January 2012 Summary

In brief:
January 2012 continued from December 2011 in being quite mild, especially at night. The last four days did see lower temperatures, but not as low as those further east, as a rain-bearing cold front remained over the area for the final few days of the month before finally moving away to the west and allowing the very cold air to move in at the start of February. Unlike December however, January 2012 was also rather dry, which is quite an unusual combination for winter months.

Temperature: [Minimum]:
The night of 28th/29th saw the lowest temperature of 3.3 degs C. The temperature has fallen below this figure in every one of the last 9 Januarys. The highest minimum of the month was 11.9 degs C, on the night of 18th/19th, which was the equal mildest January night ever at this location*, a figure also attained in 2008 and 2011.
The average minimum for January 2012 was 7.76 degs C - also the highest ever at this location.*
Overnight temperatures only fell below 5 degs C 5 times, the equal second fewest of the last 9 with 2008. Only January 2007 had less with 4.

Temperature: [Maximum]:
Daytime temperatures ranged from 7.2 degs C on the 31st, to 14.1 on the 18th, giving an average of 11.05 degs C, the 5th highest of the last 9. It was the warmest January since 2008. thus ending the run of three cold ones.

Rainfall:
70 mm of rain fell during the month, making it the driest January of the last four. This compares to 188 mm in December 2011, and 180.2 in January 2011.
The wettest day itself was the 3rd, with 17.5 mm.
There were 4 dry days, which occurred from the 13th to the 16th, however the period 6th to 17th was mainly dry with just 1.2 mm of measurable rain falling.
Apart from the 3rd, there was only one other day with more than 6 mm of rain - which was the 29th with 17.0 mm.

*Since 2004.