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| February 2000 Monthly Assessment
issued 1/3/2000 |
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Monthly summaries available for: England
and Wales | Scotland | Northern
Ireland
Homogenous time series based upon selected station data:
CET | England and Wales
rainfall
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| Dry, sunny and generally mild.
Mostly rather cold and frosty for two weeks after mid month.
Very mild closing days with severe gales in the north. |
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Diary of highlights
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1st – 15th With high pressure firmly
established to the south and deep depressions passing
to the north and north-west, a very unsettled period resulted.
It was mostly mild or very mild at first although temperatures
eased back to nearer normal later. Fronts crossed the
region in relatively rapid succession giving outbreaks
of rain and showers especially in the west and north-west.
Sunny periods were on the generous side however with the
Midlands, east and south-east England having the best
of these. During the second week precipitation turned
wintry at times in the north and north-west with snow
covering high ground on the 8th, 14th and 15th. Leeds
had a gust of 71 kn on the 10th.
16th – 17th The coldest period, with
a few centimetres of snow falling overnight 16th/17th
in a narrow zone from Merseyside to north Essex. The north
Pennines had greater depths from earlier falls. Redesdale
( Northumberland ) recorded -8.4°C on the morning of 17th.
18th – 22nd After a little rain at first mainly
dry quiet weather prevailed as high pressure became
more dominant but there was some overnight frost from
the 20th to the 22nd. The 21st and 22nd were especially
mild and sunny before rain reached the west later.
23rd – 26th Another mild period with rain affecting
western parts on the 23rd and 24th. The 25th was mostly
dry and very sunny, but later on the 26th more rain
reached western areas.
27th – 29th The closing days of the month were
very unsettled wet and windy as a vigorous low pressure
centre became established to the north of Scotland.
The 27th was wet as a cold front moved south-east followed
by showers on the 28th, some thundery with snow over
the Welsh mountains. A secondary depression tracked
eastwards on the 29th bringing more rain and showers,
heavy at times accompanied by the odd clap of thunder.
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| Statistical details (using best available
data/estimates): updated 2003 |
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England & Wales Mean Temperature Series ( series
began in 1961 ). The value for the month was 5.8 °C, which
is 2.4 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is in the exceptionally
above average category.
England & Wales Rainfall Series ( series began
in 1961 ). The total for the month was 96.1 mm, which is
149 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well above
average category.
England & Wales Sunshine Series ( series began
in 1961 ). The total for the month was 93.4 hours, which
is 142 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the exceptionally
above average category. 3rd sunniest in series, and sunniest
since 1988. Sunniest 1988 with 105.6 hours.
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| Scotland |
| Diary of Highlights |
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The westerly winds blew without a break throughout
the month and there were no major changes of weather type.
The mildest weather occurred in the first part of the month,
from the 3rd to the 8th; the 12th to the 20th was colder,
with some snow.
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Statistical details (using
best available data/estimates): updated 2003
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Scotland Mean Temperature Series (
series began in 1961 ). The value for the month was 3.5
°C, which is 1.5 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is
in the well above average category.
Scotland Rainfall Series ( series began in 1961
). The total for the month was 190.7 mm, which is 181 %
of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the exceptionally
above average category.
Scotland Sunshine Series ( series began in 1961
). The total for the month was 61.2 hours, which is 95 %
of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close to average
category.
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| Northern
Ireland |
| Mild and unsettled throughout. Mild first
week, then frequently changeable for the remainder of the
month with brief spells of wintry weather followed by mild
interludes. Rainfall above average across all areas, but sunshine
also well above average in many areas. |
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Diary of Highlights
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1st – 5th Dull and mild but predominantly
dry, especially across central and eastern areas.
6th – 12th Very unsettled with frequent
changes from mild to cooler conditions. Overall a mild
and wet period, but a change to colder conditions on the
11th also brought widespread sleet and snow showers overnight
into the 12th.
13th A ridge of high pressure gave
a pleasantly dry and sunny day.
14th – 16th A progressively colder westerly air flow
brought wintry showers across all areas and significant
falls of snow overnight on 15th/16th. Snow depths of between
3 and 12 cm were recorded on the morning of the 16th. Across
some lowland areas it was one of the most notable falls
of snow since January 1984.
17th – 26th Very unsettled with frequent
changes from mild to cooler wintry conditions. The 19th
and 21st were predominantly dry and very sunny days due
to passing ridges of high pressure, but measurable rainfall
was recorded on all other days during the period.
27th – 29th Cool with wintry showers affecting all
areas.
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Statistical details (using
best available data/estimates): updated 2003
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Northern Ireland Mean Temperature Series ( series
began in 1961 ). The value for the month was 5.3 °C, which
is 1.6 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well
above average category.
Northern Ireland Rainfall Series ( series began
in 1961 ). The total for the month was 111.2 mm, which is
137 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the above average
category.
Northern Ireland Sunshine Series ( series began
in 1961 ). The total for the month was 66.3 hours, which
is 104 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close
to average category.
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Homogeneous series based upon selected station data: updated
2003 |
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Central England Temperature (series begins in 1659).
The mean value for the month was 6.3 °C which is 2.5 °C
above the 1961-90 normal of 3.8 °C and is in the exceptionally
above average category. Others: 1999/5.3, 1998/7.3 °C.
England and Wales Rainfall (series begins in 1766).
The total for the month was 95.1 mm, which is 146 % of the
1961-90 average and is in the well above average category.
Others: 1999/50.0, 1998/20.4, 1997/101.6 mm.
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| Note: Diary values are provisional based
on data available at the time. |
