The mean annual sea-level pressure chart for 2003 shows some
interesting deviations from the long-term mean, but these
variations are smaller than they were in 2002. The Icelandic low
is about 1.5 mbar deeper than usual and displaced slightly
to the southwest, while there is a discrete low in the Barents
Sea (usually just a trough from the Icelandic low). The Azores
high is normal, but there is another discrete high over Europe,
centred over Hungary, where there is usually just a ridge. The
flow over the UK is about 20 degrees backed compared with
the long-term mean.

The main anomaly centres a
-2mbar in the Russian Arctic
-2mbar over northern Quebec
-2 mbar over the N.Atlantic at 55N 38W
+2mbar over Denmark


The anomalous flow over the British Isles is a gentle
SSE-ly one, with mean pressure anomaly ranging from
+0.2mbar in western Ireland to +1.3 mbar along the
coast of northeast England.

Provisional CET: 10.5ºC (0.7 degC above the 71-00 mean)
Prov E&W rain: 762mm (81% of 71-00 mean)
Prov E&W sun: 1806 hr (118% of 71-00 mean)

My calculation of the CET places 2003 in =7th place.
It was the driest year over E&W since 1996 (there have
been six drier in the last 100 years).
It was the sunniest year over E&W since 1995 and
the third sunniest on record (after 1995 and 1989).

Rainfall totals varied between 409mm at Shoeburyness (Essex)
and 2043mm at Capel Curig (Snowdonia). Rainfall percentages
ranged from 55% at Charterhall (Scottish Borders) to 106%
at Marham (Norfolk) and 108% at Valentia (Irish Rep). I've
discounted the 122% at Waterstein (Skye) 'cos I'm dubious
about excessive amounts of rain reported there during the
autumn.

Sunshine totals varied between 2170h at Eastbourne and
2168h at Hastings, both in East Sussex (I've discounted
both Torquay and Clacton as their recorders appear to be
mis-calibrated), and 1083h at Stornoway (W.Isles). Sunshine
percentages ranged from 141% at Buxton (Derbys) to 86%
at Stornoway. These percentages may be subject to error due
to changes in instrumentation and site.

(c) Philip Eden