Diary of Highlights

1st to 7th
Pressure was fairly high to the south of England with most fronts restricted to north-western parts, but no spectacular rainfall amounts were recorded. Temperatures reached 18.8 °C at Wiggonholt (Sussex) on 1st and 18.2 °C at Portland (Dorset) on the 2nd, and although there were some chilly nights in the first week, it was generally too mild for frost.

8th to 10th
A more unsettled spell of weather across many parts with fronts and rain, followed by showers, spreading south from time to time across most of the country. It was often windy, with a significant surge blown down the North Sea coast on the night of the 8th and early morning on the 9th in conjunction with a deep area of low pressure and associated strong winds.

11th to 12th
With northerly winds quite frequent in this period, temperatures were lower with -7.4 °C recorded at Newton Rigg (Cumbria) on the night of the 11th/12th.

13th to 16th
High pressure brought a respite for a few days around mid-month, which brought problems of fog and frost by night. A temperature of -6.9 °C was reported at Upper Lambourn (Berkshire) and -6.4 °C at Benson (Oxfordshire) on the morning of the 16th.

18th
Low pressure returned from the 18th, often centred to the south or east. Initially as this unsettled weather clashed with the colder air, rain turned to snow in places, notably the Midlands on the 18th, with 4cm recorded at Watnall (Nottinghamshire) during the evening.

19th to 23rd
The next few days saw rain and showers, often heavy and thundery, particularly in southern parts, though by the 23rd as winds turned more northerly again, temperatures dropped and a few wintry flurries were reported as far south as Peterborough on the 23rd.

24th to 25th
A cold start initially over southern England, with temperatures of -6.7 °C at Upper Lambourn and -6.6 °C at Benson. Things soon turned milder with winds returning to a westerly quarter associated with fronts moving in from the north-west, however, the cold air was rather reluctant to leave eastern England for a day or so.

26th to 30th
During the remaining few days of the month, fronts occasionally crossed the country from the northwest, with the heaviest rain falling in these parts.