Local Weather Diary 2020-
Extreme weather events in the Sidlaws north of Dundee (Newtyle)
Record values mentioned are since my records began in September 1996.
2020
Overall 2020 was a rather average year, wet at times, with an unexceptional summer and winter.
Spring 2020 was easily the driest on my records (since 1996) with just 73.4 mm of rain (46%).
January 2020
Overall very mild, the mildest in my records (since 1996), and quite dry.
Overall mean maximum temperature 8.1 (+2.2 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 2.8 (+2.0)
Overall mean temperature 5.4 (+2.1)
Highest maximum temperature 13.8 on the 7th
Lowest maximum temperature: 3.1 on the 28th
Lowest minimum temperature: -4.2 on the 10th
Rain total: 48.0 mm (59 %)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 10.4 mm on the 8th
Fog mornings: 2
1 snow days, 2 day snow lying, 0 frost days
0 thunder days (th)
February 2020
Overall an extremely wet month - the wettest February in my records - and rather cool.
Overall mean maximum temperature 6.4 (-0.6 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 0.7 (-0.3)
Overall mean temperature 3.6 (-0.4)
Highest maximum temperature 10.1 on the 4th
Lowest maximum temperature: 1.3 on the 24th
Lowest minimum temperature: -3.2 on the 13th
Rain total: 157.2 mm (258 %)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 19.0 mm on the 8th
Fog mornings: 2
8 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 0 frost days
0 thunder days (th)
29 February. A very low pressure of 946 mbars.
March 2020
Somewhat cool with about average temperatures. Quite dry. A month of two halves; unsetteld first half and anticyclonic second half. Remarkably the month saw a new record high pressure of 1047 mbars (29th) for any month, and a new record low pressure for March of 958 mbars (1st).
Overall mean maximum temperature 8.8 (-0.6 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 1.5 (-0.3)
Overall mean temperature 5.2 (-0.6)
Highest maximum temperature 14.3 on the 24th
Lowest maximum temperature: 5.1 on the 1st
Lowest minimum temperature: -3.9 on the 20th
Rain total: 30.4 mm (57 %)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 7.0 mm on the 14th
Fog mornings: 1
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 0 frost days
0 thunder days (th)
April 2020
Slightly warmer than average, quite dry and sunny. Some cool nights.
Overall mean maximum temperature 13.8 (+1.7 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 3.0 (-0.8)
Overall mean temperature 8.4 (+0.5) (11= warmest since 1996)
Highest maximum temperature 19.9 on the 15th
Lowest maximum temperature: 7.3 on the 3rd
Lowest minimum temperature: -3.2 on the 3rd
Rain total: 14.6 mm (31%) (3= driest since 1996)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 7.4 mm on the 29th
Fog mornings: 0
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 0 frost days
0 thunder days
May 2020.
Dry, sunny, quite warm, with some hot days and cool nights.
Overall mean maximum temperature 17.4 (+2.2 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 5.6 (-0.6)
Overall mean temperature 11.5 (+0.8) (5th warmest since 1996)
Highest maximum temperature 26.0 on the 28th
Lowest maximum temperature: 9.6 on the 10th
Lowest minimum temperature: -3.6 on the 13th
Rain total: 26.4 mm (47%) (3rd driest since 1996)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 9.2 mm on the 21st
Fog mornings: 5
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 0 frost days
0 thunder days
The humidity of 17% on 6 May is easily a new record low.
The minimum of -2.4C on the morning of 11 May is a new record low by some way, but ...
... then this in turn was broken by an amazing -3.6C on the morning of 11 May.
June 2020.
After the excitement of May, June was pretty average, being slightly warmer, wetter, and cloudier than average.
Overall mean maximum temperature 18.2 (+1.0 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 9.8 (+0.3)
Overall mean temperature 14.0 (+0.8) (=4th warmest since 1996)
Highest maximum temperature 25.6 on the 25th
Lowest maximum temperature: 11.6 on the 10th
Lowest minimum temperature: 4.3 on the 5th
Rain total: 75.4 mm (107%) (=8th wettest since 1996)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 12.8 mm on the 30th
Fog mornings: 5
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 0 frost days
1 thunder days
July 2020.
July was slightly cooler, duller, and wetter than average.
Overall mean maximum temperature 17.9 (-1.4 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 10.0 (-0.9)
Overall mean temperature 14.0 (-1.1) (=5th coolest since 1996)
Highest maximum temperature 23.1 on the 31st
Lowest maximum temperature: 13.2 on the 1st
Lowest minimum temperature: 6.6 on the 19th
Rain total: 90.8 mm (114%) (=9th wettest since 1996)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 18.6 mm on the 28th
Fog mornings: 6
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 0 frost days
0 thunder days
August 2020.
August was wet and very dull but with close to average temperatures.
