Diary of Highlights

1st
An unsettled start to the New Year with belts of rain sweeping across from the west accompanied by strong winds. A gust of 63 knots (72 m.p.h.) was reported at Cranwell (Lincolnshire) and 65 knots (75 m.p.h.) at Capel Curig (Gwynedd). Despite the wind and rain it was mild with highs generally around 10 to 12°C and locally very mild with Credenhill (Herefordshire) and Torquay (Devon) reaching 13.2°C.

2nd and 3rd
The weather briefly settled on these days with plenty of dry and sunny weather. Torquay recorded 7.2 hours of sun on the 2nd with Cromer (Norfolk) recording 6.1 hours on the 3rd. Despite the sunshine temperatures were closer to normal on the 2nd but it was mild, locally very mild, once again on the 3rd.

4th to 12th
Very unsettled through this period with spells of windy weather for most. Northern and western parts also bore the brunt of some very wet weather, but it was drier elsewhere.

On the 4th, gusts of 40-50 knots (46-58 m.p.h.) were reported quite widely, while Capel Curig recorded over an inch of rain (26 mm). On the 5th, Capel Curig recorded a further 31.6 mm of rain in 12 hours.

The 6th saw the return of windy weather for the north and west with gusts of 54 knots (62 m.p.h.) at Redesdale (Northumberland) and 58 knots (67 m.p.h.) at Capel Curig. Northern and western parts recorded very wet weather on the 7th with over 100 mm (4 inches) at both Capel Curig and Shap Fell (Cumbria).

A further 81 mm fell at Shap on the 8th, with the prolonged wet spell leading to flooding in Carlisle. The early hours of the 8th also saw the windiest spell of weather with a gust of 88 knots (101 m.p.h.) at St Bees Head (Cumbria) and a gust of 89 knots (102 m.p.h.) at Aberdaron on the Lleyn peninsula (Gwynedd). It was also windy further south and east with gusts of 69 knots (79 m.p.h.) at Marham (Norfolk) and 60 knots (69 m.p.h.) at Luton (Bedfordshire).

Although not as strong, the windy weather continued from the 9th through to the 12th and there was a gust of 70 knots (81 m.p.h.) at Capel Curig on the 11th. Despite the wind and in some places the rain, the weather was mild or very mild through this period with several places recording 14 to 15°C on the 7th.

13th to 16th
A build of pressure from the south brought a more settled spell of weather. Southern and eastern parts enjoyed some sunshine but also had to endure some overnight frosts. Further north and west, skies were cloudier with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, particularly over coasts and hills.

It was generally mild by day and locally very mild, with Capel Curig reaching 13.1°C on the 15th and Prestatyn (Denbighshire) recording 13.3 Celsius on the 16th.

17th to 22nd
The ridge of high pressure slid away eastward with a series of Atlantic depressions and their associated weather fronts bringing a return of more unsettled weather. Thunder was associated with one such weather front as it crossed on the 18th, with the precipitation turning wintry over higher ground and further snow showers developed in its wake over northern England.

There was further wintry precipitation across Wales on the 21st, while rain also turned to sleet and snow across the high ground of central southern England on the 22nd. It was windy at times through this period with gust of 50-60 knots (57-69 m.p.h.) around western coasts on the 18th and widespread gusts of 43-52 knots (50-60 m.p.h.) on the 20th.

23rd to 27th
A build of pressure to the west of the UK brought a return of more settled weather to most parts. However, the northerly flow brought a wintry mix of showers to eastern coastal counties. In fact there were frequent snow showers across eastern Kent on the 25th with reports of 3-4 cm of lying snow around Dover and Folkestone.

28th to 31st
The high pressure block to the west of the UK continued to dominate the weather but with the wintry mix in the east removed as milder air fed around the high. Initially there were still showery outbreaks of rain in the east but these began to die away. Cloud cover varied with clear spells by night leading to local fog and frost.

Initially temperatures were close to normal but it became milder and it was locally very mild on the 31st, thanks to some sunny periods, with Boulmer (Northumberland) recording 13.5°C.