Looks like Feb will end up 0.1 or 0.2 degC above the
1971-2000 mean. That will, of course, put it well above
the 61-90, 51-80 and 41-70 means. The Febs of
2003, 2005 and 2006 were all a little colder by this
measure.

That will give a winter quarter CET of 3.7°C which
is 0.7degC below the 1971-2000 mean, but only 0.1degC
below the 1941-70 mean. Compare recent winters:

2005-06 4.3°C
2000-01 4.5°C
1996-97 4.0°C
1995-96 3.0°C

The winter quarter was colder in:
1995-96 3.0°C
1990-91 3.0°C
1986-87 3.6°C
1985-86 2.9°C
1984-85 2.9°C
1981-82 2.8°C
1978-79 1.8°C
1976-77 3.3°C.

Seven of the winters in the 1960s were colder. Who wants to
tell Channel Four?

(c) Philip Eden