February 2009

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

Mean daily maximum: 7.5
Difference from average: +1.5

Mean daily minimum: 1.9
Difference from average: +1.6

Mean air temperature: 4.7
Difference from average: +1.5

Absolute maximum: 13.8 (17th)

Absolute minimum: -4.0 (8th)

Mean grass minimum: -1.0

Absolute grass minimum: -8.2 (8th)

Number of ground frosts: 16

Number of air frosts: 13

Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth:

Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth:

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

Total for the month: 35.6
Difference from average: -6.0

Percentage of the average: 86%

Wettest day: 17.8 (2nd)

Number of rain days (>0.25mm): 9

Number of wet days (=> 1mm): 6

3-month total rainfall to 28th February: 132.0
Difference from average: -26.0

6-month rainfall total to 28th February: 336.2
Difference from average: +8.0

12-month rainfall total to 28th February: 776.7
Difference from average: *127.7

Humidity
(Averages for 09:00 hours GMT)

Relative Humidity: 84%

Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)

Total for the month: 65.1 hours
Difference from average: -0.3

Percentage of the average:

Mean daily sunshine: 2.3 hours
Difference from average: 0

Sunniest day: 7.5 hours (6th)

Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 0

Cumulative total sunshine since 1st January: 145.2 hours
Difference from average: +26.0

Wind

The mean wind speed: 1.3km/h [6.1kt]
Difference from average: -3.1km/hr

The highest gust: 68.2km/h [36.8kt] from 241° on 22nd

ISSN1350-483

Comments on February 2009
February was a relatively mild month after a cool January. It was the 117th warmest in 160 years, so not quite in the upper quartile. Curiously, there was a ground frost every night to the 15th, but only one thereafter. It was a little drier than normal. It was the first February since 2000 with sun every day, but overall sunshine hours were below average.

The average winter temperature was 3.9°C, 0.5°C above average. It was the 96th warmest winter since 1850-51, not exceptional therefore. It was the 65th driest winter since 1850-51 with a total rainfall of 132mm, 26mm below average. The 6-month rainfall is now back to average but the 12-month total remains well above average.

Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University