Overall mean maximum temperature 18.1 (-0.8 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 11.0 (+0.4)
Overall mean temperature 14.6 (-0.2) (=12th coolest since 1996)
Highest maximum temperature 25.4 on the 12th
Lowest maximum temperature: 12.7 on the 27th
Lowest minimum temperature: 4.3 on the 30th
Rain total: 126.8 mm (153%) (7th wettest since 1996)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 30.6 mm on the 25th
Fog mornings: 5
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 0 frost days
1 thunder days
11 August 2020. A thunder day (and night), rare in these parts. A real thunderstorm rather than just a bit of thundery rain.
25 August 2020. A very wet day, with 30.6 mm of rain 9-9 GMT.
September 2020.
September was cool and quite dry and bright. There was almost a drought, and it was almost a very dry month, saved by a wet final day.
Overall mean maximum temperature 16.1 (-0.4 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 7.9 (-1.1)
Overall mean temperature 12.0 (-0.8) (5th coolest since 1995)
Highest maximum temperature 22.0 on the 18th
Lowest maximum temperature: 11.3 on the 30th
Lowest minimum temperature: -1.3 on the 27th
Rain total: 43.6 mm (77%) 10th driest since 1996)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 25.6 mm on the 30th
Fog mornings: 2
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 1 frost days
0 thunder days
20 September 2020. A remarkable early cold spell; a new record September minimum of -1.3C on the morning of Sunday 20th, the first time I've recorded an air frost in September here (since 1995), and hence the earliest date for an air frost.
30 September 2020. A wet day (just, 25.6 mm of rain), with most of it falling after midnight!
October 2020
Very wet, very dull, and rather cool. Easily the wettest October in my records, with a total of 183.0 mm of rain beating 152.2 in October 2004. There were no frosts.
Overall mean maximum temperature 11.6 (-0.9 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 6.0 (-0.1)
Overall mean temperature 8.8 (-0.5) (7th coolest since 1995)
Highest maximum temperature 15.4 on the 7th
Lowest maximum temperature: 8.6 on the 27th
Lowest minimum temperature: 0.2 on the 17th
Rain total: 183.0 mm (208%) wettest since 1995 at least)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 55.4 mm on the 3rd
Fog mornings: 3
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 0 air frosts, 0 frost days
0 thunder days
3 October. 55.4 mm of rain, the second wettest day in my records.
21 October. Another very wet day, with 32.0 mm, and 31.8 mm of that falling between midnight and 7 am.
November 2020
A mild, dull, dry month, although not exceptionally so.
Overall mean maximum temperature 9.8 (+1.3 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 4.4 (+1.5)
Overall mean temperature 7.1 (+1.3) (6th warmest since 1995)
Highest maximum temperature 15.1 on the 5th
Lowest maximum temperature: 4.2 on the 26th
Lowest minimum temperature: -3.4 on the 29th
Rain total: 49.6 mm (60%) 9th driest since 1995 at least)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 10.2 mm on the 8th
Fog mornings: 5
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying, 5 air frosts, 0 frost days
0 thunder days
Sunshine nearby: 61.7 hours against mean of 71.5 (5th dullest out of 12)
8 November. The minimum of 12.6C on the 8th was the record highest minimum for November.
December 2020
A dull, wet month, slightly warmer than usual. Mild first three weeks, colder and less wet final week.
Overall mean maximum temperature 6.0 (-0.1 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 1.5 (+0.6)
Overall mean temperature 3.8 (+0.3) (=14th warmest since 1995)
Highest maximum temperature 12.4 on the 18th
Lowest maximum temperature: 0.7 on the 28th
Lowest minimum temperature: -5.1 on the 31st
Rain total: 101.8 mm (142%) (4th wettest since 1995)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 27.6 mm on the 4th
Fog mornings: 0
3 snow days, 3 day snow lying, 12 air frosts, 0 frost days
0 thunder days
Sunshine nearby: 39.4 hours against mean of 52.1 (76%, 4th dullest out of 13).
2021.
Overall 2021 was a farily average year, with temperatures close to average. Winter 20-21 at 2.5C was cool and wet, athough there was an exceptional cold spell from the middle of January to the middle of February, setting a new record low temperature for the last 25 years (with -11.9 on 11 February). It was the new record coldest spring in my records (7.1C). Summer saw around average temperatures, and was wet. Unusually though the highest temperature of the year occurred in autumn, with 27.1C on 8 September. Autumn was quite warm and somewhat dry. The first frost was relatively late (28 November, with a mean first frost around here of 6 November).
January 2021
A very cold, snowy month, but quite sunny and dry.
