BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA
 
DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2015  
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
 
A FEBRUARY FOR THE RECORD BOOKS COMES TO AN END WITH
CLEAR, COLD CONDITIONS....MULTIPLE NEW RECORDS SET 
INCLUDING SNOWIEST AND THIRD COLDEST FEBRUARY....
 
After another cold morning with a low temperature of 14F,
February 2015 has ended as one of the most historic months
here at Blue Hill Observatory with numerous records being 
broken. Some of the weather records continue under review,
but now, unofficially, we can say February 2015 will
likely break records for:

New records:
- Greatest snow depth on record: 46 inches
- Greatest number of calendar days with measurable snow: 18 days
- Snowiest February and month on record: 83.6 inches
- Snowiest January and February combined on record: 126.5 inches
- Snowiest December, January and February combined on record: 128.8 inches

Additional February statistics of note:
- Second snowiest season on record as of Feb 28th
- Two storms on the top 15 snow storm totals on record (three total
since late January)
- Top 5 longest duration of 20 inches or more snow depth: 27 days 
(and still counting)
- Several daily snowfall records including 16.5 inches on Feb 2
- Third coldest February on record
- Fifth coldest mont on record 
- February among top ten cloudiest on record
 
..And likely more that we have yet to unearth. Stay
posted in the coming week for official figures and summaries.
 
 
THE PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 2015 STATS
 
TEMP. Deg. F
Av. Max. 25.6
Av. Min.  6.8
Mean     16.2 [-11.7]
Corrected mean: 17.0 [5th coldest any month)
Max. for month: 29 on 2/22
Min. for month: -8 on 2/16
Number of days with temperature at or below zero: 6
Total heating units;   1360 {+323]
Total for the season:  4708 [+140]
Total for last season: 4591
 
PRECIP: Inches
Total: 6.17 {+2.10]
 
SNOWFALL: Inches
Total: 83.6 [+69.7] [greatest total any month of record]
Now approaching the all-time record for any season on
record with total this season of 137.5.
The all-time record is 144.4 inches in 1995-96. 
 
SUNSHINE:
Last report available showed 36% of possible
through 2/22.  The entire month will soon be
completed and list here.
 
BHO Coldest Months, deg F (1885-2015)
 
1) 13.5 in Feb, 1934
2) 15.5 in Jan, 1920
3) 16.3 in Jan, 1888
4) 16.4 in Feb, 1885
5) 17.0 in Feb, 2015 
6) 17.1 in Feb, 1923
7) 17.2 in Jan, 1912
   17.2 in Jan, 1918
   17.2 in Jan, 2004
10) 17.4 in Jan, 1893
   17.4 in Dec, 1989
 
 
Snow for the season now totals 137.5 inches, placing
this season at Blue Hill firmly in second place on the
list of snowiest seasons on record. February 2015 is also
the snowiest February on record, as well as the
snowiest month on record. Tomorrow's snow event will 
likely brings us very close to first place all time.
 
See below:
 
 
BHO Greatest Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):
 
1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.8 on 26-28 Jan, 2015
3) 30.3 on 3-5 Mar, 1960
4) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
5) 30.0 on 31 Mar - 1 Apr, 1997
6) 29.8 on 6-8 Mar, 2013
7) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
8) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
9) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
10) 24.3 on 5-7 Dec, 2003
11) 23.0 on 5-7 Mar, 2001
12) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
13) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
14) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969
 
BHO Greatest February Snowstorms, inches (1885-2015):
 
1) 38.7 on 24-28 Feb, 1969
2) 30.1 on 6-7 Feb, 1978
3) 27.7 on 7-10 Feb, 2015
4) 26.6 on 8-9 Feb, 2013
5) 24.7 on 17-18 Feb, 2003
6) 22.2 on 16-17 Feb, 1958
7) 21.6 on 14-15 Feb, 2015
8) 21.0 on 9-10 Feb, 1969
 
BHO Snowiest February, inches (1885-2015):
 
1) 83.6 in 2015
2) 65.4 in 1969
3) 51.3 in 2003
4) 45.2 in 1967
5) 40.4 in 1920
6) 39.7 in 2013
7) 37.0 in 1893
 
BHO Snowiest January-February, inches (1886-2015):
 
1) 126.5 in 2015
2) 77.9 in 1948
3) 70.2 in 2005
4) 68.7 in 1904
5) 67.5 in 1920
6) 66.9 in 1994
 
BHO Greatest Snow Depth, inches (1895-2015):
1) 46 in February 2015
2) 43 in March 1969
3) 42 in January 1948
4) 41 in February 1969
5) 39 in February 1948
6) 38 in February 1920  
7) 33 in February 1978
   33 in January 1996
9) 31 in February 2003
   31 in February 2011
11)30 in March 1960
   30 in March 1978
 
Today's Observations:
 
7 A.M.
Weather: Overcast dense cirrostratus, thin spots in overcast
distant NNE-ESE, break in overcast distant SE
Temperature: 17F; Dew Point: 3F; Wind: W at 5 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.67 ins. Hg, rising slightly 
Visibility: 35 miles, except 50 miles SE, 45 miles WNW,
distant haze 
6-hr max temp: 17F
6-hr min temp: 14F
24-hr precip: none
24-hr snowfall: none
Snow depth: 36 inches
BHO SA 1155 E180 OVC 35 385/17/3/2805/067/ THN SPTS IOVC DSNT NNE-ESE
BINOVC DSNT SE SUN DMLY VSB PTCHS THN GF DSNT HZ VSBY
WNW 45 SE 50/ 8/011 4/036 53002 10017 20014 
 
