Coldest November Since 1985

Armagh Observatory reports that the weather in November was wetter, sunnier and much colder than average. A total of 8 cm of snow was recorded during the last 5 days of the month.

The total precipitation amounted to 115.0 mm (4.53 in), that is, more than 50% greater than the most recent 30-year average for the month (1971-2000).

The total number of hours of sunshine was 81.0, that is, about 42% more than average.

The mean monthly temperature was 4.8 degrees Celsius (40.6 degrees Fahrenheit), that is, approximately 1.7 degrees below the recent 30-year average. The maximum temperature was 15.0 degrees C on the 4th, whilst the minimum was -7.8 C on the 28th (the coldest night since 15th November 1919, when the thermometer dipped to -8.3 C).

The night of the 28th November 2010 was the third coldest November night recorded at Armagh Observatory since records began in 1795; the second coldest was 14th November 1919 (-7.9 C). The following night, 29th November 2010, was the sixth coldest November night on record, with a minimum temperature of -7.4 C.

There were twelve days with air frost and twenty-two days with grass frost. The lowest maximum temperature recorded was -1.5 degrees C (also on 28th) and was the equal second coldest November day (i.e., lowest maximum) recorded since records began (1977 was the other year). In summary, last month was the coldest November in Armagh for twenty-five years, i.e., since 1985.

These data refer to observations at Armagh Observatory, which has been recording the weather at Armagh since 1795.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: John McFarland at the Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG. Tel.: 028-3752-2928; FAX: 028-3752-7174; jmfarm.ac.uk; URL: climate.arm.ac.uk.

Last Revised: 2010 December 2nd