Its been cold here in Coulsdon. One of the reasons for all the media
discussion is the fact that over the past 20 years or so March has been
favoured with a good deal of mild weather. My own daffodil guide bears this
out with the date steadily becoming earlier for the first flower although
March 1996 bucked the trend. It is currently March 12th and there is no sign
at the moment nor likely to be for some time yet.
This month has come as quite a shock to the public who especially in
southern England expect March to be a fairly mild month.
Way back in time March could be a real winter month with minus 5C a max
temperature in many parts of Surrey mid month 1845. In fact the 1850s and
1860s had some really cold Marches as did the 1880s and of course the great
March blizzard of 1891 would be in the headlines for weeks if it occurred
today.
The coldest March 1785 would be considered a severe winter spell by today's
standards.

Ian Currie-Coulsdon
www.Frostedearth.com


"Dave Ludlow" wrote in message
...
You'd think we were all in the middle of a cold March, from the daily
weather forecasts and press reports. No doubt some places are but not
here.

After the last two days with temperatures exceeding 10.0 deg C, I
have calculated the averages for Solent MRSC for the last week and
the last two weeks (thanks to Keith Harris's www.southendweather.net)
- they are closest enough to mid month to give a rough comparison.

Unfortunately there is no long term record for Solent MRSC or my own
location but there is for nearby Bognor Regis - which has a similar
seaside exposure as Lee-on-the-Solent. Comparisons are therefore with
the March averages for Bognor (taken from the Met Office website).

Feb 14 to Feb 20 2006 (Solent compared to Bognor monthly averages)

Mean Max 8.1; long term mean max 9.0; deficit 0.9 deg C.
Mean Min 2.4; long term mean min 3.5; deficit 1.1 deg C.
Overall mean deficit 1.0 deg C.

Feb 7 to Feb 20 2006 (Solent compared to Bognor averages)

Mean Max 7.7; long term mean max 9.0; deficit 1.3 deg C.
Mean Min 3.0; long term mean min 3.5; deficit 0.5 deg C.
Overall mean deficit 0.9 deg C.

The last week or two has been nowhere near what I'd describe as a
March cold spell - not down here anyway. How cold has it been
elsewhere?

--
Dave
Fareham.