February 2026
SUMMARY OF THE METEOROLOGICAL READINGS AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORY
February 2026
Temperatures (all temperatures in degrees Celsius; all averages 1991-2020)
Mean daily maximum: 7.8 Difference from average: +0.1
Mean daily minimum: 3.6 Difference from average: +2.2
Mean air temperature: 5.7 Difference from average: +1.1
Absolute maximum: 13.1 (25th)
Absolute minimum: -2.6 (14th)
Mean grass minimum: 2.6 Difference from average: +3.2
Absolute grass minimum: -5.6 (14th)
Mean concrete minimum: 2.8
Absolute concrete minimum: -3.8 (14th)
Number of ground frosts: 4 Difference from average: -12
Number of air frosts: 4 Difference from average: -13
Mean soil temperature at 300 mm depth: 5.9
Mean soil temperature at 1000 mm depth: 6.8
Rainfall (all totals in millimetres; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 63.4 Difference from average: +18.1
Percentage of the average: 140%
Wettest day: 15.8 (11th)
Number of rain days (>0.1 mm): 23 Difference from average: +7
Number of wet days (=>1.0 mm): 13 Difference from average: +3
3-month total rainfall to 28th February 2026: 191.4 Difference from average: +31.9
6-month total rainfall to 28th February 2026: 453.2 Difference from average: +98.5
12-month total rainfall to 28th February 2026: 613.4 Difference from average: -66.8
Sunshine (all totals in hours; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 41.5 Difference from average: -43.8
Percentage of the average: 49%
Mean daily sunshine: 1.3 Difference from average: -1.7
Sunniest day: 6.5 (14th) Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 3
Note that the monthly sunshine total is now calculated from the UKMO E&NE regional total. Daily sunshine totals quoted here and in the data summary are uncorrected.
Wind (m/s; data from the West Building roof, Lower Mountjoy campus)
Average wind speed: 1.9
Maximum gust: 18.8 (23rd, 08:30, W)
Pressure (mbar; data from the West Building roof, Lower Mountjoy campus)
Average: 1000.7
Maximum: 1016.6 (17th, 18:30) Minimum: 976.9 (11th, 17:30)
Comments on February and Winter 2026
February was mostly cool, very dull and wet, until the last third of the month when days were very mild for the time of year. It was the equal 16th mildest February since 1844, with cool days but mild nights. The maximum temperature on the 21st (10.2 °C) was the first maximum above 10 °C since 15th December. Thereafter, there was some very mild days with maxima above 11 °C until the last day of the month. The mean maximum temperature was the 52nd highest on record, but the mean minimum temperature was the 4th highest on record. No doubt cloudy conditions prevented much colder temperatures at night. There was the 4th highest mean minimum temperature for February, surpassed only in 1846 (3.7 °C), 2024 (3.9 °C) and 1998 (4.3 °C). There was the lowest number of ground frosts (4) in February; the previous record holder was 2014 with 7 ground frosts. It was not a very wet month; even so, it was the 31st wettest February since 1850, so easily into the upper quartile. Only 5 days had no measurable rainfall. Although only three days had no sunshine at all, it was nevertheless a very dull month, the 16th dullest February on record since 1881. It was not until the 13th that the daily sunshine total exceeded 3 hours and indeed only three days in the entire month saw more than 3 hours sunshine.
It was the equal 13th warmest winter since 1844. The mean maximum temperature was the 45th highest on record, but the mean minimum temperature was the 13th highest on record. There were just 18 air frosts, the 8th equal lowest total on record (with 2022, 2024, 1863). It was the 44th wettest winter since 1851 (total: 191.4 mm; 32.1 mm (120%) above average). There were 63 rain days, 8 above average, and 43 wet days. The winter sunshine total (145.3 hours) was the 34th lowest on record since 1881. It is clear that cloudy conditions led to wet, dull weather throughout the winter, with cool (but not very cold) days and relatively mild nights for the time of year.
Emeritus Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University