October 2025

SUMMARY OF THE METEOROLOGICAL READINGS AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORY

 October 2025

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

Mean daily maximum: 14.0   Difference from average: +0.5

Mean daily minimum: 7.7      Difference from average: +1.2

Mean air temperature: 10.9    Difference from average: +0.8

Absolute maximum: 18.6 (6^th)

Absolute minimum: 2.1 (30^th)

Mean grass minimum: 5.9      Difference from average: +1.4

Absolute grass minimum: -1.1 (30^th)

Mean concrete minimum: 7.0

Absolute concrete minimum: 0.1 (30^th)

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: 12.9

Mean soil temperature at 1000 mm depth: 13.6

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

Total for the month: 47.0        Difference from average: -16.7

Percentage of the average: 74%

Wettest day: 14.0 (19^th)

Number of rain days (>0.1 mm): 15   Difference from average: -3

Number of wet days (=>1.0 mm): 10  Difference from average: -2

3-month total rainfall to 31^st October 2025: 148.4      Difference from average: -31.2

6-month total rainfall to 31^st October 2025: 260.0      Difference from average: -124.6

12-month total rainfall to 31^st October 2025: 450.2    Difference from average: -204.8

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

Total for the month: 83.7                    Difference from average: -14.9

Percentage of the average: 85%

Mean daily sunshine: 2.7       Difference from average: -0.5

Sunniest day: 7.5 (12^th)           Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 4

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

 Average wind speed: 1.59

Maximum gust: 20.1 (28^th)

Pressure (mbar)

Average: 1011.1

Maximum: 1033.9 (08:45-09:30, 11^th)  Minimum: 981.1 (18:15, 3^rd)

 

 

Comments on October 2025

As usual in October, temperatures fell as the month wore on, but the rate of cooling was not dramatic, and this ended up the 19^th warmest October since 1850. The mean maximum was the 30^th highest and the mean minimum was the 16^th highest. Relatively warm nights are confirmed by the 12^th highest mean grass minimum since 1874. There were no air frosts and only one ground frost, on the 30^th. It was the =69^th driest October since 1850 but also the 49^th dullest October in 145 years.

Emeritus Professor Tim Burt

Department of Geography

Durham University

[email protected]