BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02186
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2009 
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
VERY SUNNY FEBRUARY WITH NEAR NORMAL TEMPS.
AS MILDER WEATHER ARRIVES AGAIN
 
Yesterday we recorded 100% of the possible
bright sunshine. Sunshine has been quite
prevalent so far this month as indicated by
our records which show 72% of the possible
sunshine through the 9th. The long-term average
for the month is 50%.
In 2006 we had a sunny February with 64% but
the sunniest in recent records is 74% back in 1987. 
The monthly temperature average is just about
on the long-term average now and headed above
normal over the next several days.
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M.
Weather: High overcast cirrostratus with thin spots
visible in the overcast and an altocumulus layer
distant N-ESE 
Temperature: 24F, Dew point: 11F, Wind: E at 4 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.39 inches Hg, rising
Visibility: 55 miles
6-hour minimum temperature: 22F
Snow depth on ground: 8 inches
BHO SA 1155 E250 OVC 40 292/24/11/0804/039/
AC LYR DSNT N-ESE THN SPTS IOVC MOON DMLY VSB
PST HR W VSBY NW-N 30 PTCH THN GF SW
THN K LYR ALG HRZN NW-N/ 8/077
4/008 55005 10026 20022  
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Dense cirrostratus overcast with dimmed
sunshine and faint shadows  
Temperature: 30F, Dew point: 17F, Wind: SE at 11 kts,
Wind: direction variability E-SSE
Sea-level pressure: 30.38 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 35 miles, thin smoke along horizon
W-N and light haze
BHO SA 1455 E200 OVC 35 288/30/17/1311/038/
DENS CS OVC THN K ALG HRZN W-N LGT HZ WND 09V15/
8/007 58004
 
1 P.M.  
Weather: Broken altocumulus, high dense overcast cirrostratus
Temperature: 34F, Dew point: 19F, Wind: SE at 12 kts,
Wind: direction variable ESE-SSE
Sea-level pressure: 30.26 inches Hg, falling
Visibility: 45 miles
6-hour maximum temperature: 34F 
BHO SA 1755 E95 OVC 200 OVC 45 247/34/19/1412/026/
SUN OCNL DMLY VSB/ WND 11V17/ 8/077 58041
10034 20024
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....37    NORMAL.....35 
MIN.....21    NORMAL.....19
MEAN....29    NORMAL.....27
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.................+2
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH................. 0 [-0.2 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY.............36  DEPARTURE........- 2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............346  DEPARTURE........- 2
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON..........3914  DEPARTURE........+30
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.....3502  DIFFERENCE......+412
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY............38 WNW AT  2:40 A.M. 
                   AEROVANE.............37 WNW AT  2:40 A.M. 
                   ASOS.................38 WNW AT  2:40 A.M. 
                   DAVIS................39 WNW AT  2:29 A.M. 
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY..............29 WNW AT  2:42 A.M. * 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE...........29 WNW AT  2:42 A.M.   
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE..........29 WNW AT  2:42 A.M.  
                   AVERAGE............ 10.7 WNW
                   ASOS.................9.9
                   DAVIS...............10.0 WNW [290 DEGREES]
* Last of several occurrences...
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M.....0.00  DEPARTURE.........-0.14
                         ASOS...............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH...........0.49  DEPARTURE.........-0.84
                         ASOS...............0.45
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR............4.65  DEPARTURE.........-1.46
                         ASOS...............5.65 #
# Includes erroneous ASOS precipitation data on 1/1/09 and 1/2/09
 
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0   DEPARTURE.........-0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................6.5   DEPARTURE.........+0.6
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............61.6   DEPARTURE........+26.3
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 2009 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/AERO GUST
AERO: Aerovane recording wind system gust when significant
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
....: Data not yet available, records not finalized
 
2/1  45/15/30/+4/0/0/402/67          35 SW
2/2  50/32/41/+15/0/0/568/94         29 NNW
2/3  33/22/28/+2/0.44/5.6/000/00     39 N    AERO 38 MPH N 
2/4  24/10/17/-9/0.05/0.9/572/94     37 WNW
2/5  17/3/10/-17/0/0/538/88          33 W
2/6  26/4/15/-12/0/0/509/83          26 W
2/7  42/16/29/+2/0/0/314/51          45 S    AERO 44 MPH S
2/8  49/30/40/+13/0/0/433/70         54 W    AERO 54 MPH W
2/9  37/21/29/+2/0/0/621/100         38 WNW  AERO 38 MPH WNW
 
2/10 morning low temp. 22F; our normal low is now 29F
 
NEW DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2009...
 
None to date
 
DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):
 
RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 10
HIGH 56F IN 1909
LOW -8F IN 1899
PRECIP 1.34 INS. IN 1909
SNOWFALL 12.1 INS. IN 1926
PEAK GUST 64 MPH W IN 2001
 
RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 11
HIGH 60F IN 1981
LOW -10F IN 1899
PRECIP 1.07 INCHES IN 1955
SNOWFALL 9.6 INCHES IN 1933
PEAK GUST 95 MPH S IN 1981
 
TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED By: Robert Skilling