BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2013   
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
EARLY DUSTING GIVES WAY TO SUNSHINE
 
An early morning trace amount of snow fell between 5:00 and 7:00 totaling 0.1 inch
but not impacting the average ground snow depth of 3 inches. Morning relative humidity
of 96% fell as the clouds dispersed leaving mostly blue skies and significant haze
which limited visibility to 25 miles.
 
Yesterday was the second consecutive warmer than average day (+8F), but so far
January has still been colder than the 30 year average, by 1.6F per day.
 
At Blue Hill, 2012 finished as the warmest year on record by a significant
margin.  The year also finished with the lowest wind speed on record,
again by a significant margin.
 
BLUE HILL WARMEST ANNUAL TEMPERATURE 1885-2012 (deg F)
1) 51.7 in 2012
2) 51.0 in 2010
3) 50.9 in 1999
4) 50.8 in 1998
5) 50.6 in 2006
 
BLUE HILL LOWEST ANNUAL WIND SPEED 1885-2012 (deg F)
1) 11.8 in 2012
2) 12.5 in 2011
3) 12.6 in 2008
   12.6 in 2009
5) 12.7 in 2001
   12.7 in 2005
 
A few updates/additions have been made to the December stats below.
 
DECEMBER 2012 PRELIMINARY STATISTICS:
 
TEMPERATURE:
Average Max Temp:  42.8F [+3.7F]
Average Min Temp:  30.1F [+6.5F]
Mean Temp:  36.5F [+5.2F]
24-hr. Corr. Mean Temp:  36.2F [+4.6F]
Max Temp:  59F on 10th
Min Temp:  17F on 31st
Total heating degree day units (month):    878 [-165] *NCDC method
Total heating degree day units (season): 2,028 [-276] *start July 1 (NCDC)
Total heating degree day units (calendar year): 5,259
 
PRECIPITATION:
Total precipitation:  6.52 ins. [+1.63 ins.]
Greatest 24-hr precipitation:  1.93 ins. on 26th/27th
Total snowfall:  9.4 inches [-2.0 ins.] *using 1890-2010 mean
Greatest snow depth: 7 ins. on 30th
 
WIND:
Avg wind speed:  12.7 MPH
Avg corrected wind speed:  13.0 MPH
Prevailing wind direction: WNW [14%]
Peak gust:  70 MPH E on 27th
Peak fastest mile:  51 MPH E on 27th
 
SUNSHINE: *
Total astronomical minutes: 5,695 of possible 17,037 or 33%
Total Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 5,520 of possible 16,470 or 34%
 
* Corrected values as of 1/5/2012
 
Today's observations:
 
7 A.M.
Weather: Few stratus fractus, overcast nimbostratus, snowfall ended within
past hour time unknown
Temperature: 28F; Dew Point: 26F; Wind: SSW at 12 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.10 ins. Hg, falling then falling more slowly
Visibility: 10 miles, thin fog all quadrants
Snow on ground: 3 inches
BHO SA 1155 E70 OVC 10 192/28/26/2012/010/ FEW STFRA THN F ALQDS SEUKN/
8/72/ 4/003 56020 MANUAL 6000/ 10031 20026
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few stratus fractus, few altocumulus WNW-NNE
Temperature: 34F; Dew Point: 29F; Wind: SW at 13 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.07 ins. Hg, falling then falling more rapidly
Visibility: 15 miles, thin fog
BHO SA 1455 CLR 15 183/34/29/2213/007/ FEW STFRA/AC WNW-NNE K LYR WSW-NNE
THN F 8/640 58009 
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few cirrus, thin smoke layer NNW-NE
Temperature: 40F; Dew Point: 27F; Wind: WSW at 9kts,
Wind: direction variable S-WNW
Sea-level pressure:29.97 ins. Hg, falling then falling more slowly
Visibility: 25 miles, hazy
6-hour max: 40F
6-hour min: 26F
BHO SA 1755 CLR 25 150/40/27/2509/997/ FEW CI -K LYR NNW-NE HZ ALQDS/
WND 19V29/ 8/001 56033 10040 20026
 
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....40      NORMAL.....34
MIN.....27      NORMAL.....18
MEAN....34      NORMAL.....26
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL......................+8
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH......................-9 [-1.6 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY............31    DEPARTURE.........-8
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH...........202    DEPARTURE.........+9
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON.........2230    DEPARTURE.......-267
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE....1930    DIFFERENCE......+300
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...............36 WNW AT  12:37 P.M.
                   AERO....................37 WNW AT  12:37 P.M.
                   ASOS....................37 WNW AT  12:38 P.M.
                   DAVIS...................36 WNW AT  12:38 P.M. RMY: 38
THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.............26 WNW AT  12:38 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..............24 WNW AT  12:44 P.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.............24 WNW AT  12:45 P.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.........11.0 WSW
                   ASOS..................9.9
                   DAVIS.................9.8 W [267 deg.]
 
