January
Weatherwise, January 2014 was a remarkable month with several records falling, and precipitation being recorded on every day of the month. It was the mildest, wettest and windiest January recorded so far at Bracken House.
The incessant rain was the main feature of the month with a total of 90.4 millimetres being recorded. This was 46.7 millimetres more than the January average of 43.7 millimetres. For the first time, precipitation, a combination of rain, snow melt, frost melt and fog, was recorded every day, with the wettest day being the 31st, when 9.6 millimetres was recorded. Evapotranspiration for the month was 12.1 millimetres, higher than the 11.3 millimetres of 2013.
January was also the mildest ever recorded here, with the average for the month being 5.0°C, a mere 0.1°C milder that January 2012. The highest temperature recorded was 11.3°C on the 5th, amazingly at 23:59. The minimum temperature was -1.2°C on the 21st at 09:10, the highest monthly minimum for January and the second lowest temperature this winter, beaten only by the -2.3°C recorded on November 19th 2013. The mean temperature for January is now 3.5°C. There were only three frost days, when the temperature falls below zero, on the 12th, 20th and 21st. This is also a record for the lowest number of frost days in January. Despite all the rainfall, there was 58.5 hours of sunshine in the month, 6.4 hours more than 2013. The average dew point was 3.7°C and the maximum heat index was 11.3°C at 23:59 on the 5th. The average daily maximum temperature was 7.7°C and the average daily minimum was 2.4°C.
In the early hours of the 12th, the temperature dipped below 0°C, this was the first time an air frost has been recorded since November 26th 2013. The spell of 46 days without any sub-zero temperatures is easily the longest spell recorded in the Winter period. The previous best period of above zero Winter temperatures was one of 26 days, between December 15th 2012 and January 9th 2013. On the 30th, the maximum temperature of 3.9°C, recorded at 22:08, was the lowest daily maximum since March 28th 2013.
The final day of the month saw the first measurable snowfall of the winter when 0.2 millimetres was recorded. Snow, sleet and rain fell throughout the day, but only settled in two brief spells in the morning and late afternoon.
The month was also a very windy one, with the strongest gust ever recorded in January of 43.7 mph from 293° (WNW) at 14:27 on the 25th. This was during a fierce thunderstorm, uncommon in these parts in January. The maximum wind speed was 26.5 mph from 293° (WNW) on the 25th at 14:28. The average wind speed for the month was 6.0 mph, the same as in 2012, but the maximum average daily wind speed was 23.7 mph, a high for January. The average gust speed was 9.2 mph, also a January record. The total wind run was 4452 miles, also a January record, but lower than December's 4565 miles.
The average barometric pressure was 998.1 millibars, a January low. The highest pressure recorded was 1023.2 millibars on the 11th at 22:06, and the lowest was 978.3 millibars on the 1st at 19:35, another station record.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
February
The wet and mild Winter weather continued into February, which was the windiest ever recorded, with temperatures and rainfall both well above average. There was an almost continual run of Atlantic low pressure systems, including the deepest low ever to pass over Bracken House.
The average temperature in the month was 5.5°C, 1.5°C higher than the February mean, but 0.5°C lower than 2011's record. The maximum temperature was 11.3°C on the 23rd at 15:11, with the lowest temperature being -0.3°C on the 10th at 05:36, the only time the thermometer dropped below zero in the month. This was only the fourth frost day in 2014 so far, and the lowest number of frost days recorded in February. There were 62.7 hours of sunshine in the month, down on last year's 66.5 hours, but 4.2 hours more than January. The average dewpoint was 3.4°C, the average daily maximum temperature was 8.2°C and the average daily minimum temperature was 3.0°C.
Rainfall for the month was 54.0 millimetres, much higher than the February average of 38.2 millimetres, but 7.8 millimetres below the 2011 record. There were 22 rain days, with the wettest being the 27th when 7.4 millimetres fell, 7.2 millimetres were recorded on the 11th. Measurable snow was only recorded on the 11th when one millimetre lay on the ground briefly. There has so far been snow on only two days this season, amounting to a paltry three millimetres. Evapotranspiration for the month was 24.3 millimetres, higher than the 16.7 millimetres of 2013. Rainfall for the year at the end of February was 144.2 millimetres.
