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WRITTEN NARRATIVE OF THE WEATHER OF FEBRUARY 1999
February 1999 was the coldest February recorded since 1996 but it was still slightly milder than average. It was asking a lot though for the month to be as mild as last year, which is now the mildest of the 20th Century. To have two successive February's so mild would be a truly remarkable event. However, as you will read, there were a few coincidences between the weather of February 1999 and February 1998.
Like last year, the weather at the beginning February was shaped by a strong anticyclone, and 1042 MB was recorded on the 1st. The first three days were overcast but quiet, mild and dry. In contrast, the 4th was a very windy day as a severe gale blew, causing local damage. That day, 50mph was the mean wind speed and gusts up to 75mph were recorded. The wind turned to the northwest, which typified the month's weather, as this was the most north-westerly February recorded since 1973.
The minimum temperature didn't fall below 47F on the 4th, but didn't rise above 35F at any time on the 8th. Snow fell at 8.30am on the 8th but didn't settle. Despite this, both the 7th and 9th recorded very good sunshine totals under cloudless skies.
From the 10th temperatures increased. Rain fell in a short heavy burst on the evening of the 12th. From the 16th, after three non-descript days, the weather turned generally unsettled. On the 19th south-west winds blew, breaking the North-Westerly flow, giving a spring like feel to the weather. That was the mildest day of the month, with 55F recorded. The 20th was also fine but the next day was unsettled with sunny spells but also heavy rain at times. Snow up to two inches deep fell that evening but like the snow on the 8th, it didn't last and had totally gone by the following morning.
There was endless sunshine on the 22nd, with 9.3 hours recorded. Coincidentally, the 22nd was also the sunniest day of thef month in February last year. The next two days were mostly mild and sunny but rain fell on the evening of the 25th. There was another short spell on mild weather on the 26th. The 27th was another fine and sunny day but the final day of the month was very unsettled. That afternoon was stormy. It was the wettest day of the month. In another coincidence, the 28th was the wettest day of February 1998.
Despite the rather unsettled weather after the 17th, there were no days of heavy rainfall apart from the 21st and the 28th. Rainfall for the month was below average, though February 1999 wasn't as dry as February 1998. It did beat last year in one area though - that was sunshine. It was the sunniest February recorded since 1988, with sunshine totals nearly twice the average.
Kevin Phillips - 7.40pm - Monday 1st March 1999.
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