************************************************************************************** MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT FEBRUARY 2000 TEXT-ONLY VERSION Hard copy versions of this report, including graphics, can be obtained from the weather station at the following address: Pitsford Hall weather station Pitsford Hall Moulton Lane Pitsford Northampton NN6 9AX Enclosing a stamped address A4 envelope. The full register can be downloaded separately to this report from this web site. If you encounter any problems in downloading data or viewing the files, please contact the station via the answerphone on 07967 438314. For official purposes, data entries should always be double checked with the station office. ************************************************************************************** Pitsford Hall Weather Station Authority: Northamptonshire Grammar School Office: Pitsford Hall Northamptonshire Grammar School Pitsford Northampton NN6 9AX Tel. 01604 880306 (Ext 314) Fax. 01604 882212 Answerphone. 07967 438314 (local forecast and readings) E-mail weather@brixworth.demon.co.uk Web site http://www.brixworth.demon.co.uk/weather Registered member of the Climatological Observers Link Corporate Member of the Royal Meteorological Society Station grading: A Climatological Station No: 91012 Station Manager: M J Lewis, BSc(Hons), FRGS Observers: Richard Carruthers Charlie Cockrell Michael Franklin Thomas Gutteridge Robert Illingworth Technician: Mrs S West Groundsman: Mr R Green Brief Climatological Summary Despite a brief cold spell between the 2nd and 4th, February began reasonably mild with temperatures climbing to reach the highest daytime maximum of 12.1C on the 8th. From then on, temperatures began to fall consistently resulting in some severe ground frosts during the third week. However, daytime air maxima retained respectably high values and minima were also rather modest with -1.5C being the lowest recorded on the 20th. The fourth week saw a recovery of temperatures with the last air frost recorded on the 22nd, and the last ground frost occurring on the 26th. In general, the month was 1.4C warmer than the 61-90 average and the warmest February since 1998 (7.2C). The month was particularly wet. 57.9mm fell, including one notable fall of 12.2mm on the 27th which placed the river Great Ouse near Brackley on red alert. The rain towards the end of the month was also associated with some strong winds which made driving to work in the early morning particularly difficult. However, it was the windy conditions between the 7th and 10th which caused most disruption. Gusts reached gale force on 8th (57mph) and 9th (52mph) with a Met Office gale warning in force for the morning of the 10th. February also continued a succession of months with greater than average sunshine. With 81.1 hours recorded at Pitsford Hall, this was Northampton's sunniest February since 1983 (89 hours). Statistical Analysis of Air and Ground Observations - February 2000 Temperatures: Mean Max: 9.2C Mean Min: 2.6C Mean Temp: 5.9C (+1.4) Highest Max: 12.1C on 8th Lowest Max: 6.5C on 16th Highest Min: 7.0C on 1st Lowest Min: -1.5C on 20th Relative Humidity: Humidities observed at 0830hrs: Max: 99% on 23rd Min: 69% on 9th Mean: 84.6% Lowest RH (hygrograph record): 52% on 8th Rainfall: Total for Month: 57.9mm (mean comparison: 143%) Max: 12.2mm on 27th Rain Days: 19 Wet Days: 14 Duration: 44.6 hours Rainfall acidity: Lowest pH: 5.50 on 27th Winds: Max Max Gust: 57mph on 8th Max wind speed at observation: 20mph on 27th Mean wind speed at observation: 9.1mph Max mean 24 hour wind speed: 15mph on 9th Mean mean 24 hour wind speed: 8.7mph Directions: north 5, northeast 3, east 0, southeast 0, south 0, southwest 13, west 2, northwest 6, calm 0, variable 0 Pressures: Max: 1032 mb on 3rd Min: 994 mb on 29th Mean: 1016.3mb Sunshine: Total: 81.1 hrs (130.6%) Most in a day: 8.4 hrs on 25th No of sunless days: 5 Cloud Cover: Mean cloud cover at observation: 67% (5.3 oktas) Ground Observations: Lowest Grass Min: -6.2C on 22nd Highest Grass Min: 6.5C on 8th Mean Grass Min: -1.4C Lowest Concrete Min: -9.0C on 17th Highest Concrete Min: 6.9C on 5th Mean Concrete Min: -0.2C Earth Temperatures: Bare Earth mean: 4.1C max: 8.9C on 6th min: -0.1C on 17th 5cm