Penzance
Alt 19m Aspect SE

REMARKS
A cold month, just beating January 1997 as my coldest month on record
However, for the Winter so far, 96/97 was colder.

There were no particularly low temperatures, certainly no repeat of
January 2009's -6.1, but the number of air frosts were the greatest
for any month on record (Records start '92) . In fact there were more
air frosts than any YEAR apart from 1995 (20) & 2009 (14). There was
also an an exceptional period of snow cover on the fields immediately
behind Penzance. There is a detailed account of the snowfalls at
http://www.turnstone-cottage.co.uk/SnowJan2010.PDF

On 12th heavy rain and strong-gale SE winds introduced milder air and
maximum temperatures remained above normal until 22nd, with the
exception of 19th which saw a temporary return to easterly winds. The
generally S-SW winds brought some wet & windy weather, but with
reasonable amounts of sunshine inbetween. It was this milder period
which resulted in the temperature anomaly being lower than most parts
of the UK.

It was a sunny month, this and the associated overnight clear skies &
frequently light winds., meant the diurnal temperature range was
larger than normal. The average wind speed at 09:00 was the lowest on
record for January.

TEMPERATURE
Av. Maximum 8.1 (-1.0)
Av. Minimum 1.2 (-3.6)
Overall Average 4.6 (-2.3)
Air Frosts 14

Absolute Maximum 12.3 - 15th
Lowest Maximum 1.8 - 10th
Absolute Minmum -4.1 - 8th

RAIN / SNOW / HAIL
Total Rainfall 115.2mm (82%)
Wettest Day 21.4 (5th) - Almost all fell as snow/snow pellets -
giving 12cm just NW of Penzance.
Rain Days - 19
Wet Days - 16

Days with:-
Hail - 3
Snow Falling - 5
Ground Snow Covered at 09:00 - 5
Thunder - 0
Fog @ 09:00 - 1


WIND & PRESSURE
Number of Gales - 0 (though there was a Force 8 gale on the sea front)
Strongest Gust - 44mph

Graham
Penzance
Average Pressure @ 09:00 1015mb

On 12th heavy rain and strong-gale SE winds introduced milder air and
maximum temperatures remained above normal until 22nd, with the
exception of 19th which saw a temporary return to easterly winds. The
generally S-SW winds brought some wet & windy weather, but with
reasonable amounts of sunshine inbetween. It was this milder period
which resulted in the temperature anomaly being lower than most parts
of the UK.


To demonstrate the sharp change to much milder conditions in Penzance
on 12th/13th January, which persisted for most of the month, and led
to temperatures contrasting with the rest of the UK, I've uploaded a
temperature graph to http://www.turnstone-cottage.co.uk/JanTempGraph.PDF

Helps explain why the December/January period here was less cold even
than Dec/Jan '96/'97

Worth a look I think.

Graham
Penzance