February 2014 was the windiest month ever at this location. The strongest gust was 47.2 mph from 248° (WSW) on the 12th at 19:34, and the maximum wind speed was 31.1 mph from 248 °(WSW) at the same time. The average gust speed was 12.4 mph and the average wind speed was 8.2 mph, both station records. The wind run for February was 5288.2 miles, another station record.
The average barometric pressure was 993.8 millibars, a station record. The highest pressure recorded was 1011.7 millibars on the 26th at 18:05, and the lowest was 964.9 millibars on the 15th at 00:15, another station all time low.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
March
March 2014 was a fairly unremarkable month with temperatures slightly above normal. The month was also wetter and sunnier than average with wind speeds also above average.
The average temperature in the month was 6.9°C, 0.9°C above the March average. The average high temperature was 11.4°C, compared to the average of 9.7°C and the average low temperature was 3.5°C, 1.2°C higher than average. The mean for the month is now 5.8°C. The maximum temperature was 17.2°C on the 9th at 15:23, and the minimum temperature was -1.8°C on the 24th at 07:23. There were only two frost days recorded. There have now been just six frost days in 2014. There were 105.9 hours of sunshine in the month, compared to 2013's 74.6 hours. This was the sunniest month since July 2013. The average dew point was 4.4°C.
Rainfall for the month was 34.6 millimetres, falling on 15 days, 6.0 millimetres more than the average for March. The wettest day was the 18th when 6.6 millimetres fell. No rain was recorded between the 7th and 18th. There was no measurable snow recorded. Evapotranspiration for the month was 44.7 millimetres, the highest since September 2013 and 16.9 millimetres more than 2013. Rainfall for the year up until March 31st was 178.8 millimetres, 76.0 millimetres more than normal at this time of the year.
The average wind speed in the month was 5.1 mph, with the average gust speed being 8.0 mph, both March records. The maximum recorded wind speed was 21.9 mph from 293° (WNW) on the 18th at 14:30. The maximum recorded gust speed was 32.2 mph from 293° (WNW) also on the 18th at 14:28. The month's wind run was 3561.3 miles.
The average barometric pressure for March was 1013.7 millibars, with the highest being 1036.4 millibars on the 11th at 09:07. The lowest barometric pressure was 978.5 millibars at 20:30 on the 2nd, a record low for March.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
April
April 2014 was an average month all round. Temperatures were slightly higher than normal, rainfall was slightly below normal, and winds were lighter than average. No station records were broken in the month.
The average temperature in the month was 9.6°C, 0.9°C above the average for the month. The average high temperature was 13.9°C, with the average low temperature being 6.3°C. There were no frosts recorded in the month. The highest temperature recorded was 18.4°C at 14:30 on the 21st. This was the highest temperature so far in 2014, beating the previous high of 17.2°C set on March 9th by 1.2°C. The lowest temperature in the month was 1.9°C at 06:12 on the 19th. The average dewpoint was 6.9°C and the maximum heat index was 18.4°C. There were 79.0 sunshine hours in April, well below 2013's total of 100.6 hours, and March's total of 105.9 hours.
Rain fell on 14 days, with the wettest day being the 22nd when 6.0 millimetres fell. The total for the month was 30.4 millimetres, 14.0 millimetres below the average for April. No precipitation was recorded for 11 days between the 9th and the 19th, meaning all the month's rain fell at the start and end of the month. Evapotranspiration for the month was 59.1 millimetres, the highest since August 2013, but lower than the 70.4 millimetres recorded last year. Rainfall for 2014 so far is 209.2 millimetres, 59.5 millimetres higher than normal for the end of April.
Winds were lighter than normal, with the average wind speed being 4.0 mph, and the average gust speed 6.7 mph. The maximum recorded wind speed was 19.6 mph from 270° (W) on the 8th at 10:21, and the maximum gust speed was 31.1 mph at the same time. The total wind run was 2569.9 miles.
The average barometric pressure was 1013.3 millibars, with the highest being 1030.8 millibars at 11:00 on the 15th, and the lowest being 1000.1 millibars at 16:07 on the 7th.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
May
May 2014 was milder and wetter than average with lighter winds than normal.
