Extremely Mild and Wet
Temperatures
The average maximum temperature during February 2024 in Shoreham was 11.1 Celsius (52F), and that was around 2 Celsius (>3F) above the long-term average. In local records dating back to 1880, it equalled the highest average day-time temperatures set in 2022. The average minimum temperature was 6.9 Celsius (45F), and that was over 3 Celsius (>5F) above the February normal. This surpassed the previous night-time record, set in 1995, by 1.0 Celsius (1.8F). Thus, the overall February temperature this year was the highest since before 1880 by a considerable margin.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 16.5 Celsius (62F) on the 18th, but there were 4 other days with maxima above 13 Celsius (55F), including a high of 14.2 Celsius (58F) on the 15th, and 13.8 Celsius (57F) on the 16th. A further 18 days had highs between 10 and 13 Celsius (50-55F). No cold days occurred during February, but the maximum on the 7th was only 7.1 Celsius (45F), and 5 consecutive days, beginning on the 23rd, had highs under 10 Celsius (50F). However, none of these days were particularly cool, with the lowest maximum of 8.4 Celsius (46F). This occurred on the 25th.
Many mild nights occurred during February, and on 4 occasions the temperature stayed above 10 Celsius (50F). The minimum on the 18th was 10.9 Celsius (52F), with 10.8 Celsius (51F) on the 15th, and 10.4 Celsius (51F) on the 14th. A further 7 nights had lows between 9 and 10 Celsius (48-50F). All other minima ranged between 4 and 9 Celsius (39-48F) with just 4 exceptions. The 12th had a low of 1.6 Celsius (35F), and the 27th had a minimum of 1.7 Celsius (35F), but the coldest nights of the month were the 24th and 25th, when the temperature dipped to minus 0.6 Celsius (31F) and minus 0.9 Celsius (30F) respectively.
The sea temperature was 8 or 9 Celsius (46-48F) throughout the month.
Frost
There were 2 air frosts during February, and that was 3 below average. The air frosts occurred on the nights of the 24th and 25th, and both were slight, with minima staying above minus 1 Celsius (30F). There were grass frosts on 6 nights, and that was 9 nights below the average. The ground frosts on the 2nd, 12th and 13th were slight with grass temperatures above minus 2 Celsius (28F). A grass low of minus 2.1 Celsius (28F) was recorded on the 27th, but minus 5.0 Celsius (23F) occurred on the grass on 2 consecutive nights, the 24th and 25th.
Rain
Rainfall in February amounted to 188.0 millimetres (7.4 ins.), which was over 3 times the monthly average. It was the wettest February in the area since before 1880. Measurable rain fell on 20 days, which was 4 days above the average, and wet days (when 1 millimetre (0.04 ins.), or more, of rain falls) numbered 16, which was 6 days above the average. No measurable rain fell on the first 4 days of the month, and this included the only 2 completely dry days, the 3rd and 4th. All other days had a minimum of a trace of rain (less than 0.05 millimetres). The first wet day was the 6th, when 17.2 millimetres (0.68 ins.) of rain fell. This was followed by 12.2 millimetres (0.48 ins.) and 18.4 millimetres (0.72 ins.) on the 7th and 8th respectively. Long periods of rain and drizzle gave 9.0 millimetres (0.35 ins.) on the 13th, and a further 13.0 millimetres (0.51 ins.) on the 14th. High pressure then developed and the barometric reading on the 17th was above 1030 millibars. Remarkably, however, this was the wettest day of the month with 31.4 millimetres (1.24 ins.) of rain falling. Pressure fell rapidly between the 20th and 21st, and both the 21st and 22nd were wet with 10.8 millimetres (0.43 ins.) and 13.2 millimetres (0.52 ins.) respectively. Wet weather on the afternoon and evening of the 25th was followed by a wet night, and the total for the rainfall day (09-09 GMT) was 30.6 millimetres (1.2 ins.). After 2 days with just a trace of rain falling, the last 2 days of the month brought more rain and drizzle, and on the 29th, 15.4 millimetres (0.61 ins.) of rain fell..
Hail
No hail was observed in this part of Shoreham during the month.
Thunder
No thunder was heard in this part of Shoreham.
Snow
No sleet or snow was observed in this part of Shoreham.
Wind
Winds were predominantly from the southwest and accounted for just over half of the daily observations. A further 7 days had winds with a westerly component, and although another 7 days had winds with easterly components, these were usually transitory as areas of low pressure tracked over, or to the south of, southern England. The first week of the month and the last 10 days of the month were windy at times, although no especially windy days occurred. At Shoreham Airport, westerly winds gusted to 31 knots (35 mph) in the early hours of the 5th, with brisk winds continuing through the 6th and peaking at 33 knots (38 mph) from the southwest in the late evening. Southerly winds gusted to 30 knots (34 mph) on the evening of the 8th, but thereafter the wind was often light until the afternoon of the 21st. During the afternoon of the 21st, southwesterly gusts reached 32 knots (37 mph). Late in the afternoon of the 22nd, a vigorous cold front was accompanied by west-northwesterly winds gusting to 33 knots (38 mph), but the strongest winds of the month were yet to come, and they were from an unusual direction. On the 26th, north-northeasterly winds blew for most of the day and there were many gusts above 30 knots (34 mph). The highest gusts were overnight and during the morning , with these peaking at 38 knots (43 mph). No further significant gusts occurred during the remainder of February.
Fog
Low cloud and mist thickened at times into fog on the morning of the 17th.
Statistics for February 2024
| Reporting Site | Highest Temp | Lowest Temp | Rain Total (mm) | Wettest | Rain days |
| Shoreham A/P | 16.5 | -2.8 | 21 | ||
| Thorney Island | 15.5 | -1.7 | 23 | ||
| Gatwick A/P | 16.7 | -2.9 | 20 | ||
| Herstmonceux | 15.7 | -1.2 | 21 | ||
| Bournemouth (Hurn) | 16.0 | -3.2 | 23 | ||
| Middle Wallop | 15.8 | -2.6 | 23 | ||
| Dieppe | 18.3 | 2.1 | 92 | 27 | 19 |
- Rainfall totals unreliable for all stations