January 2023

SUMMARY OF THE METEOROLOGICAL READINGS AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORY

January 2023

Temperatures (all temperatures in degrees Celsius; all averages 1991-2020)

Mean daily maximum: 7.8     Difference from average: +0.9

Mean daily minimum: 2.0      Difference from average: + 0.7

Mean air temperature: 4.9      Difference from average: +0.8

Absolute maximum: 12.7 (10^th)

Absolute minimum: -3.9 (17^th)

Mean grass minimum: 0.5      Difference from average: +0.9

Absolute grass minimum: -7.4 (17^th)

Mean concrete minimum: 0.2

Absolute concrete minimum: -6.3 (17^th)

Number of ground frosts: 12  Difference from average: -5

Number of air frosts: 10         Difference from average: -3

Mean soil temperature at 300 mm depth: 4.9

Mean soil temperature at 1000 mm depth: 6.8

Rainfall (all totals in millimetres; all averages 1991-2020)

Total for the month: 36.6        Difference from average: -16.4

Percentage of the average: 69 %

Wettest day: 10.6 (11^th)

Number of rain days (>0.2 mm): 21               Difference from average: +2

Number of wet days (=>1.0 mm): 9               Difference from average: -3

3-month total rainfall to 31^st January 2023: 200.8       Difference from average: +11.8

6-month total rainfall to 31^st January 2023: 402.4       Difference from average: +93.0

12-month total rainfall to 31^st January 2023: 675.2     Difference from average: -5.8

Sunshine (all totals in hours; all averages 1991-2020)

Total for the month: 98.6                    Difference from average: +36.7

Percentage of the average:  159%

Mean daily sunshine: 3.2                   Difference from average: +1.2

Sunniest day: 7.6 (17^th)

Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 0

Wind (kph; all data from the West Building roof, Lower Mountjoy campus)

 

Average wind speed: 7.4

Maximum gust: 80.5 (12^th, 22:30, W)

Comments on January 2023

 

Despite some cold days in the middle of the month, this was the 23^rd mildest January since 1844, with the 22^nd highest mean maximum and the equal 25^th highest mean minimum air temperature. There were no ‘ice days’ when the maximum remained below 0°C. There were 12 ground frosts, the 16^th lowest number since 1875. It was drier than normal, the 61^st driest January since 1850. It was not as sunny as January 2022, the sunniest January on record at Durham, but nevertheless the total was well above average, making this the second sunniest January on record since 1874!

Emeritus Professor Tim Burt

Department of Geography

Durham University

[email protected]