January

January 2015 was slightly warmer and sunnier than average. Rainfall was less than normal but the month was the windiest January ever recorded here.

Mild temperatures heralded the start of 2015 with a temperature of 11.9°C on New Year’s Day, the highest ever recorded here. The highest ever January temperature was also set at 17:37 on the 9th when the thermometer reached 14.0°C. This beat the previous best of 13.3°C recorded at 16:31 on January 29th 2013. The minimum temperature in the month was -3.1°C at 06:50 on the 19th. The last time a lower temperature was recorded was March 14th 2013 when the low was -3.7°C. On the 21st, the maximum temperature of 1.3°C, recorded at 08:37, was the lowest daily maximum temperature since 0.2°C was recorded on March 24th 2013. On the 28th, the temperature fell from 8.6°C at 09:33 to 3.7°C at 10:00, a fall of 4.9°C in 27 minutes. This was the result of a cold front, and low pressure system passing to the north of the country. The average temperature for the month was 3.8°C, 0.2°C above the mean for the month. The average daily high temperature was 7.0°C, 0.9°C above the mean, with the average low temperature being 1.0°C, 0.1°C below the mean. This was the fifth successive month of above average temperatures. January was sunnier than normal with 65.7 hours recorded, this was well above the 58.5 hours recorded in 2014. The average dew point was 2.2°C.

The most notable weather event in the month was the wind strength. On the 10th, the high wind gust speed of 49.5 mph surpassed the all time high of 48.3 mph set on December 5th 2013 by 1.2 mph. The maximum sustained wind speed of 31.1 mph from 270° (W) at 06:24 was the highest ever recorded here in January. This beat the previous highest of 28.8 mph, recorded on January 22nd 2012. The average wind speed was 6.7 mph and the average gust speed was 9.9 mph, both January records. The average maximum wind speed was 24.0 mph, also a January record and the highest since February 2014.

Rainfall and other precipitation totalled 38.8 millimetres, 4.1 millimetres below the January average. Precipitation was noted on 24 days, with the wettest being the 15th when 7.2 millimetres was recorded. There was 9.3 centimetres of snow recorded on seven days with the first snowfall of 2015 occuring on the 18th. The heaviest snowfall was on the 30th when 4.0 centimetres was measured. Evapotranspiration for the month was 17.8 millimetres, 5.7 millimetres more than 2014, and the highest since October 2014.

The maximum barometric pressure was 1035.1 millibars on the 4th at 11:30. The low barometer of 973.7 millibars, recorded on the 30th at 02:58, surpassed the January record low of 978.3 milliibars recorded at 19:35 on January 1st 2014. The average pressure for the month was 1010.5 millibars. The average humidity was 89%.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph

February

February 2015 was cooler and sunnier than average. Rainfall and snowfall were both less than average and winds were lighter than normal. This was also the first month since August 2014 to record below average temperatures.

The warmest day was reserved for the last day when the temperature reached 10.1°C at 13:00. The lowest temperature recorded was -3.5°C at 02:54 on the 2nd, the lowest since -3.7°C was recorded on March 14th 2013. The average temperature for the month was 3.5°C, 0.4°C lower than the mean for February. The average daily maximum was 6.3°C, 0.2°C below the mean, and the average daily minimum was 0.9°C, 0.5°C below the mean. The mean for February is now 3.9°C. Only January (3.6°C) and December (3.8°C) are lower. The average dew point was 1.5°C. There were 65.4 sunshine hours in the month, 2.7 hours more than 2014. On the 15th, the solar UV index of 1.0 surpassed the yearly high of 0.8 set on February 6th by 0.2. This is the first time the UV index reached 1.0 since October 31st 2014.

Rainfall for the month totalled 27.6 millimetres, recorded on 13 days, 8.5 millimetres lower than the February average. This was the least number of rain days recorded in February. The wettest day was the 22nd when 9.6 millimetres was recorded making it the wettest day since November 8th 2014. Snow fell only on the 2nd and 3rd when a light dusting fell on each day. Evapotranspiration for the month was 16.0 millimetres, the lowest so far recorded in February.

