January 2024
SUMMARY OF THE METEOROLOGICAL READINGS AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORY
January 2024
Temperatures (all temperatures in degrees Celsuis; all averages 1991-2020)
Mean daily maximum: 7.0 Difference from average: +0.2
Mean daily minimum: 2.0 Difference from average: +0.7
Mean air temperature: 4.5 Difference from average: +0.4
Absolute maximum: 13.1 (21st)
Absolute minimum: -5.0 (17th)
Mean grass minimum: 0.1 Difference from average: +0.5
Absolute grass minimum: -9.2 (17th)
Mean concrete minimum: 0.5
Absolute concrete minimum: -7.1 (17th)
Number of ground frosts: 13 Difference from average: -4
Number of air frosts: 6 Difference from average: -5
Mean soil temperature at 300 mm depth: 5.3
Mean soil temperature at 1000 mm depth: 7.2
Rainfall (all totals in millimetres; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 64.2 Difference from average: +10.8
Percentage of the average: 120%
Wettest day: 19.4 (29th)
Number of rain days (>0.1 mm): 20 Difference from average: +1
Number of wet days (=>1.0 mm): 12
3-month total rainfall to 31st January 2024: 267.8 Difference from average: 78.8
6-month total rainfall to 31st January 2024: 550.6 Difference from average: 241.2
12-month total rainfall to 31st January 2024: 864.8 Difference from average: 183.8
Sunshine (all totals in hours; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 69.6 Difference from average: +7.7
Percentage of the average: 113%
Mean daily sunshine: 2.2 Difference from average: +0.2
Sunniest day: 7.3 (15th)
Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 2
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 (kph; all data from the West Building roof, Lower Mountjoy campus)
Average wind speed: 6.7
Maximum gust: 91.7 (24th, 05:15, WSW)
Comments on January 2024
Despite some very cold days (although there were no ice days), January ended up with an above-average mean air temperature, given some very mild days towards the end of the month. The maximum absolute maximum of 13.1 °C on the 21st is the equal 40th warmest day on record for January since 1850 (n=5425). Days tended to be more above average than nights, although the mean maximum (7.0 °C) is only the equal 48th highest in 180 years. Both rainfall and sunshine were a little above average too. There was a gust of 91.7 kph on the 24th (Storm Jocelyn).
Emeritus Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University