mean: 3.3C max: 6.5C in 6th min: 0.5C on 20th 10cm mean: 4.1C max: 7.0C on 5th min: 0C on 20th,22nd 20cm mean: 4.9C max: 7.2C on 5th min: 2.3C on 16th 30cm mean: 5.3C max: 7.0C on 5th min: 3.6C on 16th 40cm mean: 5.5C max: 7.3C on 7th min: 4.1C on 11th,17th 50cm mean: 5.8C max: 7.0C on 8th min: 4.7C on 19th 100cm mean: 6.1C max: 7.0C on 28th min: 5.2C on 17th Other observations: Days with fog recorded at 0830 hours: 1 Mean visibility: 6 (moderate, up to 7km) Days with air frosts: 5 Days with ground frosts: 19 Duration of air frost: 24.0 hrs Days with snow falling: 1 (16th) Days with snow lying at observation: 1 (17th:1.5cm) Days with hail observed: 1 (10th) Days with thunder heard: 0 Days with lightning observed: 0 Gales: 0 Evaporation (tank): Suspended until further notice. Thunder Report No reports of thunder were received this month. United Kingdom Climatological Analysis - February 2000 The 1st began cloudy everywhere with rain over Cent. Scotland and W Ireland; this pushed SE during the day, introducing clearer, showery air in its wake. By midnight mild temperatures and the rain were confined to the SE quarter of England, SW England and S Wales, with hail showers being reported over N and W coasts of Scotland. |Pressure fell to 988.1 mb at Lerwick by 1200GMT. (Colwyn Bay 14C, Aboyne 1C, Eskdalemuir 34mm, Stornoway 4.5h.) An area of rain cleared S England during mid-morning on the 2nd with much of England and Wales then having a sunny day. There were frequent showers over Scotland and N Ireland, these falling as snow over high ground and with hail in the Northern Isles (where snow and thunder were also observed). (Penzance 11C, Aboyne 0C, Clacton 19mm, Saunton Sands 8.2h.) The 3rd dawned with patchy cloud cover over the British Isles; this increased in extent during the morning, followed by rain and rising temperatures, from the SW. During the evening. clearer, drier conditions reached SW England and parts of S Wales, with pressure rising to 1036mb in the Channel Islands by midnight. Guernsey 11C, Redhill 0C, Capel Curig 8mm, Herne Bay 5.7h.) The 4th was a mild day across the British Isles, especially in the SW airflow to the leeside of mountains (Aberdeen reported 15C). Rain cleared SE England during the morning, while parts of Ireland and W Scotland had rain or drizzle for much of the day and frontal systems moved NE across N districts bringing gale force winds on exposed coasts. Yellow-orange dust was deposited at Llansadwrn (Anglesey), with similar reports from Lisburn (Co. Antrim), Brampton (Cumbria), Wigan and Leeds, suggesting a belt of deposition across northern parts, possibly of Saharan origin. At Dun Laoghaire 17.2C was measured, close to the record set in February 1998 of 17.5C (this was a fohn effect with a combination of warm moist SW air flowing off the Dublin mountains. (Dun Laoghaire 17.2C, Hemsby 5C, Lusa 36mm, Margate 4.8h.) A cloudy start to the 5th led to some some overnight fog in S Scotland. There were falls of light rain and drizzle over parts of Scotland overnight. These intensified during the day as a complex low pressure area moved NE off NW Scotland, bringing rain to Scotland, Ireland, Wales and N England. Gusts to 60kn occurred in NW Scotland. With most of England having a cloudy day, it remained generally mild. (Kinloss 13C, Redhill 2C, Lusa 44mm, Folkestone 6.1h.) The 6th was another cloudy day with rain falling everywhere at some time during the day. After a mild start everywhere, a cold front moving E across the British Isles was followed by a thinning of the cloud over Wales, S and Cent. England during the late afternoon and into the evening, leading to a noticeable fall in temperature here. Strong winds occurred over Norther Ireland during the afternoon. Pressure at 1800GMT was down to 978mb over the Hebrides. (Leeming 13C, Fyvie Castle 1C, Shap fell 13mm, Margate 4.8h.) The 7th dawned free of air frost, with an area of rain advancing E across Ireland. By midday this had extended across most of England and Scotland, with showers breaking out over Ireland once the rain area had cleared. Gusts to 70kn were reported in the SW to W airflow, with 69kn at Malin Head at 1800GMT; later in the evening there was a 92mph gust at Leeds. (Penzance 13C, Wick and Loch Glascarnoch 1C, Capel