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

DAILY DISCUSSION AND CLIMATE SUMMARY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2020
ALL TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

FRIGID CONDITIONS WITH CLEAR SKIES AND 
GOOD VISIBILITY....

We observed nearly cloudless skies as a result of the
high pressure center from the north. With it is very
dry air, with dew points in the negative single digits.
Visibility has been good today, with the observer being
able to see snow on the top of Mount Monadnock in 
Southern New Hampshire. Wind is light and southwesterly,
with speeds lower than 10 mph. 

We experienced a very cold overnight low of 4F, rising 
20 degrees since this morning. That is 15 degrees below
the daily normal minimum of 19F. The high so far today is 
24F, 13 degrees lower than the normal high of 37F. 


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: Clear, few distant cumulus offshore
Temperature: 5F; Dew Point: -3F; Wind: WNW at 5 kts,
Wind: Light
Sea-level pressure: 30.63 ins. Hg: falling then rising
Visibility: 75 miles
6-hr Max temp: 8F
6-hr Min temp: 4F
24-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
24-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins. 
BHO SA 1155 CLR 75 371/5/-3/2905/063/ FEW DSNT CU OFFSHR WND LGT/ 
8/100 51014 10008 20004

10 A.M.
Weather: Clear, few distant cumulus offshore
Temperature: 14F; Dew Point: -2F; Wind: WSW at 5 kts,
Wind: Light
Sea-level pressure: 30.63 ins. Hg: steady
Visibility: 80 miles
3-hr Precip:  0.00 ins.
3-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
BHO SA 1455 CLR 80 371/14/-2/2505/063/ FEW DSNT CU OFFSHR WND LGT/ 
8/100 50000

1 P.M.
Weather: Clear, few distant cumulus and cirrus
Temperature: 23F; Dew Point: 4F; Wind: SW at 7 kts
Sea-level pressure: 30.55 ins. Hg: falling steadily
Visibility: 80 miles
6-hr Max temp: 24F
6-hr Min temp: 5F
6-hr Precip:  0.00 ins. 
6-hr Snowfall: 0.0 ins.
BHO SA 1755 CLR 80 346/24/-1/2407/055/ FEW DSNT CU/CI ALQDS/ 8/101 
58025 10024 20005     


SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 

TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)
MAX.....33   NORMAL.....37
MIN......8   NORMAL.....19
MEAN....21   NORMAL.....28

DEPARTURE FROM 30-YEAR NORMAL....................-7
TOTAL DEPARTURE FOR THE MONTH...................+94 [+6.5 DEGREES/DAY]

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (SEASON JUL TO JUN)
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR YESTERDAY...............44  DEPARTURE........+7
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE MONTH..............439  DEPARTURE.......-98
TOTAL HEATING UNITS FOR THE SEASON............3668  DEPARTURE......-400
TOTAL HEATING UNITS LAST SEASON TO DATE.......3968  DEPARTURE......-300

PEAK GUST AND AVERAGE WIND SPEED (MPH) 
PEAK WIND GUST FOR YESTERDAY....................32 WNW AT 10:18 A.M.  
                   AERO.........................32 NW  AT  9:12 A.M.   
                   ASOS.........................33 NW  AT 10:19 A.M. 
                   DAVIS........................34 WNW AT 10:17 A.M. RMY 34
FASTEST MILE FOR YESTERDAY......................22 NW  AT 10:22 A.M. 
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE ASOS AVERAGE...................22 NW  AT 10:24 A.M.
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE DAVIS AVERAGE..................24 NW  AT 10:22 A.M.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.............14.0 NNW                
                   ASOS......................13.5
                   DAVIS.....................14.2 NW [318 deg.]


PRECIPITATION (INCHES) THROUGH THIS MORNING (EST)
TOTAL PRECIPITATION 24 HRS ENDING 7 A.M....0.09  DEPARTURE......-0.14
                         ASOS..............0.12
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH..........1.89  DEPARTURE......-0.03
                         ASOS..............2.00
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE YEAR...........3.35  DEPARTURE......-2.92
                         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.......-6.3
TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON..............24.8  DEPARTURE......-15.2


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  35/31/34/+6/.00/0.0/.../..          29 SSW AERO 29 SSW RMY N/A
02/14  33/8/21/-7/0.00/0.0/.../..          32 WNW AERO 32 NW  RMY 34

02/15 The low since midnight is 4F, 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 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

RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 16
HIGH 62F IN 1954
LOW -16F IN 1943
PRECIP 1.91 INCHES IN 1958
SNOWFALL 18.6 INCHES IN 1958
PEAK GUST 78 MPH W IN 1967

TODAY'S REPORT PREPARED BY: Benjamin Turner