Diary of Highlights

1st to 12th
During the first twelve days a succession of deep depressions moved east from Iceland to the Norwegian Sea, bringing very wet and stormy weather to Scotland. Gusts exceeding 70 m.p.h. were recorded somewhere in Scotland on all but two days.

Daily rainfall exceeded 25 mm at some station on all but three days. Most of the time was spent in showery airstreams but warm sectors affected the country on the 3rd, 6th and 9th. These brought heavy rain to the west, especially on the 6th when 142 mm was recorded at Kinlochewe.

On the 9th the temperature rose to 15°C at Lossiemouth. The climax of the stormy spell occurred on the night of 11th/12th when gusts reached 106 m.p.h. at Barra and 101 m.p.h. at Stornoway.

12th to 21st
The generally disturbed westerly weather continued until the 21st, albeit with lighter winds than before. However, another deep depression moved east between Iceland and Norway on the 17th and 18th, bringing snow showers that affected many western and central parts of the country. Gusts reached 81 m.p.h. at Sella Ness.

22nd to 31st
On 22nd a large and intense anticyclone developed to the west of the British Isles and remained there until the end of the month. Air of Arctic origin covered the country at first with the temperature falling to -7°C at several stations.

Soon, however, relatively mild air circulating around the High reached Scotland from the north. The mild air brought persistently cloudy conditions to the north, but south of the Highlands the cloud broke to give fair weather.

Scotland Mean Temperature Series (series began in 1961).			The mean value for the month was 4.3°C			2.2°C above the 1961-1990 average,which is in the exceptionally above average category. 2nd warmest in series, warmest 1989 with 5.8°C.
Scotland Rainfall Series (series began in 1961).			The total for the month was 230.2 mm			148 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well above average category. Wettest since 1993, when 292.6 mm was recorded.
Scotland Sunshine Series (series began in 1929).			The total for the month was 33.3 hours.			96% of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close to average category.