Curig 24mm, Colwyn Bay 3.9h.) Frontal rain areas crossed the British Isles during the 8th, accompanied by gusty winds and introducing cooler, showery conditions in their wake. However, very mild weather occurred over S England before the colder air advanced. Gusts recorded included 68kn at Belmullet at 0900GMT, while one of 80mph was reported from Macclesfield. Thunder accompanied the showers in W Scotland and in parts of N Ireland and N England during the afternoon and evening. The showers fell as snow and hail in these areas, with blowing snow causing traffic disruption in Cent. and S Scotland during the evening. (Southend-on-Sea 15.2C and Herne Bay 15C, Baltasound -1C, Cardinham 17mm, Isle of Man 6.8h.) A brisk W to SW airflow dominated the weather on the 9th, with the result that there was a general lack of air frost despite clear skies before dawn over large parts of the British Isles. There were rain and showers over Scotland, falling as snow over high ground, during the morning, while cloud became more extensive everywhere. During the afternoon the wind increased in the W (Belmullet and Stornoway reporting gusts over 60kn) and during the evening mean speeds of 30kn were widespread over Scotland, Ireland, N and SW England and Wales. (Penzance 12C, Eskdalemuir 0C, Loch Glascarnoch 20mm, Herne Bay 7.2h.) A cold front moved E across the British Isles on the 10th, accompanied by moderate to heavy rain in places, with hail and strong winds. The Liverpool Echo reported that a tornado swept through the Leasowe area of the Wirral causing thousands of pounds of damage around 0615GMT; this included several chimney stacks which where sent crashing through into living rooms and damage to roof tiles, guttering and walls at dozens of homes in the area. Heavy hail fell Cumbria and Wigan. Gales were recorded in exposed W and N coastal areas, with gusts over 60kn. Skies cleared following the passage of the front as dry air was advected across the British Isles; at 1500GMT dew points in the East Midlands were down to -4C with temperatures of +7C. Wintry showers fell over N and Cent. parts of Scotland during the afternoon and evening, with thunder heard in parts of N Scotland. (Culdrose 12C, North Rona 0C, Loch Glascarnoch 35mm, Isle of Man 7.3h.) Clear skies overnight over most of the British Isles led to low temperatures by dawn on the 11th, with an air frost in parts of SE England. During the morning, cloud spread from the W to all but E England and SE England; light showers fell in W Scotland. During the evening, heavier rain fell in parts of Ireland and Scotland from a cold front, with gusts to 50kn in Scotland; thunder was heard in W Ireland. (Poole 12C, Redhill -5C, Loch Glascarnoch 15mm, Bognor Regis 8.8h.) The cold front swept E over the British Isles during the morning of the 12th, giving a spell of rain (heavy in places) everywhere. Hail and snow showers fell over Scotland and N Ireland in the colder airmass at it's rear, with hail also falling in Wales. Isolated thunder was reported from N and W Scotland in some of these showers. During the evening, another area of cloud and rain pushed NE into SW England, before spreading slowly E. (Penzance 13C, Loch Glascarnoch -1C, Tulloch Bridge 24mm, Skegness 6.6h.) There was patchy cloud overnight leading to a light air frost in NE England early on the 13th, with light rain and drizzle in S England that cleared SW during the morning. Most of the British Isles had a sunny day under a weak ridge of high pressure, although there were snow and hail showers over N and Cent. Scotland. Thunder was heard in N Scotland just after midnight. Aviemore was reporting 17cm of lying snow at 0600GMT, while much of inland Scotland, away from the E and SW, had an extensive snow cover; cover over N Ireland and N England was rather more patchy. (Lee-on-Solent 12C, Fylingdales -1C, Tulloch Bridge 11mm, Scarborough 9.0h.) Although E areas of England and Scotland remained largely clear of cloud until dawn on the 14th, resulting in a widespread air frost (and freezing fog in Yorkshire), cloud and rain pushed rapidly E over Ireland and W areas before dawn. This frontal rain continued to move E during the day, introducing a colder airmass to the British Isles. It was followed by another band of rain that