Summary for Winter 2008/09

This was a winter that was characterised by 3 relatively short, intense wet
spells interspersed by long, dry periods. The first dry spell followed a
very wet day when 47.0 mm of rain fell on the 13th of December. This dry
spell lasted for 29 days before another very wet period when rain fell
everyday between the 12 and the 25th of January giving a total of 122.4 mm.
Another drier interlude from the 26th of January to the 6th of February then
42.0 mm of rain fell in 3 days. Then from the 11th to the 28th only 2.1 mm
of rain fell. I don't think I have ever known such an extreme wet/dry theme
to a winter before. With snow seen falling on 3 days, and actually lying on
the ground (50%) on two mornings, this was the snowiest winter since moving
here in Spring 2005. As in previous winters, there were no 'ice-days'.

A very cold night on the 7th of January with a minimum of -8.4°C was the
coldest night locally since the 2nd of January 1997. Only 5 nights have been
colder than this since 1973.

Colder, wetter, frostier and slightly duller than Winter 2007/08.

Mean Max: 7.7°C
Mean Min: 2.0°C
Mean: 4.9°C

High Max: 14.3°C 23rd Feb
Low Min: -8.4°C 7th Jan
Grass Min: -9.2°C 7th Jan

Rain Total: 225.3 mm
Rain Days 0.2 mm: 34 Days
Rain Days 1.0 mm: 29 Days
Max 24 hrs: 43.2 mm 13th Dec
Days without any rain: 56 Days

Air Frost: 25 Days
Ground Frost: 52 Days
Snow Falling: 3 Days
Snow (50%) @ 9am: 2 Days
Thunder Heard: 0 Days
Hail 5 mm: 2 Days
Hail 5 mm: 0 Days
Fog @ 9am: 1 Day

Total Monthly Sunshine: 259h:23m (259.4 Hrs)
Most Sunshine in a Day: 08h:13m 7th Feb
Average Daily Sunshine: 02h:52m
Sunless Days: 15 Days
Cloudless Days: 13 Days
Total Possible Sunshine: 796h:12m
Percentage of Total Sun: 33%

Mean Soil Temp @ 30 cm: 4.3°C
Mean Soil Temp @ 100 cm: 5.6°C

Wind 39 mph: 0.0 Days
Mean Wind: 3.6 mph
Max Gust: 46 mph 25th Jan

Mean Cloud Cover: 54%
Mean RH @ 9am: 84%
Rain Duration 0.1mm/hour: 128.5 Hours
Frost Duration: 261.5 Hours
Max Frost Duration in a Day: 19.3 Hours 2nd Feb

Mean Pressure @ 9am: 1017.8 hPa
Mean Pressu 1014.3 hPa
Max Pressu 1036.2 hPa 23rd Dec
Min Pressu 969.8 hPa 23rd Jan

Max Dewpoint: 9.1°C 20th Dec
Min Dewpoint: -11.2°C 7th Jan
Mean Dewpoint: 1.6°C

Max Humidity: 100%
Min Humidity: 57% 1st Feb
Mean Humidity: 82%
________________
Nick.
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk