January 2002
January 2002
Temperatures
(all temperatures in degrees Celsius; all averages 1961 – 1990)
Mean daily maximum: 7.3
Difference from average: +1.5
Mean daily minimum: 1.5
Difference from average: +0.9
Mean air temperature: 4.4
Difference from average: +1.4
Absolute maximum: 13.1 (22nd)
Absolute minimum: -6.9 (3rd)
Mean grass minimum: 0.8
Absolute grass minimum: -4.6 (25th)
Number of ground frosts: 14
Number of air frosts: 12
Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth: 3.5
Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth: 5.4
Rainfall
(all totals in millimetres; all averages 1961 – 1990)
Total for the month: 34.4
Difference from average: -23
Percentage of the average: 60%
Wettest day: 8.0 (26th)
Number of rain days (>0.1mm): 19
3-month total rainfall to 31st January: 105.2
Difference from average: -73.1
6-month rainfall total to 31st January: 255.6
Difference from average: -97.8
12-month rainfall total to 31st January: 550
Difference from average: -99
Humidity
(Averages for 09:00 hours GMT)
Relative Humidity: 86%
Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)
Total for the month: 52.1 hours
Difference from average: -1.7
Percentage of the average: 97%
Mean daily sunshine: 1.7 hours
Difference from average: 0
Sunniest day: 6.6 hours (19th)
Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 11
Wind
The mean wind speed: 16.1km/h [8.7kt]
Difference from average: +1.4km/hr
The highest gust: 124.1km/h [67kt] from 247° at 15:14 GMT on 28th.
ISSN1350-483
Comments on January 2002
Following a cool December, January was mild, 26th warmest on record, though less warm than in 2000. Daytime temperatures were in particular above average. It was drier than normal, although not notably so, ranking 48th in a series of 151.
Nevertheless, sunshine was only about average for the time of year. There were exceptional gales on the 28th with a maximum gust of 124km/hr on the afternoon of the 28th; the high winds caused major disruptions locally on the A1 with a number of lorries being blown over.
Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University