Pressure began to build on the 7th was an anti-cyclone that was situated to the West of the British Isles. Pressure rose and 1035MB was recorded on the 9th, the highest all month. The wind direction changed to North-West and the weather turned cooler. Still temperatures held up well for the time of the year and the week from the 8th to the 15th was rainless.
After the 16th the wind current changed to the North and North East and temperatures turned colder with frosts at night whilst the weather remained dry and settled.
After the 24th the weather turned even colder and with that, more unsettled. The anticyclones hold finally relinquished and snow was recorded on both the 25th and 27th. There were sharp frosts notably on the mornings of the 28th and 29th. Whilst it snowed, any falls of snow didn't last long.
February 2004 was a month of contrasts. The first week was extremely mild but unsettled. It was anticyclonic from the 8th to the 23rd. The last week was cold and northerly. Sunshine totals were not particularly high in the first half of the month but they were high in the 2nd. The highest recorded total was on the 24th with 9 hours. The first half was the mildest since 1998. The second half the coldest since 1986.
Sunshine was well above normal and it is now 1993 since the UK had a duller than normal February. Rainfall was below normal and there were no outstanding wet days.
Kevin Phillips - 8.30pm - Tuesday 2nd March 2004.
