Climate Data and Brief Summary for March 2003

Last updated 6th April 2003

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

SCREEN TEMPERATURES °c
                                        Anomaly*       Date
Mean                        6.6          +1.4
Mean Maximum               11.1          +2.9
Mean Minimum                2.2           0.0
High Maximum               15.6                        27th
Low Minimum                -1.8                        19th
Low Maximum                 5.9                        13th
High Minimum                7.7                         9th
Low Grass                  -4.4                      3/19th
Air Frosts                   8           +1
Ground Frosts               19           +3
Hours of Frost             23.0

Barometric pressure, 24 hour observations (mbar)
Mean                      1021.2          5.8
Maximum                   1040.2                       16th                               
Minimum                   1008.1                        1st

PRECIPITATION (mm)
Total                       28.0        -34.9                                          
Rain days (0.2mm or more)    9           -9                                            
Wet days (1.0mm or more)     7           -6 
Maximum Fall                 5.5                        7th
Rainfall duration (hrs.)    16.2
 
SUNSHINE

Sun Hours                  163.1         +78.1   	(RECORD)			
Maximum day                 11.3                    19/22nd
Nil Sun Days                 2

HUMIDITY %

Mean                        79.2
Dry days (60% or less)      17                                                  

WIND (mph)

24hour mean                  4.8
09.00 mean                   5.6
Maximum gust                39.0                        9th 
%North                       3
%North East                  0
%East                        3
%South East                 39
%South                      13
%South West                 18
%West                       13
%North West                 11
%Calm                        0
Hours of calm               88.5

MISCELLANEOUS

Days with:

Sleet/Snow                   0           -4
Snow lying (09.00)           0           -2
Maximum depth (cm)           0.0                         
Total snow depth (cm)        0.0
Hail                         1
Thunder                      0
Fog (09.00)                  3

Brief summary of the month:
March 2003 was the warmest since 2000 with temperatures well above
average, in fact it recorded the highest mean maximum since the warm 
March of 1961. Rainfall was well below normal with only 46% of the 
average, the driest since 1993. The month also turned out to be very
sunny with a massive 192% of the average, the sunniest on record. All
three months in 2003 have recorded well above average sunshine totals.
The month was snowless for the first time since 1997.

All data taken at 220 metres above sea level


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