Overall mean maximum temperature 3.0 (-2.8 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature -1.9 (-2.6)
Overall mean temperature 0.6 (-2.6) (coldest since 2010 and second coldest since at least 2010)
Highest maximum temperature 9.1 on the 11th
Lowest maximum temperature: -0.8 on the 8th
Lowest minimum temperature: -6.3 on the 9th
Rain total: 60.6 mm (76%) (10th driest since 1995)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 12.0 mm on the 13th
Fog mornings: 5
10 snow days, 12 day snow lying (greatest depth 8.0 cm on the 13th) , 23 air frosts, 1 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 5.3 hours against mean of 52.1 (123%, 5th out of 13).
February 2021
A month of two halves: very cold and snowy first half, very mild second half. The wettest February in my records.
Overall mean maximum temperature 5.9 (-1.1 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 0.5 (-0.5)
Overall mean temperature 3.2 (-0.8) (5th coldest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 12.8 on the 27th
Lowest maximum temperature: -0.7 on the 9th
Lowest minimum temperature: -11.9 on the 11th (record coldest)
Rain total: 164.2 mm (253%) (wettest on record)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 45.8 mm on the 4th (7th highest daily rainfall)
Fog mornings: 0
11 snow days, 11 day snow lying (greatest depth 24.0 cm on the 10th) , 11 air frosts, 12 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 52.3 hours against mean of 80.3 (65%, 2nd dullest out of 13; only February 2013 duller).
March 2021
Overall quite mild and dry; an unusually westerly month, and somewhat anticyclonic.
Overall mean maximum temperature 10.2 (+1.0 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 3.5 (+1.4)
Overall mean temperature 6.8 (+1.2) (5th warmest in last 25 years, warmest since 2012)
Highest maximum temperature 19.2 on the 18th
Lowest maximum temperature: 3.3 on the 3rd
Lowest minimum temperature: -3.9 on the 6th
Rain total: 46.2 mm (87%) (=12th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 13.6 mm on the 10th
Fog mornings: 0
1 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 3 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 103.9 hours against mean of 117.5 (88%, 5th dullest out of 13).
30 March 2021. The minimum of 11.3C is the new record highest minimum for March.
April 2021
Very anticyclonic and very sunny, very dry, and cold, with many frosty nights, with a relatively wet and cloudy final few days. The jet stream was well to the south of us for most of the month keeping us in cold air, with frequent winds from the northerly quadrant (but often there was no wind at all). For the first time in my records here April was colder than March. The cold nights produced an extraodinary deviation from the mean, with the only sub-zero average minimum recorded in April. It was the 4th driest of any month, with only April 1997 and 2017 and September 2014 being drier. The sunshine totals were also prodigious; only 2011 and 2015 were sunnier Aprils, and the only higher titles are found in May, although not often; so I make it the 7th sunniest month of any sort of the last 15 years. Note that high sunshine totals here always occur in spring, not the summer, even though the potential for sunny months is greater nearer the solstice. Overall it was a remarkable month. I've run out of adjectives.
Overall mean maximum temperature 11.3 (-0.8 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature -0.1 (-3.7)
Overall mean temperature 5.6 (-2.2) (2nd coldest in last 25 years, only April 2013 was colder - just)
Highest maximum temperature 18.1 on the 22nd
Lowest maximum temperature: 5.2 on the 5th
Lowest minimum temperature: -4.8 on the 11th - a new record low minimum for April
Rain total: 10.6 mm (24%) (3rd driest of April, after 1997 and 2017).
Highest daily 9-9 rainfall: 2.8 mm on the 27th
Fog mornings: 0
1 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 17 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 220.2 hours against mean of 159.9 (138%, 3rd sunniest out of 15, only April 2011 and 2015 sunnier).
11 April 2021. In a blast of Arctic air, with clear skies and a very light wind, a new record minimum of -4.8C.
May 2021
May 2021 in Newtyle was utterly miserable. It was record-breakingly cold, wet, and dull (the new record coldest, new record wettest, and new record dullest). The only good things that can be said about it is that there was only one air frost, and the last five days brought a little warmth and sunshine and respite from the continual heavy rain. There were three very wet days (defined as more than 25.0 mm of rain in the 9-9 GMT observing day): 3rd, 20th, and 23rd. The maxima were particularly low, with temperatures not exceeding 20C until the 29th. In spite of the longer days sunshine was only slightly more than half of April's total.
Overall mean maximum temperature 12.5 (-2.6 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 5.0 (-1.1)
Overall mean temperature 8.8 (-1.8) (coldest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 20.2 on the 29th
Lowest maximum temperature: 8.1 on the 8th
Lowest minimum temperature: -0.7 on the 7th
Rain total: 150.5 mm (236%) (wettest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 30.0 mm on the 3rd
Fog mornings: 0
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 1 air frost nights, 0 frost days
1 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 112.3 hours against mean of 184.7 (61%, dullest out of 15).
