Summary
A dry spell mid-month but otherwise very unsettled, wet and sometimes windy.
Diary of Highlights
1st to 10th
Very unsettled with a constant stream of depressions and their associated frontal systems coming in off the Atlantic across north-west Europe. Frequent, wet and sometimes windy spells, interspersed with clearer or brighter and showery weather. The 2nd of the month was very windy with gusts of 60-70 m.p.h. in places. With winds from the west or south-west, temperatures were generally above average. Prestatyn (Denbighshire) recorded a temperature of 16.2 °C on 6th.
11th to 21st
A complete change as a large area of high pressure became established over northern Europe and extended westwards to cover much of the UK. A dry spell of weather with little if any rain and often quite sunny skies by day. Much colder at night with frequent frosts and some lingering fog patches as well. Betws-Y-Coed (Conwy) recorded a temperature of -6.1 °C on 17th and Capel Curig (Conwy) recorded -8.3 °C on 21st.
22nd to 31st
The area of high pressure moved away at the start of this period allowing Atlantic weather systems to return, bringing a resumption of the often wet and windy weather, but with some drier and clearer conditions between. Rain clearing away south-east early on Christmas Day, but with some heavy showers for a time during the evening. The month ended with cloudy and sometimes wet weather although winds were quite light.
Statistical details
| Wales Mean Temperature Series (series began in 1914). |
The provisional mean value for the month is 4.9 °C |
0.4°C to the 1961-1990 average.
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| Wales Rainfall Series (series began in 1914). |
The provisional total for the month is 182.6mm |
112% of the 1961-1990 average.
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| Wales Sunshine Series (series began in 1929). |
The provisional total for the month is 51.1 hours |
125% of the 1961-1990 average.
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