The Icelandic low was displaced well to the northeast of its
normal position and was centred at 984 mbar in the north
Norwegian Sea at 72N 03E - much deeper than normal.
The Azores high was centred bang slap over the Azores at
1028 mbar. Between these two features a broad W-ly
flow stretched from eastern Canada across the Atlantic
and Europe, and into northern Russia. This was the most
westerly month over the British Isles since February 2000,
and the most westerly December (though only marginally
ahead of 1994) since 1986.

The main anomaly centres we
-18 mbar in the north Norwegian Sea
+10 mbar NNW of the Azores
+6 mbar over Turkey
-2 mbar over NE Algeria.
Over the British Isles monthly sea-level pressure anomaly
ranged from -4mbar in Shetland to +5mbar at Valentia
and Scilly. The anomalous flow was strongly westerly
over the northern half of the UK, and weakly north-
westerly over the southern half.

CET (prov.) 5.3ºC (0.2 above 1971-2000)
(0.6 above 1961-1990)
E&W Rain: 67.0mm (131% of 1971-2000 mean)
E&W Sun: 57.6 hr (116% of 1971-2000 mean)

CScot T: 5.5ºC (1.0 above 1971-2000 mean)
Scot Rain: 105.2mm (92%)
Scot Sun: 39.3 hr (116%)

NI Temp: 6.7ºC (0.6 above 1971-2000 mean)
NI Rain: 84.9mm (81%)
NI Sun: 43.3 hr (112%)

Rainfall totals ranged from 15mm in a narrow
zone stretching from Peterborough to County Durham
on the one hand, to 750mm over the higher slopes
of Argyll, Lochaber, Wester Ross, and Skye.

Philip Eden

CET (prov.) 5.3ºC (0.2 above 1971-2000)
(0.6 above 1961-1990)
E&W Rain: 67.0mm (131% of 1971-2000 mean)
E&W Sun: 57.6 hr (116% of 1971-2000 mean)

Philip,

An interesting set of figures as always (I like comparing
my own records to the England and Wales average), but
may I be so bold as to query the percentage figure for the
E&W Rain? 131% looks rather high.

Happy New Year,

Nigel.

"Nigel Paice" wrote in message
...

CET (prov.) 5.3ºC (0.2 above 1971-2000)
(0.6 above 1961-1990)
E&W Rain: 67.0mm (131% of 1971-2000 mean)
E&W Sun: 57.6 hr (116% of 1971-2000 mean)

Philip,

An interesting set of figures as always (I like comparing
my own records to the England and Wales average), but
may I be so bold as to query the percentage figure for the
E&W Rain? 131% looks rather high.

Happy New Year,

Nigel.

I seem to remember some significant rainfall that kept missing the far S.E.
67.3% rainfall for Southend. (thanks, Keith) and sunshine possibly recovered
after three times as much in the last week as the previous gloomy three put
together.

Dave

"Nigel Paice" wrote in message
...

CET (prov.) 5.3ºC (0.2 above 1971-2000)
(0.6 above 1961-1990)
E&W Rain: 67.0mm (131% of 1971-2000 mean)
E&W Sun: 57.6 hr (116% of 1971-2000 mean)

Philip,

An interesting set of figures as always (I like comparing
my own records to the England and Wales average), but
may I be so bold as to query the percentage figure for the
E&W Rain? 131% looks rather high.

Dead right, Nigel. It should be 66%. I can't for the life
of me work out where 131 came from ... it's not in any
of the rows of numbers in the spreadsheet!

Philip Eden

"Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote in message
...
The Icelandic low was displaced well to the northeast of its
normal position and was centred at 984 mbar in the north
Norwegian Sea at 72N 03E - much deeper than normal.
The Azores high was centred bang slap over the Azores at
1028 mbar. Between these two features a broad W-ly
flow stretched from eastern Canada across the Atlantic
and Europe, and into northern Russia. This was the most
westerly month over the British Isles since February 2000,
and the most westerly December (though only marginally
ahead of 1994) since 1986.

You can see the maps now as well:
www.climate-uk.com/monpre/0412.htm

Philip Eden

I recall the winter of 1995, which followed that December, was another
mild one. But I guess it's best not to read to much into this.

Keith (Southend)

***********************
Weather Home & Abroad
http://www.southendweather.net


On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 14:23:45 -0000, "Philip Eden"
philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote:


"Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote in message
.. .
The Icelandic low was displaced well to the northeast of its
normal position and was centred at 984 mbar in the north
Norwegian Sea at 72N 03E - much deeper than normal.
The Azores high was centred bang slap over the Azores at
1028 mbar. Between these two features a broad W-ly
flow stretched from eastern Canada across the Atlantic
and Europe, and into northern Russia. This was the most
westerly month over the British Isles since February 2000,
and the most westerly December (though only marginally
ahead of 1994) since 1986.

You can see the maps now as well:
www.climate-uk.com/monpre/0412.htm

Philip Eden