DEC 2013 SUMMARY

                                DECEMBER 2013

There were some remarkable aspects to the month just gone.

In the first instance it was very mild, with both day & night temperatures very close to 2 degrees above the average.The mean maximum temperature was the highest since 2004, the mean minimum since 2002.

It merits specifically mentioning that the month's lowest temperature was a mere -1.4. In this part of the world, in December, it is quite an unusual happening not to sink below at least -5 & in a real hard spell, -15 or below is achievable. In the severe December of 2010, the minimum temperature averaged -7.2.

Snow was mainly conspicuous by its absence & scarcely worth a mention at lower altitudes.

The amount of rainfall was record-breaking. The Met Office fist started to operate a climate station in the area, recording rainfall from 1954. In that period of nigh on 60years,no December has approached the 2013 total of 240.7mms close to 9.5 inches.
Ironically, 2012 is the 2nd wettest now, at 204.2mms (It's holding the record proved a very brief one).

When all months are taken into account, December 2013 is the 3rd wettest month in the last 60years (Feb1990 & Jan 1993 being wetter).    Barry01/01/14


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