The average temperature for the month was 11.8°C, 0.8°C above the normal. The maximum temperature was 22.7°C recorded at 14:18 on the 19th. The minimum temperature was 0.6°C recorded at 04:35 on the 3rd. The warmest spell was between the 15th and the 19th when the yearly record temperature was broken every day. The highest dew point of the year was recorded on the 19th at 14.6°C, with the average dewpoint being 8.7°C. The average high temperature for the month was 15.8°C, 0.4°C higher than normal. The average low temperature was 8.1°C, 1.0°C higher than normal. The mean temperature for May is now 11.2°C. The maximum heat index was 25.0°C recorded at 14:21 on the 17th. Despite the high temperatures, there was only 93.8 sunshine hours in the momnth, well down on last year's total of 124.8 hours. This was mainly due to the fact that no sunshine was recorded in the last five days of the month, the first time a five day sunless spell has happened here.
Rainfall for the month was 58.4 millimetres on 19 days, 13.6 millimetres more than the May average. The wettest day was the 22nd when 11.6 millimetres fell. Rainfall for 2014 is now 267.8 millimetres, 75.1 millimetres more than normal for the end of May. Evapotranspiration for the month was 79.1 millimetres, the highest since August 2013, although this figure was lower than 2013's total of 87.1 millimetres.
Winds for May were lighter than average at 3.5 mph, this compares with the month average of 4.3 mph. The maximum recorded wind speed was 20.7 mph from 270° (W) on the 9th at 10:43, and the maximum gust speed was 29.9 mph from 270 °(W) also on the 9th at 10:41. The total wind run was 2626 miles, much less than the May average of 3192 miles.
The highest barometric pressure was 1035.5 millibars, recorded at 07:49 on the 15th, with the minimum being 993.2 millibars at 17:45 on the 10th. The average pressure for the month was 1013.6 millibars.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
June
June 2014 was an average month with no record-breaking weather. The month was warmer and drier than average with very light winds.
The maximum temperature for the month was 23.6°C, the highest of 2014 so far, recorded on the 23rd at 16:04, and the minimum temperature was 6.0°C on the 6th at 04:54. The monthly average was 14.8°C, 0.8°C higher than normal, with the average high being 19.2°C and the average low 10.5°C. The average dewpoint was 11.4°C and the maximum heat index was 25.2°C at 19:25 on the 20th. There were 105.7 sunshine hours in the month, slightly lower than 2013's total of 107.9 hours.
There were 39.8 millimetres of rainfall in the month, much lower than the average of 61.4 millimetres. The wettest day was the 2nd when 9.6 millimetres of rain fell. No rain at all was recorded from the 15th until the 26th. Rainfall for 2014 is now 307.6 millimetres, 53.5 millimetres more than is normal for the end of June. Evapotranspiration for the month was 92.9 millimetres, 8.1 millimetres lower than 2013, and the highest since July 2013.
Winds in June were very light, the average windspeed being only 1.9 mph, and the average gust speed only 3.7 mph. The average windspeed equalled the lowest set in December 2010. The average maximum windspeed was 13.4 mph and the total wind run was 1285.3 miles. The maximum windspeed was 13.8 mph from 270° (W) on the 10th at 16:50, and the maximum gust speed was 25.3 mph from 270° (W) also on the 10th at 16:49.
The highest barometric pressure was 1029.3 millibars on the 17th at 09:54, and the lowest pressure was 1000.7 millibars on the 4th at 17:10. The average pressure for the month was 1018.4 millibars.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
July
July 2014 was the sunniest so far recorded at Bracken House, though it wasn't as warm as July 2013. Rainfall in the month was well below average.
The maximum temperature in the month was 27.6°C on the 26th at 15:49. This was a yearly high after a previous yearly high of 25.9°C was recorded on four separate days earlier in the month. The minimum temperature was 9.0°C recorded on the 7th at 05:23, and the average for the month was 17.5°C, 1.1°C higher than the monthly mean. This was the 8th successive month when above average monthly temperatures were recorded, although the month average was 0.5°C lower than 2013. The average high temperature was 22.7°C and the average low temperature was 12.5°C. The month ended with a run of 16 successive days when the temperature topped 20°C, a record for this station. The sunshine hours was also a record at 158.5 hours, 14.4 hours higher than the previous best set in May 2012. The average dewpoint was 13.2°C and the maximum heat index was 27.6°C at 15:49 on the 26th.