February's winds were lighter than usual with the average wind speed being 4.2 mph, 0.9 mph lower than average. The average gust speed was 6.1 mph. The maximum wind speed was 20.7 mph from 270° (W) on the 28th at 00:00, with the average maximum wind speed being 17.9 mph. The maximum gust speed was 29.9 mph from 293° (WNW) on the 24th at 12:14. The total wind run was 2557.5 miles and the predominant direction was west-south-westerly.

The highest barometer reading was 1039.7 millibars, recorded at 08:27 on the 8th. This surpassed the yearly high of 1039.0 millibars by 0.7 millibars. The lowest pressure was 983.9 millibars on the 23rd at 18:29 The average pressure for the month was 1015.2 millibars. The average humidity was 88%.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph

March

March 2015 was a wet and windy month with temperatures and sunshine hours slightly below average. The month was the windiest March ever here and the month's rainfall total was only bettered in March 2010.

The average temperature for the month was 5.7°C, 0.1°C below the mean. The highest temperature recorded was 15.2°C on the 7th at 16:02, with the lowest being -0.3°C on the 9th at 05:48. The average high temperature was 9.5°C, 0.2°C below normal, and the average low temperature was 2.5°C, 0.2°C above normal. The mean temperature for March is now 5.8°C. This was the second month in 2015 to record below average temperatures, following a run of only one below average month in the whole of 2014. There were 82.8 sunshine hours in the month, well below the 105.9 hours recorded last year. The UV index slowly crept up throughout the month, reaching 3.1 on the 27th, the highest UV index since September 13th 2014. There were only two frost days in the month.

Precipitation was recorded on 13 days with the 13th being the wettest at 8.2 millimetres. Total rainfall for the month was 41.2 millimetres, 10.5 millimetres more than average. 26 millimetres of this rain fell in the last week of the month, which was also very windy. There was no snow recorded. Rainfall for the year so far is 107.6 millimetres, approximately 20 millimetres more than usual for the end of March. Evapotranspiration for the month was 42.2 millimetres, 2.5 millimetres lower than 2014.

The most notable feature of the month was the strength of the wind, especially in the final few days. On the 31st, the high wind speed of 45.0 mph was the highest since 49.5 mph was recorded on January 10th 2015. The average wind speed was 6.1 mph and the average gust speed was 9.4 mph, both March records. The maximum wind speed of 27.6 mph from 293° (WNW) on the 31st at 15:57, and the maximum gust speed of 44.9 mph from 293° (WNW) on the 31st at 15:47, were both March records also. The total wind run was 4037.7 miles and the predominant direction was westerly.

The highest barometer reading was 1037.3 millibars, recorded at 01:29 on the 5th. The lowest pressure was 986.2 millibars, recorded at 12:22 on the 29th. The average pressure for the month was 1018.0 millibars. The average humidity was 82%.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph

April

April 2015 was much sunnier than average - the second sunniest month ever recorded here. Temperatures were slightly above average and rainfall was much lower than normal.

The average temperature for the month was 8.8°C, 0.1°C above the mean. The highest temperature was 18.4°C recorded at 16:54 on the 10th, with the lowest temperature being 0.2°C at 05:56 on the 27th. The average daily high temperature was 13.7°C, 0.5°C above the norm and the average low temperature was 4.4°C, 0.4°C below the norm. Sunshine hours were 149.3, well above the April average of 99.2, and second only to July 2014, when 159.5 hours were recorded. The UV index reached a maximum of 4.3 on the 25th.

Rainfall for the month was only 14.6 millimetres, well below the average of 39.4 millimetres. Surprisingly, in the last five years, there have been two drier Aprils, 11.6 millimetres in 2013 and 6.8 millimetres in 2011. The rainfall for the year now stands at 122.6 millimetres.

Wind speeds were normal, the highest wind speed being 25.3 mph from 248° (WSW) on the 12th at 13:25, equalling the April record set in 2013. The highest gust speed was 35.7 mph from 248° (WSW) also on the 12th at 14:03. The average wind speed was 4.1 mph, and the average gust speed was 6.5 mph. The average gust speed equalled the lowest ever for April. The total wind run was 2789.3 miles.