3 May. 30.0 mm of rain fell today.
7 May. The only air frost of the month, at -0.7.
27 May. At the end of an exceptionally dry month, a drought begins ...
June 2021
June 2021 was the driest in my 25 years of records. It was slightly warmer than average, and somewhat cloudier, but with a few pleasantly warm days. The maximum of 23.9C on the 29th is the highest I know of for that day in the UK, and in line with other local readings. The night before was unusally cold, with a minimum of 2.6C, particularly low for so late in the year. Most of the rain fell on only two days, the 13th and 24th. There were high minima of 15.3 on the 13th and 24th. So after a very dry April, and a record-breakingly wet May, we had a record-breakingly dry June. What an odd three months.
Overall mean maximum temperature 18.4 (+1.1 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 9.8 +0.7)
Overall mean temperature 14.1 (+0.9) (4th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 23.9 on the 29th
Lowest maximum temperature: 12.4 on the 19th
Lowest minimum temperature: 2.6 on the 22nd
Rain total: 24.2 mm (35%) (driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 13.6 mm on the 24th
Fog mornings: 0
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 1 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 127.9 hours against mean of 132.3 (90%, 7th dullest out of 19).
10 June. A minimum of 15.3C, the second highest minimum for June in my records; repeated again on the 24th.
13 June. A 17-day drought ends with 7.8 mm of rain overnight.
22 June. With a minimum of 2.6C the coldest night of the month, at a remarkably late date.
23 June. With a maximum of 23.9C Newtyle could be the warmest place in the country today ...
July 2021
July 2021 was warm, sunny, and quite dry. There was a drought midmonth, with most of the rainfall falling on just a few days at the beginning and end of the month. The warm weather came to an end on the 27th with a significant thunderstorm in the early hours of the following night. However, given the position of the high bringing the hot weather to the south, it was a very easterly month, which here on the east coast means low cloud, haar, and temperatures kept down. Nevertheless it often cleared for a good few hours in the afternoon giving plenty of hot sunshine.
Overall mean maximum temperature 20.8 (+1.4 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 12.4 (+1.5)
Overall mean temperature 16.6 (+1.4) (4th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 26.2 on the 17th
Lowest maximum temperature: 15.3 on the 6th
Lowest minimum temperature: 5.6 on the 2nd
Rain total: 58.5 mm (74%) (11th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 22.4 mm on the 27th
Fog mornings: 0
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
2 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 153.9 hours against mean of 152.7 (101%, 6th sunniest out of 16).
2 July. A very low minimum of July of 5.6 (4th coldest).
12 July - 26 July inclusive. Yet another drought.
27 July. A major thunderstorm nearby in the early hours of the 28th. 11.2 mm of rain fell in one hour. At its height there were more than one strikes a minute.
August 2021
August 2021 was a very average month overall, but with a wet and unsettled first half, and dry and anticyclonic from the 22nd. However the blocking high brought mostly easterly winds, which gave varying amounts of cloud and fog, particularly in the morning.
Overall mean maximum temperature 19.1 (+0.2 Cº)
Overall mean minimum temperature 11.2 (+0.6)
Overall mean temperature 15.1 (+0.3) (=6th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 23.8 on the 24th
Lowest maximum temperature: 15.4 on the 30th
Lowest minimum temperature: 5.1 on the 31st
Rain total: 79.2 mm (96%) (11th wettest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 26.8 mm on the 5th
Fog mornings: 4
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 129.6 hours against mean of 131.7 (98%, 8th sunniest out of 15).
6 August. Rainfall total of 26.8.
23 August. It turns much drier.
September 2021
September 2021 in Newtyle was an anticyclonic month, and overall was mostly warm and dry. It turned cooler and much more unsettled from the 26th. There was a particularly warm spell early on the month; 27.2 ºC on the 8th is by some way the hottest September day I have recorded here. The month was marked yet again by an absence of very strong winds. Sunshine was close to average.
Overall mean maximum temperature 17.6 (+1.0 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 10.6 (+1.6)
Overall mean temperature 14.1 (+1.3) (4th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 27.1 on the 8th *
Lowest maximum temperature: 10.9 on the 27th
Lowest minimum temperature: 3.0 on the 30th
Rain total: 49.2 mm (87%) (12th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 12.0 mm on the 18th
Fog mornings: 3
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 126.3 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against mean of 122.8 (103%, 7th sunniest out of 16).
26 September. Turning unsettled.
October 2021
October 2021 in Newtyle was quite warm, wet, and cloudy; the end of the month was particularly wet and windy, with localised flooding. The month was notable for an absence of low temperatures: there were no air frosts, and just one ground frost, on the 31st. Again there were few strong winds, with only the final day of the month coming close to gale force. The 29th and 31st counted as “very wet” days, with more than an inch of rain - 26.2 and 29.4 mm respectively. Although these are not exceptional daily totals (they don’t make the top 30 rainfall totals for the previous 25 years), their close proximity caused serious problems for travel and property. Fungi were particularly good this month.
