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February 2011

February 2011

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

Mean daily maximum: 8.4
Difference from average: +2.4

Mean daily minimum: 2.7
Difference from average: +2.2

Mean air temperature: 5.6
Difference from average: +2.4

Absolute maximum: 12.8 (25th)

Absolute minimum: -1.1 (10th)

Mean grass minimum: 0.9

Absolute grass minimum: -4.0 (10th)

Number of ground frosts: 10

Number of air frosts: 3

Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth: 5.0

Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth: 6.0

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

Total for the month: 58
Difference from average: +16.4

Percentage of the average: 140%

Wettest day(s): 6.8 (6th & 12th)

Number of rain days (>0.25mm): 20

Number of wet days (=> 1mm): 14

3-month total rainfall to 28th February: 163.6
Difference from average: +5.6

6-month rainfall total to 28th February: 437
Difference from average: +10.8

12-month rainfall total to 28th February: 723.4
Difference from average: 74.4

Humidity
(Averages for 09:00 hours GMT)

Relative Humidity: 87%

Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)

Total for the month: 61.5 hours
Difference from average: -3.9

Percentage of the average: 94%

Mean daily sunshine: 2.0 hours
Difference from average: -0.3

Sunniest day: 7.7 hours (16th)

Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 5

Cumulative total sunshine since 1st January: 131.3
Difference from average: +12.1

Wind

The mast is still broken, we hope to replace it soon.

ISSN1350-483

Comments on February 2011
February was a very mild month, the 14th equal warmest in 162 years. There was the highest mean minimum and highest absolute minimum since 2002, although the mean maximum was only the highest since 2008. Rainfall was well above average, the 128th highest since 1850. Nevertheless, it was not an exceptionally wet month; the wettest February on record at Durham is 1941 with 152.5mm! There was less bright sunshine than in January but the total was only just below average.

Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University