10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered altostratus, overcast dense cirrostratus,
sun dimly visible
Temperature: 23F; Dew Point: 8F; Wind: S at 6 kts
Wind Speed: Light
Sea-level pressure: 30.63 ins. Hg, falling then falling more rapidly
Visibility: 30 miles
BHO SA 1450 30 SCT E200 OVC 30 372/23/8/1906/063/ SUN DMLY VSB VSBY
WNW 40 LGT DSNT HZ/ 8/017 58013 
 
1 P.M.
Weather: Overcast nimbostratus, sun dimly visible, virga all quadrants
Temperature: 29F; Dew Point: 11F; Wind SSW at 13G20 kts
Sea-Level Pressure: 30.53 ins. Hg, falling then falling more rapidly
Visibility: 25 miles, Hazy
6 Hr Max temp: 29F
6 hr min temp: 16F
BHO SA 1755 E50 OVC 25 337/29/11/2113G20/053/ VIRGA ALQDS SUN DMLY VSB/
8/01/ 58035 10029 20016 
 

SUMMARY FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015
 
TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....30   NORMAL.....40
MIN......5   NORMAL.....22
MEAN....18   NORMAL.....31
 
DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL...........................-13
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH..........................-325 [-12.5 DEGREES/DAY]
 
HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY..............47  DEPARTURE..........+13
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH............1360  DEPARTURE.........+323    
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON...........4708  DEPARTURE.........+140
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE......4568  DIFFERENCE........+117
 
PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH)
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY..................22 NW    AT  3:36 A.M.*
                   ASOS.......................21 NW    AT  3:37 A.M.
                   DAVIS......................20 WNW   AT  2:31 A.M. RMY 18
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY....................16 NW    AT  2:44 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE.................16 NW    AT  3:42 A.M.    
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE................15 NW    AT  2:44 A.M.      
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION............9.9 NW       
                   ASOS.....................10.4  
                   DAVIS....................9.1 W [284 degrees]
* last of several occurrences..

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.00  DEPARTURE.....-0.17
                         ASOS..............0.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........6.17  DEPARTURE.....+2.10 
                         ASOS...............N/A *** 
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR..........11.34  DEPARTURE.....+2.95
                         ASOS...............N/A ***
*** ASOS February and annual totals not available due to erroneous readings
on February 9-10th and 14-15th
 
SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0  DEPARTURE......-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH...............83.6  DEPARTURE.....+69.7
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON.............137.5  DEPARTURE.....+90.5
 
PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATA REPORTED:
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOWFALL/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/ PEAK GUST/RMY 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
 
2/1  28/8/18/-8/0.00/0.0/582/97               29 WNW RMY N/A
2/2  29/8/19/-7/1.53/16.5/000/00              44 NE  RMY 46
2/3  21/0/11/-15/0.00/0.0/593/98              31 NW  RMY N/A           
2/4  36/14/25/-1/0.00/0.0/164/27              31 S   RMY 33
2/5  34/4/19/-7/0.15/3.5/000/00               38 NW  RMY 39
2/6  19/-2/9/-17/0.00/0.0/392/64              28 NW  RMY 27   
2/7  25/14/20/-7/..../.../000/00              25 WSW RMY N/A
2/8  29/11/20/-7/..../.../000/00              30 NNE RMY 29
2/9  19/12/16/-11/..../.../000/00             29 N   RMY 28
2/10 28/12/20/-7/..../.../081/13              29 N   RMY 29
2/11 24/15/20/-7/0.03/1.4/000/00              30 N   RMY 29
2/12 28/14/21/-6/0.02/0.6/000/00              31 NW  RMY N/A
2/13 20/2/11/-17/0.00/0.0/630/100             35 NW  RMY 35
2/14 26/1/14/-14/..../.../241/38              24 NW  RMY N/A
2/15 18/-6/6/-22/..../.../000/00              53 NW  RMY 59
2/16 17/-8/5/-23/0.00/0.0/606/95              43 NW  RMY N/A
2/17 21/5/13/-15/0.12/2.0/064/10              18 NW  RMY 16
2/18 28/15/22/-7/..../.../039/06              17 W   RMY N/A
2/19 26/6/16/-13/0.02/0.3/116/18              40 W   RMY 43
2/20 15/0/8/-21/0.00/0.0/630/97               38 W   RMY 40
2/21 32/3/18/-11/..../.../462/71              39 SSW RMY 42
2/22 39/27/33/+4/..../.../327/50              25 WSW RMY N/A
2/23 28/1/15/-15/0.00/0.0/.../..              38 WNW RMY 44
2/24 18/-6/6/-24/..../.../.../..              26 S   RMY 27
2/25 32/11/22/-8/..../.../.../..              35 W   RMY 36
2/26 21/15/18/-12/0.04/0.6/.../..             25 NE  RMY 24
2/27 25/9/17/-14/0.00/0.0/.../..              20 NW  RMY N/A
2/28 30/5/18/-13/0.00/0.0/.../..              22 NW  RMY N/A
 
morning low temp: 14F since midnight, normal low is now 22
 
DAILY RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 2015
 
- NEW DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL FOR 2 FEBRUARY 2015
SNOWFALL 16.5 INS. surpasses previous record:
5.5 ins. in 1916, 1934
 
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: Robert Millette / Robert Skilling