Last month
Photo: After the harvest, Shaftesbury Farm
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Here is a record of the weather last month.
Hover on graph lines to see the actual reading values.
Temperature
These are the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded each day.
The average mean temperature for January in our records is 4.1°C. The average maximum for the month is 6.6°C and the average minimum is 1.8°C.
The maximum recorded was 15.4°C in 2022, and the minimum was -10.0°C in 1979.
The lowest day maximum recorded was a chilly -8.0°C in 1987, and the highest overnight low was 12.8°C in 2018.
Around one January in three has at least one ‘ice day’ when the temperature never rises above zero. There have been just two years without an air frost in January.
Our records show that the average maximum temperature for February is 7.0°C, the average minimum is 1.6°C, and the mean is 4.3°C.
The highest temperature recorded in February was 19.0°C in 1998, and the lowest on record was -9.0°C in 1986. That was also our coldest February overall, with a mean temperature for the month of -1.6°C. An ‘ice day’ is one where the temperature never rises above zero all day: there have been 7 years up to 2023 – that’s less than one February in five – with at least one ice day recorded. Conversely, only in February 1995 has the temperature fallen to zero but no further.
Our records show that the average daily maximum temperature for March is 10.2°C, the average minimum is 3.2°C, and the mean is 6.7°C.
The highest temperature recorded in March was 23.9°C in 2021, and the lowest on record was -6.0°C in 1986. The coldest March overall was however 2013, with a mean temperature for the month of 2.9°C. An ‘ice day’ (where the temperature never rises above zero) has been recorded only in 1986 and 2013. Conversely, there have been six years without any frost in March.
Our records show that the average daily maximum temperature for April is 13.4°C, the average minimum is 4.7°C, and the mean is 9.1°C.
The highest temperature recorded in April was 26.2°C in 2011, and the lowest on record was -3.0°C in 1996. The coldest April overall was 1986, with a mean temperature for the month of 6.3°C. There is an air frost in April roughly two years in three.
Our records show that the average daily maximum temperature for May is 16.8°C, the average minimum is 7.7°C, and the mean is 12.3°C.
The highest temperature recorded in May was 32.1°C in 2005, and the lowest on record was -0.6°C on 12th May 2010, our latest Spring frost. The only other year to record an air frost in May was 1980 with -0.5°C on 8th.
Gardeners please note that we don’t keep records of ground frosts, which may occur if the air temperature falls to about 3°C or less.
Our records show that the average daily maximum temperature for June is 19.7°C, the average minimum is 10.7°C, and the mean is 15.2°C.
The highest temperature recorded in June was 33.5°C in 2022, and the lowest on record was 3.0°C in 1989.
Our records show that the average daily maximum temperature for August is 19.7°C, the average minimum is 10.7°C, and the mean is 15.2°C.
The highest temperature recorded in August was 33.5°C in 2022, and the lowest on record was 3.0°C in 1989. There have been four ‘tropical nights’ (where the temperature never falls below 20°C) recorded in August, one in each of 1990, 1998, 2004 and 2020.
Our records show that the average daily maximum temperature for September is 18.5°C, the average minimum is 10.6°C, and the mean is 14.6°C.
The highest temperature recorded in September was a remarkable 34.2°C on 9th September 2023, the fourth of five consecutive September days peaking over 30°C; there has only been one other September day over 30°C, and the latest one of the year, on 15th September 2020. The lowest temperature recorded in September was 3.0°C in 1979.
Our records show that the average daily maximum temperature for October is 14.0°C, the average minimum is 7.9°C, and the mean is 10.9°C.
The highest temperature recorded in October was 27.6°C in 2011, and the lowest was -1.3°C in 2008. There have been just five October days with an air frost (temperature falling below 0°C), in 1983, 1993, 1997, and two consecutive days in 2008.
Our records show that the average daily maximum temperature for November is 9.6°C, the average minimum is 4.5°C, and the mean is 7.0°C.
The highest temperature recorded in November was 21.4°C in 2008, and the lowest was -5.5°C in 2010. There is an air frost (temperature falling below 0°C) in around two thirds of our Novembers.
Our records show that the average December has a maximum temperature of 12.5°C, a minimum of -3.3°C, and the mean is 4.8°C.
The highest temperature recorded in December was 15.0°C in 1985, and the coolest high for the month was in 2010 with 8.0°C. The lowest on record was -9.0°C in 1981, and the warmest was 1988 with a monthly low of 1.0°C – one of only two Decembers when the temperature never fell below 0°C.
The lowest day max was ‑2.0°C in 1991. An ‘ice day’ is one where the temperature never rises above zero all day: there have been 13 years up to 2023 – that’s one December in three – with at least one ice day recorded.
