Winters months with the Mild, dry, and sunny combination

[Metwatch]

So I have seen a few mentions recently of the rare mild, dry, and even sunny combination during winter, but it made me curious to find out how often do such months occur, and have any winters had at least 2 of the 3 combinations of mild and dry or mild and sunny throughout the whole season?

What I will do to find this out is use the amazing historic weather data graphs from Starlings Roost Weather and month by month go through the different mild, dry and sunny combinations. I'll use the England and Wales region just for this as often Scotland won't be as mild or sunny if it's dry there compared to further south. I will start from the year 1900.

If you want to play with around the data, it's here:

Starlings Roost Weather

STARLINGSROOST.DDNS.NET

Before going through all the months, It's important to take note the averages of all months in England and Wales, using the 1981-2010 mean.

December

Temperature: 4.4C

Rainfall: 97.3mm

Sunshine: 47 hours

January

Temperature: 4.1C

Rainfall: 92.4mm

Sunshine: 53.7 hours

February

Temperature: 4.1C

Rainfall: 66.9mm

Sunshine: 74.7 hours

 

Now that we know the averages it's time to look through the months, starting with Decembers that were mild and dry, (mean temperature above 5C, rainfall below 70mm)

1941: 5.1C 53.4mm

2004: 5.2C 69mm

1932: 5.2C 51.1mm

1987: 5.3C 64.9mm

2016: 6.0C 42mm

1971: 6.1C 39.6mm

1953: 6.7C 34.8mm (6th driest since 1900)

1988: 7.0C 45.9mm (4th mildest since 1900)

Decembers that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 5C, sunshine above 50 hours)

1980 5.1C 51.5 hours

2014: 5.1C 69.6 hours (second sunniest since 1900) rainfall was at 86mm so although not wet, not dry either!

1951: 5.1C 50.5 hours

2004: 5.2C 52.8 hours

1948: 5.2C 54.0 hours

1983: 5.3C 50.9 hours

1929: 5.3C 56.2 hours

2019: 5.6C 55.3 hours

1986: 5.6C 50.8 hours

2016: 6.0C 50.7 hours

1994: 6.1C 52.2 hours

So from the data above for December, the only ones that were truly mild dry but also somewhat sunny is 2004 and 2016!

 

Moving onto January, starting with mild and dry (mean temperature above 4.6C, rainfall below 65mm)

2000: 4.5C 55.3mm (Special mention even though not very mild it was sunny!)

2022: 4.6C 37.5mm

1949: 4.9C 44.3mm

1923: 5.0C 61.5mm

1976: 5.1C 62.4mm

2005: 5.7C 67.5mm (not below 65mm, but it's not one I would class as being wet either!)

1989: 5.8C 46.9mm

1916: 6.9C 58.0mm (mildest on record!)

Januarys that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 4.6C, sunshine above 60 hours)

2022: 4.6C 79.0 hours

1994: 4.8C 63.10 hours

2023: 4.9C 74.6 hours

1989: 5.2C 61.5 hours

2012: 5.3C 67.2 hours

2007: 6.6C 60.0 hours

 

Although not as mild, 2000, 2003 and 2015 could be considered with mean temperatures of 4.5C, 4.3C and 4.2C respectively, and all with above 66 - 71 hours hours of sunshine!

So from the data above for January, the only ones that were mild, dry but also somewhat sunny is 1989, 2000 and 2022! 2003 could also be considered as well but it wasn't as dry or mild, and with a rainfall figure of 86-91mm.

 

Finally on February, starting with mild and dry (mean temperature above 4.7C, rainfall below 50mm)

1999: 4.8C 52.3mm (Slightly above 50mm again but was slighty sunny at 79 hours)

2004: 5C 58.7mm (Not reaching the dry threshold but sunny)

1949: 5.2C 42.1mm

1992: 5.1C 47.3mm

2008: 5.2C 43.6mm

1943: 5.5C 49mm (82.9 hours of sunshine so potentially a 3 way combo!)

1920: 5.4C 48.2mm

2023: 6.1C 16.8mm

2019: 6.4C 53.1mm (Above 50mm but had to include this one!)