affected many areas briefly. In the colder airflow there were showers of rain and hail in Scotland and W ireland, with snow showers on high ground in Scotland. (Torquay 13C, Aboyne -6C, Capel Curig 13mm, Fishguard 3.7h.) Overnight rain cleared SE England before dawn on the 15th; otheriwse most areas had a dry and clear night with frost in places, except in SW Scotland and parts of W Ireland and W Scotland where there was some rain. Cloud rapidly spread from the W across all parts after dawn, bringing rain. Once the rain cleared, there were snow showers on the Scottish mountains and in N Scotland, with hail in many W coastal districts. There was a sharp frost after dark in parts of inland Scotland. (Guernsey 11C, Aboyne -2C, Lusa 18mm, Clacton 5.5h.) Clear skies overnight led to a frosty start on the 16th in many places. Many areas then had a sunny day, although meandering troughs led to cloud and precipitation in places. There were showers of hail in SW England and snow/sleet in Hampshire and Dorset; hail and snow showers also fell over many parts of Ireland and N Wales, Scotland and N England (heavy in places), while sleet and fell in the Midlands and East Anglia during the afternoon and evening (around 2230GMT South Nottinghamshire received 2 cm of snow in 30 minutes, which still lay the following morning) with the snowfall reducing visibility to below 1000m in places. Snow (10 to 15cm) fell early in the day in W Scotland, causing rush hour traffic chaos for commuters, especially in Ayrshire. Motorists were forced to abandon their cars on the M74 road to England at Beattock Summit. This caused a spate of accidents which caused further delays. The Automobile Association employee who gives the morning road report on radio, was one of those stranded in a snowdrift until rescued by a gritter lorry. Thunder was heard in parts of NW Britain and N England during the day. (Penzance 10C, Spadeadam 0C max, Stornoway -4C min, Buxton (Derbys) 21mm, Folkestone 8.8h.) Morning images from Meteosat clearly showed a line of lying snow from Lancashire to Essex. Following the overnight snowfall, 0600 GMT snow depths on the 17th included 18cm at Eskdalemuir and 12cm at Aviemore. Clear skies resulted in a frosty start over much of E England and SE Scotland, although cloud rapidly pushed E over the British Isles as bands of precipitation moved across Ireland in the morning, and later across most of the rest of the rest of the British Isles, falling as snow on the high ground of N England and Scotland. (Penzance 11C, Loch Glascarnoch 0C max, Redesdale -8C min, Stornoway 13mm, Lerwick 8.5h.) Cloud and rain continued to push E, clearing E England by dawn on the 18th, to be followed by rain showers in W districts during the day. The rain lingered over N Scotland, before pushing S to affect S Scotland and N England during the afternoon and evening. The was some sleet over Scotland before dawn, while pressure fell to 989mb at Stornoway as low pressure slowly crossed Scotland. (Poole 13C, Baltasound -3C, Buxton (Derbys) 18mm, Cardiff 8.1h.) Overnight rain over S Scotland and N England gradually faded as it moved SE during the morning of the 19th and a N airflow was introduced over the British Isles as a weak ridge became established. There were a few showers, especially over Scotland, where hail and light snow fell. Temperatures fell everywhere during the evening under clearing skies. (Teignmouth 11C, Saughall and Biggar -2C, Sennybridge 6mm, Valley 9.2h.) The 20th dawned with a widespread air frost over inland areas (except for Ireland), although by mid-morning cloud had spread to most of Ireland and W Britain as S winds there heralded more wet weather. Widespread wave clouds (ac lenticularis) were observed over E Ireland in watery sunshine ahead of the fronts. By evening rain was affecting all of Ireland and parts of W Scotland, although in parts of East Anglia there was an air frost before midnight as clear skies persisted. (Falmouth 12C, Kinbrace -7C, South Uist 8mm, Jersey 9.3h.) The cloud and rain continued to move E overnight, clearing Britain by late moring on the 21st, with much of the British Isles then having a sunny day under a weak ridge of high pressure. There were, however, a few showers in N Scotland. During the late afternoon