November 2023
SUMMARY OF THE METEOROLOGICAL READINGS AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORY
November 2023
Temperatures (all temperatures in degrees Celsius; all averages 1991-2020)
Mean daily maximum: 9.8 Difference from average: +0.2
Mean daily minimum: 3.8 Difference from average: +0.2
Mean air temperature: 6.8 Difference from average: +0.2
Absolute maximum: 14.7 (23rd)
Absolute minimum: -1.5 (29th)
Mean grass minimum: 2.0 Difference from average: +0.3
Absolute grass minimum: -4.9 (29th)
Mean concrete minimum: 3.6
Absolute concrete minimum: -3.7 (29th)
Number of ground frosts: 9 Difference from average: -2
Number of air frosts: 4 Difference from average: -1
Mean soil temperature at 300 mm depth: 9.5
Mean soil temperature at 1000 mm depth: 11.2
Rainfall (all totals in millimetres; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 86.0 Difference from average: +12.6
Percentage of the average: 117%
Wettest day: 13.8 (2nd)
Number of rain days (>0.1 mm): 21 Difference from average: +2
Number of wet days (=>1.0 mm): 13
3-month total rainfall to 30th November 2023: 286.2 Difference from average: +91.0
6-month total rainfall to 30th November 2023: 532.8 Difference from average: +148.2
12-month total rainfall to 30th November 2023: 779.8 Difference from average: +98.8
Sunshine (all totals in hours; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 76.2 Difference from average: +8.1
Percentage of the average: 112%
Mean daily sunshine: 2.5 Difference from average: +0.3
Sunniest day: 6.8 (10th)
Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 1
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: 5.2
Maximum gust: 77.2 (13th, 17:15, WNW)
Comments on November 2023
Mean air temperature in November was only 0.2 °C above the 1991-2020 average; nevertheless, this was the 42nd warmest November on record since 1843, so just into the upper quartile. Like the previous two autumnal months, November started very mild, but the end of the month was distinctly chilly. Even so, the absolute maximum came quite late in the month, 14.7 °C on the 23rd being the equal 85th warmest November day on record in over 3600 November days. There were 9 grass frosts, the equal 32nd lowest total on record. Precipitation was again above average, the equal 39th wettest November on record. However, sunshine was also above average, the 27th sunniest November since 1880.
It was a very mild autumn, the mean air temperature of 10.98 °C being the 7th highest on record. It was also a very wet autumn, the 13th wettest on record since 1868 (286.2 mm), just a few millimetres less than last year, 92 mm above average, almost half as much again as the average amount. Notwithstanding the high rainfall, the amount of sunshine was only just below average (297.2 hours, 99% of average).
Emeritus Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University