January 2002 - England and Wales

Summary: This has been so far the mildest January since 1993, & the dullest since 1996.

January 2002 was very mild and changeable. Becoming milder after a cold frosty start and staying mainly dry till mid month. Unsettled mild but wetter during third week. Very stormy fourth week with severe gales and heavy rain in western and northern areas. Exceptionally mild towards end of month.

Diary of Highlights:

1st - 4th
A dry cold mostly sunny start to the month under high pressure from Europe. There was widespread severe frost overnight, Sennybridge / Powys falling to minus 11.9°C on the 1st. Snow lay thickly over the Pennines and North Wales northwards, 8cm being common on higher ground. Freezing fog affected the Midlands and NE on the 2nd. Milder with some rain in western areas later.

5th - 8th
Though still under the European ridge, cloudy milder conditions replaced the old chilly surface air. However there was patchy rain and drizzle and fairly widespread hill and coastal fog to contend with.

9th - 12th
Although high pressure persisted nearby on the continent, a trough in its circulation brought outbreaks of rain and showers to southern and western areas on the 9th & 10th. Elsewhere was mainly dry and mild with sunny spells but there was patchy mist and fog at times especially in NE England.

13th - 20th
Active Atlantic depressions pushed their associated fronts & changeable weather across the region. There were outbreaks of rain and blustery showers, sometimes heavy with occasional thunder in western areas. It was mostly mild or very mild with sunny intervals but hill and coastal fog affected some places at times. The 20th was very windy with gusts up to 65/kts reported from North Wales.

21st - 24th
More unsettled as low-pressure systems passing close to Scotland heralded a wet and windy spell. It stayed very mild apart from a brief northerly incursion later on the 24th.

25th - 31st
A very stormy period as a number of intense depressions tracked northeastwards past Scotland. There was copious rainfall especially during the 25th and 26th in western areas causing local flooding in places. One storm in particular on the 28th gave widespread severe gales over western and northern parts of the region with gusts up to 72kts. Very mild temperatures prevailed throughout however with a number of stations touching 15°C.

Statistical details

Central England Temperature Series (series began in 1659).	The mean value for the month was 5.6°C.	1.8°C above the 1961-90 normal of 3.8°C and is in the very mild category. Others:- 2001/3.2 2000/4.9, 1999/5.5, 1998/5.2, 1997/2.5, 1993/5.9°C.
England and Wales Rainfall Series (series began in 1766).	The total for the month was 80mm.	88% of the 1961-90 average and is in the near normal category. Others:- 2001/86, 2000/47, 1999/128, 1998/121, 1997/16mm.
England and Wales Sunshine Series (series began in 1909).	The total for the month was 1.48 hours per day	95% of the 1961-90 average and is in the near normal category. Others:- 2001/2.51, 2000/2.31, 1999/2.11, 1996/0.77hpd.

The period 1961 to 1990 is the current World Meteorological Organization (WMO) period for taking climate statistics.