Rainfall
This shows the daily rainfall accumulations.
The average rainfall for January in our records is 61.5mm. This has varied from just 17.0mm in 1987 to a drenching 150.4mm in 1988.
The average wettest day in January sees 12.4mm, but in 1982 the wettest day recorded 25.4mm – exactly an inch.
In a typical January it rains on 18.6 days; in 1992 it rained on just 8 days, but in 1998 it rained on 25 days.
The average rainfall for February is 45.0mm, making this our driest month, even taking into account that it is also the shortest month. This has varied from just 3.6mm in 2023 to 108.9mm in 2013.
The wettest February day on record was 25.4mm in 1990.
On average it rains on 14.3 days in February.
The average rainfall for March is 45.4mm, making this our driest month in terms of rain per day. This has varied from 8.8mm in 2011 to 100.6mm in 2023.
The wettest March day on record was 25.4mm in 1989. On average it rains on 15.7 days in March; this has ranged from 4 days in 1993 to 27 days in 1981.
The average rainfall for April is 50.6mm. This has varied from just 1.0mm in 2021, the driest month ever in our records, to 138.5mm in 2012.
The wettest April day on record was 27.9mm in 1991. On average it rains on 14.6 days in April; this has ranged from 2 days in 2011 to 28 days in 1998.
The average rainfall for May is 56.1mm. This has varied from just 1.3mm in 1989 to 135.9mm in 1983.
The wettest May day on record was a soaking 40.1mm in 2007. On average it rains on 14.0 days in May; this has ranged from 2 days in 1990 to 22 days in 1983.
The average rainfall for June is 56.5mm. This has varied from 5.6mm in 1996 to 127.6mm in 1997.
The wettest June day on record was 37.4mm in 2006.
On average it rains on 13.7 days in June; this has ranged from 5 days in 1996 to 26 days in 1991.
The average rainfall for July is 53.2mm.
The wettest July day on record was a drenching 59.0mm on 29th July 2007, the wettest ever day in our records, and helping to make that month the wettest July in our records too.
By contrast in 2022 we recorded just 1.8mm in July. On average it rains on 12.9 days in July, the fewest of any month; this has ranged from 3 days in 1983 to 23 days in 2012.
The average rainfall for August is 56.6mm. The driest was 2.9mm in 1995, and the wettest was 124.6mm in 2010.
The wettest August day was in 2022 with 48.0mm recorded. On average it rains on 13.3 days in August; this has ranged from 4 days in 2003 to 24 days in 2008.
The average rainfall for September is 59.4mm. This has varied from 11.6mm in 1997 to 153.3mm in 2000.
The wettest September day on record was 48.5mm in 1992. On average it rains on 13.6 days in September; this has ranged from 6 days in 2002 to 20 days in 1993.
The average rainfall for October is 69.7mm, making this comfortably our wettest month. This has varied from 10.4mm in 1995 to 161.7mm in 2000, the wettest ever month in our records.
The wettest October day on record was 42.4mm in 2000. On average it rains on 15.8 days in October; this has ranged from 6 days in 1995 to 26 days in 2012.
The average rainfall for November is 62.1mm, making this our second wettest month. This has varied from 12.2mm in 2021 to 150.8mm in 2009.
The wettest November day on record was 27.5mm in 2009. On average it rains on 14.3 days in November; this has ranged from 6 days in 1989 to 27 days in 2009.
The average rainfall for December according to our records is 59.1mm. The driest was 11.9mm in 1983, and the wettest was 124.2mm in 2022.
There are on average 18.4 days on which rain falls in December, varying from 8 in 1991 to 25 in 1993.
The average wettest day of the month sees 13.1mm of rain, but in 1985 we recorded 27.9mm in one day.
Barometric pressure
Shows the average daily barometric pressure in hectoPascals (hPa) – 1 hPa is equal to 1 millibar (mb). The average air pressure is 1013.25 hPa, so values lower than this normally represent low pressure, and higher values represent high pressure.
The mean air pressure from our records for January is 1015.8 hPa. The lowest recorded was 961.9 hPa in 2009, and the highest was 1051.1 in 2020, the highest pressure we’ve ever recorded, and close to the UK national record set the same day.
The mean air pressure from our records for February is 1015.5 hPa. The lowest recorded was 980.8 hPa in 2010, and the highest was 1045.5 in 2023.
The mean air pressure from our records for March is 1015.3 hPa. The lowest recorded was 968.2 hPa in 2008, and the highest was 1043.0 in 2022.
The mean air pressure from our records for April is 1014.9 hPa. The lowest recorded was 978.1 hPa in 2004, and the highest was 1035.3 in 2022.
The mean air pressure from our records for May is 1015.1 hPa. The lowest recorded was 978.7 hPa in 2004, and the highest was 1037.5 in 2020.