Overall mean maximum temperature 12.9 (+0.4 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 7.4 (+1.3)
Overall mean temperature 10.1 (+0.8) (5th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 17.2 on the 7th
Lowest maximum temperature: 9.4 on the 27th
Lowest minimum temperature: 1.1 on the 31st
Rain total: 115.2 mm (130%) (8th wettest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 29.4 mm on the 31st
Fog mornings: 2
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 66.2 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against mean of 89.3 (74%, 2nd dullest out of 15).
29 October. A very wet day (26.2 mm).
31 October. Another very wet day (29.4).
November 2021
November 2021 in Newtyle was quite warm and dry, with a notable gale.
Overall mean maximum temperature 9.5 (+0.8 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 3.6 (+0.7)
Overall mean temperature 6.5 (+0.7) (=10th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 14.3 on the 8th
Lowest maximum temperature: 2.2 on the 27th
Lowest minimum temperature: -2.1 on the 29th
Rain total: 38.2 mm (47%) (5th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 11.6 mm on the 30th
Fog mornings: 1
2 snow days, 1 day snow lying , 3 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 1 gales
Sunshine nearby: 78.1 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against mean of 75.6 (103%, 6th sunniest out of 15).
26 November. Storm Arwen is the first proper gale in some time, and what a gale, bring devastation, particularly to East Scotland and NE England, with many homes losing power. We rarely lose power, but we lost it from 5.30 on Friday, for nearly 48 hours. Many thanks to all the engineers who worked hard in horrible conditions to restore power. Nearby a 71 mph gust was recorded, with a ten-minute average of 41 mph, although higher gusts were reported near the coast.
December 2021
December 2021 in Newtyle was a fairly typical December for here, although there were several days with a marked absence of sunshine. It was the coldest since 2017. While it was exceptionally warm in many areas of the UK at the end of the month, it was merely mild here, but not exceptionally so.
Overall mean maximum temperature 5.7 (-0.4 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 1.0 (+0.1)
Overall mean temperature 3.4 (+0) (=12th coldest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 0.8 on the 21st
Lowest maximum temperature: 2.2 on the 27th
Lowest minimum temperature: -3.9 on the 6th
Rain total: 82.7 mm (114%) (8th wettest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 16.6 mm on the 23rd
Fog mornings: 8
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 11 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 42.7 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against a long-term mean of 54.4 (78%, making it the 5th dullest out of 16). The mean as often hides a more complicated picture beuase there were a record 16 days without any sunshine, so while we had some gloriously sunny days, my abiding memory is of relentless gloom and low cloud.
2022
Winter 2021-22 was relatively mild and dry overall. Summer was warm, dry, and quite sunny.
Autumn as a whole was mild but very wet - the record wettest in my 27 years of local records (356.8 mm, 154%).
Overall, 2022 was a very warm year (mean 9.5 C), equal second since 1997 (across the UK it will be the warmest on record). Rainfall was close to average (845 mm), and it was a very sunny year (1474 hours; only 2018 was sunnier in recent years).
January 2022 in Newtyle was mild, quite sunny, and very dry. The month started very mild and unsettled, and then became anticyclonic and dry for most of the month, before ending on a very windy note. It was a very westerly month, with a complete absence of E and NE winds that usually bring the very cold weather. There were very few frosts and the lowest temperature of the month was "only" -2.3.There were gales on the 28-29th and 30th, bringing down more trees, to close the month.
Overall mean maximum temperature 7.5 (+1.6 C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 2.2 (+1.5)
Overall mean temperature 4.9 (+1.6) (3rd warmest in last 25 years behind 2000 and 2020)
Highest maximum temperature 12.7 on the 1st
Lowest maximum temperature: 1.3 on the 9th
Lowest minimum temperature: -2.9 on the 10th
Rain total: 17.6 mm (23%) (2nd driest, only 2019 was drier)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 5.0 mm on the 1st
Fog mornings: 1
1 snow day, 0 day snow lying , 8 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 2 gales
Sunshine nearby: 84.3 hours (134%, 3rd sunniest out of 15; data from John Brush at Auchterhouse).
February 2022
February 2022 in Newtyle overall was slightly milder and wetter than average, but also quite sunny. It was often very windy, although we missed the strongest of the winds, the village being relatively sheltered. There was a marked absence of frost.
Overall mean maximum temperature 7.4 (+0.4C)
Overall mean minimum temperature 1.3 (+0.3)
Overall mean temperature 4.3 (+0.3) (20th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 10.4 on the 1st
Lowest maximum temperature: 2.1 on the 18th
Lowest minimum temperature: -4.3 on the 11th
Rain total: 79.2 mm (121%) (8th wettest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 10.4 mm on the 19th
Fog mornings: 0
8 snow days, 4 days snow lying , 9 air frost nights, 13 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales (technically, although there were gale force winds on 2 days)
Sunshine nearby: 106.1 hours (124%, 3rd sunniest out of 15; data from John Brush at Auchterhouse).