1998: 6.9C 23mm

Februarys that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 4.6C, sunshine above 85 hours)

2016 4.7C 91.0 hours

2014 5.0C 85.4 hours

1939 5.0C 82.3 hours (below 85 but mild and dry with 60mm of rain!)

2008 5.2C 116.5 hours (another big total)

1949 5.2C 106 hours

2004 5.0C 88.1 hours

2000 5.8C 93.6 hours

2023 6.1C 84.3 hours

2019 6.4C 118 hours (incredible total)

1998 6.8C 88.9 hours

So from the data above for February, the only ones that were mild, dry but also somewhat sunny is 1943, 1998, 2004, 2019, and 2023, a lot more!

 

Spent a while writing this one up but from all of this is it possible for winters to feature all 3 clear combinations? Pretty much no to the best of my knowledge, however some can be mild and dry such as 2004-05, 2016-17, or on the mild and sunny side such as 1988-89! I would say the more previous winter of 2022-23 wasn't too far off, seeing a dry, but sunny winter, however it wasn't that mild. 2018-19 is another contender too @Summer8906 after 1988-89.

If there's any knowledge gaps or winters pre 20th century that stand out ( @Weather-history) That would be nice to add.

I know those who don't like cold but want it sunny will enjoy some of these months. Thinking of you all @East Lancs Rain @baddie @NEVES SCREAMER @Sun Chaser @SunSean@Alderc 2.0 @In Absence of True Seasons@raz.org.rain

Edited December 8, 2023 by Metwatch

[SunSean]

Dry, sunny & mild in winter would be pretty rare, although not impossible. February 2019 is pretty much the gold standard for that criteria really. Although I wouldn't consider anything over 50mm dry, unless it only consisted of 4 big rain days!

By the way, I don't actually mind cold weather

If its sunny, I'm good

[Metwatch]

2 hours ago, Metwatch said:

So from the data above for February, the only ones that were mild, dry but also somewhat sunny is 1943, 1998, 2004, 2019, and 2023, a lot more!

2008 is the 6th one I should have also put in this list!

[Summer8906]

9 hours ago, Metwatch said:

2008 is the 6th one I should have also put in this list!

Yes, I'm surprised it didn't make the "dry" category. IIRC the last week or so was a bit damp, so maybe that was enough to prevent qualification.

(Sorry, just seen it is, and you just left it out!)

Very interesting analysis. I guess 2018/9 could qualify as mild and dry, though in this area Dec 2018 was mild and wet, and Jan 2019 dry but not mild (about average).  But balanced out it would be overall.

Perhaps 2016/7 too which was another "benign" winter. Or 2011/12: Dec was mild and wet, but Jan was mostly mild and dry (colder at end) and Feb dry, but half cold and half mild. But none of these featured the consistency of an anticyclonic mild type which prevailed for 2.5 months in 1988/9 (all of Dec and Jan, half of Feb).

Surprised a few of those months made it into the sunny category though. Dec 2016 for instance I remember being dominated by tropical maritime air albeit with high pressure with the result that it was mostly cloudy and often drizzly. Perhaps it was better in places less exposed to onshore winds. Likewise I seem to remember Dec 1983 and 2004 being mostly dullfests.

Interesting about Feb 1939: a benign month which contrasted sharply with the "kitchen sink" month of Jan 1939, which was also unusual in its own way, a very wet and mostly mild month but with the low track so far south that it included one or two channel lows and heavy snow in the south. This type of month seems to be even rarer but is probably best discussed in another thread!

Edited December 9, 2023 by Summer8906

[In Absence of True Seasons]

13 hours ago, Metwatch said:

So I have seen a few mentions recently of the rare mild, dry, and even sunny combination during winter, but it made me curious to find out how often do such months occur, and have any winters had at least 2 of the 3 combinations of mild and dry or mild and sunny throughout the whole season?

What I will do to find this out is use the amazing historic weather data graphs from Starlings Roost Weather and month by month go through the different mild, dry and sunny combinations. I'll use the England and Wales region just for this as often Scotland won't be as mild or sunny if it's dry there compared to further south. I will start from the year 1900.

