December
This proved to be a record-breaking month. It was the wettest month since my records began in 1984 with 157mm (173% or +66mm), which was 2mm more than the previous record set in December 2012. The highest daily rainfall for December, and also for any other month, occurred on the 23rd with a total of 46.4mm. It was a mild month as the mean temperature was 2.1C above the long-term average. Finally, a record gust of wind for December, of 52mph, was noted on the 23rd.
Year 2013
Due to four very cold months at the beginning of the year it is no surprise that the mean temperature for the year was 0.3C below the long-term average. Also linked to this period, not surprisingly, was a high incidence of air frosts numbering 74 in total, when the average is 61, and the second highest I have recorded. Very similar to 2012 was the very wet month of December, after a dry summer (77%), which resulted in an annual total rainfall of 881mm that is 105% or +38mm of the long-term average.
