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A WRITTEN NARRATIVE OF THE WEATHER OF DECEMBER 1997
The cold weather which set in on the 30th November carried on into December, as anticyclones from the North-West began to build. This meant dry and sunny, but cold weather resulted. Frost was recorded on the first three nights of the month, and 25F was recorded on the 2nd, the lowest all month, and the lowest since the cold weather at the beginning of the year. This changed on the 5th as the wind moved to the South-West and temperatures became a lot milder, although severe westerly gusts were recorded early on the 6th. Between the 5th and the 11th the daytime maxima didn't once fall below 50F and didn't fall below 47F at any point during the 9th. The highest of the month, 57F was recorded on the 10th.
This mild spell ended on the 12th, as severe north-westerly gusts were recorded that morning which itself was a dry, sunny day. Clear weather was recorded also on the 13th and the 14th. Then the wind direction changed to the North-East on the 15th, feeding cold air in from Russia. Strong easterly gusts occurred on the 17th, causing snow from 3pm which remained that night. This didn't last, as the 18th brought heavy rain with a transitory low ridge of pressure, and 22.3 millimetres of rain fell. That day itself was a foul day under a cold wind and a leaden sky.
The 20th and 21st were sunny and dry but the 22nd was grey and overcast. It wasn't to be a white Christmas. On Christmas Eve very strong South-Westerly gales occurred from 7pm, along with heavy rain. Christmas day had a bright spell in the afternoon and the maxima was 55F. The South-West gales picked up early on Boxing day as well. There wasn't to be a repeat of New Year's Eve last year, as the final days of 1997 were mild, with sunny spells and the final night of the year was clear, but showery in the afternoon.
Kevin Phillips - 7.30pm - Sunday 4th January 1998.
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