The average barometric pressure for the month was 1020.4 millibars, the highest ever in April. The highest pressure was 1036.4 millibars recorded at 09:41 on the 7th, also an April record. The lowest pressure was 1001.2 millibars at 13:19 on the 25th. The average humidity was 77%. On the 27th, the humidity dropped to 27%, the lowest ever in April. This was only 1% above the record low humidity set on May 1st 2011.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph

May

May 2015 equalled the coldest May so far recorded here. The month was also the windiest May ever, with rainfall well above average.

The average temperature for May was 10.2°C, equalling the coldest May record set in 2013. The mean temperature for May has now fallen to 11.0°C. This was the third below average month so far in 2015. The maximum temperature was 18.9°C on the 11th at 15:36, this beat the previous year high of 18.4°C set on April 10th by 0.5°C, but was the lowest monthly maximum temperature for May.. The minimum temperature was 1.6°C recorded on the 1st at 02:27. The average daily high was 14.0°C and the average daily low was 6.5°C. The average high temperature was the lowest ever for May, beating the previous low of 14.5°C set in 2015. The overall average high for May is now 15.2°C, with the overall average low being 7.0°C. Sunshine hours were 101.1, well below the average of 116.0, but beating last year's total by 8.3 hours. On the 26th, the solar UV index of 6.2 surpassed the yearly high of 5.6 set on 21st May by 0.6. This is the highest recorded since July 22nd 2014. A frost has never been recorded in May.

Rain fell on 16 days in the month, with the wettest day being the 3rd when 10.4 millimetres was recorded. The total rainfall for the month was 59.2 millimetres, the second wettest May on record and well above the average of 47.2 millimetres. There has now been 181.8 millimetres of rain in 2015. Evapotranspiration for the month was 89.2 millimetres, 10.1 millimetres higher than 2014.

Wind speeds were the highest ever recorded in May. The average wind speed was 5.8 mph, 1.3 mph higher than average, while the average gust speed was 8.9 mph. The maximum wind speed was 23.0 mph from 225 °(SW) on the 5th at 13:27 and the maximum gust speed was 36.8 mph from 270 °(W) also on the 5th at 11:02, the highest gust speed recorded here in May. The total wind run was 4124.5 miles, with the predominant direction being westerly.

The average barometric pressure for May was 1012.4 millibars, with the highest being 1025.6 millibars at 00:07 on the 17th, and the lowest being 983.7 millibars at 08:38 on the 5th. This was the lowest monthly maximum and the lowest monthly minimum ever recorded in May. The average humidity was 80%.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph

June

June 2015 was sunnier, but cooler than average. Rainfall was well below average. On the 1st of June, the beginning of the meteorological Summer, the weather was very unseasonal. The maximum temperature was only 12.1°C, and the minimum was 4.3°C. There was 5.8 mm of rain and the highest wind gust was 31.1 mph.

The June average temperature was 13.5°C, 0.4°C below the mean. The highest temperature recorded was 27.3°C at 16:51 on the 30th, with the lowest being 4.3°C at 05:38 on the 1st. This was the lowest temperature ever recorded here in June. The monthly mean temperature for June is now 13.9°C. The average daily high temperature was 18.2°C, with the average daily low temperature being 9.0°C. The average high was 0.1°C below the high mean and the average low was 0.8°C below the low mean. There was 136.8 hours of sunshine in the month, 36.5 hours above the average and 31.1 hours more than 2014. On the 17th, the solar UV index peaked at 8.2, beating the all time high of 7.7 set on 22nd June 2013 by 0.5. The average dew point was 9.7°C, a record low for June. The maximum heat index was 27.7°C at 16:45 on the 30th.

