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October 2007

Temperatures
(all temperatures in degrees Celsius; all averages 1961 – 1990)

Mean daily maximum: 14.4
Difference from average: +1.2

Mean daily minimum: 6.1
Difference from average: -0.2

Mean air temperature: 10.3
Difference from average: +0.5

Absolute maximum: 18.6 (12th)

Absolute minimum: -2.3 (24th)

Mean grass minimum: 3.0

Absolute grass minimum: -6.6 (24th)

Number of ground frosts: 7

Number of air frosts: 3

Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth: 11.9

Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth: 13.5

Rainfall
(all totals in millimetres; all averages 1961 – 1990)

Total for the month: 14.4
Difference from average: -38.1

Percentage of the average: 27%

Wettest day: 8.2 (8th)

Number of rain days (>0.25mm): 6

Number of wet days (=> 1mm): 4

3-month total rainfall to 31st October: 84.4
Difference from average: -90.8

6-month rainfall total to 31st October: 355.4
Difference from average: 25.1

12-month rainfall total to 31st October: 692.4
Difference from average: 43.4

Humidity
(Averages for 09:00 hours GMT)

Relative Humidity: 89%

Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)

Total for the month: 93.9 hours
Difference from average: +0.8

Percentage of the average: 101%

Mean daily sunshine: 3.0 hours
Difference from average: 0.0

Sunniest day: 8.4 hours (4th)

Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 4

Cumulative total sunshine since 1st January: 1189.4 hours
Difference from average: -28.1

Wind

The mean wind speed: 8.1km/h [4.4kt]
Difference from average: -4.3km/hr

The highest gust: 66.7km/h [36kt] from 184° at 14:05 GMT on 26th

ISSN1350-483

Comments on October 2007
October seemed mild, due largely to warm daytime temperatures. Even so, the previous two years had higher mean maximum temperatures. Night-time temperatures were a little below average. Consequently, the mean air temperature was above average, but not notably so. The absolute minimum air temperature of -6.6°C on the 24th was the lowest for October since 2002.

It was a very dry month, with only 14.4mm in total. Indeed the past three months have been notably dry and the 3-month total is therefore well below average. This was the 5th driest October since 1852, with only 1969, 1972, 1962 and 1947 having drier Octobers. Similarly it has been the 5th driest August – October period on record, with only 1959, 1972, 1947 and 1955 being drier.

Sunshine was around average, but it was a noticeably calm month with wind speeds well below normal, presumably through a lack of vigorous depressions crossing the region.

Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University