Rainfall amounts were low with only 28.0 millimetres being recorded, the lowest ever for July. Rain fell on only eight days, with an estimated 21.6 millimetres falling during torrential thunderstorms on the 19th. This figure is an estimate taken from other local weather stations owing to a fault with the station rain collector. After these thunderstorms, the next 11 days were totally dry. Until the end of July, 335.6 millimetres of rain had been recorded in 2014, 28.9 millimetres more than usual at this time of the year. Evapotranspiration for the month was 117.3 millimetres, 2.2 millimetres lower than 2013, which is the station high.
July winds are normally light, and 2014 was no exception. The average wind speed was 2.8 mph, and the average gust speed was 4.9 mph. The maximum wind speed was 13.8 mph from 248° (WSW) on the 4th at 12:14, and the maximum gust speed was 24.2 mph from 225° (SW) also on the 4th at 09:18. The average maximum wind speed was 16.3 mph, and the total wind run was 2048.5 miles.
The highest barometric pressure was 1024.6 milliabars, recorded on the 23rd at 00:56 and the lowest barometric pressure was 995.7 millibars, on the 5th at 06:21. The average pressure for the month was 1014.7 millibars.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
August
August 2014 started off warm with temperatures topping 20°C for the first nine days of the month. A high temperature of only 17.6°C on the 10th, ended a run of 25 successive days of above 20°C maximums. The arrival on these shores of ex-hurricane Bertha then signalled much lower temperatures with record August high wind speeds. Rainfall was slightly below average for the month.
The maximum temperature in the month was only 22.9°C on the 8th at 13:39, this was the lowest maximum temperature so far in August. The average daily high temperature was also a record low of just 18.7°C. The minimum temperature was 5.3°C on the 20th at 06:21, beaten only by 4.1°C recorded in 2012. This was the coldest since May 3rd when the temperature fell to 0.6°C. The average daily low temperature was 10.3°C, also an August low for the station. The average temperature for the month was 14.2°C, and the mean temperature is now 15.2°C. This was the first below average monthly temperature since November 2013. Despite the low temperatures, August was still a fairly sunny month with 93.2 hours being recorded, 9.4 hours more than 2013. The average sunshine hours for August is 85.7 hours, making it the fifthttp://www.brackenhouse.net/weather/index.phph sunniest month. The average dewpoint was 11.1°C and the maximum heat index was 25.1°C recorded on the 4th at 14:38.
Rainfall was 49.6 millimetres, slightly below the August average of 52.2 millimetres. The yearly total now stands at 386 millimetres, 28 millimetres higher than normal for the end of August. Rain fell on 19 days, with the wettest day being the 10th when 9.6 millimetres fell. 9.4 millimetres fell on the 8th. Evapotranspiration for the month was 87.3 millimetres, 2.9 millimetres more than 2013.
August was a very windy month with the highest wind speed being 21.9 mph from 270° (W) on the 10th at 19:38. The highest gust speed was 34.5 mph from 270° (W) also on the 10th at 19:36. The average wind speed was 4.4 mph and the average gust speed was 7.1 mph, all four being August records. The total wind run was 3087.7 miles.
The highest barometric pressure was 1019.6 millibars on the 15th at 23:55, with the lowest being 989.6 millibars on the 10th at 13:58, this was the lowest pressure ever recorded in August. The average pressure was also a record low for August at 1009.2 millibars. The average humidity for the month was 82%, with the high 98% on the 28th at 04:44 and the low 47% at 17:04 on the 3rd.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
September
September 2014 was the second driest month and the least windy month ever at Bracken House. Temperatures were above normal, though not as warm as September 2011. The average temperature was identical to that of August 2014.
The maximum temperature recorded in the month was 21.8°C on the 18th at 17:10, with the minimum being 5.2°C on the 22nd at 04:19. The average temperature for the month was 14.2°C, 0.7°C more than the September mean of 13.5°C. The average high temperature was 18.7°C, also the same as August, and the average low temperature was 10.2°C. A run of 26 days of below 20°C maximum temperatures ended on the 5th when the thermometer reached 20.3°C at 14:28. Despite the lack of rain and wind, September was a dull month with only 76.6 hours of sun, compared to 93.2 hours in August and 84.5 hours in September 2013. The average dew point was 11.8°C and the maximum heat index was 24.7°C at 16:34 on the 9th.
