Climate Data and Brief Summary for March 2002

Last updated 2nd April 2002

*Anomalies are based on averages for the period 1971-2000

SCREEN TEMPERATURES °c
                                        Anomaly*       Date
Mean                        6.5          +1.3
Mean Maximum                9.8          +1.6
Mean Minimum                3.2          +1.0
High Maximum               14.6                        30th
Low Minimum                -3.0                         2nd
Low Maximum                 4.3                        15th
High Minimum                8.0                        22nd
Low Grass                  -6.9                         2nd
Air Frosts                   4           -3
Ground Frosts               15           -1
Hours of Frost             16.0

Barometric pressure, 24 hour observations (mbar)
Mean                      1017.0          3.6
Maximum                   1033.4                       24th                               
Minimum                    994.4                       18th

PRECIPITATION (mm)
Total                       31.0        -31.9                                          
Rain days (0.2mm or more)   16           -2                                            
Wet days (1.0mm or more)    10           -3 
Maximum Fall                 6.7                       15th
Rainfall duration (hrs.)    22.8
 
SUNSHINE

Sun Hours                  117.7         +32.7
Maximum day                 11.7                       27th
Nil Sun Days                 6

HUMIDITY %

Mean                        84.4
Dry days (60% or less)       8                                                  

WIND (mph)

24hour mean                  5.8
09.00 mean                   6.0
Maximum gust                53.0                        9th 
%North                       0
%North East                  3
%East                        3
%South East                 26
%South                       7
%South West                 35
%West                       16
%North West                  0
%Calm                       10
Hours of calm              159.0

MISCELLANEOUS

Days with:

Sleet/Snow                   3           -1
Snow lying (09.00)           0           -2
Maximum depth (cm)           0.0                         
Total snow depth (cm)        0.0
Hail                         2
Thunder                      0
Fog (09.00)                  3

Brief summary of the month:
March 2002 was the warmest since 2000 with temperatures well above
average. All three months this year have been much warmer than normal
Rainfall was well below normal with only 49% of the average, the driest
since 1996. The month also turned out to be very sunny with 138% of the
average. It was in fact the sunniest since 1995.

All data taken at 220 metres above sea level


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