Trevor Wheeler's Weather Review for 2016

FOLLOWING on from what had been the mildest DECEMBER (2015) on record for most of the country, the weather pattern began to return to near normal conditions at the beginning of JANUARY, with gales and periods of heavy rainfall during the initial fortnight, and temperatures close to or just above average.

High pressure around the middle of the month settled the weather and there were several cold nights, especially overnight of the 19th; as by dawn of the 20th; the thermometer had dropped to minus 9.4°C (15°F), in the process sharing the lowest temperature for the year with another date later in the year, which occurred during November.

Although sleet fell on the 16th; and 17th; snow was absent for the month. By the end of the month mild weather had returned yet again, with moderate rainfall, helping to enhance the monthly rainfall total of 134.7mm (5.31ins) to become the highest recorded for any of the 12 months.

FEBRUARY began mild and wet, but slowly anticyclonic conditions became established helping to lower temperatures close to their seasonable values. For the second successive month there was to be no snowfall recorded during the course of the month, although sleet did occur for a while on the 13th; the lack of snowfall emphasising how the opening two months of the year had been generally of a mild flavour.

With the arrival of MARCH wintry weather did show itself, as throughout the month, snow, and sleet, fell on a total of five days, chiefly during showers. Frequently, daytime maximum temperatures were much lower than the previous two months, especially on the 9th, when only 5°C (40°F) was achieved as a maximum. Stormy conditions on both the 8th and 27th produced over 25.4 mm (1.00 ins) of precipitation for each day, with 29.5mm (1.16ins) and 27.5mm (1.08ins) recorded respectively.

APRIL was typically a month of showers, whilst the first thunder of the year occurred on the 26th. Temperatures struggled to surpass 16°C (61°F), which they did only on three days. Even then 17°C was the highest of them, this figure noted on the 13th. Night-time temperatures during the final week of the month were very low, with overnight moderate frosts recorded regularly at this time.

The problem of overnight frost continued to plague gardeners, especially in the districts low lying valleys, into the first week of MAY, but finally by the 6th the temperature managed to exceed 20°C (68°F) for the first time during 2016, whilst two days later, on the 8th, the thermometer climbed to 26°C (78.8°F), and this reading was not to be bettered again until the 8th June. One further frost was registered, occurring on the morning of the 15th. Overall, May was generally good with reasonable sunshine.

Although temperatures throughout JUNE were close their seasonable average, the month will be remembered for the fact that rainfall was measured on 22 of its days, which tended to upset many of the outdoor events.

During 2012 the month of June witnessed 148.1mm (5.83ins) of rainfall, which interestingly had also fallen over 22 days, while the June rainfall total of 73.3mm (2.89ins) that fell during 2016 was only close to half of the figure of four years previous.

Similiar to 1976, summery weather arrived with JULY and continued until September.

A spell of high temperatures from St Swithin’s Day, the 15th for just over one week, witnessed the year’s zenith, when on the 19th the thermometer peaked at 32°C (89.6°F). The rainfall total of 10.6mm (0.42 ins) for the month was to become the lowest recorded since records began at Hurstbourne Tarrant in 1966. Ultimately this was also to be the lowest monthly total over the whole year. To find a comparable total for the surrounding area, records show that at Faccombe during 1955, an amount of 6.5mm (0.25ins) was measured throughout July.

Recent AUGUSTS’ have been dismal and wet, but not on this occasion, although the month did get under way with 32.4mm (1.28 ins) of rain falling on the 1st; which eventually was to become the highest 24-hour rainfall total of the year. It was also the highest amount recorded for any August day since 1986. Following on from the first day, further rainfall was generally at a premium, with the month being beyond doubt the best of the summer, and perhaps one to remember, as on each day the maximum temperature was in excess of 20°C (68°F), with a peak of 31°C (87.8°F) on the 24th; and higher than average sunshine hours occurring, greatly helping the harvest season.

The good weather of August continued into SEPTEMBER, with many areas throughout the southern half of the United Kingdom experiencing their highest temperatures for the month since 1911, especially on the 13th. Apart from five days, over the month maximum daytime temperatures in the Andover district were never less than 21°C (70°F), and the feel good factor was helped by above average sunshine. The warmth contributed greatly to thundery weather over the country during the second week, but fortunately, Andover and the surrounding villages, missed the more severe storms.

Although not as warm as the previous month, OCTOBER did produce much in the way of pleasant autumnal conditions, notably during the first ten days and then for the final fortnight. The weather was greatly influenced by a strong high pressure area centred over Scandinavia, blocking, and keeping Atlantic systems from crossing the country. The first overnight frost of the season was recorded on the 3rd, with three others to follow as the month progressed. With just 33.4mm (1.31 ins) of rain falling throughout the period, the month registered its lowest amount since 1978, when on that particular occasion, 7.6mm (0.30 ins) fell.

High pressure continued to dominate conditions during the first week of NOVEMBER with night-time frosts a strong feature. The majority of the month’s rainfall fell mainly between the 8th and 21st with 52.1mm (2.05 ins) falling over a three day period, beginning with the 19th. The month finished on a cold theme, recording its lowest temperature since 1978, as the thermometer registered minus 9.4°C (15°F) at dawn on the 30th, equalling the years lowest temperature, along with the reading of 20 January.

Although there was no record of snow falling during DECEMBER, the month did have a few cold snaps, especially during the initial stages and then just after Christmas Day, the latter greatly influenced by an extremely high pressure system, which gave a reading of 1045mb (30.86 ins) across the Andover area on the 27th. This quiet spell brought with it the problem of fog, as well as moderate frosts. Rainfall was extremely low for the month, this evident in the final total of 20.8mm (0.82ins), the second lowest recorded December total over the last 50 years. Unless there is substantive rainfall during the early months of 2017, then it is most unlikely that the winterbournes of northern Hampshire, such as the River Swift that flows through Hurstbourne Tarrant, and then onward to St Mary Bourne, will rise during the late winter or early spring.

At the conclusion of 2016, the amount of precipitation measured throughout the year totalled 772.0mm (30.39ins), which for the second successive year was below the average figure of 842.4mm (33.16ins). The number of days which recorded some form of precipitation was 226, slightly more than the expected 214. Included in the total are the ten days when sleet and snow was noted, considerably less than the average of 18, whilst the ten days that witnessed hail was not far from the average of eight.

The majority of any thundery activity occurred between mid June and mid October, and combined with other sporadic occasions, then gave a total for the year of 11 days, virtually on target for the typical annual value of 12.

Due to the chilly spring and a cold November, the frost total for the year was greatly exaggerated, giving the area an amount of 105 days, compared to the mean of 83, this being the highest yearly figure since 2013.