If you want to play with around the data, it's here:

Starlings Roost Weather

STARLINGSROOST.DDNS.NET

Before going through all the months, It's important to take note the averages of all months in England and Wales, using the 1981-2010 mean.

December

Temperature: 4.4C

Rainfall: 97.3mm

Sunshine: 47 hours

January

Temperature: 4.1C

Rainfall: 92.4mm

Sunshine: 53.7 hours

February

Temperature: 4.1C

Rainfall: 66.9mm

Sunshine: 74.7 hours

 

Now that we know the averages it's time to look through the months, starting with Decembers that were mild and dry, (mean temperature above 5C, rainfall below 70mm)

1941: 5.1C 53.4mm

2004: 5.2C 69mm

1932: 5.2C 51.1mm

1987: 5.3C 64.9mm

2016: 6.0C 42mm

1971: 6.1C 39.6mm

1953: 6.7C 34.8mm (6th driest since 1900)

1988: 7.0C 45.9mm (4th mildest since 1900)

Decembers that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 5C, sunshine above 50 hours)

1980 5.1C 51.5 hours

2014: 5.1C 69.6 hours (second sunniest since 1900) rainfall was at 86mm so although not wet, not dry either!

1951: 5.1C 50.5 hours

2004: 5.2C 52.8 hours

1948: 5.2C 54.0 hours

1983: 5.3C 50.9 hours

1929: 5.3C 56.2 hours

2019: 5.6C 55.3 hours

1986: 5.6C 50.8 hours

2016: 6.0C 50.7 hours

1994: 6.1C 52.2 hours

So from the data above for December, the only ones that were truly mild dry but also somewhat sunny is 2004 and 2016!

 

Moving onto January, starting with mild and dry (mean temperature above 4.6C, rainfall below 65mm)

2000: 4.5C 55.3mm (Special mention even though not very mild it was sunny!)

2022: 4.6C 37.5mm

1949: 4.9C 44.3mm

1923: 5.0C 61.5mm

1976: 5.1C 62.4mm

2005: 5.7C 67.5mm (not below 65mm, but it's not one I would class as being wet either!)

1989: 5.8C 46.9mm

1916: 6.9C 58.0mm (mildest on record!)

Januarys that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 4.6C, sunshine above 60 hours)

2022: 4.6C 79.0 hours

1994: 4.8C 63.10 hours

2023: 4.9C 74.6 hours

1989: 5.2C 61.5 hours

2012: 5.3C 67.2 hours

2007: 6.6C 60.0 hours

 

Although not as mild, 2000, 2003 and 2015 could be considered with mean temperatures of 4.5C, 4.3C and 4.2C respectively, and all with above 66 - 71 hours hours of sunshine!

So from the data above for January, the only ones that were mild, dry but also somewhat sunny is 1989, 2000 and 2022! 2003 could also be considered as well but it wasn't as dry or mild, and with a rainfall figure of 86-91mm.

 

Finally on February, starting with mild and dry (mean temperature above 4.7C, rainfall below 50mm)

1999: 4.8C 52.3mm (Slightly above 50mm again but was slighty sunny at 79 hours)

2004: 5C 58.7mm (Not reaching the dry threshold but sunny)

1949: 5.2C 42.1mm

1992: 5.1C 47.3mm

2008: 5.2C 43.6mm

1943: 5.5C 49mm (82.9 hours of sunshine so potentially a 3 way combo!)

1920: 5.4C 48.2mm

2023: 6.1C 16.8mm

2019: 6.4C 53.1mm (Above 50mm but had to include this one!)

1998: 6.9C 23mm

Februarys that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 4.6C, sunshine above 85 hours)

2016 4.7C 91.0 hours

2014 5.0C 85.4 hours

1939 5.0C 82.3 hours (below 85 but mild and dry with 60mm of rain!)

2008 5.2C 116.5 hours (another big total)

1949 5.2C 106 hours

2004 5.0C 88.1 hours

2000 5.8C 93.6 hours

2023 6.1C 84.3 hours

2019 6.4C 118 hours (incredible total)

1998 6.8C 88.9 hours

So from the data above for February, the only ones that were mild, dry but also somewhat sunny is 1943, 1998, 2004, 2019, and 2023, a lot more!

