Climate Data and Brief Summary for Winter 2003

Last updated 24th March 2003

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

SCREEN TEMPERATURES °c
                                        Anomaly*       Date
Mean                        3.6          +0.2
Mean Maximum                5.9          +0.1
Mean Minimum                1.2          +0.3
High Maximum               11.8                        23rd February
Low Minimum                -6.5                         6th February
Low Maximum                -0.3                         7th January
High Minimum                8.4                        24th December
Low Grass                 -10.6                         6th Februay
Air Frosts                  33            0
Ground Frosts               49           -5 
Hours of Frost            365.0

Barometric pressure, 24 hour observations (mbar)
Mean                      1015.4         +2.6
Maximum                   1037.9                       17th February                               
Minimum                    978.3                       21st January

PRECIPITATION (mm)
Total                      216.2         +8.8                                           
Rain days (0.2mm or more)   56           +3                                            
Wet days (1.0mm or more)    40           +1 
Maximum Fall                19.7                       29th December
Rainfall duration (hrs.)   178.1
 
SUNSHINE

Sun Hours                  180.7        +42.3		
Maximum day                  9.3                       15th February
Nil Sun Days                27

HUMIDITY %

Mean                        89.8
Dry days (60% or less)       5                                                  

WIND (mph)

24hour mean                  5.0
09.00 mean                   5.2
Maximum gust                45.0                       28th January 
%North                       3.3
%North East                  2.2
%East                        7.8
%South East                 36.6
%South                       7.8
%South West                  7.8
%West                       15.6
%North West                 12.2
%Calm                        6.7
Hours of calm              212.0

MISCELLANEOUS

Days with:

Sleet/Snow                  18            0            
Snow lying (09.00)          13           -1
Maximum depth (cm)           4.0                        4th February   
Total snow depth (cm)        4.0
Hail                         7           +3
Thunder                      2           +1
Fog (09.00)                 15           +3

Brief summary of the month:
Winter 2003 was the coldest since 2001, although the mean temperature
was still above average. It was yet another sunny Winter but not as sunny
as the last three, which were the sunniest on record. Rainfall totals were
just above average, the wettest since 2001. Snowfall was much more frequent
than last year but amounts were mostly small. So to sum up, it was a sunny
Winter with near average rainfall and near average temperatures.

All data taken at 220 metres above sea level


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