11 February. A minimum of -4.3, making it the coldest night of winter 2021-22.
18 February (Friday) saw a notable fall of wet snow to a level depth of about 8 cm as we sat on the northern flank of Storm Eunice.
March 2022
March 2022 in Newtyle overall was slightly milder and drier than average, but it was also very sunny. It was quite wet and unsettled for the two weeks, but there was then a long dry spell until the month finished with a couple of much colder days with biting wind from the north and showers. Day time temperatures were often mild, but there were many frosty nights.
Overall mean maximum temperature 12.0 (-0.1 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 3.3 (-0.3)
Overall mean temperature 7.7 (+0.3) (=11th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 18.6 on the 27th
Lowest maximum temperature: 5.4 on the 2nd
Lowest minimum temperature: -3.3 on the 6th
Rain total: 45.4 mm (85%) (12th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 16.8 mm on the 11th
Fog mornings: 3
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying , 12 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 171.0 hours (140%, 2nd sunniest out of 17, beaten only by March 2012; data from John Brush at Auchterhouse).
April 2022
April 2022 in Newtyle overall was an average month, although it was quite dry.
Overall mean maximum temperature 10.7 (+1.5 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 1.3 (-0.8)
Overall mean temperature 7.7 (-0.1) (=11th coldest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 16.7 on the 22nd
Lowest maximum temperature: 6.2 on the 2nd
Lowest minimum temperature: -2.9 on the 1st
Rain total: 31.8 mm (72%) (9th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 7.2 mm on the 5th
Fog mornings: 3
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying , 5 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 150.9 hours (95%, 8th sunniest out of 17; April sunshine totals are highly skewed).
28 April. Last air frost of the winter-spring, with -0.4 in the morning.
May 2022
May 2022 in Newtyle overall was slightly warmer than average, mostly because the nights were so mild, with close to normal rainfall. It was however quite a dull month. The first half was more promising than the second, but no day exceeded 21C. There were no air frosts, much to the relief of my garden. Interestingly the coldest night of May was the final day. A substantial part of the rainfall came in two brief showers on the afternoon of the 25th.
Overall mean maximum temperature 15.2 (+0.1 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 7.9 (+1.0)
Overall mean temperature 11.6 (+1.0) (5th warmest in last 25 years)
Highest maximum temperature 20.1 on the 14th
Lowest maximum temperature: 10.1 on the 2nd
Lowest minimum temperature: 2.4 on the 31st
Rain total: 62.2 mm (98%) (12th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 24.2 mm on the 25th
Fog mornings: 2
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 127.4 hours (70%, 3rd dullest out of 17, and less than April.
25 May. Two tremendous brief showers give 24.2 mm for the day, with the rainfall rate in a sample between 4 and 5 pm (BST) equating to 188.2 mm/hr.
June 2022
Quite warm, dry, and sunny, without being exceptional. There have now been four consecutive months with beneath average rainfall.
Overall mean maximum temperature 18.2 (+0.9 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 9.4 (+0.3)
Overall mean temperature 13.8 (+0.6) (8th warmest in last 26 years)
Highest maximum temperature 23.3 on the 20th
Lowest maximum temperature: 11.7 on the 8th
Lowest minimum temperature: 3.7 on the 5th
Rain total: 39.6 mm (59%) (5th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 12.4 mm on the 10th
Fog mornings: 3
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
1 thunder day, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 178.3 hours (124%, 4th sunniest out of 17).
20 June. At 23.3 C the first day over 21 this year, a late date against an average of 20 May here, but nowhere near as late as 2002 (13 July).
July 2022
Overall somewhat warmer, drier, and sunnier than average, although not exceptionally so. There were however two extraordinary events: a record-breaking if short heatwave, peaking on 19 July, and a thundery downpout that caused local flooding on the 24th.
Overall mean maximum temperature 20.8 (+1.4 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 12.1 (+1.1)
Overall mean temperature 16.5 (+1.3) (equal 4th warmest in last 26 years)
Highest maximum temperature 30.7 on the 19th
Lowest maximum temperature: 16.2 on the 3rd
Lowest minimum temperature: 7.0 on the 16th
Rain total: 49.6 mm (64%) (8th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 27.2 mm on the 24th
Fog mornings: 1
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
1 thunder day, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 160.3 hours (105%, 6th sunniest out of 17).
18 July. A new record high temperature for me, 29.9 C. It doesn't last long ...
19 July. A new record 30.7 C, unusually while it is mostly cloudy. 30.5 was recorded in Dundee, a new record for the area (easily beating the previous record of 28.9 in July 2013) and the first time the temperature in the area has exceed 30 C. We can be confident that this is the highest temperature since 1900 and probably for centuries before. Unfortunately there are no data from the Mediaeval Warm Period.
