A Look back at MOTTISFONT WEATHER 2014
STATISTICS show that 2014 was a very wet and warmer than average year in Mottisfont.
Rainfall for the whole year was 1,132mm at Mottisfont Climate Station. This was 202mm ( 4ins) above the 2001-2010 average for the site.
And the wettest month of 2014 was January with 230.8mm of rainfall. At the other end of the scale September was the driest month with only 7.2mm of rain or 16.11 per cent of the average.
January, February, April and August all produced much higher than normal rainfall totals. In total rain in one form or another fell on no less than 178 days.
2014 started with a bang just 15 minutes into the year with heavy thunderstorms across central south England which includes Hampshire, and the year ended on a cold and very frosty note.
Thundery activity was much more prominent in 2014 than average with no less than 20 electrical storms at Mottisfont.
All the summer months with the exception of August were drier than average and July was the warmest month of the year.
The annual mean temperature was 11.3C or 0.7C above average.
The highest daily maximum recorded in 2014 was 29C or 84.2F on July 24, 25 and 26.
Coldest day of the year was December 30 with a maximum temperature of only 1.3C and ground frost and fog persisted through the day.
Lowest overnight air temperature recorded was –6C on both January 12 and December 30.
Unlike 2013, 2014 was a snow-free year in the Romsey area.
There were 33 air and 77 ground frosts during the year at Mottisfont and this a sharp fall on last year’s figures and below the 10 year average..
Brief highlights of each month’s weather
January
This month was noted for its extremely wet weather which followed on from the previous month’s soggy conditions and led to the wettest winter on record. More than double the average rainfall was recorded and many parts of central south England experienced severe flooding.
It was also milder than average.
Mean daily max temp 8.9C. Mean daily min temp 0.7C. Rainfall total 230.8mm.
February
Another stormy and wet month with widespread and severe flooding in and around Romsey on February 14. Troops and navy personnel were drafted in to build-up flood defences and prevent a wall of water at Greatbridge engulfing the town. Like, January the month was milder than average with again no snow recorded.
Mean daily max temp10.1C. Mean daily minimum temp 2.1C. Rainfall total 159.7mm.
March
A complete change in the weather this month with much drier than average conditions with some pleasant early spring days. It was also warmer than average with little in the way of frosts.
Mean daily max temp 12.9c. Mean daily minimum temp 3.2C. Rainfall total 47.2mm.
April
This month was much wetter than average with some violent thunderstorms. During one on April 29, a narrow band of electrical storms that crossed central Hampshire, from east to west, wreaked havoc at Mottisfont. The tarmac surface of Back Lane in the village was completely washed away by flash flooding leaving gaping holes in the road. Torrents of water flooded other roads in the village and the nearby River Dun burst its banks at Dunbridge. A mile or so to the north and south of the severe thundery activity, it remained largely dry. No air frosts were recorded in April.
Mean daily max temp14.9C. Mean daily minimum temp 5.9C. Rainfall total 137.6mm.
May
Another disappointing month with above average rainfall.
However, the month was warmer than average with the mercury topping 25C on two days.
Mean daily max temp17.3C. Mean daily minimum temp 7.7C. Rainfall total 70.2mm.
June
This month was much drier and slightly warmer than average. It was also a thundery month with four storms recorded at Mottisfont.
Mean daily maximum temp 20.9C. Mean daily minimum temp 11.5C. Rainfall total 36.1mm.
July
A much drier and warmer month than average and it produced four thunderstorms and some were heavy and widespread across central southern England. The highest daily maximum temperature of the year was also recorded this month. On four days the mercury hit 29C or 84.2F.
Mean daily max temp was 24.7C. Mean daily min temp 12.1C. Rainfall total 37.7mm.
August
A much colder and wetter month than average with just over 25mm (1inch) logged on Bank Holiday Monday August 25. Both day and night temperatures were around 2C colder than usual. However, unlike last August it was frost-free.
It was also another thundery month.
Mean daily max temp 20.8C. Mean daily min temp 9.9C. Rainfall total 90mm.
September
It was the driest September for 11 years with rainfall only recorded on seven days. Even Romsey Show on September 13 was dry and sunshine broke through the cloud in the afternoon. Temperatures were well above average for September - particularly at night.
Mean daily max temp 21.1C. Mean daily min temp 13.7C. Rainfall total 7.2mm.
October
A very mild month with average rainfall was logged at Mottisfont. However, despite higher than average max and min temperatures one ground frost was recorded along with thunder on three days.
Mean daily max temp 16.9C. Mean daily min temp 9.2C. Rainfall total 113.8mm.
November
Another mild month with above average temperatures. Rainfall was close to normal and this was despite some heavy and prolonged spells of wet weather at times. Three air and five ground frosts were recorded at Mottisfont.
Mean daily max temperature 11.5C. Mean daily min temperature 5.8C. Rainfall total 151.1mm.
December
This December was very different to the last one when damaging winds and flooding affected the Romsey area. In fact December 2014, was much drier than average with just over half the amount usually recorded. There was also a fair amount of heavy frost and fog too.
Mean daily max temp 8.4C. Mean daily min temp 1.8C. Rainfall total 50.7mm.