Rain was recorded on 13 days and totalled 38.8 millimetres. This was well below the June average of 57.6 millimetres and was the fourth below average monthly rainfall in 2015. The wettest day was the 13th, when 16.2 millimetres of rain fell, making it the wettest day since 17.8 millimetres was recorded on November 7th 2014. At the end of the month, 220.6 millimetres of rain had fallen in 2015. Evapotranspiration for the month was 108.3 millimetres, 15.4 millimetres higher than 2014.

Winds were high at the beginning of the month, but became calmer from the second week onwards. The highest wind speed was 24.2 mph from 248° (WSW) on the 2nd at 16:04, with the highest gust speed being 35.7 mph from 248° (WSW) also on the 2nd at 15:33. These were both June records. The average wind speed for the month was 3.9 mph and the average gust speed was 6.6 mph, both average for the month. The total wind run was 2777 miles and the predominant direction was westerly.

The average barometric pressure for June was 1018.3 millibars, with the highest being 1035.8 millibars at 00:45 on the 9th. This was the highest pressure ever in June. The lowest barometric pressure was 994.0 millibars at 02:14 on the 2nd. The average humidity was 79%.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph

July

Due to software and hardware problems, the station software was changed from Weather Display for Windows to WeatherCat for Mac. This was a major change of systems and as a result, no data was recorded from July 10th until July 12th. As a result of the system change, some features are no longer available to the site, but there are many new and improved features. All of the old data is still available on the new site, although some features will look different.

The problems weren't sufficient to lose data on the hottest day ever recorded here, neither did they stop recording the lowest July temperature ever recorded. So, July 2015 has the distinction of having the highest and lowest July temperatures on record. The maximum temperature in the month was 32.7°C, recorded at 15:46 on the 1st. This beat the previous high of 29.9°C set on August 1st 2013. The lowest temperature was on the 31st when 5.5°C was recorded at 05:00, easily beating the July low of 6.9°C set on July 23rd 2011. Averages and totals can only be estimated with three days data missing, but the average temperature for the month was around 15°C. The maximum heat index was also broken when 35.3°C was recorded on the 1st at 15:43. There were over 173.2 hours of sunshine, which is an all-time monthly record, even with missing data.

Rainfall was recorded on at least 17 days. The overall total for the month was over 48.8 millimetres, slightly below the average of 52.7 millimetres. The wettest day was the 4th, when 15.4 millimetres was recorded. 10.4 millimetres was recorded on the 26th.

Wind speeds are difficult to gauge with two systems in operation, but the strongest gust recorded was 23.0 mph at 16:25 on the 21st. The average gust speed was around 6 mph, with the average wind speed approximately 4 mph. The predominant wind direction was westerly.

No barometric pressure records were broken. The maximum recorded was 1020.1 on the 31st, and the lowest was 992.5 on the 27th.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph | Monthly report (pdf)

August

August 2015 was an average and unspectacular month from a weather point of view. No major records were broken.

The average temperature in the month was 15.6°C, with the high being 27.0°C at 16:06 on the 22nd, and the low being 6.7°C at 05:26 on the 16th. The high temperature of 27.0°C was the third highest temperature of 2015. Only the 27.2°C on June 30th and the 32.7°C on July 1st were better. The maximum dew point was 19.3°C at 19:36 on the 22nd, with the lowest dew point being 5.6°C at 06:26 on the 16th. The average dew point was 12.1°C. The maximum heat index was 28.0°C at 17:07 on the 22nd.

There were 185.59 hours of sunshine in the month, this is the most recorded in a month, though this can probably be attributed to the new software measuring sunshine differently. The sunniest day was the 12th when 10.4 hours was recorded. The highest UV index was 6.1 at 14:11 on the 4th, with the monthly average being 0.7.

There were 43.0 millimetres of rainfall in the month, recorded on 19 days. The wettest day was the 14th when 9.6 millimetres was recorded. On the 22nd, during a thunderstorm, a rain rate of 97.6 mm/hr was measured at 18:39.

Winds were normal for August, with the average wind speed being 3.1 mph, with a high of 30.0 mph at 05:42 on the 26th, from a WSW direction..The predominant direction in the month was south-westerly, with a wind run of 2350.28 miles. The highest wind speed was 16.00 mph on the 23rd at 12:28.

