BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME CHILLY, BUT TEMPERATURES MODERATING; MOSTLY SUNNY WITH LIGHT WINDS AND VERY HIGH PRESSURE Today is another chilly day, with a low dipping down into the upper 20s and a high pushing into the upper 40s. However, temperatures are a few degrees warmer than yesterday as the northerly wind we had been dealing with loses its grip and a S-W wind begins to develop. Aside from some dissipating mid level clouds and morning stratocumulus, the day has been mostly sunny. Winds have been relatively light as a strong area of high pressure is in control. Sea level pressure on the summit was in the neighborhood of 1040.5 mb at its maximum this morning. The high pressure center has begun sliding further away this afternoon, and the pressure at the summit is dropping consequently. Through October 31, the average temperature for the year-to-date has climbed to 9th warmest; its highest ranking all year. The year-to-date wind speed is holding at second lowest on record. OCTOBER 2013 PRELIMINARY STATISTICS: (departures relative to 1981-2010 average) TEMPERATURE: Average Max Temp: 62.5F [+2.2F] Average Min Temp: 45.9F [+3.0F] Mean Temp: 54.2F [+2.6F] 24-hr. Corr. Mean Temp: 53.4F [+2.0F] Max Temp: 78F on 2nd Min Temp: 30F on 29th (first freeze of the season) Total heating degree day units (month): 331 [-90] *NCDC method Total heating degree day units (season): 477 [-86] *start July 1 (NCDC) Total cooling degree day units (month): 5 [0] *NCDC method Total cooling degree day units (season): 701 [+99] *start Jan 1 (NCDC) PRECIPITATION: Total precipitation: 1.09 inches [-3.60 inches] Greatest 24-hr precipitation: 0.56 on 10/6 WIND: Avg wind speed: 10.7 MPH Avg corrected wind speed: 11.2 MPH Prevailing wind direction: W [17%] Peak gust: 48 MPH S on the 7th Peak fastest mile: 40 MPH S on the 7th SUNSHINE: Total astronomical minutes: 11,757 (196.0 hrs.) out of possible 20,551 minutes (342.5 hrs.) or 57% Total Campbell Stokes card minutes; 11,358 (189.3 hrs.) out of possible 19,824 minutes (330.4 hrs.) or 57% BHO DRIEST OCTOBERS (INCHES, 1886-2013) 1) 0.22 in 1924 2) 0.39 in 1994 3) 0.50 in 1946 4) 0.61 in 1935 5) 0.63 in 1897 6) 0.79 in 2001 7) 1.09 in 2013 8) 1.15 in 1918 9) 1.24 in 1921 10) 1.25 in 1940 BHO LOWEST OCTOBER WIND SPEED (MPH, 1885-2013) 1) 11.2 in 2013 2) 11.8 in 1997 3) 11.9 in 1994 11.9 in 2004 5) 12.0 in 2007 6) 12.2 in 2008 BHO LOWEST JAN-OCT WIND SPEED (MPH, 1885-2013) 1) 11.7 in 2012 2) 12.1 in 2013 3) 12.2 in 2008 12.2 in 2009 5) 12.4 in 2005 12.4 in 2011 Today's Observations: 7 A.M. Weather: Scattered stratocumulus, broken altocumulus (2 levels), broken dense cirrus, broken cirrus, stratocumulus NNE-SE, higher altocumulus and dense cirrus and cirrus distant SE-WSW, few patches of thin ground fog SSW-NW, thin smoke layer along horizon NE-E, light distant haze, patchy frost Temperature: 31F; Dew Point: 21F; Wind: NNW at 7 kts. Sea-level pressure: 30.71 ins. Hg, falling then rising slightly Visibility: 65 miles, light distant haze 6-hr min temp: 29F BHO SA 1155 30 SCT E120 BKN 140 BKN 200 BKN 250 BKN 65 399/31/21/3307/071/ SC NNE-SE HIER AC AND DNS CI AND CI DSNT SE-WSW FEW PTCHS THN GF SSW-NW THN K LYR ALG HRZN NE-E LGT DSNT HZ PTCHY FROST/ 8/552 53001 10031 20029 10 A.M. Weather: Scattered altocumulus (2 levels), scattered thin cirrus, few small cumulus distant NE-SSW, stratocumulus NE-S, thin smoke layer distant all quadrants, distant haze Temperature: 42F; Dew Point: 28F; Wind: SE at 4 kts, Wind: Light and variable Sea-level pressure: 30.71 ins. Hg, rising then falling Visibility: 65 miles, distant haze BHO SA 1455 140 SCT 160 SCT 250 –SCT 65 398/42/28/1304/071/ FEW SML CU DSNT NE-SSW SC DSNT NE-S THN K LYR DSNT ALQDS DSNT HZ WND LGT AND VRB/ 8/851 50001 1 P.M. Weather: Scattered altocumulus, scattered thin cirrus, few cumulus/ stratocumulus distant NE-S-W and N, altocumulus all quadrants, cirrus distant SSE-WSW, clear sky overhead and vicinity of the station, thin smoke layer distant NE-E, distant haze Temperature: 48F; Dew Point: 28F; Wind: SSW at 4 kts, Wind: Light and variable Sea-level pressure: 30.65 ins. Hg, falling Visibility: 65 miles, distant haze 6-hr max temp: 49F BHO SA 1755 160 SCT 250 –SCT 65 380/48/28/2004/065/ FEW CU/SC DSNT NE-S-W AND N AC ALQDS CI DSNT SSE-WSW CLR SKY OVHD AND VCTY THN K LYR DSNT N-E DSNT HZ WND LGT AND VRB/ 8/541 58018 10049 20031 WEATHER SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013 TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F) MAX.....42 NORMAL.....54 MIN.....27 NORMAL.....37 MEAN....35 NORMAL.....45 DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL....................