August 2014

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

Mean daily maximum: 18.0
Difference from average: -1.1

Mean daily minimum: 10.2
Difference from average: -0.2

Mean air temperature: 14.1
Difference from average: -0.6

Absolute maximum: 22.4 (6th)

Absolute minimum: 3.9 (25th)

Mean grass minimum: 8.8

Absolute grass minimum: 2.9 (25th)

Number of ground frosts: 0

Number of air frosts: 0

Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth: 16.7

Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth: 15.8

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

Total for the month: 74.2
Difference from average: +7.1

Percentage of the average: 111%

Wettest day: 17.6 (15th)

Number of rain days (>0.25mm): 14

Number of wet days (=> 1mm): 10

3-month total rainfall to 31st August: 178.8
Difference from average: +6.8

6-month rainfall total to 31st August: 346.0
Difference from average: -0.2

12-month rainfall total to 31st August: 779.4
Difference from average: +130.4

Humidity
(averages for 09:00 hours GMT)

Relative Humidity: 77%

Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)

Total for the month: 136.5 hours
Difference from average: -19.0

Percentage of the average: 88%

Mean daily sunshine: 4.4 hours
Difference from average: +0.6

Sunniest day: 8.4 hours (17th)

Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 0

Cumulative total sunshine since 1st January: 938.1 hours
Difference from average: -62.4

ISSN1350-483

Comments on August 2014
August was a disappointing month, the first since November 2013 to be below-average temperature. It may only have been the equal 51st coolest August since 1850 but it was nevertheless the coolest August in Durham since 1986. The 12-month running mean slipped below 10°C once more. Not surprisingly, rainfall was just above average and sunshine below average. Whilst the 3-month and 6-month rainfall totals are almost exactly average, the 12-month total remains well above average.

Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University