The average barometric pressure for the month was 1012.6 millibars, with the highest being 1024.8 millibars at 11:04 on the 12th, and the lowest 997.4 millibars at 15:11 on the 23rd.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph | Monthly report (pdf)

September

As with August, September was another average month, although it was the coolest September so far recorded here. Winds were light and rainfall was below average.

The maximum temperature in the month was 20.4°C recorded at 15:45 on the 10th. The lowest temperature was 4.8°C at 06:53 on the 26th, with the mean temperature being 12.0°C. This was the lowest mean temperature and the lowest maximum temperature ever recorded here in September. The maximum dew point was 15.9°C at 13:40 on the 12th, with the minimum dew point being 4.0°C on the 26th at 07:55. The average dew point was 9.3°C, a September low. There were 146.81 hours of sunshine in the month, a record for September. The highest UV index was 4.2 on the 2nd, with the month average being 2.8.

There were 25.6 millimetres of rain in the month, recorded on 17 days, equalling the highest number of rain days in September. The wettest day was the 12th when 7.8 millimetres was recorded, with a rain rate of 117.6 millimetres per hour being recorded at 11:22 on this date.

Winds in September were light, with the average wind speed being 2.6 mph and the average gust speed 4.1 mph. The highest wind speed recorded was 13 mph at 13:20 on the 11th, with the highest gust speed being 24 mph at 14:40, also on the 11th. The predominant wind direction was 195° SSW and the total wind run was 1853.80 miles.

The average barometric pressure was 1016.5 millibars, with the highest being 1037.9 millibars at 11:36 on the 28th and the lowest 987.8 millibars at 18:51 on the 16th.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph | Monthly report (pdf)

October

October 2015 was a month of average temperatures and rainfall, but winds were the lowest ever recorded in October.

The maximum temperature was 17.3°C on the 6th at 15:22, with the minimum temperature being 2.5°C on the 25th at 05:07. The monthly average temperature was 10.4°C, slightly below the mean of 10.7°C. The average daily high temperature was 13.7°C (mean 14.0°C) and the average daily low temperature was 7.1°C (mean 7.7°C).

The maximum dew point was 16.8°C on the 5th at 18:17, with the minimum dew point being 1.2°C at 04:53 on the 25th. A grass frost was noted on a couple of occasions in the more exposed parts of the grounds. There were 59.75 hours of sunshine in the month, slightly more than the average of 53.6 hours. There were no recorded air frosts. The highest UV Index was 2.3 on the 2nd, with the month average being 0.1.

There were 56.6 millimetres of rain recorded, falling on 16 days. The wettest day was the 28th when 16.2 millimetres were recorded, equalling the wettest day of 2015 set on June 13th. The maximum rain rate was 33.2 millimetres per hour, also recorded on the 28th.

Winds in the month were the lightest ever recorded in October. The maximum wind speed was only 15 mph recorded at 12:50 on the 5th, with the average wind speed being 2.66 mph.. The maximum gust speed was 27 mph recorded at 16:36 on the 7th, with the average gust speed being 4.3 mph. All of these figures are record lows for the month. The average wind direction was 162° (SSE) and the total wind run was 1942.3 miles, well short of the previous October low of 2575 miles.

The average barometric pressure was 1017.4 millibars, an October high. The highest pressure was 1035.0 millibars on the 1st and the lowest was 994.3 millibars on the 6th.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph | Monthly report (pdf)

November

November 2015 was a windy and dull month with above average temperatures and rainfall.

The maximum temperature of 16.3°C, recorded on the 10th at 13:14, was the highest ever November temperature here, beating the 16.2°C set in 2010. The maximum temperature on that day was 16.3°C, the minimum temperature was 13.8°C, and the average for the day was 15.1°C (mean 7°C). The minimum temperature fell to -2.8°C at 03:01 on the 22nd, the lowest since -3.5°C was recorded on February 2nd 2015. The average daily high temperature was 11.4°C (mean 9.5°C) and the average daily low temperature was 5.8°C (mean 4.2°C). The average temperature for the month was 8.7°C (mean 6.8°C).

