Climate Data and Brief Summary for Winter 2006

Last updated 1st May 2006

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

SCREEN TEMPERATURES °c
                                        Anomaly*       Date
Mean                        3.3          -0.1
Mean Maximum                5.4          -0.5
Mean Minimum                1.1          +0.2
High Maximum               10.0                        23rd December
Low Minimum                -7.8                        29th December
Low Maximum                -3.1                        29th December
High Minimum                7.8                        19th January
Low Grass                 -10.0                        29th December
Air Frosts                  32           -1
Ground Frosts               45           -9 
Hours of Frost            313.5

Barometric pressure, 24 hour observations (mbar)
Mean                      1017.5         +3.7
Maximum                   1040.0                       13th December                               
Minimum                    977.3                        3rd December

PRECIPITATION (mm)
Total                      136.7        -70.7                                           
Rain days (0.2mm or more)   48           -5                                            
Wet days (1.0mm or more)    28           -9 
Maximum Fall                14.2                       30th December
Rainfall duration (hrs.)   109.8
 
SUNSHINE

Sun Hours                  188.2        +49.8		
Maximum day                  9.0                        9th February
Nil Sun Days                32

HUMIDITY %

Mean                        89.9
Dry days (60% or less)       1                                                  

WIND (mph)

24hour mean                  3.7
09.00 mean                   3.7
Maximum gust                44.0                       16th December 
%North                       7.9
%North East                 12.4
%East                        8.3
%South East                 15.6
%South                       4.4
%South West                  9.4
%West                       18.9
%North West                 17.3
%Calm                        5.6
Hours of calm              300.0

MISCELLANEOUS

Days with:

Sleet/Snow                  13           -5            
Snow lying (09.00)           6           -8
Maximum depth (cm)           3.0                       24th February   
Total snow depth (cm)        7.0
Hail                         4            0
Thunder                      0           -1
Fog (09.00)                  7           -5

Brief summary of the month:
Winter 2006 was the coldest since 2001, though temperatures were
close to average. Despite this snow falling and lying days were well
below average. Sunshine totals were again well above average which 
means it's now nine consecutive Winters with above average sunshine.
It was the sunniest since 2004. Rainfall totals were well below 
average for the second consecutive Winter making it the driest 
since 1997. So to sum up, it was a sunny, cool but very dry Winter.

All data taken at 220 metres above sea level


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