Summary
Very mild, except for one colder interlude around 22nd to 26th. Rainfall above average for the month, despite a fairly dry last week to the month. Widespread strong winds on 18th.
Diary of Highlights
1st to 4th
Windy and showery conditions to start the year, with Land's End recording gusts to 60 m.p.h. on the 1st, in a westerly flow. Temperatures were above normal, and reached 10 °C in the south on most days. Showers gradually became more confined to the north and west.
5th - 7th
A wet spell with frontal rain pushing southeast later on the 5th, then further rain, heavy in the southwest, moving northeast across most parts on the 6th. Western parts stayed wet on the 7th with drier conditions in the east. Temperatures above normal.
8th - 13th
Wet weather continued with some strong westerly winds, especially on 11th when they reached 60-80 m.p.h. quite widely, and on the 12th in the north too. Temperatures remaining above normal.
14th - 19th
Largely dry and sunny on the 14th, but becoming more cloudy through the 15th, with rain spreading in, especially overnight. Then largely cloudy conditions with further outbreaks of rain persisted, and it became windy too, with gusts to 55 m.p.h. in the northwest on the 17th. Strong winds became widespread on the 18th with 77 m.p.h. gusts recorded at Heathrow airport, with damage and disruption due to the wind over many areas. Temperatures remaining generally above normal.
20th - 25th
A colder spell, with temperatures around or just below normal. Sunny spells and blustery showers, with many parts having frosty nights too. The west recorded 50 m.p.h. gusts on the 20th, whilst the east was largely dry. Blustery showers continued on the 21st, with snow over the Pennines and some western parts, and by the 22nd sleet fed down the east coast. Sleet and snow pushed south over many parts on the 24th, with 4 cm snow reported at Odiham, and further snow showers affected the southeast on the 25th. Western parts were generally drier and sunnier through this period..
26th - 31st
A settled end to the month. Wintry outbreaks cleared south on the 26th with high pressure bringing plenty of dry, but cloudy conditions and just occasional patches of light rain around. Temperatures rising back to generally above normal.
Statistical details
| England Mean Temperature Series (series began in 1914). |
The provisional mean value for the month is 6.7 °C |
3.3 °C above the 1961-1990 average,
which is in the exceptionally above average category.
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| England Rainfall Series (series began in 1914). |
The provisional total for the month is 93.9mm |
116 % of the 1961-1990 average,
which is in the close to average category.
|
| England Sunshine Series (series began in 1929). |
The provisional total for the month is 65.2 hours |
113% of the 1961-1990 average,
which is in the exceptionally above average category.
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