Only 10.0 millimetres of rain fell in the month, making it the second driest month here behind April 2011, when 6.8 millimetres was recorded. If it wasn't for a few sharp showers on the 29th, when 4.0 millimetres of rain was recorded, September 2014 would have been the driest month here. Rain was recorded on 11 days, a new low for September. Evapotranspiration for the month was 50.5 millimetres, 2.6 millimetres less than 2013. There has now been 396 millimetres of rain in 2014, 1.6 millimetres more than average for the end of September.
The highest wind speed recorded was 11.5 mph from 315° (NW) on the 26th at 11:04, and the highest gust speed was 18.4 mph from 293° (WNW) on the 26th at 12:34. The average wind speed was 1.6 mph, and the average gust speed was 3.1 mph, all of these are all-time station lows. The total wind run was only 1100.7 miles.
A couple of September humidity records were broken. The minimum humidity of 53% at 17:03 on the 7th was the highest minimum recorded in September and the month average of 86% is also a September high.
The highest barometric pressure was 1028.2 millibars on the 13th at 10:56, and the minimum pressure was 1009.7 millibars on the 18th at 17:13. The month average pressure was 1019.5 millibars, a record high for September.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
October
Apart from the remnants of hurricane Gonzalo passing over the country on the 21st, creating a record wind gust for October, the month was decidedly average. Temperatures were slightly above average and rainfall amounts were exactly on average for the month.
The maximum temperature in October was 19.1°C at 16:10 on the 3rd, with the minimum temperature being 2.8°C on the 12th at 08:02. This minimum is the lowest temperature since May 3rd when the thermometer fell to 0.6°C. This was also the first ground frost of the 2014/15 season, and the earliest a ground frost has been recorded here. The previous earliest ground frost was October 14th 2012. On the 6th, the maximum temperature was 10.9°C, the lowest daily maximum since April 25th. On October 18th, the minimum temperature of 14.7°C, equalled the least cold October day record set on October 3rd 2011. The final day of the month saw the mercury rise to 19.0°C, easily beating the record for the 31st of 15.8°C set in 2011. The average temperature for the month was 11.5°C, equal to 2013 and 0.8°C higher than the mean. As 2013, October was the dullest month of the year with only 46.8 hours of sunshine. The average dew point was 9.8°C and the maximum heat index was 19.1°C at 16:10 on the 3rd.
Rainfall was exactly the same as the monthly average at 55.2 millimetres. There were 24 rain days with the wettest being the 13th when 12.4 millimetres was recorded. This was the second wettest day of 2014, well behind July 19th when 21.6 millimetres was recorded. So far this year there has been 450 millimetres of rainfall, much the same as expected at the end of October. Evapotranspiration for the month was 30.6 millimetres, 2.7 millimetres more than 2013.
Apart from the passage of Gonzalo, winds in October were average. The highest wind speed was 23.0 mph from 315° (NW) on the 21st at 12:23. The highest gust speed of 40.3 mph from 315° (NW) also on the 21st at 15:41 was an October record, but only the fourth windiest day of 2014. The average wind speed was 4.5 mph and the average gust speed was 7.4 mph. The total wind run was 3176.3 miles.
The highest barometric pressure was 1029.8 millibars on the 2nd at 09:46, with the lowest pressure being 988.4 millibars at 16:17 on the 8th. The average pressure was 1009.8 millibars and the average humidity was 90%.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
November
November 2014 was the least sunniest month so far recorded at Bracken House. Despite this, temperatures were higher than average and rainfall was normal. Winds were light, leading to many periods of misty and dull weather, especially in the latter half of the month.
