By Mike Trigger

February 2023 was an exceptionally dry month with only one day when rain was over 1mm. Despite a number of frosty nights the mean temperature for the month was about a degree above the 30 year (1961-2010) average.

High pressure initially to the south of the country produced westerly winds which brought mild air across SW England. The High moved north to be centred over southern England by the 5th and then to France by the 10th. This resulted in a period with light winds, sunny days and clear nights which resulted in widespread frost. The High transferred towards Germany allowing SE and later SW winds to develop as weak weather systems moved in from the west. This brought milder air across Biscay and over SW England leading to the warmest part of the month on the 16th and 17th. During this period afternoon temperatures reached between 15 and 17 Celsius and overnight values were around 10 Celsius. There were some weak weather systems that moved through the High to bring small amounts of rain but the only day with any significant rain was the 21st when a showery trough moved north from Brittany ahead of a weak cold front. This was followed by a wind change to North and later Northeast as High pressure developed across Scotland. This brought colder air across the district and returned frost to many areas.

In terms of statistics:

The average temperature for the month was between 7 and 8 Celsius, around a degree above the thirty-year average for February. The highest temperatures between 15 and 17 Celsius were recorded on the 16th and 17th. For most parts frosts were more frequent than normal with the coldest morning being the 8th when temperatures dipped to between minus 1 and minis 3 Celsius for most parts and as low as minus 6 Celsius in Netherton and in the outskirts of Exeter. Typically there are around 4 nights with a frost in Teignmouth but this February some rural spots recorded as many as 12 nights with an air frost.

Rainfall totals were between 3mm and 7mm, which is less than 10% of the long-term average. There was only one day with 1mm or more of rain and this was the 21st. Recorded rain only fell on 3 or 4 days across the district resulting in double the number of dry days compared to average.

Sunshine was estimated to be near or slightly above the average of 84 hours.

The sea temperature at the Dawlish wave buoy was just above 8 Celsius at the end of the month.