February:

[Temperature]
Mean of 24hr max & min:... 03.6 [-0.7 anomaly on eLTA 1971-2000]
Coldest February since 2003

The anomaly was concentrated in the daytime maxima, with an estimated
anomaly 09-18Z of -1.2C.

( Rolling 12 month temperature anomaly: +0.6 (was +0.7))

[Precipitation]
February total = 54.3 [123% of eLTA 1971-2000]
Most anomalously 'wet' month since October 2004 (166%), but only the
wettest month by absolute value since December 2005.

This ends a run of 3 dry Februarys (2003-2005)

(Rolling 12 month rainfall anomaly: 86%)

(Rolling 24 month rainfall anomaly: 86%)

Winter: (December, January, February)

[Temperature]
Average temperature winter overall: 4.1°C (-0.5 on 1971-2000 eLTA);
integrating with the adjacent Easthampstead Park record, by anomaly,
this winter just gone had a similar value to 2002/03 (also -0.5). To
find a colder winter, then you have to go back to winter 1996/97
(marginally - agrees analysis by Eden elsewhere), but for a winter
*notably* colder than these three, then back to 1995/96 (-1.2).
The 1971-2000 LTA is, I believe, regarded as ~0.4C higher than 1961-1990
(the 'standard' reference period the Met Office use), therefore it could
be argued that this winter just ended has been 'around average' as
regards temperature.

[Precipitation]

139.9 [78% of eLTA 1971-2000]

The second dry winter in a row, though last winter was much drier with
an anomaly of 55%

[other winter notes]
Some notes / comparison regarding the standard 'climatological' winter
(2005/06):
No. days of 09-09Z air frost = 31, the same number as in winter 2000/01.

No. days with snow-lying at 09Z = 0 [ yes, zero]: also, there were NO
occasions with snow-lying (50% cover) at ANY time over these past 3
months - a truly remarkable situation for a nominally
colder-than-average season.

February in particular was a 'cold, wet' month (see above), but none of
the poor snow events managed even a temporary cover.

No. days with snow/sleet = 13: last year, with an 'all-winter'
temperature anomaly of +0.6C, we also had 13 days ( 3 of which produced
a 'proper' snow cover ); this year, none of the mostly scrappy
sleet/pellet events produced a climatological snow cover, despite the
overall anomaly of -0.5C.

Martin.


--
Martin Rowley: data via -
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/metindex.htm
Bracknell (Wooden Hill/Tawfield), Berkshire
NGR: SU 854 667 Elev: 80m
Lat: 51DEG23MIN30SEC(N): Long: 00DEG46MIN28SEC(W)