October 2008

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

Mean daily maximum: 12.8
Difference from average: -0.4

Mean daily minimum: 5.2
Difference from average: -1.1

Mean air temperature: 9.0
Difference from average: -0.8

Absolute maximum: 18 (10th)

Absolute minimum: -2.5 (30th)

Mean grass minimum:

Absolute grass minimum:

Number of ground frosts:

Number of air frosts:

Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth: 11.5

Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth: 13.2

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

NB: gauge faulty – estimate from Met Office website

Total for the month: 70
Difference from average: +17.5

Percentage of the average: 133%

3-month total rainfall to 31st October: 270
Difference from average: +94.8

6-month rainfall total to 31st October: 493.8
Difference from average: +163.5

12-month rainfall total to 31st October: 840.4
Difference from average: +191.4

Humidity
(Averages for 09:00 hours GMT)

Relative Humidity: 82%

Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)

NB: gauge faulty – estimate from Met Office website

Total for the month: 117.2 hours
Difference from average: +24.1

Percentage of the average: 126%

Mean daily sunshine: 3.8 hours
Difference from average: +0.8

Sunniest Day: 8.4 hours (16th)

Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 1

Cumulative total sunshine since 1st January: 1198.6 hours
Difference from average: -18.9

Wind

The mean wind speed: 15.9km/h [8.6kt]
Difference from average: +3.5km/hr

The highest gust: 79.7km\h [43kt] at 14:00 GMT on 25th

ISSN1350-483

Comments on October 2008
Mean air temperature was well below average, the first month since March 2006 when mean air temperature has been below average. Mean minimum temperature was the lowest since 2003 while both mean maximum temperature and mean air temperature were the lowest since 2004. The absolute minimum was, with 2002, the lowest since 1997. There were 10 ground frosts, the highest total for October since 1986. The grass minimum was the lowest since 1997. The 12-month running mean air temperature is now down to 9.34°C, 1.43°C below the maximum in May 2007.

It was a sunny month, considerably sunnier than September. Nevertheless, rainfall was above average. The 12-month running total is now the highest since September 2001. It was also a windy month, with a gust of almost 80kt on 25th.

Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University