The maximum dew point was 14.7°C at 16:32 on the 6th, and the minimum dew point was -5.3°C at 23:32 on the 21st. An air frost was recorded on three days and the first snowfall of the autumn / winter season was recorded on the 21st, when a couple of millimetres of wet snow settled on the grass. This was the first snow since February 3rd 2015. There were only 16.83 hours of sunshine, well below the average of 55.9 hours. The highest UV index was 0.9 on the 1st.

Rain was recorded on 24 days and totalled 67.6 millimetres, slightly above the average of 64.2 millimetres. The wettest day was the 14th when 9.2 millimetres was recorded. The maximum rain rate was 99.4 millimetres per hour recorded on the 27th.

The maximum wind speed was 28 mph on the 17th at 22:04 and the maximum wind gust was 48 mph at 22:30, both records for November. This was the second highest wind gust of 2015, beaten only by the 49.5 mph gust recorded on January 10th. The average wind speed in the month was 6 mph (mean 4.3 mph) and the average gust speed was 9 mph. The average wind direction was 252° and the total wind run was 4526.7 miles.

The average barometric pressure was 1011.6 millibars. The highest pressure was 1028.7 millibars on the 1st and the lowest was 991.5 millibars on the 17th, the highest minimum for November. The average humidity in the month was 88%, a record low for November.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph | Monthly report (pdf)

December

December 2015 was a remarkable month. One area of low pressure after another swept in from the Atlantic bringing gale force winds, high rainfall and exceptionally mild temperatures.

The average temperature in the month was 9.0°C, 5.2°C higher than the December mean and 3.2°C higher than the previous mildest December in 2013. The maximum temperature was 14.8°C at 08:01 on the 19th, with the 7th, 16th and 17th also beating the previous high of 13.0°C set on December 18th 2014. The maximum temperature of 12.9°C, recorded at 19:36, beat the previous warmest Christmas Day record, set in 2011, by 0.7°C, and the maximum temperature of 13.7°C, recorded at 13:04, beat the previous warmest Boxing Day record, set in 2011, by 0.8°C.

On the 12th, a cold front passing over caused the temperature between 18:15 and 19:55, to fall from 11.3°C to 3.3°C - a fall of 8°C in only 100 minutes.

The minimum temperature in the month was 1.4°C at 07:14 on the 13th, meaning there were no frost days in the month for the second time, the previous being in 2013. This was the highest monthly minimum temperature ever recorded here in December. The average daily high temperature was 11.4°C (mean 6.3°C) and the average daily low temperature was 6.3°C (mean 1.3°C).

The maximum dew point was 13.0°C at 07:41 on the 19th, with the minimum dew point being 0.6°C at 07:14 on the 13th. Only 2.75 hours of sunshine was recorded in the month, easily the least sunny month ever. The previous low was November when 16.83 hours was recorded. The UV index remained at 0.0 for the whole month.

Rainfall in December totally 70.6 millimetres, with the wettest days being the 12th and the 30th when 10.2 millimetres fell. Rain fell on 24 days and no snow was recorded. The maximum rain rate touched 100.2 millimetres per hour at 10:01 on the 24th. Although the rainfall total was much higher than the average of 49.7 millimetres, 2011 and 2012 were both wetter, recording 70.8 millimetres and 86.2 millimetres respectively.

The maximum wind speed was 21.00 mph at 00:59 on the 5th, with the average wind speed for the month being 7.82 mph (mean 5 mph). The maximum gust speed was 38 mph at 14:40 on the 24th, with the monthly average gust speed being 11.4 mph. Both averages are December records. The average wind direction was 223° and the total wind run was 5696.9 miles.

The average barometric pressure was 1013.1 millibars. The highest pressure was 1029.4 millibars on the 9th, and the lowest was 998.3 millibars on the 30th. These were the lowest maximum and the highest minimum pressures in December. The average humidity in the month was 88%, equalling the December low set in 2011.

Weather Underground History | Weather Underground Graph | Monthly report (pdf)