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| January 2000 Monthly Assessment
issued 1/2/2000 |
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Monthly summaries available for: England
and Wales | Scotland | Northern
Ireland
Homogenous time series based upon selected station data:
CET | England and Wales
rainfall
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| Dry, sunny and generally mild.
Mostly rather cold and frosty for two weeks after mid month.
Very mild closing days with severe gales in the north. |
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Diary of highlights
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1st - 9th This period was mostly
mild or very mild but generally unsettled as a series
of Atlantic fronts crossed the region. Most of the rain
and showers were in the north and west with much of England
staying mainly dry with sunny periods. South-east England
(apart from some rain on the 3rd) also stayed mainly dry
and had the best of the sunshine. Llanbedr (Gwynedd) reported
a gust of 76 kn on the 5th. Widespread frost developed
after the passage of a cold front on the 8th.
10th - 13th After a frosty start on the
10th, a front moved erratically south-east which gave very
heavy rain in Cumbria and North Wales where local flooding was
reported. Capel Curig (Gwynedd) received 180 mm in 60 hours.
It was mostly cloudy and rather cold, and on the 12th a
significant rain band affected many central and northern
parts, with snow on high ground.
14th - 21st High pressure was the
dominating feature with an intense anticyclone centred just to
the west of the UK. Temperatures were generally near or rather
below normal, with fairly widespread frost at night. Variable
cloud cover allowed good sunny periods in places and winds
were mostly light between NE and NW. Although mainly dry,
patchy rain or drizzle broke out from time to time especially
in the north and west and around North Sea coasts.
22nd - 24th A low moved south over the North Sea
on the 22nd introducing some wintry showers especially in
eastern areas. Hail and thunder was reported in London.
Extreme south-east England saw some snow flurries during the
24th as patchy rain broke out in the north.
25th - 27th A ridge of high pressure
gave mostly sunny but rather cold weather with widespread
overnight frost (severe in places) especially in the south.
Mist and fog patches affected some places. Redhill (Surrey)
recorded -9.4 °C on the 27th.
28th - 31st A very mild but disturbed end to
the month with strong winds and some heavy rain in
north-western areas. A gust of 68 kn was reported from Leeds
on the 29th.
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| Statistical details (using best available
data/estimates): updated 2003 |
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England & Wales Mean Temperature Series (series
began in 1961). The value for the month was 4.6 °C, which
is 1.1 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is in the above
average category.
England & Wales Rainfall Series (series began
in 1961). The total for the month was 54.5 mm, which is 60 %
of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well below average
category.
England & Wales Sunshine Series (series began
in 1961). The total for the month was 66.2 hours, which is
136 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the exceptionally
above average category. 2nd sunniest in series, sunniest
1991 with 66.3 hours.
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| Scotland |
| Cold and dry start, then unsettled and windy. |
| Diary of Highlights |
1st - 12th The beginning of the month
was dominated by familiar west and south-westerly winds
bringing a succession of wet and windy conditions. Gales
brought gusts of 106 m.p.h. to Lerwick on the 3rd.
13th
- 26th An anticyclone to the west of the British Isles
gave a long spell of dry weather with light northerly winds
and prolonged sunshine to the south of the Scottish Highlands.
The anticyclonic spell was not cold, as the air crossing
Scotland originated from the mid-Atlantic. This period was
also responsible for Paisley enjoying its sunniest January
since records began in 1884.
27th - 31st A return to the wet and
windy conditions, a notable feature being a gust of 112 m.p.h.
at Kirkwall on the 29th. Frequent rain during this period,
together with that in the early part of the month, ensured
that rainfall in some western parts of Scotland was above
average.
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Statistical details (using
best available data/estimates): updated 2003
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Scotland Mean Temperature Series (series
began in 1961). The value for the month was 3.8 °C, which is
1.7 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well above
average category. Warmest since 1990, when 4.1 °C was
recorded.
Scotland Rainfall Series (series began in 1961).
The total for the month was 192.3 mm, which is 124 % of the
1961-1990 average, which is in the above average category.
Scotland Sunshine Series (series began in 1961).
The total for the month was 42.9 hours, which is 124 % of the
1961-1990 average, which is in the well above average
category.
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| Northern
Ireland |
| Mild and unsettled at first and again at the
end of the month. Colder but dry and settled through the
second and third weeks. |
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Diary of Highlights
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1st - 10th Changeable with frequent
changes from mild and dull weather to cooler, brighter
conditions. Temperatures overall above average with only
slight ground frosts recorded. Gales were recorded locally on
the 7th.
11th A minor depression brought
persistent heavy rain across virtually all areas (with the
exception of the far north). The wettest day of the month.
12th - 14th High pressure in
mid-Atlantic resulted in a cold northerly air flow across the
British Isles with wintry showers affecting northern areas on
the 12th and 13th overnight.
15th - 26th An
intense anticyclone centred just west of Ireland gave
predominantly dry and settled weather. Widespread overnight
frosts were recorded on the 15th and 16th, and again on the
25th and 26th, with freezing fog affecting many areas
throughout the day of Tuesday 25th.
27th - 31st Changeable with periods of
rain affecting all areas, but with only small amounts of
rainfall recorded across eastern areas. This was also the
mildest period during the month with temperatures reaching 12
or 13 °C locally.
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Statistical details (using
best available data/estimates): updated 2003
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Northern Ireland Mean Temperature Series (series
began in 1961). The value for the month was 4.8 °C, which is
1.1 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is in the above
average category.
Northern Ireland Rainfall Series (series began in
1961). The total for the month was 63.8 mm, which is 55 % of
the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well below average
category.
Northern Ireland Sunshine Series (series began in
1961). The total for the month was 34.9 hours, which is 80 %
of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well below average
category.
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Homogeneous series based upon selected station data: updated
2003 |
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Central England Temperature (series begins in 1659).
The mean value for the month was 4.9 °C which is 1.1 °C above
the 1961-90 normal of 3.8 °C and is in the above average
category. Others: 1999/5.5, 1998/5.2, 1997/2.5 °C.
England and Wales Rainfall (series begins in 1766).
The total for the month was 46.4 mm, which is 51 % of the
1961-90 average and is in the well below average category.
Others: 1999/128.6, 1998/120.4, 1997/16.5 mm.
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| Note: Diary values are provisional based
on data available at the time. |
