The Weather in February (From Worcester News)

The Weather in February

7:59am Thursday 19th February 2009

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February is a late winter month and the saying goes "as the days grow longer the cold gets stronger" this is due to the fact that the large continental landmass to the east becomes colder as the winter draws on, so there is an increased risk of longer and more intense cold snaps at the end of winter in a normal season. We often experience a wintry interlude around the period 7th-14th February often known as the Buchan's cold spell.

When I began keeping climatic observations more than forty years ago, snowy icy conditions were often experienced around this time of the year. Due to global warming this cold spell has become less frequent and hardly noticeable, with milder wet conditions more likely to be logged. Another saying is often true to form " February Fill-dyke " rain and melting snows filling the dykes with plenty of water. Winds from the continent especially from the Russian Steppes brings a marked chill to the UK. Cold dense continental air can flood into Britain, with low pressure systems moving up from the south, the precipitation collides with that much colder air mass, thus creating heavy snows and strong winds especially across England and Wales.

This pattern was responsible for the long severe winter of 1946/47 and 1962/63.

Next Week: Buchan's Cold Spell

Glossary: Snow becomes dry and grain like when the temperature falls below 0c 32f.

Weather for period Monday 9th February-Friday 13th February Staying cold through this coming week.

Cold on Monday with some sunshine and a few wintry showers.

Dry cold bright days with sunshine through the rest of the week, frost and freezing mist and fog night into some morning-tides. A few sleet or snow showers around in places.

Maximum temperature 2-6c 36-43f.

Minimum temperature 0c to Minus 4c 32-25f but frost free Friday Night as a weak warm front ushers in from the west.

Last Week's Observations (Monday-Sunday)

Highest day temperature...........6.2c on Saturday 7th February

Lowest night temperature.........Minus 3.4c on Monday 2nd February

Wettest day..............................5.8 mm from melten snow on Sunday 8th February

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