DECEMBER 2023 MUCH WARMER, WETTER AND DULLER THAN AVERAGE. 2O23 WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT ARMAGH, THIRD WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD, AND SLIGHTLY SUNNIER THAN AVERAGE
Armagh Observatory reviews that December 2023 was a lot hotter than common, wetter than common, and barely duller than common. Calendar yr 2023 was the warmest yr on report at Armagh, a lot wetter than common, and barely sunnier than common.
The imply temperature this December was roughly 7.3 C (45.2 F), making this the warmest December at Armagh for eight years, that’s, for the reason that very heat December 2015 (7.8 C), and the tenth warmest December at Armagh on report. December 2023 was 2.7 C hotter than the 225-year (1796-2020) long-term December common at Armagh (4.64 C) and a couple of.1 C hotter than the newest (1991-2020) 30-year common (5.23 C).
Aside from December 2022 and July 2023, every month since June 2021 has been hotter than the month’s corresponding most up-to-date (1991-2020) 30-year common. A yr in the past, this led to a report breaking 2022 imply annual temperature (10.8 C). This yr, the imply annual temperature for 2023 (11.1 C) surpassed the earlier report by a big margin. The six warmest calendar years at Armagh are actually 2023 (11.1 C), 2022 (10.8 C), 2007 (10.6 C), 2021 and 2006 (each 10.5 C), and 1949 (10.4 C). That temperature information are actually being made with rising frequency is a robust signature of a altering local weather.
The three highest most air temperatures this December, notionally the three warmest meteorological days (representing a 24-hour interval beginning at 09:00 GMT), have been 13.0 C, adopted by 12.8 C and 12.4 C. These highest most temperatures have been respectively attributed to the twenty third, seventeenth, and twenty sixth December, although in every case the utmost each day temperature in truth occurred the next morning earlier than 09:00 GMT, that’s, in the course of the mornings of the twenty fourth, 18th, twenty seventh. Such discrepancies within the date when a meteorological day’s most temperature happens occur on common practically 1 / 4 of the time in December at Armagh.
The three lowest most air temperatures, notionally the three coolest days, have been 3.6 C, 3.7 C, and 5.0 C, which occurred respectively in the course of the afternoons of the third, 2nd and 1st of December. Taking the 31 December days collectively, the month-to-month common of the each day maxima was roughly 9.7 C, the equal seventh warmest such consequence (shared with 1953, 1942, and 1862) on report at Armagh.
The best minimal air temperature, notionally the warmest night time, was 10.7 C attributed to the 18th, although it in truth occurred shortly after the 09:00 GMT time of readings on the seventeenth. This was the best minimal December temperature at Armagh for eight years, that’s, since 11.1 C was recorded on each the 2nd and seventeenth of December 2015. The second and third highest minimal air temperatures this December have been each 9.9 C, conventionally attributed to the seventeenth although in truth these temperature minima occurred round 09:00 GMT on the sixteenth and twenty third. Such discrepancies within the date of a meteorological day’s minimal temperature occur on common roughly half the time throughout December at Armagh.
The bottom minimal air temperature, notionally the best night time, was -3.2 C on the first, adopted by -0.8 C conventionally attributed to the 2nd and 4th. Within the first of those, the worth -0.8 C in truth occurred shortly after the time of observations at 09:00 GMT on the first. Contemplating the run of each day minimal temperatures, the month-to-month common was 5.0 C, the fourth warmest such consequence on report at Armagh.
There have been 9 floor frosts this month, that’s, days when the grass minimal thermometer recorded lower than or equal to zero Celsius. The three coldest such frosts have been -9.6 C on the first, -6.0 C on the 4th, and -5.4 C on the sixth. There have been simply 4 air frosts, the three beforehand talked about and 0.0 C which though attributed to the fifth in truth occurred round 09:00 GMT on the 4th.