-10 TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH....................+11 [+2.6 DEGREES/DAY] HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN) TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............35 DEPARTURE........+15 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............71 DEPARTURE.........-6 TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............548 DEPARTURE........-92 TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......485 DIFFERENCE.......+63 PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY..................24 NNE AT 10:00 A.M. * AERO......................N/A ASOS.......................24 NNE AT 10:00 A.M. DAVIS......................24 NNE AT 10:00 A.M. RMY 25 FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY....................16 NNE AT 10:00 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE.................16 NNE AT 10:01 A.M. MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE................17 NNE AT 10:01 A.M. AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.............8.3 NNW ASOS......................7.9 DAVIS.....................7.3 NNE [016 degrees] * last of several occurrences... PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST) TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00 DEPARTURE.............-0.16 ASOS..............0.00 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........0.16 DEPARTURE.............-0.47 ASOS..............0.16 TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........43.17 DEPARTURE.............-1.23 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..............0.0 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH.............Trace DEPARTURE.............-0.1 TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON............Trace DEPARTURE.............-0.4 PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 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 10/1 75/50/63/+6/0.00/676/96 16 WNW AERO 16 MPH WNW RMY 18 10/2 78/56/67/+10/0.00/666/95 29 W AERO 30 MPH W RMY 29 10/3 77/56/67/+11/0.00/628/90 20 WNW AERO 20 MPH WNW RMY N/A 10/4 67/56/62/+6/0.26/028/04 18 NW AERO 20 MPH NW RMY N/A 10/5 67/56/62/+6/0.01/125/18 14 ENE AERO 12 MPH ENE RMY N/A 10/6 58/53/56/+1/0.56/000/00 20 NE AERO 20 MPH NE RMY N/A 10/7 75/57/66/+11/0.07/213/31 48 S AERO 55 MPH S RMY 55 10/8 65/50/58/+4/0.00/581/85 25 NW AERO 27 MPH NW RMY 28 10/9 59/49/54/0/0.00/545/80 25 ENE AERO 24 MPH ENE RMY 25 10/10 61/46/54/0/0.00/095/14 18 NE AERO 17 MPH NE RMY 18 10/11 67/50/59/+6/0.00/473/70 20 NE AERO 20 MPH NE RMY N/A 10/12 59/50/55/+2/0.02/007/01 30 ENE AER0 31 MPH ENE RMY 32 10/13 59/46/53/0/0.00/482/72 23 ENE AERO 23 MPH ENE RMY 23 10/14 64/42/53/+1/0.00/580/87 15 SSW AERO 15 MPH SSW RMY 15 10/15 66/50/58/+6/0.00/266/40 16 ESE AERO 16 MPH ESE RMY N/A 10/16 60/49/55/+4/0.00/013/02 23 ESE AERO 24 MPH ESE RMY 23 10/17 70/52/61/+10/0.06/277/42 21 S AERO 23 MPH S RMY N/A 10/18 67/50/59/+8/T/630/96 32 WNW AERO 32 MPH W RMY 31 10/19 65/45/55/+5/0.00/379/58 21 W AERO 22 MPH W RMY N/A 10/20 61/44/53/+3/0.00/644/99 33 W AERO 36 MPH W RMY 34 10/21 67/43/55/+5/0.00/648/100 23 SSW AERO 25 MPH SSW RMY 27 10/22 69/44/57/+8/T/419/65 25 SSW AERO 27 MPH SSW RMY 27 10/23 50/40/45/-4/0.00/103/16 18 WNW AERO 18 MPH WNW RMY N/A 10/24 53/36/45/-4/0.00/640/100 31 W AERO 31 MPH W RMY 34 10/25 49/34/42/-7/0.00/401/63 25 WNW AERO 26 MPH WNW RMY 26 10/26 54/34/44/-4/0.00/521/82 35 SW AERO 36 MPH SSW RMY 39 10/27 55/39/47/-1/0.04/480/76 30 W AERO 30 MPH W RMY 29 10/28 58/35/47/-1/0.00/529/84 31 W AERO 33 MPH W RMY 34 10/29 50/30/40/-7/0.00/614/98 15 N AERO 15 MPH N RMY 15 10/30 51/38/45/-2/0.02/094/15 16 W AERO 15 MPH W RMY N/A 10/31 61/43/52/+5/0.05/000/00 37 SSW AERO N/A N/A RMY N/A 11/1 68/56/62/+16/0.10/.../.. 60 SSW AERO N/A N/A RMY 66 11/2 65/49/57/+11/0.00/.../.. 22 WSW AERO N/A N/A RMY 23 11/3 49/30/40/-6/0.06/.../.. 23 N AERO N/A N/A RMY N/A 11/4 42/27/35/-10/0.00/.../.. 24 NNE AERO N/A N/A RMY 25 11/5 morning low temp: 29F; the normal low is now 37F DAILY RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 2013 None DAILY RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER 2013 None so far. DAILY EXTREMES Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated): RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER 5 HIGH 76 IN 1994 LOW 18 IN 1908 PRECIP 4.26 INCHES IN 1955 SNOWFALL 1.5 IN 1892 PEAK GUST 69 W IN 2004 RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER 6 HIGH 71 IN 1959 LOW 22 IN 1951 PRECIP 1.72 INCHES IN 1907 SNOWFALL 8.0 IN 1894 PEAK GUST 63 W IN 1973 TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Sean Fankhauser