October 2022
SUMMARY OF THE METEOROLOGICAL READINGS AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORY
October 2022
Temperatures (all temperatures in degrees Celsuis; all averages 1991-2020)
Mean daily maximum: 15.1 Difference from average: +1.6
Mean daily minimum: 8.5 Difference from average: +2.0
Mean air temperature: 11.8 Difference from average: +1.8
Absolute maximum: 17.7 (4th)
Absolute minimum: 2.6 (13th)
Mean grass minimum: 6.1 Difference from average: +1.6
Absolute grass minimum: -0.7 (13th)
Mean concrete minimum: 6.9
Absolute concrete minimum: 1.0 (13th)
Number of ground frosts: 1 Difference from average: -4
Number of air frosts: 0 Difference from average: -1
Mean soil temperature at 300 mm depth: 12.7
Mean soil temperature at 1000 mm depth: 13.4
Rainfall (all totals in millimetres; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 89.6 Difference from average: +25.9
Percentage of the average: 141%
Wettest day: 22.0 (20th)
Number of rain days (>0.1 mm): 24
Number of wet days (=>1.0 mm): 15
3-month total rainfall to 31st October 2022: 201.6 Difference from average: +15.0
6-month total rainfall to 31st October 2022: 341.8 Difference from average: -12.5
12-month total rainfall to 31st October 2022: 607.4 Difference from average: -73.6
Sunshine (all totals in hours; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 128.6 Difference from average: +30.0
Percentage of the average: 130%
Mean daily sunshine: 4.1 Difference from average: +1.0
Sunniest day: 8.3 (13th)
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: 4.7
Maximum gust: 67.6 (17th, 13:45, WSW)
Comments on October 2022
This is the 14th month in a row to experience above-average mean air temperature, a remarkable result given that the standard averaging period (1991-2020) is so recent. The mean air temperature is the 6th highest on record for October since 1843. The mean maximum is the equal 9th highest. Fourteen days had maximum temperatures above 15 °C but the absolute maximum was only 17.7 °C, equal 91st in the annual series; in all 220 October days have been warmer, with the maximum of 25.3 C on 1st October 2011. Reflecting such a mild month, the mean minimum temperature is the equal 8th highest on record since 1850; the absolute minimum (2.6 °C) is also the 8th highest in the annual series, with 8 absolute minima exceeding 10 °C this month. There were no air frosts and just one grass frost.
This was a wet month with six more rain days than normal, the equal 11th highest total of October rain days on record. It was the 40th wettest October on record (n=173) so just into the upper quartile. Nevertheless, it was a sunny month, well above average, the 7th sunniest October on record since 1880.
Emeritus Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University