PITSFORD HALL WEATHER STATION NORTHAMPTON, UNITED KINGDOM MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT - FEBRUARY 2004 Headline: A very mild start with temperatures well above average for early February. Turning colder through the month, ending with snow showers in the final week. February opened on a mild, wet and windy theme with low pressure dominating the scene to the north-west. Rainfall was particularly heavy in some parts of the UK triggering some floods, whilst the county escaped any significant totals until the 5th and 6th. By the 4th daytime temperatures had reached 16.2C, the warmest February day in Northampton since 1998 (17.5C), the second warmest since 1990 (16.9C) and the third warmest since 1920 (15.7C). A deep low tracked across the North Sea towards Denmark between the 6th and the 10th causing winds to swing round from a predominantly south-west to north or north- westerly direction. This brought a pool of very cold air across the region and whilst the county escaped any snowfall, overnight temperatures on the 9th fell well below freezing. Mild conditions were reinstated on the 11th as high pressure developed across the UK. The 11th to the 15th was a generally cloudy period. No sunshine was recorded and it remained mild with night-time minima holding up above freezing, only falling below freezing on the grass on the 14th. Mornings were generally misty, although fog was not recorded at Pitsford Hall. Anticyclonic conditions persisted until the 21st. Mild conditions gradually gave way to increasing cold with some spells of rain working in from the east coast. The transition to colder weather came with a change to a dominant north-easterly wind direction. As high pressure worked retreated westwards, the northerly airflow persisted allowing temperatures to fall still further. As low pressure developed over Scandinavia, the strength of this northerly wind increased introducing a significant wind chill. By the 25th overnight frosts had become penetrating and snow showers were beginning to affect the county. Further snow showers were reported across the county as the month came to a close, although accumulations here were only slight bearly measuring 1cm. Climatological & Agromet Statistics Air Temperatures The Highest Maximum: 16.2C on 4th The Lowest Maximum: 4.1C on 28th The Highest Minimum: 11.5C on 5th The Lowest Minimum: -5.2C on 26th The Mean Maximum: 8.2C The Mean Minimum: 2.4C The Overall Mean: 5.3C Difference from the Monthly Mean: 0.6C Relative Humidity: Highest Relative Humidity (at 0900): 98.7% on 6th Lowest Relative Humidity (at 0900): 77.6% on 8th Mean Relative Humidity (at 0900): 89.0% Dew Point: The Highest Dew Point (at 0900): 12.4C on 3rd The Lowest Dew Point (at 0900): -4.6C on 26th The Mean Dew Point (at 0900): 3.2C Rainfall: Total: 22.1mm Difference from the Monthly Mean: 58.6% Duration: 25.2hrs Highest 24 hour fall (from 0900): 5.8mm on 5th Rain Days (>/=0.2mm): 12 Wet Days (>/=1.0mm): 7 Sunshine: Total Duration of Bright Sunshine: 78.3hrs Sunniest day: 8.6hrs on 20th Days without sunshine: 8 Cloud cover (mean at 0900): 5.7oktas (71.3%) Pressure (reduced to sea level): The Highest Pressure: 1034.9mb on 9th The Lowest Pressure: 999.4mb on 27th Mean Pressure (recorded at 0900): 1019.8mb Winds Run of wind (mean over 24 hrs): 155.1miles Mean daily wind speed: 8.4mph Highest mean daily wind speed: 20.8mph on 3rd Run of wind (to date): 4499.2miles Highest Maximum Gust: 55mph on 7th Highest wind strength (at 0900): 33.4mph on 3rd Mean wind strength (at 0900): 10.6mph Winds from the Following Directions: N 8 NE 3 E 0 SE 0 S 4 SW 3 W 2 NW 9 Calm 0 Ground Temperatures: Lowest Grass Minimum: -9.7C on 26th Mean Grass Minimum: -1.2C Lowest Concrete Minimum: -7.4C on 26th Mean Concrete Minimum: 0.4C Lowest Bare Earth Minimum: -3.0C on 26th & 27th Mean Bare Earth Minimum: 1.9C Soil/Earth Temperatures: Surface mean: 4.7C 5cm mean: 4.5C 10cm mean: 4.8C 20cm mean: 5.4C 30cm mean: 5.5C 40cm mean: 5.4C 50cm mean: 5.8C 100cm mean: 6.0C Days with: Thunder: 0 Hail less than 0.5mm: 0 Hail greater than/equal to 0.5mm: 0 Snow or snow & rain: 2: 27th & 28th Snowing lying: 3: 27th, 28th & 29th Fog: 3 Ground Frost: 17 Air Frost: 11 Duration of air Frost: 104.0hrs Evaporation (tank): Not recorded. All data © Pitsford Hall weather station.