BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ELEVATION 635 FEET, 10 MILES SSW OF BOSTON, MA

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

BRIGHTER SKIES AND COLDER AIR RETURN TO GREAT BLUE HILL....

A cold front swept through the area just before sunrise
today, yielding falling temperatures and increasing wind. 
Between the 7AM and 10AM observations, the air temperature
and dew point dropped 5 degrees and 8 degrees respectively.
The air continued to dry out with a dew point of just 4
degrees by 1 PM - a 17 degree drop since 7 AM! Clouds
eventually cleared early this afternoon leading to
brilliant sunshine. Visibility is much improved since
yesterday capping out this afternoon at a solid 85 miles
with decent view of Mount Monadnock in southwestern New Hampshire. 

Winds have not been too busy despite the cold front swinging through. 
Our max gust so far today is 30 MPH.

The high so far today is 33F (before sunrise), 4 degrees below the 
normal high of 37F. The low since midnight is 23F, 4 degrees 
above the normal low of 19F.


PRELIMINARY STATS FOR JANUARY 2020

TEMPERATURE, Deg. F
Avg. Max. 40.6 [+6.8]
Avg. Min. 25.9 [+8.8]
Mean      33.3 [+7.8]
24-hour corrected mean: 32.8
Max. for month: 68F on the 12th
Min. for month: 8F on the 18th

HEATING DEGREE DAYS
Total heating units:    978 [-248]
Total for the season:  3229 [-302]
Total for last season: 3495

PRECIPITATION, Inches
Total: 1.46 [-2.89]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 0.57 ins. on the 25th 

SNOWFALL, Inches
Total: 4.2 [-12.9]
Greatest in 24 hrs: 3.0 ins. on the 18th-19th

WIND, mph
Avg. uncorrected wind speed: 12.3 mph
Avg. corrected wind speed:   12.8 mph
Prevailing wind direction:   W [19%]
Peak gust and direction:     60 SSW on the 12th

SUNSHINE:
Campbell-Stokes card minutes: 8388 minutes of possible 17130 or 49%
Astronomical total minutes: 8642 minutes of possible 17639 or 49%


JANUARY 2020 RANKED 9TH WARMEST ON RECORD!
Warmest 24-Hour Adjusted Mean Temperature, deg F (1886-2020):

1) 35.6 in 1913
2) 35.0 in 1932
3) 34.6 in 1937
4) 33.9 in 2006
5) 33.8 in 1933
   33.8 in 1950
   33.8 in 1990
8) 33.5 in 2002
9) 32.8 in 2020
10) 32.7 in 2017


Today's Observations:

7 A.M.
Weather: Broken Stratocumulus, Altostratus layer distant
E-S moving SE
Temperature: 28F; Dew Point: 21F; Wind: WNW at 10G24 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.05 ins. Hg: rising unsteadily
Visibility: 80 miles
6-hr Max temp: 33F
6-hr Min temp: 28F
24-hr Precip:  0.09 ins.
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins. 
BHO SA 1155 E25 BKN 80 175/28/21/3010G24/005/
AS LYR DSNT E-S MVG SE/ 8/420 70009 52047 10033 20028

10 A.M.
Weather: Scattered Cumulus, Altostratus layer distant E-SW
moving SE
Temperature: 23F; Dew Point: 13F; Wind: NW at 12G25 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.18 ins. Hg: rising then rising more slowly
Visibility: 80 miles
3-hr Precip:  Trace
3-hr Snowfall: Trace
BHO SA 1455 35 SCT 80 221/23/13/3212G25/018/ AS LYR DSNT SE-SW
MVG SE NEW SNW PST 3 HRS TRACE/ 8/420 600// 51046

