Climate Data and Brief Summary for Winter 2008

Last updated 13th March 2008

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

SCREEN TEMPERATURES °c
                                        Anomaly*       Date
Mean                        4.6          +1.2		
Mean Maximum                7.4          +1.6
Mean Minimum                1.7          +0.8		
High Maximum               14.8                        12th February
Low Minimum                -5.7                        19th February
Low Maximum                 0.2                        14th December
High Minimum                9.3                        20th January
Low Grass                 -10.0                        17th February
Air Frosts                  29           -4
Ground Frosts               51           -3
Hours of Frost            253.5

Barometric pressure, 24 hour observations (mbar)
Mean                      1015.9         +2.1
Maximum                   1042.5                       16th February                               
Minimum                    978.7                       15th January

PRECIPITATION (mm)
Total                      258.4        +51.0                                           
Rain days (0.2mm or more)   49           -4                                            
Wet days (1.0mm or more)    37            0 
Maximum Fall                27.2                        6th December
Rainfall duration (hrs.)    67.1
 
SUNSHINE

Sun Hours                  225.8        +87.4		(RECORD)
Maximum day                  9.2                       13th February
Nil Sun Days                28

HUMIDITY %

Mean                        86.7
Dry days (60% or less)      15                                                  

WIND (mph)

24hour mean                  6.2
09.00 mean                   6.6
Maximum gust                46.0                        7th January 
%North                       0.9
%North East                  0.9
%East                       12.2
%South East                 11.6
%South                      12.8
%South West                 21.6
%West                       31.0
%North West                  7.2
%Calm                        1.8
Hours of calm              119.5

MISCELLANEOUS

Days with:

Sleet/Snow                  10           -8            
Snow lying (09.00)           1          -13
Maximum depth (cm)           0.5                        2nd February   
Total snow depth (cm)        0.5
Hail                         7           +5
Thunder                      1            0
Fog (09.00)                  8           -4

Brief summary of the month:
Winter 2008 was the 6th warmest on record (1960-2007) with temperatures
again above average. Snow falling and lying days were well below average
yet again. Sunshine totals hit a new record which means it's now eleven
consecutive Winters with above average sunshine. Rainfall totals were well 
above average but it was still the driest since 2006. So to sum up, it was
a very sunny, very mild but rather wet Winter.

All data taken at 220 metres above sea level


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