and into the evening pressure then fell slowly as another band of cloud pushed E over Ireland and W Scotland, with patchy rain in W Ireland. (Cardiff 13C, Redhill -3C, Buxton (Derbys) 17mm, Prestatyn 9.2h.) Skies clouded over during the morning of the 22nd, but not before many parts of inland Britain had experienced an air frost. Light rain falling over Ireland during the night pushed slowly E during the day, affecting W districts of England, Wales and Scotland by evening. However, in many places in Wales and SW England the precipitation feel mainly as drizzle. (Scilly 13C, Shawbury -5C, South Uist 5mm, Clacton 8.9h.) Cloudy conditions overnight prevented an air frost in most places by dawn on the 23rd; there was early rain over Scotland and drizzle/fog in S England. It remained mild and cloudy all day in most areas, with light rain or drizzle and poor visibility in places. During the afternoon a general clearance of the cloud occurred over N Scotland (apart from some wintry showers), the clearance spreading to the rest of Scotland and much of Ireland by midnight. It was a mild day over much of Ireland and S England, with 14.5C at Dun Laoghaire and 14.2C at Kilkenny. (St Angelo 14C, Cranwell -1C, Eskdalemuir 10mm, Kinloss 3.6h.) Overnight precipitation in the S had cleared by 0600GMT on the 24th, although hail and snow showers fell over N and W Scotland, and in N Ireland. Showers continued in these areas for much of the day, with some reports of thunder over W and N Scotland; 7cm of lying snow was reported at Aviemore. Rain fell during the afternoon and evening over S parts of Ireland and Britain, with gusts to 40kn as a depression passed over the area. Around midday a waterspout was observed coming ashore with a "swishing sound" as a small tornado at Burra on the west side of Shetland. In Lerwick a short while later a possible (small) tornado uprooted several small trees. Thunder, violent hail and ball lighting accompanied the passage of the possible tornado through Lerwick. (Guernsey 13C, Waterstein 0C, Lerwick 10mm, Newcastle 8.0h.) Rain and drizzle cleared S England before dawn on the 25th as pressure rose from the W. There were showers of snow and hail over Scotland overnight, while parts of N and Cent. England and inland Ireland had a touch of air frost in places. Showery conditions persisted over Scotland and Ireland for the remainder of the day (with sferics during the evening), while England and Wales had a very sunny day. MSL pressure rose to 1033mb in the Channel Islands during the afternoon. (Penzance 12C, Barbourne -2C, Herne Bay 20mm, Beverley 10.0h.) There was an air frost in parts of E England under clear skies by dawn on the 26th, as patchy cloud spread to many W parts of the British Isles. A shallow low brought further cloud and rain during the morning to S Ireland and SW England; this spread to N to reach Scotland by midnight, with heavy falls over Scotland, Northern Ireland and N parts of Wales and England. (Prestatyn 13C, Redhill -4C, Penzance 9mm, Norwich 8.8h.) The 27th was mild and cloudy in all areas, with heavy rain at first in N and W districts. During the morning a cold front crossed E across Ireland and Scotland, before pushing E to lie from SW England to NE England by midnight. In the clearance behind the front, there were showers of hail and snow in N Scotland, with thudner reported in W Scotland. (Poole 14C, Tulloch Bridge 1C, Capel Curig 70mm, Stornoway 3.4h.) The 28th dawned cloudy and wet over the SE half of England and Wales, while showers fell overnight over W districts of Ireland and Scotland. The rain cleared the SE during the morning and most of England and Wales then had a sunny day, with showers in the SW. Showers continued to fall over Ireland and Scotland, with snow over the higher ground and reports of thunder from W and N Scotland (and from Wallsend during the evening). Just before midnight another area of rain pushed into Ireland, and SW parts of England and Wales. (Poole 12C, Sennybridge 0C, Buxton (Derbys) 23mm, Fishguard 8.9h.) On the 29th rain spread across much of S districts of the British Isles, accompanied by gales in the English Channel and gusts to 50kn along the coasts there. The rain cleared SE England during the afternoon. The remainder of the British