BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013 ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME CLOUDY, CALM, AND A BIT ON THE WARM SIDE TODAY; METEOROLOGICAL WINTER ENDS AND SPRING BEGINS! March is coming in like a lamb. Conditions today are fairly calm with winds a bit higher than yesterday, but still only averaging around 10 mph. There were a few glimpses of sunshine this morning, but that was quickly eliminated by an extensive layer of cumulus and stratocumulus clouds. The morning low of 33F was more than 10 degrees above normal, but the cloudy and calm conditions have not allowed for much warming since then. The high looks as though it will fail to reach 40F today, which is the average for the date. February finished on the warm and wet side. The 2012-13 winter season was overall on the warm side, with preliminary indications that is was the 12th warmest winter on record at Blue Hill. Precipitation and snowfall were also above normal. More February and winter statistics to come in the next few days. FEBRUARY 2013 PRELIMINARY STATISTICS: TEMPERATURE: Average Max Temp: 35.9F [-0.9F] Average Min Temp: 22.5F [+3.4F] Mean Temp: 29.2F [+1.3F] 24-hr. Corr. Mean Temp: 28.7F [-0.4F] Max Temp: 48F on 15th Min Temp: 9F on 10th Total heating degree day units (month): 994 [ -43] *NCDC method Total heating degree day units (season): 4,120 [-448] *start July 1 (NCDC) PRECIPITATION: Total precipitation: 6.97 ins. [+2.90 ins.] Greatest 24-hr precipitation: 2.82 ins. on 8th/9th Total snowfall: 39.7 inches [+23.6 ins.] *using 1890-2010 mean Greatest snow depth: 20 ins. on 9th, 10th WIND: Avg wind speed: 13.6 MPH Avg corrected wind speed: 14.0 MPH Prevailing wind direction: W [20%] Peak gust: 63 MPH NE on 8th Peak fastest mile: 42 MPH NNE on 8th BLUE HILL WETTEST FEBRUARYS, INCHES (1885-2013): 1) 9.32 in 1969 2) 8.29 in 1886 3) 8.17 in 2008 4) 7.93 in 1981 5) 7.80 in 1984 6) 7.43 in 1920 7) 7.03 in 1926 8) 6.97 in 2013 * 9) 6.82 in 1900 6.82 in 1998 BLUE HILL SNOWIEST FEBRUARYS, INCHES (1886-2013): 1) 65.4 in 1969 2) 51.3 in 2003 3) 45.2 in 1967 4) 40.4 in 1920 5) 39.7 in 2013 * 6) 37.0 in 1893 WINTER 2012-13 (DEC, JAN, FEB) PRELIMINARY STATISTICS: TEMPERATURE: Average Max Temp: 38.5F [+1.9F] Average Min Temp: 24.8F [+4.9F] Mean Temp: 31.7F [+3.4F] 24-hr. Corr. Mean Temp: 31.5F [+2.5F] *12th warmest Max Temp: 59F on 12/10, 1/14, 1/30 Min Temp: 0F on 1/24 PRECIPITATION: Total precipitation: 14.91 ins. [+1.60 ins.] Total snowfall: 55.2 inches [+11.7 ins.] *using 1890-2010 mean Greatest snow depth: 20 ins. on Feb. 9th, 10th Today's observations: 7 A.M. Weather: Scattered cumulus, scattered stratocumulus (2 levels), lower cumulus N-E-S, stratocumulus NNW-E-S, higher stratocumulus distant S-WNW, ground fog distant SSW-NW, distant haze, rain shower/virga distant SSE moving E Temperature: 33F; Dew Point: 31F; Wind: NW at 7 kts. Sea-level pressure: 29.58 ins. Hg, rising Visibility: 55 miles, distant haze Snow depth: 2 inches 6-hour min. temp: 33F BHO SA 1155 15 SCT 20 SCT 55 SCT 55 016/33/31/3107/958/ LWR CU N-E-S SC NNW-E-S HIER SC DSNT S-WNW GF DSNT SSW-NW DSNT HZ SHRA/VIRGA DSNT SSE MOVG E/ 8/800 52014 4/002 10035 20033 10 A.M. Weather: Broken cumulus, broken stratocumulus, few moderate cumulus all quadrants, sun dimly visible, rain shower distant NNE-E moving SSE, distant haze Temperature: 38F; Dew Point: 30F; Wind: NW at 11G18 kts, Wind: Direction variable WNW-N Sea-level pressure: 29.62 ins. Hg, rising Visibility: 60 miles, NW 65 miles, NNE-E lower, distant haze BHO SA 1455 E25 BKN 30 BKN 60 029/38/30/3211G18/962/ FEW MDT CU ALQDS SUN DMLY VSBL SHRA DSNT NNE-E MOVG SSE DSNT HZ VSBY NW 65 NNE-E LWR WND 29V36/ 8/800 51013 1 P.M. Weather: Broken stratocumulus, few lower cumulus ESE, light distant haze, rain shower/virga distant N and distant SSE moving SSE Temperature: 38F; Dew Point: 27F; Wind: NW at 10 kts, Wind: Direction variable WNW-N Sea-level pressure: 29.62 ins. Hg, rising slightly Visibility: 75 miles, light distant haze 6-hr max temp: 39F BHO SA 1755 E35 BKN 75 030/38/27/3110/962/ FEW LWR CU ESE LGT DSNT HZ SHRA/VIRGA DSNT N AND DSNT SSE MOVG SSE WND 29V35/ 8/800 50001 10039 20033 WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F) MAX.....43 NORMAL.....40 MIN.....32 NORMAL.....22 MEAN....38 NORMAL.....31 DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL.......................