24 July. A downpour around 7 pm BST (with some thunder) has a rainfall equivalent rate of 205.8 mm/hr.
August 2022
Warm, very sunny, and quite dry. Most of the month's rain fell in a two-day thundery spell midmonth.
Overall mean maximum temperature 20.2 (+1.3 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 11.0 (+0.3)
Overall mean temperature 15.6 (+0.8) (5th warmest in last 2 years, and warmest since 2003)
Highest maximum temperature 26.9 on the 11th
Lowest maximum temperature: 15.7 on the 22nd
Lowest minimum temperature: 6.2 on the 5th
Rain total: 58.0 mm (71%) (11th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 28.4 mm on the 14th
Fog mornings: 4
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
2 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 168.9 hours (126%, 2nd sunniest out of 17, beaten only by 2006).
14-15 August. A thundery spell. Most of the rain of the month fell in this period, mostly overnight, with a total of 28.4 mm falling on Sunday 14th.
September 2022
Wet, warm, and quite sunny. Unusually there were no days completely without some sunshine this month.
Overall mean maximum temperature 17.1 (+0.5 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 9.3 (+0.2)
Overall mean temperature 13.2 (+0.3) (9th= warmest in last 27 years)
Highest maximum temperature 21.4 on the 1st
Lowest maximum temperature: 12.5 on the 27th
Lowest minimum temperature: 2.9 on the 24th
Rain total: 91.2 mm (158%) (4th wettest in 27 years)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 25.2 mm on the 3rd
Fog mornings: 1
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 129.4 hours (105%, 6th sunniest out of 17).
October 2022
A mild month, but not quite as mild as 2017. There were no air frosts, although it came close on the 15th. It was slightly drier and sunnier than average. It is now the tenth consecutive month this year above average temperature.
Overall mean maximum temperature 13.7 (+1.2 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 7.8 (+1.6)
Overall mean temperature 10.7 (+1.3) (3rd warmest in last 27 years)
Highest maximum temperature 17.4 on the 2nd
Lowest maximum temperature: 10.0 on the 19th
Lowest minimum temperature: 0.2 on the 15th
Rain total: 86.2 mm (97%) (14th driest in 27 years)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 12.0 mm on the 23rd
Fog mornings: 3
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying , 0 air frost nights, 0 frost days, 2 ground frosts
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 93.8 hours (105%, 7th sunniest out of 17).
November 2022
November 2022 in Newtyle was very mild, very wet, and very dull.
Overall mean maximum temperature 10.0 (+1.3 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 4.5 (+1.5)
Overall mean temperature 7.3 (+1.5) (3rd mildest in last 25 years; 1997 and 2011 were warmer)
Highest maximum temperature 16.7 on the 11th (equal highest in October)
Lowest maximum temperature: 4.7 on the 21st
Lowest minimum temperature: -1.4 on the 21st and 29th
Rain total: 179.4 mm (211%) (2nd wettest after 2014)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 49.0 mm on the 17th (6th highest daily total)
Fog mornings: 6
0 snow days, 0 day snow lying , 2 air frost nights, 0 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 49.5 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against mean of 74.1 (67%, 2nd dullest out of 17).
Autumn as a whole was mild but very wet - the record wettest in my 27 years of local records (356.8 mm, 154%).
11 November. A new record high minimum for November of 13.8 C, in a run of very mild SW winds.
18 November. A very wet spell with flooding. I recorded 49.0 mm yesterday on the 17th, which is the sixth highest rainfall total in the last 27 years (11 October 2012 was highest with 62.6). Over the last three full recording days I measured 89.0 mm of rain, which is the fifth highest consecutive three-day total. Mid-August 2004 was the highest, with 101.8 mm. 37 consecutive hours of rain, third highest, behind the 43 hours of October 2002.
21 The first air frost of the year, at -1.4, with freezing fog, a bit later than average (average locally is 5 November).
December 2022
December 2022 in Newtyle was a memorable month, being very cold and very wet. Sunshine was about average, and again there was a pronounced absence of any strong winds. The period 7-18 th was particularly cold, with a mean temperature of -1.0. It was quite dry and settled until the 23rd, with most of the month’s rain falling in the final week (74.6 mm). After a very wet November, the ground is now saturated, and any further heavy rain in the near future will not be welcome.
Overall mean maximum temperature 4.2 (-1.8ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature -0.8 (-1.7)
Overall mean temperature 1.7 (-1.8) (3rd coldest in last 27 years; only December 2009 and 2010 were colder)
Highest maximum temperature 10.7 C on the 11th
Lowest maximum temperature: -2.3 on the 13th
Lowest minimum temperature: -8.9 on the 13th and 14th
Rain total: 105.2 mm (143%) (4th wettest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 21.8 mm on the 29th
Fog mornings: 4
7 snow days, 5 days snow lying , 19 air frost nights, 2 frost days
0 thunder days, 0 gales
Sunshine nearby: 54.4 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against mean of 54.4 (100%, 7th sunniest out of 17).
