The exceptional mild spell of 9th-11th January 1971

[Weather-history]

The period from the 9th to the 11th of January 1971 was remarkable for the exceptionally high temperatures that were recorded. With a large cell of high pressure over Europe and a deep low to the south west of Iceland this allowed a tropical maritime southwesterly airstream to flood the UK all the way from the Canaries which over the next couple of days, the direction of the wind shifted to a southerly. Some exceptionally high maxima were recorded due to the Fohn effect, on the 9th at Aber in Gwynedd, a maximum of 17.2C was recorded. On the 10th, at Aber, 18.3C was recorded equalling the highest ever maximum recorded for January, whilst at Llandudno, 18.2C was recorded that same day. On the 11th, 16.1C was recorded at Balmacara in the Highlands. Elsewhere, maxima were into double figures, around 12-14C with the south east of England having the lowest temperatures. Temperatures dropped to near normal levels by the 14th and the CET of the month was only 4.5C despite the very mild spell.

Edited January 5, 2007 by Mr_Data