An historical perspective on the climate statistics
for Coventry during November 2006

Temperature

Although not a record breaking month, this November has recorded above
average temperatures (+1.3C) with a monthly mean of 8.0C; this despite
a cold start to the month.

This has been the warmest November since 2003 (8.1C), in itself hardly
worthy of mention, though if we look back into the 20th century, we
find that only 6 November months have been milder than 2006 since 1939
(1951, 1970, 1994, 2002 and 2003).

Looking back even further to the 19th century, it is interesting to
note that there have only been 10 warmer Novembers in this region since
records began in 1892.

Out of interest, the warmest November registered 10.0C in 1994, whilst
the coolest only managed a monthly mean of 3.0C in 1910 and 1923.

We would normally expect 5 air frosts in November, but only managed 3
this year. Even last year, we experienced 11 November air frosts, with
the record being 16 in 1910 and 1923.

Rainfall

Although the perception might be that it was a wet month locally, this
is mainly thanks to a wet spell in the final third of November. Even so
the monthly rainfall total of 67.6mm was still 17% above the 30-year
average for Coventry, making this the wettest November in this region
since 2002 (93.8mm).

Surprisingly we find that only 5 November months have been wetter than
2006 in the past 20 years (1992, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2002).

There was no recorded snowfall in November 2006, even though we would
normally expect some sleet or snow in 9 Novembers in every 10; in
reality, we have only averaged 3 in 10 in the past 20 years. There were
5 days of snowfall in both November 1910 and 1985, so it hasn't
always been a rare event at this time of year.

Sunshine

Not only was early November rather cool, it was also dry and very
sunny; by the end of the month we had recorded 108.5 hours of sunshine,
making this the sunniest November since sunshine records were first
kept in Coventry in 1894.

Just as a comparison with this sunny November, that of 1945 only
managed 21.8 hours of sunshine all month!

Even as recently as 2004, we only managed 49.4 hours of sunshine,
though of course 2005 had been a record breaker too like 2006 with
98.6hours - two remarkably sunny Novembers in succession!

Just short of 40% of the monthly sunshine was recorded in the first 6
days of the month, with the 1st being the sunniest November day in the
city since 1995 (8.3hr). Only 5 November days have ever registered more
sunshine in one day (1968, 1985, 1988, 1994, 1995).