+7 TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH......................+41 [+1.3 DEGREES/DAY] HEATING DEGREE DAYS TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY............27 DEPARTURE............-7 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH...........994 DEPARTURE...........-43 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON.........4120 DEPARTURE..........-448 TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE....3618 DIFFERENCE.........+502 PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY...............14 W AT 5:57 A.M. * AERO....................14 W AT 5:53 A.M. ASOS....................15 W AT 5:53 A.M. DAVIS...................15 W AT 5:53 A.M. RMY 16 THE FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY.............11 W AT 5:55 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE..............12 W AT 5:57 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE.............11 W AT 5:55 A.M. AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..........5.9 WNW ASOS...................6.3 DAVIS..................5.5 WNW [300 deg] *last of several occurrences PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST) TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M...Trace DEPARTURE...........-0.17 ASOS..............0.00 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........6.97 DEPARTURE...........+2.90 ASOS..............N/A* TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........8.39 DEPARTURE...........-0.03 ASOS..............N/A* *ASOS malfunctioned during storm on 2/8-9, leading to erroneous totals SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST) TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M.........0.0 DEPARTURE............-0.5 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH..............39.7 DEPARTURE...........+25.8 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON.............61.2 DEPARTURE...........+14.2 PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 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 2/1 32/19/26/0/T/T/325/54 39 WSW AERO 38 MPH W RMY 42 2/2 30/15/23/-3/0/0/452/75 28 SSW AERO 23 MPH SSW RMY 28 2/3 26/19/23/-3/0.08/1.2/000/00 22 W AERO 21 MPH WSW RMY N/A 2/4 29/17/23/-3/T/T/547/90 44 W AERO 46 MPH W RMY N/A 2/5 25/18/22/-4/0.04/0.8/000/00 21 W AERO 16 MPH W RMY N/A 2/6 37/22/30/+4/0.01/0.2/521/85 35 W AERO 33 MPH W RMY 35 2/7 29/16/23/-4/0.00/0.0/306/52 24 NW AERO 21 MPH NW RMY 24 2/8 31/18/25/-2/1.86/16.1/000/00 63 NE AERO 61 MPH NE RMY 66 2/9 20/12/16/-11/0.98/10.5/000/00 51 NNW AERO 52 MPH N RMY 51 2/10 37/9/23/-4/0.00/0.0/623/100 29 NW AERO 27 MPH NW RMY N/A 2/11 44/23/34/+7/0.15/T/000/00 33 S AERO 35 MPH S RMY 39 2/12 44/30/37/+10/0.00/0.0/606/96 39 W AERO 37 MPH S RMY 39 2/13 42/27/35/+7/T/T/615/97 22 W AERO 17 MPH W RMY N/A 2/14 43/29/36/+8/T/0.1/564/89 21 NNW AERO 16 MPH NNW RMY N/A 2/15 48/29/39/+11/0.00/0.0/566/89 31 S AERO 30 MPH S RMY 32 2/16 35/29/32/+4/0.07/1.3/000/00 25 NNW AERO 23 MPH NNW RMY 40 2/17 29/15/22/-6/0.41/5.1/000/00 54 NW AERO 54 MPH NW RMY 58 2/18 31/11/21/-8/0.00/0.0/632/98 52 WNW AERO 52 MPH WNW RMY 53 2/19 45/21/33/+4/0.43/0.0/201/31 33 SSW AERO 32 MPH SSW RMY 36 2/20 40/23/32/+3/T/0.0/189/29 44 W AERO 43 MPH W RMY 47 2/21 31/22/27/-2/0.00/0.0/438/67 40 WNW AERO 40 MPH WNW RMY 43 2/22 37/22/30/+1/0.00/0.0/387/59 28 NW AERO 24 MPH NW RMY 24 2/23 37/30/34/+4/0.31/T/000/00 21 SE AERO 18 MPH SE RMY N/A 2/24 37/29/33/+3/1.19/4.3/000/00 31 NNE AERO 29 MPH NNE RMY 33 2/25 40/27/34/+4/0.01/0.1/339/51 16 NNW AERO 13 MPH NW RMY 15 2/26 43/31/37/+7/0.00/0.0/454/68 25 E AERO 23 MPH E RMY N/A 2/27 40/35/38/+7/1.43/T/000/00 47 E AERO 48 MPH E RMY 50 2/28 43/32/38/+7/T/0.0/.../../ 14 W AERO 14 MPH W RMY 16 3/1 the morning low temp: 33F; the normal low is now 22F DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2013 2/8 - NEW RECORD DAILY SNOWFALL OF 16.1 INCHES; surpasses the previous record of 11.0 inches in 1891 2/8 - TIED DAILY RECORD PEAK WIND GUST OF 63e MPH NE IN 1945 2/27- NEW RECORD DAILY PRECIPITATION OF 1.43 INCHES; surpasses the previous record of 0.90 inch in 1922 DAILY EXTREMES Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated): RECORDS FOR MARCH 1 HIGH 62 IN 1972 LOW -3 IN 1886 PRECIP 1.65 INS. IN 1900 SNOWFALL 9.4 INS. IN 1949 PEAK GUST 78 WSW IN 1966 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 TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Sean Fankhauser