 

Spent a while writing this one up but from all of this is it possible for winters to feature all 3 clear combinations? Pretty much no to the best of my knowledge, however some can be mild and dry such as 2004-05, 2016-17, or on the mild and sunny side such as 1988-89! I would say the more previous winter of 2022-23 wasn't too far off, seeing a dry, but sunny winter, however it wasn't that mild. 2018-19 is another contender too @Summer8906 after 1988-89.

If there's any knowledge gaps or winters pre 20th century that stand out ( @Weather-history) That would be nice to add.

I know those who don't like cold but want it sunny will enjoy some of these months. Thinking of you all @East Lancs Rain @baddie @NEVES SCREAMER @Sun Chaser @SunSean@Alderc 2.0 @In Absence of True Seasons@raz.org.rain

Interesting stuff, thanks for compiling. 

It's definitely possible for such conditions to land...just rare in the UK. In my mind's eye, February 2019 is probably the most notable momth I can think of. But honestly that felt odd to me, unseasonal. Think it reached 18c on a couple of days which is wild for February, and awful for nature in terms of hibernating / seasonal creatures.

Fyi I like cold winter weather and snow too!  I'm not solely a heat-enjoyer. I enjoy warm sunny weather from April to September really. The warm spell in October this year frustrated me a little because it was too late in the year for the sun-strength and daylight hours for me. 

What I really dislike is cold+rainy in winter. Grim times that is. Cold+sunny or cold+snowy is

[Metwatch]

2 hours ago, Summer8906 said:

Surprised a few of those months made it into the sunny category though. Dec 2016 for instance I remember being dominated by tropical maritime air albeit with high pressure with the result that it was mostly cloudy and often drizzly. Perhaps it was better in places less exposed to onshore winds. Likewise I seem to remember Dec 1983 and 2004 being mostly dullfests.

 

December 2004 had the high pressure out in the mid Atlantic mostly similar set up to what we will get later next week, but mild, cloudy at times, but there would also be sunshine. Wettest in the far north.

Trevor Harley's summary of the month.

December 2016 high pressure is just to the east of the UK often, so it might be chilly, but it wasn't that much in 2016. Trevor's summary attached once again, not much mention of sunshine, but further south it wasn't too bad!

December 1983, not dry but it was mild with some sunshine again, but nothing spectacular. Used the sea level pressure anomaly rather than geopotential height for this as it gives a better signal.

Edited December 9, 2023 by Metwatch

[East Lancs Rain]

Thanks for creating this thread. While it is quite rare to get a mild, dry and sunny winter month, what I’ve noticed is it’s becoming more common, probably due to the warming climate. Whereas the traditional cold and snowy or cold and dry winters are becoming less common. If you take the winters overall, Winters 2011/12, 2016/17, 2018/19 and 2021/22 were all mild or very mild and fairly dry, and all occurred fairly recently. Of course, if you were to use the older 1961-1990 average, you probably could have included quite a few more winters. Interesting that February 2019 actually had above average rainfall. I don’t remember much rain at all during that month, and the met office anomaly maps show it as being a dry month in most places, with nowhere having above average rainfall.
 

In recent years of course, cold winters have been quite lacking, but winters 2027/18 and 2020/21 were quite cold, at least compared to the more modern averages. But for the last really cold winter in the UK, you have to go back to Winter 2012/13. 

Tbh, I wouldn’t mind a winter that had average or slightly below average temps but was dry and sunny. A winter where most days were dry, calm and sunny with temps rising to 6 or 7C during the day and dropping to around freezing at night would suit me fine, with some milder 8-13C and sunny days thrown in in February. Such a winter would probably actually feel milder than the typical mild, wet and windy winters we normally get, at least during the day anyway, because even with mild temps, the wind and rain makes it feel a lot colder. For example, it is currently 8°C, wet and windy outside, but feels like 4°C according to the BBC Weather App.

