January weather report

Feb 5 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTHSHIRE weather recorder Norman Pedgrift has confirmed that the first month of 2010 was very cold – and dry.

The mean temperature recorded during January this year at Mr Pedgrift’s weather station was 0.3C (32.5F) compared with a site average 3.2C (37.8F) for the month.

The total rainfall of 40mm was less than half the January average of 97mm.

“The first two weeks were freezing at an average minus 2.8C – just colder than the last two weeks of December at minus 2.6C,” said Mr Pedgrift.

“Even the second half of January was chilly at 2.9C. Cold as December and January have been, the same period in 1981/82 was colder.”

Comparisons are: 1981/82, December minus 1.5C, January 0.3C; 2009/2010, December 0.0, January 0.3C.

“In 1981/82 the cold started at the beginning of December and lasted six weeks,” said Mr Pedgrift.

“But this recent cold spell last four weeks, with two weeks at the end of December and the first two weeks of January.”