The 1st and the 2nd were very mild as 56F and 57F were recorded. The temperature didn't fall below 50F on the morning of the 2nd. However, pressure was generally low as the unsettled weather which set in around the 17th January continued. It rained on and off on the 2nd, and the weather was unsettled on the 4th, but the afternoon of the 5th was sunny. Hail fell at 9.20 on the morning of the 9th, but that day was fine and sunny. Further rain fell on the 10th and 11th, but the 11th was extremely mild, as 58F was recorded, making it the mildest day of the month, and the warmest February day for four years. The 12th was fine and sunny all day, but the 13th saw heavy rain until 3pm, when it turned sunny.
Waiting was an anticyclone to provide a respite from the wet and unsettled weather. This anticyclone was similar to the one which held sway from 13th to the 25th February last year, but unfortunately it wasn't as strong or long lasting, because the ground needed to dry out. Still, no rain fell between the 14th and the 17th and good sunshine totals were recorded. The weather was pleasant on the 14th, 15th and 16th, but on the 16th the temperature fell below freezing point, for the first and only time during the month. The 17th started sunny, but clouded over in the early afternoon. The 18th was sunny during the day but fronts displaced the anticyclone which brought rain that evening.
The 19th was dull and dry, but turned very wet after 5pm. The 20th was very unsettled, with heavy rain for much of the day and hail at 2pm, even though there were sunny spells between the rain. The 21st also brought a quiet interlude, as it was dull but dry, but strong winds caused damage during the early hours of the 22nd, and part of York weather station's roof collapsed. The first snow since the 29th December 2001 fell on the 23rd February throughout the day, but it didn't stick. Again, good sunny spells were recorded.
A vigorous secondary depression set in on the 25th. Heavy rain fell that day and the lowest pressure of the month, and since October 2000, was recorded on the 26th with 981MB. Coincidentally, there was also a very unsettled day on 26th February 1997. Heavy rain fell that morning with severe winds, but the sun broke through at 11am. The afternoon was mild and sunny but a thunderstorm broke at around 6.10pm, after an hailstorm, which deposited more rain. The 27th was the sunniest day of the month and was calm, but a cloudy spell occurred between 12.50pm and 1.10pm, preventing endless sunshine and which caused another hailstorm, but that didn't last too long. This was the sunniest day recorded since October 2001. The final day of this exciting weather month was sunny in the morning but clouded over in the afternoon. Rain fell that night but cleared later.
This was the wettest month recorded since November 2000. It was also much sunnier than average, but wasn't as sunny as February 2001.
Kevin Phillips - 6.20pm - Monday 1st April 2002.
