WEATHER REPORT FOR 1999

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CLIMATOLOGICAL SUMMARY

January

Mainly mild, windy and wet but with some generous sunshine. Dull and quiet towards the end of the month. The mean at Pitsford Hall was recorded at 1.1C above the January average. Rainfall was recorded at 77mm, 139% of the average, with a notable fall of 18.8mm on the 19th resulting in some flooding around Towcester. January 12th saw the first snow of the winter season, but lay at less than 0.5cm depth and quickly melted. Nationally, this was the sunniest January since 1991 and the fourth sunniest since 1909. The mildest (along with 1994) since 1993.

February

Another generally mild month. The mean at Pitsford Hall was 4.7C, 1.0C above the norm for February. Changeable and windy at times with snow in the second week. A gust of 52mph was recorded on the 22nd, and snow fell at 0900 hrs on three days: 9th, 10th and 22nd. Sunny and dry away from the west. Some notable sunshine occurred on the 7th with 5.3 hours, the sunniest day since 12 October 1998. Nationally, this has been the 10th sunniest February since 1909.

March

Mainly mild & changeable. Some snow in places first week. The mean temperature at Pitsford Hall was 7.3C, 1.7C above the March average.

April

Mostly unsettled and rather wet. A total of 68.4mm was recorded at Pitsford Hall (143% of the average). The period 20-23 April was particularly wet. There was, however, a wintry spell mid month with some snow. The last few days saw a return to very mild conditions. Nationally, this was the warmest April since 1993 and the sunniest since 1995.

May

Mostly warm and changeable. The north-west of the British Isles was rather more unsettled that Northants which saw some good sunshine and mild conditions. Breezy start to fourth week with thunderstorms later. A tornado was reported in the Corby area on the 14th. The close of the month was particularly stormy with some notable rainfall amounts: 4.5mm of rain falling in half and hour at Pitsford on 27th and 17mm over 2.5 hours on 29th. Nationally, this was the dullest May since 1994 and the sixth month in succession to be warmer than normal.

June

Rather wet. Some severe thunderstorms at first, then mainly cool and unsettled but with some very warm days at times. Notable rainfall amounts included 19.9mm on the 1st. On the 2nd, flooding, lightning strikes and power cuts occurred throughout the county. The leisure centre in Rushden, East Northants, was closed due to flooding. 170 storm-related calls were made to the Fire Brigade. 180 businesses throughout Northants were without power during the day. Nationally, this was the coldest June since 1991.

July

Mostly very warm and sunny especially in the south, but cooler in the north and northwest. It was notably dry over some parts of England. Only 12.2mm of rain fell at Pitsford, 25% of the expected average. Rain fell on only 4 days during the month. Nationally, this was the driest July since 1911 and the sunniest since 1990.

August

Very hot start (30.8C on the 1st, hottest day of the year), then mostly rather cool and unsettled. Frequent thunderstorms and heavy downpours. On the 25th, torrential rainfall accompanied by moderate thunder and lightning caused traffic chaos in Northampton. Two major downpours (15.50- 16.45BST and 17.25-17.45BST) caused localised flooding on major commuter routes out of town and reduced visibilities to 15m. Maximum rainfall intensity recorded at Pitsford Hall 23.2mm/hr. Total rainfall (0830 on 25th to 0830 on 26th) 24.2mm, 21.6mm falling between 15.50 and 17.45BST. The end of the month was warm and dry. Nationally. This was the wettest and dullest August since 1992.

September

Very warm at first. Generally very unsettled with frequent thunderstorms, heavy downpours and local flooding in places. A total of 22.9mm was recorded at Pitsford on the 19th. The period 22nd-26th was particularly wet. On 24th September, 6.6mm of rain fell between 19.20 and 20.05BST. On 26th September, 8.3mm of rain fell between 23.00 and 3.25BST, of which 6.7mm fell in two hours between 1.00 and 3.00BST, and 3.4mm fell between 2.20 and 2.55BST. Nationally, this was the warmest September since 1949 and the sunniest since 1991.

October

Very sunny and dry most of the time after a breezy start with some thunder. Unsettled beginning of 4th week with gales and heavy rain around 24th/25th. Mainly sunny and dry thereafter. 93.4 hours of sunshine were recorded at Pitsford. Nationally, this was the sunniest October since 1959.

November

Mainly mild and dry the first fortnight. Cold spell third week with some wintry/thundery showers. Strong south-westerly winds buffet the county from 24th to 28th, gusting up to 43mph on 25th, 42mph on 26th and 41mph on 28th. Mean wind speed at observation (0830hrs) on 26th: 25mph. No gales or significant reports of structural damage received. Nationally this was the driest November since 1990. Pitsford Hall was reported as being the driest COL reporting stations.

December

A disturbed month with frequent gales and some snow in the north. Sunshine well above normal but very wet with local flooding. On the 3rd high winds gusted up to 53mph and rain lashed the county during the morning. Mean wind speed recorded at observation (0830GMT) at Pitsford Hall: 33mph. Pressure trend over the 3 hours prior to 0830GMT: -6mb. Reports were received of a lorry careering out of control down an embankment on the A14 and of power losses and train delays on the Northampton line. A wintry spell third week and a cold end to the month. Nationally, this was the sunniest December since 1962 and the wettest since 1993.

ANNUAL STATISTICS FOR 1999

Temperatures
Mean Max: 14.6C
Mean Min: 6.8C
Mean: 10.7C
Difference from average: +1.3C

Highest Max: 30.8C on 1st August
Lowest Max: 0.7C on 5th February
Highest Min: 17.3C on 3rd August
Lowest Min: -4.9C on 20th December
Lowest Grass Min: -8.8C on 20th December

Duration of Air Frost: 160.5 hours

Mean Relative Humidity at 0900 hrs: 86.6%

Rainfall

Rainfall Total: 692.7mm (105.2% of average)
Rain days: 171
Wet days: 125
Most in a day: 24.2mm on 25th August
Rainfall Duration: 510.6 hours

Sunshine

Total: 1393.5 hours
Most in a day: 12.8 hours on 18th June
Sunless days: 54
Mean Cloud Cover at 0900 hrs: 69.3%

Winds

Days with gale: 0
Days with wind from:
N: 46 NE: 40 E: 12 SE: 41 S: 38 SW: 71 W: 34 NW: 67 Calm: 13 Variable: 2
Mean wind speed: 5.3 mph
Maximum gust: 57 mph on 13th April & 24th December

Pressures

Mean sea-level pressure at 0900hrs: 1012.9 mb
Max sea-level pressure: 1041mb on 9th November
Min sea-level pressure: 975 mb on 24th October

Other Observations

Days with Air Frost: 26
Days with Ground Frost: 66
Days with Sleet/snow falling: 10
Days with Snow lying at 0900 hrs: 7
Days with Thunder: 14 (& Lightning 9)
Days with Hail (<0.5mm): 7
Days with Hail (>=0.5mm): 0
Days with Fog at 0900 hrs: 30

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