1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, Few Cumulus distant SE-SW and offshore
distant NE-SE
Temperature: 23F; Dew Point: 4F; Wind: NNW at 12G20 kts,
Sea-level pressure: 30.24 ins. Hg: rising then rising more slowly
Visibility: 85 miles
6-hr Max temp: 28F
6-hr Min temp: 23F
6-hr Precip:  Trace
6-hr Snowfall: Trace
BHO SA 1755 CLR 85 239/23/4/3412G20/024/ FEW CU DSNT SE-SW
AND OFFSHR DSNT NE-SE/ 8/100/ 600// 51018 10028 20023      


SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....36   NORMAL.....36
MIN.....31   NORMAL.....19
MEAN....34   NORMAL.....28

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL....................+6
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH..................+104 [+7.8 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............31  DEPARTURE........-6
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............395  DEPARTURE.... .-105
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............3624  DEPARTURE......-407
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......3935  DEPARTURE......-311

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY....................29 SSW AT 12:39 A.M.  
                   AERO.........................29 SSW AT 12:42 A.M.   
                   ASOS.........................30 SSW AT 12:40 A.M. 
                   DAVIS........................30 SSW AT 12:39 A.M. RMY N/A
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY......................23 SSW AT 12:52 A.M. 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE...................22 SSW AT 12:40 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE..................22 SSW AT 12:39 A.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION..............6.3 W                
                   ASOS.......................7.5
                   DAVIS......................7.1 WSW [242 deg.]


PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.09  DEPARTURE......-0.06
                         ASOS..............0.12
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........1.89  DEPARTURE......+0.11
                         ASOS..............2.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........3.35  DEPARTURE......-2.78
                         ASOS..............3.54

SNOWFALL (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL SNOWFALL 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M..........0.0  DEPARTURE.......-0.5
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH................0.6  DEPARTURE.......-5.8
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............24.8  DEPARTURE......-14.7


PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/AERO/RMY GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system 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
M:    Missing data

01/01  38/30/34/+7/0.00/0.0/400/73           39 W   AERO 38 W   RMY 41 
01/02  46/29/38/+11/0.00/0.0/269/49          28 SW  AERO 28 SW  RMY 30
01/03  46/40/43/+17/0.00/0.0/000/00          21 SW  AERO 18 SW  RMY N/A
01/04  46/36/41/+15/0.15/0.0/000/00          16 NNW AERO 16 NNW RMY N/A
01/05  36/24/30/+4/0.15/0.5/116/21           43 NW  AERO 46 NW  RMY 43
01/06  33/23/28/+2/T/T/133/24                26 W   AERO 21 W   RMY N/A
01/07  38/29/34/+8/0.01/0.4/161/29           30 WSW AERO 28 WSW RMY N/A
01/08  39/22/31/+5/0.04/0.3/350/63           50 W   AERO 46 WNW RMY 47
01/09  28/16/22/-4/0.00/0.0/540/97           43 WNW AERO 40 WNW RMY N/A
01/10  48/23/36/+11/T/T/106/19               37 SW  AERO 37 SW  RMY 39 
01/11  65/46/56/+31/0.00/0.0/408/73          53 SSW AERO 53 SSW RMY N/A           
01/12  68/36/52/+27/0.09/0.0/297/53          60 SSW AERO 62 SSW RMY N/A
01/13  39/31/35/+10/0.01/T/000/00            21 NE  AERO 20 NE  RMY N/A
01/14  38/31/35/+10/0.01/0.0/000/00          16 W   AERO 15 W   RMY N/A
01/15  48/35/42/+17/0.00/0.0/503/89          24 W   AERO 23 W   RMY 24
01/16  42/24/33/+8/0.06/T/142/25             54 W   AERO 52 W   RMY 59    
01/17  24/10/17/-8/0.00/0.0/552/97           50 NW  AERO 48 NW  RMY N/A
01/18  28/8/18/-7/0.35/2.8/000/00            28 WSW AERO 24 ESE RMY N/A
01/19  40/21/31/+6/0.02/0.2/332/58           44 W   AERO 44 W   RMY 42
01/20  26/12/19/-6/0.00/0.0/442/77           33 NW  AERO 32 NW  RMY N/A
01/21  24/10/17/-8/0.00/0.0/472/82           22 NW  AERO 21 NW  RMY N/A
01/22  34/13/24/-1/0.00/0.0/566/98           16 SW  AERO 16 SW  RMY N/A
01/23  46/26/36/+11/0.00/0.0/348/60          21 SW  AERO 20 SW  RMY 19
01/24  44/31/38/+13/0.00/0.0/524/90          21 ENE AERO 17 ENE RMY N/A
01/25  50/36/43/+18/0.57/0.0/000/00         41 ESE AERO 41 ESE RMY 40 
01/26  49/35/42/+17/0.00/0.0/346/59         33 W   AERO 31 W   RMY 32
01/27  43/33/38/+13/0.00/0.0/106/18         30 W   AERO 29 W   RMY 29
01/28  37/30/34/+9/T/T/030/05               25 NW  AERO 25 NW  RMY 27
01/29  38/23/31/+6/0.00/0.0/522/88          24 N   AERO 23 N   RMY 24
01/30  34/16/25/-1/0.00/0.0/547/92          17 NNW AERO 16 NNW RMY N/A
01/31  43/24/34/+8/0.00/0.0/430/72          22 S   AERO 21 S   RMY 22

