Diary of Highlights

1st to 2th
The New Year opened on a rather cloudy note with some showers and a chilly northwest wind on the 1st. The 2nd was milder with temperatures recovering to double figures in many areas.

3rd to 9th
The days between the 3rd and 9th had variable cloud amounts and scattered showers.Temperatures were around the early January average of 5 to 7 °C. The morning of the 9th was cold and very frosty however, with temperatures down to -4 to -6 °C.

10th to 20th
The period between the 10th and the 20th was the most unsettled period of the month and all areas had rain or showers, but it was frequently mild with temperatures peaking between 10 and 12 °C. The only notable windy day of the month occurred on the 12th when gales developed with gusts 45 knots recorded quite wildly and locally 50 knots in exposed locations.

21th to 31st
The last third of the month became increasingly quiet and settled as high pressure dominated the weather. It was often cloudy and gloomy but the cloud cleared to leave a fine and very sunny day on the 29th. The clearer skies resulted in a very hard frost on the morning of the 30th with minus 7 °C recorded in a few spots - the lowest temperatures of the month. Freezing fog also formed and persisted all day on the 30th with temperatures in foggy areas remaining below zero.

Temperatures were above average, despite the very cold nights at the end of the month.