November's maximum temperature was 15.7°C on the first of the month at 00:06. The minimum temperature was -1.2°C on the 25th at 07:05, the only frost day in both the month and the autumn season. Also on the 25th, the maximum temperature of 5.5°C was the lowest daytime maximum since January 30th. The average temperature for the month was 7.9°C, 1.1°C above the monthly mean. Only 42.9 hours of sunshine were recorded in the month, beating the previous low of 46.8 set in the previous month. The average dewpoint was 6.9°C and the maximum heat index was 15.7°C recorded on the 1st at 00:06. The average daily maximum temperature was 10.2°C and the average daily minimum temperature was 5.5°C.
Rainfall in November was 67.2 millimetres, 3.0 millimetres higher than the month average. On the 7th and 8th, a total of 28.2 millimetres was recorded. There were 22 rain days in total The yearly total is now 518.4 millimetres, about the same as usual for the end of November. Evapotranspiration for the month was 12.3 millimetres, 0.4 millimetres less than 2013.
Winds were light in October with the average windspeed being 3.7 mph and the average gust speed being 6.2 mph. The maximum wind speed was 19.6 mph from 158° (SSE) on the 13th at 15:29, and the maximum gust speed was 28.8 mph from 158° (SSE) on the 7th at 00:14, both November lows. The total wind run was 2398.6 miles.
The highest barometric pressure was 1026.8 millibars at 20:23 on the 24th, with the lowest being 984.9 millibars at 09:50 on the 7th. The average pressure for the month was 1005.0 millibars. The average humidity was 93%, with the mimimum being 50% on the 20th at 09:37, a record for November. The high humidity equalled the station record for any month set in December 2009.
Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph
December
The weather in December 2014 was a very mixed bag with alternating mild and cold spells before the first significant snowfall of the Winter on the 26th. The all-time highest December temperature record was broken, as was the yearly minimum temperature. Precipitation was well below average and winds were slightly stronger than normal.
The maximum temperature in the month was 13.0°C on the 18th at 13:49 and the minimum temperature was -3.1°C on the 30th at 05:42. This was the highest December temperature recorded here, beating the previous best, set on December 26th 2011, by 0.1°C. The minimum temperature on this day (18th) was 10.3°C, recorded at 00:00, the highest December daily minimum ever recorded here. The average temperature for the month was 4.6°C, 0.8°C above the December mean. This was the 11th month in 2014 to record above average temperatures, only August prevented the clean sweep. The mimimum temperature of -3.1°C was the coldest here since -3.7°C was recorded on March 14th 2013. On the 26th, ,the low wind chill of -5.2°C was the lowest recorded in 2014. Despite the varied weather, December had 70.7 hours of sunshine, 12 hours more than 2013, and 9.5 hours above the month average. The average daily maximum temperature was 7.4°C, 1.1°C above the mean, while the average minimum temperature was 2.1°C, 0.8°C above the mean. The average dew point was 3.1°C and the maximum heat index was 13.0°C set at 13:49 on the 18th.
Precipitation was recorded on 24 days totalling 31.2 millimetres. This took the 2014 total to 549.6 millimetres, slightly below the yearly average. On the 5th, a short spell of light drizzle (0.2 millimetres) ended a run of five successive dry days, equalling the longest dry spell recorded here in December. Strangely, this dry spell occurred at exactly the same time last year (November 30th until December 4th). The first snowfall of the autumn / winter season was recorded on the 11th at 08:15. The snow settled in places on the grass but soon turned to rain. 6.0 centimetres of snow fell on the 26th, the most since 23rd March 2013, followed by a further 3.0 centimetres on the 27th, when the snow depth was 9.0 centimetres, the deepest since March 25th 2013. Evapotranspiration for the month was 15.0 millimetres, 0.6 millimetres less than 2013.
Winds were slightly above average with the maximum wind speed being 24.2 mph from 270° (W) on the 22nd at 03:57. The maximum gust speed was 39.1 mph from 270° (W) also on the 22nd at 03:44. The total wind run was 3900.4 miles.
The average barometric pressure in the month was 1016.0 millibars, with the highest being 1041.1 millibars at 20:48 on the 29th and the lowest being 985.8 millibars at 04:29 on the 12th. The highest and the average were both December records. On the 26th, the maximum pressure recorded was 1030.0 millibars at 00:08. This fell to 1004.7 millibars at 22:15 – a drop of 26.3 millibars in a little over 22 hours, enough to be classified as a 'weather bomb'.
