January 2008
Temperatures
(all temperatures in degrees Celsius; all averages 1961 – 1990)
Mean daily maximum: 7.9
Difference from average: +2.1
Mean daily minimum: 2.8
Difference from average: +2.6
Mean air temperature: 5.4
Difference from average: +2.4
Absolute maximum: 12.4 (18th)
Absolute minimum: -2.1 (12th)
Mean grass minimum: 1.0
Absolute grass minimum: -6.1 (12th)
Number of ground frosts: 11
Number of air frosts: 5
Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth: 4.9
Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth: 6.6
Rainfall
(all totals in millimetres; all averages 1961 – 1990)
Total for the month: 109.2
Difference from average: +50.2
Percentage of the average: 185%
Wettest day: 21 (21st)
Number of rain days (>0.25mm): 19
Number of wet days (=> 1mm): 16
3-month total rainfall to 31st January: 218
Difference from average: +39.5
6-month rainfall total to 31st January: 302.4
Difference from average: -51.3
12-month rainfall total to 31st January: 726.8
Difference from average: +77.8
Humidity
(Averages for 09:00 hours GMT)
Relative Humidity: 87.6%
Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)
Total for the month: 57.2 hours
Difference from average: +3.4
Percentage of the average: 106.3%
Mean daily sunshine: 1.8 hours
Difference from average: +0.1
Sunniest day: 6.3 hours (29th)
Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 11
Cumulative total sunshine since 1st January: 1257 hours
Difference from average: -26.6
Wind
The mean wind speed: 17.6km/h [9.5kt]
Difference from average: +2.6km/hr
The highest gust: 101.9km/h [55kt] from 120° at 2:19 GMT on 26th
ISSN1350-483
Comments on January 2008
Despite a few cold days, January provided yet another month with above average temperatures. It was the 12th equal warmest on record since 1850. However, both 2007 (the record holder) and 2005 were warmer. It was the wettest January since 1939 and the 5th wettest on record. It was a windy month too, with a maximum gust of over 100 km/hour on the 26th and one nearly as strong on the 25th.
Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University