February 1961: Very mild

[Weather-history]

The mildest winter month of the 1960s, February 1961 had a CET of 6.9C and generally across the UK, it was the mildest February since 1945

February 13th and 14th were particularly mild days with sunshine

From the Guardian of 14th and 15th February

But typically on the 15th, cloudy skies obscured the very large partial solar eclipse that occurred that dawn across the UK. The totality zone tracked across France, Italy and into the Balkans.

Gordon Manley's view on February 1961 

[North-Easterly Blast]

In actual fact after February 1961, there was not a notably mild February CET until 1990.  In that 29 year period there was not a February CET above 6.0*C.  The fact that there was no February with a CET above 6*C between 1961 and 1990 helped the 30 year average for 1961-90 to be only 3.8*C, although that was still slightly above the 1951-80 and 1941-70 averages for February.  

February 1961 at 6.9*C, had the ninth highest February CET on record from 1659, although 1867 and 1872 were tied with it, so it could be considered to be in 10th or 11th highest place for the CET.

Interesting to note that February 1779 as having the highest February mean temperature ever is quoted in the newspaper article.

Edited February 28, 2022 by North-Easterly Blast

[Weather-history]

5 hours ago, North-Easterly Blast said:

 

Interesting to note that February 1779 as having the highest February mean temperature ever is quoted in the newspaper article.

I would have thought so  given it was written by Gordon Manley who devised the CET series. 

Edited March 1, 2022 by Weather-history

[A Face like Thunder]

Yes, I remember this month. We had not long returned from the tropics and were desperate to see some snow in S London. Instead we got was mild wet weather, with a max temperature of 59F on 14th Feb and rainfall 139% of average in Feb 1961. Mind you, we more than made up for it in the next two winters  

[LetItSnow!]

The period from February to April 1961 was exceptionally warm (shades of 1990/2007). Indeed if not for a cold December the year of 1961 would have come in quite comfortably above 10. I might add some more info on these months in the next few days.

[Sunny76]

2 hours ago, LetItSnow! said:

The period from February to April 1961 was exceptionally warm (shades of 1990/2007). Indeed if not for a cold December the year of 1961 would have come in quite comfortably above 10. I might add some more info on these months in the next few days.

I think that was the last time February had a daytime max of 16-17c in London, until 1987.

[LetItSnow!]

1 hour ago, Sunny76 said:

I think that was the last time February had a daytime max of 16-17c in London, until 1987.

18.3degC at Bromley, Kent on the 14th; a record for the first half of February at the time.

[Summer8906]

On 01/03/2022 at 09:03, A Face like Thunder said:

Yes, I remember this month. We had not long returned from the tropics and were desperate to see some snow in S London. Instead we got was mild wet weather, with a max temperature of 59F on 14th Feb and rainfall 139% of average in Feb 1961. Mind you, we more than made up for it in the next two winters  

So given the rainfall percentage, presumably not an especially pleasant month. The Manley article does mention rather large amounts of cloud at times but sounds like it was wet too. Perhaps not unlike the February just past?

Wonder how the CETs of 1998 and 2019, both of which had long spells of sunny weather, compare? (ISTR 1998 is now the warmest Feb on record?)

Edited March 3, 2022 by Summer8906

[LetItSnow!]

1 hour ago, Summer8906 said:

So given the rainfall percentage, presumably not an especially pleasant month. The Manley article does mention rather large amounts of cloud at times but sounds like it was wet too. Perhaps not unlike the February just past?

Wonder how the CETs of 1998 and 2019, both of which had long spells of sunny weather, compare? (ISTR 1998 is now the warmest Feb on record?)

February 1961 - 6.9degC

February 1990 - 7.3degC

February 1998 - 7.3degC

February 2019 - 6.7degC

February 2022 - 6.8degC

[Thundery wintry showers]

For mean temperature, February 1990 was generally the warmest February of the last 100 years in the south, but February 1998 was warmest in the north.  February 1998 had a very marked north-south split in sunshine amounts.  The cloudy north was unusually warm by both day and night, whereas the sunny south was also unusually warm by day but saw relatively low minima.

For mean maximum temperature February 2019 was generally the warmest, but, with it being a very sunny month in most parts of the UK, the average minima were much lower.

Apart from a few notably warm sunny days in parts of England, February 1961 was a generally cloudier month with a greater emphasis on high night-time minima.  The exceptional warmth was also more confined to England and Wales.  Given the lower global temperatures of the time, though, it was still pretty exceptional.

Edited March 4, 2022 by Thundery wintry showers