Whole precipitation was 102.35 mm (4.03 inches) together with 5 hint values, and due to this fact 102.1 mm if hint values are ignored. This was roughly 31% greater than the 183-year (1838-2020) long-term common December precipitation at Armagh (78.2 mm) and 26% greater than essentially the most latest (1991-2020) 30-year common (81.4 mm). This was the wettest December at Armagh for 2 years, that’s, since December 2021 (110.85mm).
The wettest day was the twenty sixth with 16.6 m (0.65 inches) of rainfall, adopted by 13.5 mm on the twenty ninth and 12.6 mm on the eleventh. Partial rainbows have been seen on the morning of the nineteenth and the afternoon of the twenty fourth. No snow fell this month nor, regardless of 4 named storms affecting Britain and elements of Northern Eire, specifically Elin, Fergus, Pia, and Gerritt, have been there any gales or exceptionally excessive each day rainfall totals at Armagh.
With a complete of 30.2 hours of robust sunshine, December 2023 was slightly duller than common, the dullest at Armagh for 2 years, that’s, since December 2021 (27.8 hours of robust sunshine). The sunniest day was the thirteenth, with 5.9 hours of robust sunshine, adopted by the twenty ninth with 3.9 hours and the fifth and twenty eighth each with 3.7 hours.
Calendar yr 2023 was noteworthy not simply due to its exceptionally excessive imply temperature and whole rainfall, but in addition owing to an exceptionally moist March, October, autumn and early winter, and the dates of its warmest days.
With a imply temperature of 11.1 C, this was the warmest yr on report at Armagh, that’s, since each day climate information started round 1795. This surpassed the earlier report by a big margin. The six warmest years at Armagh are actually 2023 (11.1 C), 2022 (10.8 C), 2007 (10.6 C), 2021 and 2006 (each 10.5 C), and 1949 (10.4 C).
June 2023 was an distinctive month: the warmest June on report at Armagh, the sunniest for 14 years and the driest for eight years. The warmest day, specifically 28.5 C on the thirteenth, which occurred initially of a 4-day heatwave, was the warmest day of the summer season, holding its place because the warmest day of the yr till equalled by 28.5 C attained at Armagh on the eighth of September.
This excessive September temperature occurred throughout an exceptionally heat spell close to the start of the month that lasted for per week from the 4th to the tenth. Throughout this time daily besides the ninth (most temperature 24.8 C) exceeded the edge (25.0 C) for a heatwave, this being solely the second September heatwave on report at Armagh. Partially owing to the nice and cozy September, the third warmest on report at Armagh, 2023 additionally included the fifth warmest autumn on report at Armagh.
Whole precipitation throughout 2023 amounted to 1052.2 mm together with 52 hint values, that’s, 1049.6 mm if hint values are ignored. That is practically 30% greater than the 183-year (1838-2020) long-term common (816 mm) at Armagh and the newest (1991-2020) 30-year common (825 mm). This was the third wettest yr on report at Armagh regardless of a drier than common winter 2022/2023. A dry February was adopted by the wettest March on report and the wettest spring for 21 years; and in flip by a wetter than common summer season, the wettest October on report, and the fourth wettest autumn. The six wettest years at Armagh are actually 1852 (1121.9 mm), 2002 (1065.7 mm), 2023 (1052.2 mm), 1928 (1043.5 mm), 1958 (1040 mm), and 1966 (1032.4 mm).
Calendar yr 2023 recorded 1320.3 hours of robust sunshine, practically 5% greater than the 140-year (1881-2020) long-term common at Armagh (1261.6 hours) and three% greater than the newest (1991-2020) 30-year common (1281.0 hours). General, the yr was barely sunnier than common, a duller than common spring not fairly compensating for a sunnier than common summer season and autumn.
These information seek advice from observations at Armagh Observatory, which has been recording the climate at Armagh since 1795.
For additional data, please contact:
Professor Mark E. Bailey
Emeritus Director of Armagh Observatory
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
School Hill
Armagh
BT61 9DG
Tel: 028-3752-2928
E-mail: mark.bailey@armagh.ac.uk