The mean air pressure from our records for June is 1016.1 hPa. The lowest recorded was 991.0 hPa in 2004, and the highest was 1037.1 in 2005.
The mean air pressure from our records for July is 1014.9 hPa. The lowest recorded was 992.3 hPa in 2011, and the highest was 1033.4 in 2013.
The mean air pressure from our records for August is 1014.2 hPa. The lowest recorded was 983.8 hPa in 2023, and the highest was 1035.5 in 2021.
The mean air pressure from our records for September is 1016.6 hPa, the highest of all the months. The lowest recorded was 985.6 hPa in 2012, and the highest was 1037.1 in 2009.
The mean air pressure from our records for October is 1014.5 hPa. The lowest recorded was 974.4 hPa in 2023, and the highest was 1037.5 in 2007.
The mean air pressure from our records for November is 1012.2 hPa, making this the month with the lowest average pressure. The lowest recorded was 954.7 hPa in 2023, the lowest ever pressure in our records thanks to Storm Ciarán, and the highest was 1014.1 in 2020.
The mean air pressure from our records for December is 1013.9 hPa. The lowest recorded was 972.2 hPa in 2020, and the highest was 1043.9 in 2006.
Wind strength and direction
Shown below are the average wind speed and maximum gust each day, and the main directions from which the wind was blowing.
0°/360° is North, 90° is East, 180° is South, and 270° is West.
The highest wind gust in our January records was 61mph in 2007 – that’s Storm Force 10 on the Beaufort scale, and the highest we’ve ever recorded, although were equivalent records being kept in October 1987, the Great Storm would surely have exceeded that.
The average daily maximum has varied from 15.0mph (Force 4) in 2022 to 28.5mph (Force 6) in 2007.
The highest wind gust in our February records was 44mph in 2007 – that’s Gale Force 8 on the Beaufort scale.
The average daily maximum has varied from 15.1mph (Force 4) in 2023 to 26.9mph (Force 6) in 2020.
The highest wind gust in our March records was 53mph in 2004 – that’s Severe Gale Force 9 on the Beaufort scale. The average daily maximum has varied from 16.8mph (Force 4) in 2012 to 27.7mph (Force 6) in 2008.
The highest wind gust in our April records was 42mph in 2004 – that’s Gale Force 8 on the Beaufort scale. The average daily maximum has varied from 16.0mph (Force 4) in 2012 to 24.0mph (Force 5) in 2013.
The highest wind gust in our May records was 37mph in 2009 – that’s Force 7 on the Beaufort scale. The average daily maximum has varied from 15.3mph (Force 4) in 2022 to 22.5mph (Force 5) in 2009.
The highest wind gust in our June records was 40mph in 2004 – that’s Gale Force 8 on the Beaufort scale. The average daily maximum has varied from 12.6mph (Force 4) in 2021 to 22.7mph (Force 5) in 2012.
The highest wind gust in our July records was 40mph in 2004 – that’s Force 6 on the Beaufort scale. The average daily maximum has varied from 14.1mph (Force 4) in 2021 to 21.3mph (Force 5) in 2007.
The highest wind gust in our August records was 38mph in 2007 – that’s Force 7 on the Beaufort scale. The average daily maximum has varied from 13.7mph (Force 4) in 2022 to 20.5mph (Force 5) in 2006.
The highest wind gust in our September records was 42mph in 2011 – that’s Gale Force 8 on the Beaufort scale. The average daily maximum has varied from 12.3mph (Force 4) in 2022 to 20.5mph (Force 5) in 2011.
The highest wind gust in our October records was 57mph in 2013 – that’s Severe Gale Force 10 on the Beaufort scale – but had we been collecting wind speeds when the Great Storm struck in October 1987 that would surely have been beaten. The average daily maximum has varied from 14.3mph (Force 4) in 2007 to 22.5mph (Force 5) in 2013.
The highest wind gust in our November records was 46mph in 2012 – that’s Gale Force 8 on the Beaufort scale. The average daily maximum has varied from 10.2mph (Force 3) in 2022 – the calmest ever month in our records – to 25.0mph (Force 6) in 2009.
The highest wind gust in our December records was 56mph in 2007 – that’s Storm Force 10 on the Beaufort scale.
The average daily maximum has varied from 13.4mph (Force 4) in 2022 to 26.8mph (Force 6) in 2011.
Humidity
This shows the average relative humidity each day. Relative humidity represents the amount of water vapour in the air – when 100% is reached, the water vapour starts to condense out as fog or cloud. Cool air can carry less water vapour than warm air, so as warm moist air cools, the relative humidity rises, and if it reaches 100%, fog or cloud will start to form.