Comparing January 2010 to the previous years at Cantley-1997 onwards The average number of days with air frost is 11
And for ground frost is 14
Snow falls on average on 6.5 days
And lies (at 0900Z more than half cover) on 5.0.
Mean temperatures is 4.3C
Average maximum is 6.8C
Average Minimum is 1.8C
The above data is for the period 1971-1995=RAF Finningley and January 1997 onwards=Cantley; a total of about 40 years.
For 2010 the data is
Air frost=17 ground frost =20
Snow fell on 10 days and lay on 13 mornings, 12 consecutively with a maximum depth of 16 cm on the 6th. On the 5th snow began around 0700 and continued with almost no break to about 1915. The 3rd highest ever for this area with snowfall records back well over 50 years.
January 2010
Mean temperature =1.8C
Average Maximum=3.9C
Average Minimum=-0.3C
Since 1971 there have only been 6 previous January’s ( 1978, 79, 1980, 82, 85, 87 1991) with an average minimum below zero C, with 7 in February (1978, 79, 1983, 85, 86, 1991, 94).
So it seems safe to assess January 2010 as the coldest since 1991 and the snowiest since 1987.
When coupled with the preceding December, a ‘cold’ month itself. From 16 December there were 10 air frosts and snow fell on 8 days, lying on 9, then a truly cold spell. Not the severity of one or two of the harsh winters of the 70’s and 80’s but almost in the same league.
There were 36 consecutive days with the mean temperature showing 1.1C; the long term average (from 1971) being 4.3C.
So don’t be surprised when your next heating bill arrives!
for the video to go with the charts, please scroll down to the box below-click and then move your mouse over the charts as I go through the weather day by day