Isles, and the S after the rain had cleared, had showery day, with snow and hail in the Northern Isles; thunder was also reported from here. (Penzance 13C, Aviemore 0C, Cardiff 23mm, Penzance 6.3h.) Information contained in the Climatological Summary supplied courtesy of Roger Brugge, Climatological Observers Link. Notable Weather Events in Northamptonshire The following report is taken from the weather station's web site 7-10 February Strong winds and driving rain associated with a succession of fronts affect the county. Gusts reached gale force on 8th (57mph) and 9th (52mph). The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for the morning of 10th February as driving conditions become treach- erous on the main trunk routes across the Northampton Uplands. 27 February 12.2mm of rain falls in 6.5 hours. Further rain on 28th and 29th February results in flood warnings being issued on the River Great Ouse in the south of the county near Brackley. Reports from Other Stations Reports received from Pitsford Hall weather station's network of weather enthusiasts across Northamptonshire. The weather station is not responsible for any inaccuracy contained in these reports. They are supplied for interest only. From Jeremy Borrett, Wilby: WILBY'S FEBRUARY 2000 MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT ============================================ Report from 1st February 2000 to 29th January 2000. A total of 23 weather days were recorded. Wind direction -------------- North: 2 days South: 1 day East: 0 days West: 5 days North-west: 5 days North-east: 1 day South-west: 0 days South-east: 1 days Variable: 4 days Calm winds: 3 days Total: 23 days Wind speed ---------- Average wind speed (mph): 3mph Highest wind speed (mph): 8mph (25th) Temperature ----------- Average temperature: 7.3°C Highest temperature: 11.6°C (6th) Lowest temperature: -1.1°C (24th) Rainfall -------- Total rainfall (mm): 58½mm Highest rainfall (mm): 16mm (26th) Air pressure ------------ Average air pressure: 1010mb Highest air pressure: 1030mb (4th & 20th) Lowest air pressure: 996mb (29th) Appendix Weather Station Inventory (including equipment in active use as of 3 March 2000) Rooftop Enclosure and Office Standard Stevenson screen containing Mahogany mounted maximum and minimum thermometers (Casella type) Large pattern Stevenson screen containing Sheathed pattern maximum and minimum thermometers (UK Met Office with calibration certificates) Sheathed pattern wet and dry bulb thermometers (UK Met Office with calibration certificates) Thermograph (UK Met Office) Hair Hygrograph (UK Met Office) Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder (UK Met Office MKII) - summer months (repositioned during the winter) Snowdon-type pattern raingauge (UK Met Office) British Association pattern raingauge (for recording rainfall acidity) Tilting syphon rainfall recorder (UK Met Office MKI) Wind vane (UK Met Office) Totalising Cup-Counter Anemometer (UK Met Office, mounted on 5m mast) Digital wind direction system (Digitar, for determination of maximum gust) Fortin-pattern mercury barometer Open-scale micro-barograph (UK Met Office) High resolution digital pH meter (Hanna) Three networked PCs with modem links and dedicated fax/phone line Ground Enclosure Soil thermometers (5cm, 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 40cm, 50cm, 100cm) (Negretti and Zambra) Grass and concrete minimum thermometers (UK Met Office with calibration certificates) Hook Evaporimeter (Negretti and Zambra, used periodically) Bare Earth thermometer (Negretti and Zambra) Bare Earth Plot and Concrete Slab South Boundary Enclosure This enclosure is used between September and March only for the recording of winter sunshine using the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder normally located at the rooftop site. Archive Weather records from 1880 to the present from a wide variety of locations throughout Northamptonshire are held in the archive adjacent to the station office. Access to these records is by appointment only through the station office Monday to Friday, 8.40am to 5.20pm. The station also holds corporate access rights to additional records held by the Northamptonshire Natural History Society, The Humfrey Rooms, Castillian Terrace, Northampton.