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..........0.00   DEPARTURE..........-0.72
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........0.00   DEPARTURE..........-0.72
                         ASOS..............0.00
 
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M.........0.1   DEPARTURE............-0.4
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH...............0.1   DEPARTURE............-2.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON.............15.5   DEPARTURE............-3.3   
 
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 2012 & JANUARY 2013 CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/AERO GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system gust
RMY:  RMY = R.M. Young wind gust recording system added 8/9/2011
TSTM: Thunderstorm day (thunder heard some time during day)
....: Data not yet available, records not finalized
 
12/1  34/25/30/-7/0.06/0.8/000/00     16 E   AERO 14 MPH E   RMY 16
12/2  52/32/42/+6/T/0.0/006/01        32 SSW AERO 32 MPH SSW RMY 34
12/3  57/43/50/+14/0.00/0.0/523/94    31 NW  AERO 30 MPH NW  RMY 32
12/4  56/40/48/+13/0.03/0.0/000/00    37 S   AERO 39 MPH S   RMY 38
12/5  56/31/44/+9/0.03/0.0/310/56     38 WNW AERO 37 MPH WNW RMY 40
12/6  38/25/32/-3/0.00/0.0/519/94     31 NW  AERO 30 MPH NW  RMY N/A
12/7  42/30/36/+2/0.02/0.0/000/00     18 SSW AERO 16 MPH SSW RMY 18       
12/8  45/41/43/+9/0.35/0.0/000/00     21 ENE AERO 18 MPH ENE RMY N/A
12/9  45/38/42/+8/0.10/0.0/181/33     24 NNW AERO 24 MPH NNW RMY 25
12/10 59/39/49/+16/0.51/0.0/000/00    32 SSW AERO 33 MPH SSW RMY 35
12/11 54/30/42/+9/0.01/0.0/351/64     25 W   AERO 25 MPH W   RMY 23
12/12 38/26/32/-1/0.00/0.0/126/23     20 NW  AERO 18 MPH NW  RMY N/A
12/13 42/29/36/+4/0.00/0.0/416/76     18 NW  AERO 15 MPH NW  RMY N/A
12/14 47/29/38/+6/0.00/0.0/535/98     28 W   AERO 25 MPH W   RMY 27
12/15 40/31/36/+4/0.00/0.0/530/97     24 NNW AERO 22 MPH NNW RMY 21
12/16 36/31/34/+3/0.25/0.1/000/00     25 E   AERO 22 MPH E   RMY N/A
12/17 44/36/40/+9/0.65/0.0/000/00     31 ENE AERO 29 MPH ENE RMY 30
12/18 50/40/45/+14/0.61/0.0/000/00    28 E   AERO 24 MPH E   RMY N/A
12/19 44/35/40/+10/T/0.0/087/16       42 WNW AERO 40 MPN WNW RMY 43
12/20 42/30/36/+6/T/0.0/262/48        25 NNW AERO 23 MPH NNW RMY N/A
12/21 53/35/44/+14/0.90/0.0/000/00    58 E   AERO 53 MPH E   RMY 57
12/22 37/26/32/+3/T/T/136/25          47 W   AERO 47 MPH W   RMY 43
12/23 37/25/31/+2/0.00/0.0/305/56     44 WNW AERO 44 MPH WNW RMY N/A
12/24 39/28/34/+5/0.00/0.0/452/83     25 W   AERO 23 MPH W   RMY 22
12/25 33/25/29/+1/0.04/0.6/000/00     21 NNW AERO 21 MPH NNW RMY 19 
12/26 35/20/28/+0/0.30/1.0/234/43     39 E   AERO 39 MPH E   RMY N/A
12/27 45/30/38/+10/1.64/0.3/000/00    70 E   AERO 71 MPH E   RMY 67
12/28 34/24/29/+1/0.00/0.0/528/99     37 NW  AERO 39 MPH NW  RMY 36
12/29 34/25/30/+3/0.98/6.0/000/00     39 ENE AERO 39 MPH ENE RMY 40
12/30 27/18/23/-4/0.04/0.6/132/24     50 NW  AERO 53 MPH NW  RMY 53
12/31 31/17/24/-3/0.00/0.0/049/09     35 WNW AERO 35 MPH WNW RMY 36
 
1/1   35/18/27/0/0.00/0.0/.../..      44 WNW AERO 44 MPH WNW RMY 45
1/2   29/11/20/-7/0.00/0.0/.../..     35 WNW AERO 35 MPH WNW RMY 33
1/3   23/2/13/-13/0.00/0.0/.../..     24 WNW AERO 23 MPH WNW RMY 23
1/4   38/19/29/+3/0.00/0.0/.../..     35 W   AERO 36 MPH W   RMY 36
1/5   40/27/34/+8/T/T/.../..          36 WNW AERO 37 MPH WNW RMY 38
 
1/6   morning low temp: 27F; the normal low is now 18F
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR DECEMBER 2012
None.
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR JANUARY 2013
None so far.
 
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: Forrest Iwanik / Jonathan O'Brien