January 2017

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

Mean daily maximum: 6.4
Difference from average: +0.6

Mean daily minimum: 1.2
Difference from average: +1.0

Mean air temperature: 3.8
Difference from average: +0.8

Absolute maximum: 11.4 (11th)

Absolute minimum: -3.1 (27th)

Mean grass minimum: -0.6

Absolute grass minimum: -4.9 (5th)

Mean concrete minimum: -0.3 (5th)

Absolute concrete minimum: -3.8 (13th)

Number of ground frosts: 19

Number of air frosts: 12

Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth: 5.0

Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth: 6.8

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

Total for the month: 37.8
Difference from average: -21.6

Percentage of the average: 63%

Wettest day: 13.2 (1st)

Number of rain days (>0.25mm): 9

Number of wet days (=> 1mm): 8

3-month total rainfall to 31st January: 162.2
Difference from average: -9.8

6-month rainfall total to 31st January: 326.6
Difference from average: -19.6

12-month rainfall total to 31st January: 620.1
Difference from average: -28.9

Humidity
(averages for 09:00 hours GMT)

Relative Humidity: 88%

Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)

Total for the month: 70.8 hours
Difference from average: +17.0

Percentage of the average: 132%

Mean daily sunshine: 2.3 hours
Difference from average: +0.6

Sunniest day: 7.0 hours (9th)

Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 0

ISSN1350-483

Comments on January 2017
(provisional report: some results from 31st January missing)

January felt a very dull month, but in fact total sunshine was above average and every day received some bright sunshine. It was the six days from the 16th to the 21st which felt most dark and dreary as we experienced a persistent easterly air stream in Durham. It was not as mild as January 2016; nevertheless mean air temperature was above average, equal 60th highest in 168 years. The mean maximum was equal 48th highest since 1900 and the mean minimum was equal 37th warmest since 1900. It was the driest January since January 2012 (when the first three dry month were followed by record-breaking rainfall totals) and overall the 60th driest January on record since 1850. The 12-month rainfall total is now negative for the first time since November 2015.

Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University