HEADLINE: COLD OVERALL BUT MILD END. WET SECOND & LAST WEEKS: OFTEN
WINDY
[ TEMPERATURE ]
Mean of 24hr max & min:... 05.5 [-1.2 anomaly on eLTA 1971-2000]
Lowest night minimum (date):... -05.2(04)
( this is the lowest minimum temperature for the 'over-winter' period
2005/06 )
Rolling 12 month temperature anomaly: +0.4degC (was +0.6degC end last
month)

[ A note cold Marches ]
Using a composite Easthampstead (aka Beaufort) Park & Tawfield
record:1971-2005

Cold March months (by anomaly c.f. 1971-2000 LTA)

1987 -2.2

1996 -2.0

1985 &

1971 -1.9

1980 -1.8

1984 &

1976 -1.7

1975 -1.5

These 35 years can be broadly split between:

1970's to mid 1980's: cold such-named months were frequent, culminating
in the series low of -2.2 in 1987;

1988 onwards: marked reversal, with a string of notably mild Marches,
spoilt only by the second-coldest in the series (-2.0) in 1996.

This March (-1.2) we were the coldest March since 1996 (-2.0), i.e. for
10 years; however, up until the end of the third week of the month, the
anomaly was running at around -3degC, and if this had continued, the
month would have been the coldest in this series - the much higher
temperatures from the 24th, particularly overnight, 'corrected' this
sharply. Perhaps of more significance is that is has made a significant
dent in the 12 month running anomaly - down to +0.4degC, from values of
+0.8degC or higher up to the end of 2005.

[PRECIPITATION]

Total rainfall/melted snow etc:... 56.1 [108% of eLTA 1971-2000]

There were five days recorded with snow falling, but as with the rest of
the winter, no snow-lying resulted.

[ A note winter-half (October to March) rainfall .. when
precipitation is most effective due to low rates of evapotranspiration]

Based on a composite Easthampstead Park / Tawfield record (since 1971)

2005/06 (current) = 341.2mm / 91% of eLTA

2004/05 = 312.5mm / 84% of eLTA

Although we have had two successive drier-than-average such periods (but
only just in the case of the current one), in the previous 7 such
periods at this site, 6 achieved average or above-average rainfall,
including the series wettest (702mm / 193%) season 2000/01.

The driest winter-half periods in this series (1971/72 to 2004/05)

(by anomaly)

1975/76: 45%

1991/92: 52%

1972/73: 55%

1988/89: 69%

so we were a long way away from entering that illustrious list.

Looking at dry *consecutive* winter-half periods over the same record
gives:

(by anomaly)

1990/91 & 1991/92: 475.3mm / 65%

1991/92 & 1992/93: 515.0mm / 71%

1972/73 & 1973/74: 527.8mm / 73%

1971/72 & 1972/73: 536.0mm / 74%

again, even pairing up dry winter-half periods, this one (653.7mm / 88%)
does not come close to these previously dry episodes.

Moreover, despite all the 'angst' surrounding supposed declining
winter-time rainfall, in this area, the *reverse* is happening, at least
over this 35 year period as follows:

10 year average 1971/72 - 1980/81 = 344mm

10 year average 1981/82 - 1990/91 = 353mm (+2.6% on previous)

10 year average 1991/92 - 2000/01 = 393mm (+11.3% on previous)

and 10 years ending 2005/06 = 405mm

The trend for 'winter-half' rainfall for this area of SE England is
'up'; unfortunately, the trend-line for water use is also upward, at a
much steeper rate!

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)