Very Wet, Mild and Windy 

Temperatures

The average maximum temperature during February 2020 in Shoreham was 10.1 Celsius (50F), and that was almost 2 Celsius (3.5F) above normal for the time of year.  The average minimum temperature was 5.4 Celsius (42F), and that was nearly 3 Celsius (5 F)  above the February normal.    

The highest temperature recorded during the month was 13.6 Celsius (56F) on the 23rd, and although no other days had a maximum above 12 Celsius (54F), there were 6 days with highs above 11 Celsius (52F), and a further 9 days when 10 Celsius (50F) was reached.  No cold days occurred during February, but on 6 occasions the maximum temperature was below 9 Celsius (48F). On the 6th a high of 8.3 Celsius (47F) was recorded, but on the 27th it was 0.1 Celsius (0.2F) cooler, making it the coolest day of the month.

Several mild nights occurred during February, and on the 16th the minimum temperature was 10.4 Celsius (50F). On 4 more nights the temperature remained above 9 Celsius (48F), with a further 4 nights having minima exceeding 8 Celsius (46F).  There were 8 nights when the temperature fell below 3 Celsius (37F), with 2 clusters, the 5th to 7th, and the 26th to 28th accounting for most of the chilly nights. On the 6th a minimum of minus 0.7 Celsius (31F), with the 28th only 0.1 Celsius (0.2F) less cold. 

The sea temperature was between 8 and 9 Celsius (46-48F) throughout the month.

Frost

A total of 2 air frosts were recorded during February and 10 grass frosts. Grass frosts occurred on 3 consecutive nights beginning on the 5th, and on the 6th the grass minimum was minus 5.6 Celsius (23F). On most nights the frost was very slight, but there  were 4 consecutive nights of grass frost beginning on the 25th, and on the last of these nights, the 28th, a minimum temperature of minus 6.1 Celsius (22F) was recorded.    

Rain

Rainfall in February amounted to 97.2 millimetres (3.8 ins.). This was well over double the monthly average.  There were 21 days of measurable rain, and that was 5 days above average.  Although nearly 8 millimetres (0.3 ins.) of rain fell on the 1st, 4 out of the following 5 days were dry. However, there was only 1 other completely dry day during the remainder of the month, and that was on the 11th. Some of the rain during the second week and around mid month was heavy.  On the 9th over 9 millimetres (0.35 ins.) of rain fell, followed by 12.8 millimetres (0.5 ins.) on the 12th, the wettest day of the month. A further 10 millimetres (0.4 ins.) was recorded on the 15th, with over 9 millimetres (0.35 ins) measured on the 16th.  The rain was then somewhat lighter until the last week of February. A total of 5 millimetres (0.2 ins.) fell on the 25th with 7.4 millimetres (0.3 ins.) on the 26th, with another 8.6 millimetres (0..35 ins.) added to the total on the 28th. 

Hail

Small hail was observed in Shoreham during squally showers on the 16th. Small hail also fell in a late afternoon shower on the 26th. Soft hail, or graupel fell in late morning and afternoon showers on the 25th. 

Thunder

No thunder was heard in Shoreham in February.

Snow

There was no sleet or snow observed in Shoreham during February.   

Wind

Not only was the month changeable, but it was also frequently windy, with the winds almost entirely blowing from between southwest and northwest, with southwesterlies predominating.  At Shoreham Airport, the days with gusts exceeding 30 knots (34 mph) were as follows:- 1st- 33 knots (38 mph) from the southwest early afternoon; 4th- 33 knots (38 mph) from the northwest late morning; 9th- 53 knots (60 mph) from the southwest in the early evening after a day of gales. The strong winds continued throughout the 10th with 44 knots (50 mph) recorded in the early hours and during the evening. 11th – 38 knots (43 mph) from the west late afternoon; 13th – 42 knots (48 mph) from the southwest early morning; 15th – 43 knots (49 mph) from the southwest in the evening; 16th – 42 knots (48 mph) from southwest early morning. The rest of the 16th was very windy and a southwesterly gust of 46 knots (53 mph) occurred late in the evening; 17th – 41 knots (47 mph) from the southwest in the morning. 18th – 32 knots (37 mph) from the southwest early evening; 20th – 39 knots (44 mph) from the southwest early evening: 21st – 35 knots (40 mph) from the southwest late evening; 22nd – 38 knots (43 mph) from the southwest midday; 23rd – 41 knots (47 mph) from the southwest early morning; 24th – 39 knots from the southwest midday; 25th – 33 knots (39 (mph) from the northwest late afternoon; 26th – 32 knots (36 mph) from the west late afternoon; 27th – 31 knots (35 mph) from the northwest early afternoon; 28th – 31 knots (35 mph) from the southwest late afternoon, and finally; 29th – 44 knots (50 mph) from the southwest early in the morning.     

Fog

No fog was observed in this part of Shoreham during February.

Statistics for February 2020