-478
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....4000   DIFFERENCE.......+224

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...................36 NNE AT  1:21 A.M. 
                   AERO........................32 NNE AT  1:17 A.M.
                   ASOS........................35 NNE AT  1:21 A.M.
                   DAVIS.......................33 M   AT 12:07 A.M ** RMY 32
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.....................23 NNE AT  1:22 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..................24 N   AT  7:09 A.M.  
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.................23 M   AT  7:09 A.M.**
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.............13.0 NNE 
                   ASOS......................12.2  
                   DAVIS.....................11.5 ** 
** Davis direction malfunctioning

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.12  DEPARTURE......-0.05
                         ASOS..............0.12
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........3.60  DEPARTURE......+3.09
                         ASOS..............3.66  
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........13.71  DEPARTURE......+4.78
                         ASOS.............14.51

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........1.2  DEPARTURE........+0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................1.9  DEPARTURE........-0.2
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............46.6  DEPARTURE........-2.6

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/+10/0.06/0.0/120/20      36 SSW AERO 35 SSW RMY N/A 
2/2  34/08/21/-5/0.25/2.5/223/37       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/+8/0.32/T/000/00          31 SSE AERO 29 S   RMY 30
2/5  46/19/33/+7/0.36/0.0/464/76       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/+13/0.20/0.0/000/00      31 S   AERO 30 S   RMY 31
2/11 46/36/41/+14/0.70/0.0/000/00      24 SW  AERO 21 SW  RMY N/A
2/12 53/27/40/+13/0.00/0.0/132/21      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/+15/0.00/0.0/.../..      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 40/32/36/+5/3.47/0.7/000/00     73 NNE AERO 70 NNE RMY N/A
3/03 40/32/26/+4/T/T/.../..          52 NNE AERO 50 NNE RMY 49
3/04 39//34/37/+5/T/T/.../..         36 NNE AERO 32 NNE RMY 32 

3/05 Low temp since midnight is 29F; normal low is now 23F

DAILY RECORDS FOR MARCH 2018

3/02/18: NEW DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION OF 3.47 INS.
         PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 2.15 INS. SET IN 1983

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

RECORDS FOR MARCH 5
HIGH 64 IN 1979
LOW -2 IN 1948
PRECIP 1.76 INS. IN 2001
SNOWFALL 13.0 INS. IN 1891
PEAK GUST 76e MPH WNW IN 1971

RECORDS FOR MARCH 6
HIGH 66 IN 1894
LOW 3 IN 1948, 2007
PRECIP 1.85 INS. IN 2001
SNOWFALL 15.5 INS. IN 2001
PEAK GUST 82 MPH S IN 1959

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