11-14 December. There were 69 hours of continuous frost. The maximum of -2.3 on the 13th was the fourth coldest day in the last 27 years, and the minimum of -8.9 on the 13th and 14th the sixth coldest night time temperature.
December was the only month of the year which was beneath the long-term average temperature.
2023
Winter 2022-23 was mixed, ending up about average overall, with a cold December, average and very mild February.
January 2023
January 2023 in Newtyle was rather a mixed bag, with some cold spells alternating with milder interludes, without any extremes of any kind. Temperatures overall were almost exactly average, although it was quite sunny and dry.
Overall mean maximum temperature 6.0 (+0.1 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 0.3 (-0.4)
Overall mean temperature 3.2 (-0.1) (12th coldest in last 27 years)
Highest maximum temperature 10.8C on the 24th
Lowest maximum temperature: 1.9 on the 2nd
Lowest minimum temperature: -5.7 on the 19th
Rain total: 55.6 mm (72%) (10th driest)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 9.2mm on the 13th
Fog mornings: 5
1 snow days, 0 days snow lying, 14 air frost nights, 19 ground frost nights, 0 frost days, 5 sunless days, 0 thunder days, 0 days with gales
Sunshine nearby: 81.0 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against mean of 63.7 (127%, 5th sunniest out of 20).
February 2023
February 2023 in Newtyle was very mild, very dry, and quite dull. There was no snow and little frost.
Overall mean maximum temperature 8.7 (+1.6 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 2.5 (+1.4)
Overall mean temperature 5.6 (+1.5) (2nd warmest in last 27 years, beaten only by 1998)
Highest maximum temperature 11.9 C on the 19th
Lowest maximum temperature: 4.8 on the 18th
Lowest minimum temperature: -4.5 on the 27th
Rain total: 28.8 mm (45%) (6th driest, and driest since 2012)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 12.0 mm on the 17th
Fog mornings: 0
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying, 3 air frost nights, 6 ground frost nights, 0 frost days, 1 sunless day, 0 thunder days, 1 day with gale
Sunshine nearby: 65.8 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against mean of 84.7 (78%, 5th dullest out of 20).
26 February. A brilliant aurora display.
March 2023
March 2023 in Newtyle was cold and very wet (for here), but quite sunny. The month started with a notable cold spell, marked by very low temperatures rather than great deal of snow. March here was colder than February; the last time this happened was 2013.
Overall mean maximum temperature 8.2 (-1.0 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 0.6 (-1.4)
Overall mean temperature 4.4 (-1.2) (=4th coldest in last 27 years; coldest since 2018)
Highest maximum temperature 13.4C on the 30th
Lowest maximum temperature: 3.0 on the 8th
Lowest minimum temperature: -8.6 on the 9th (lowest in March since 2001)
Rain total: 93.0 mm (171%) (3rd wettest; wettest since 2018)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 24.0 mm on the 23rd
Fog mornings: 3
2 snow days, 0 days snow lying, 15 air frost nights, 15 ground frost nights, 0 frost days, 5 sunless days, 0 thunder days, 1 day with gale
Sunshine nearby: 143.2 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) against mean of 124.9 (118%, 6th sunniest out of 21).
8 March A minimum temperature of -8.3C, the lowest March reading since the remarkable cold spell of March 2001.
9 March Under clear skies and with no wind, the temperature fell a bit lower the next night, with -8.6 just before dawn. Later that afternoon we have a brief snow shower.
April
April 2023 in Newtyle was cool, relatively wet, and dull.
Overall mean maximum temperature 11.3 (-1.0 ºC)
Overall mean minimum temperature 3.2 (-0.4)
Overall mean temperature 7.3 (-0.5) (=10th coldest in last 27 years)
Highest maximum temperature 16.1C on the 21st
Lowest maximum temperature: 5.8 on the 1st
Lowest minimum temperature: -2.4 on the 25th
Rain total: 67.0 mm (153%) (6th wettest; wettest since 2016)
Highest daily 9-9 GMT rainfall: 27.6 mm on the 11th
Fog mornings: 4
0 snow days, 0 days snow lying, 4 air frost nights, 10 ground frost nights, 0 frost days, 6 sunless days, 0 thunder days, 0 day with gale
Sunshine nearby: 132.3 hours (data from John Brush at Auchterhouse) (86%, 5th sunniest out of 27, dullerst since 2018); there was more sunshine in March.
21 April. The first day over 15 C (16.1 in fact), a bit late relative to the average date for this event of 4 April here.
