An historical perspective on the climate statistics

for Coventry during February 2009


Temperature

February 2009 was most definitely a month of two halves with respect
to temperatures. In the first half of the month, the mean temperature
was just 1.0C; this 3.7C below normal for that period.

However, the second half of the month saw temperatures averaging 7.7C,
which is 3.4C above the 30-year mean temperature for that period.

After such a cold first two weeks, it is remarkable therefore to find
that February 2009 has come out with a monthly mean temperature
slightly higher (+0.2C) than the city’s 30-year average.

Even so, this has been the coldest February in Coventry since 2006
(3.8C). Only 6 February months have been colder than February 2009
since 1987, though surprisingly, three of those have been recorded
during this century, perhaps an indication of recent cooling at this
time of year?

We recorded 13 air frosts during February 2009; this is the highest
number of February air frosts since 2003 (16).

Rainfall

97% of the month’s rainfall total (35.2mm) fell in the first 12 days,
with only one wet day during the second half of February.

February’s rainfall total was 21% lower than Coventry’s 30-year
rainfall average (1971-2000), though it was still wetter than February
2008 (26.7mm).

Despite the relatively low rainfall total, so dry have recent
Februarys become in our region that only 2 February months have been
wetter than 2009 in the past 7 years (2005 and 2007).

Snow and sleet fell on 10 days during that first fortnight of February
2009; this is the highest number of February snow days in Coventry
since 1996 (11).

Snow was found lying on the ground at the 0900hr climatological
reading time on 8 mornings, with a maximum depth in Coventry of 8
centimetres on the 5th February. This is the highest incidence of snow
lying in the city during any February since 1996 (11 days).

Sunshine

After the sunniest February on record in 2008 (137.0 hours), this
February was always going to struggle to reach that amazing sunshine
total.

However, this February’s total of 72.6 hours is still respectable over
the recent past, with 6% more sunshine than normal at this time of
year.

Even so, it was still the dullest February in Coventry since 2006
(70.5 hours), and only two February months have recorded less sunshine
than this year since 1994.

Interestingly, the sunniest day of February only managed 7.2 hours of
sunshine; this is the lowest total for the sunniest day of any
February since 1992 (6.7 hours).

Steve Jackson
Bablake Weather Station
Coventry UK
www.bablakeweather.co.uk