DAILY RECORDS FOR JANUARY

1/11/20: DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 65F,
         BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 60F SET IN 1975.

1/11/20: DAILY RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 46F,
         BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 40F SET IN 1983.

1/12/20: DAILY RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 68F,
         BREAKS PREVIOUS RECORD OF 60 SET IN 2018.
         TIES HIGHEST MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR JANUARY,
         MATCHES 68F SET ON 1/26/1950.


PRELIMINARY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY CALENDAR DAY DATA
DATE: MAX/MIN/MEAN/DEP/PRECIP/SNOW/SUN(MIN.)/SUN(%)/PEAK GUST/AERO/RMY GUST
AERO: Aerovane wind recording system 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
M:    Missing data

02/01  38/30/34/+8/0.01/T/..../..          14 WSW AERO 14 WSW RMY N/A
02/02  40/30/35/+9/0.00/0.0/..../..        18 W   AERO 18 WNW RMY 18
02/03  44/27/36/+10/0.00/0.0/..../..       28 W   AERO 28 W   RMY 28
02/04  44/33/39/+13/0.00/0.0/..../..       19 E   AERO 16 E   RMY 18
02/05  41/30/36/+10/0.00/0.0/..../..       20 NNW AERO 19 NNW RMY N/A
02/06  31/30/34/+8/0.00/0.0/..../..        29 E   AERO 28 E   RMY 27
02/07  53/25/39/+12/..../0.1/..../..       71 WSW AERO 71 SSW RMY 73
02/08  33/20/27/0/T/T/..../..              46 W   AERO 44 W   RMY 44
02/09  33/15/24/-3/T/T/..../..             30 SSE AERO 29 SSE RMY N/A
02/10  42/33/38/+11/..../0.0/..../..       39 SSW AERO 39 SSW RMY 39
02/11  40/36/38/+11/..../0.0/.../..        24 W   AERO 23 W   RMY N/A
02/12  41/30/36/+9/0.00/0.0/.../..         37 W   AERO 36 W   RMY N/A
02/13  36/31/34/+6/..../.../.../..         29 SSW AERO 29 SSW RMY N/A

02/14 The low since midnight is 23F, daily normal minimum is 19F 


DAILY EXTREMES
Temperature and precipitation records back to 1885, and
wind records back to 1940 (e = estimated):  

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 14
HIGH 56F IN 1949
LOW -14F IN 2016
PRECIP 2.09 INCHES IN 2007
SNOWFALL 11.0 INCHES IN 1914
PEAK GUST 83 MPH SSW IN 2000

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 15
HIGH 60F IN 1954
LOW -18F IN 1943
PRECIP 1.28 INCHES IN 1950
SNOWFALL 14.4 INCHES IN 2015
PEAK GUST 94e MPH WNW IN 1946

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Andrew Swanson