 

What would be interesting next would be to see the winters/winter months that were cold and cloudy but had above average rainfall, I’m guessing that’s also quite a rare occurrence, although probably not quite as rare as mild, dry and sunny. 
 

It would be also interesting to see how many summers/summer months that have been cool but also dry and sunny, a very rare combination, maybe even rarer than a mild, dry and sunny winter. People who don’t like the heat but still like it dry and sunny would enjoy these summers. So far I’ve found June 2015 which was cooler than the 1961-1990 average, but was dry and sunny in most places.

[Metwatch]

2 hours ago, East Lancs Rain said:

Thanks for creating this thread. While it is quite rare to get a mild, dry and sunny winter month, what I’ve noticed is it’s becoming more common, probably due to the warming climate. Whereas the traditional cold and snowy or cold and dry winters are becoming less common. If you take the winters overall, Winters 2011/12, 2016/17, 2018/19 and 2021/22 were all mild or very mild and fairly dry, and all occurred fairly recently. Of course, if you were to use the older 1961-1990 average, you probably could have included quite a few more winters. Interesting that February 2019 actually had above average rainfall. I don’t remember much rain at all during that month, and the met office anomaly maps show it as being a dry month in most places, with nowhere having above average rainfall.
 

In recent years of course, cold winters have been quite lacking, but winters 2027/18 and 2020/21 were quite cold, at least compared to the more modern averages. But for the last really cold winter in the UK, you have to go back to Winter 2012/13. 

Tbh, I wouldn’t mind a winter that had average or slightly below average temps but was dry and sunny. A winter where most days were dry, calm and sunny with temps rising to 6 or 7C during the day and dropping to around freezing at night would suit me fine, with some milder 8-13C and sunny days thrown in in February. Such a winter would probably actually feel milder than the typical mild, wet and windy winters we normally get, at least during the day anyway, because even with mild temps, the wind and rain makes it feel a lot colder. For example, it is currently 8°C, wet and windy outside, but feels like 4°C according to the BBC Weather App.

 

What would be interesting next would be to see the winters/winter months that were cold and cloudy but had above average rainfall, I’m guessing that’s also quite a rare occurrence, although probably not quite as rare as mild, dry and sunny. 
 

It would be also interesting to see how many summers/summer months that have been cool but also dry and sunny, a very rare combination, maybe even rarer than a mild, dry and sunny winter. People who don’t like the heat but still like it dry and sunny would enjoy these summers. So far I’ve found June 2015 which was cooler than the 1961-1990 average, but was dry and sunny in most places.

A little off-topic but not to worry! Cool dry but sunny summers aren't exactly possible, if there's sunshine, it usually won't be cool, only really early part of June. Dry and cool a bit less rare though.

However looking at these summer 1940 and summer 1996 could be put in the average ish but sunny area! Perhaps 1969 as well. 1940 had a very warm June, a wet July, and dry August. Dry and cool summer, mainly just 1981 that manages it.

Can play around with the graphs here: http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/ukgraphs.php?type=mrscatter&field=2d&param=Tmean-Sunshine&region=England_and_Wales&month=6&graph_type=actual&climate=8110&start_year=1930&end_year=2023

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by Metwatch

[raz.org.rain]

4 hours ago, East Lancs Rain said:

Thanks for creating this thread. While it is quite rare to get a mild, dry and sunny winter month, what I’ve noticed is it’s becoming more common, probably due to the warming climate. Whereas the traditional cold and snowy or cold and dry winters are becoming less common. If you take the winters overall, Winters 2011/12, 2016/17, 2018/19 and 2021/22 were all mild or very mild and fairly dry, and all occurred fairly recently. Of course, if you were to use the older 1961-1990 average, you probably could have included quite a few more winters. Interesting that February 2019 actually had above average rainfall. I don’t remember much rain at all during that month, and the met office anomaly maps show it as being a dry month in most places, with nowhere having above average rainfall.
 

In recent years of course, cold winters have been quite lacking, but winters 2027/18 and 2020/21 were quite cold, at least compared to the more modern averages. But for the last really cold winter in the UK, you have to go back to Winter 2012/13. 

Tbh, I wouldn’t mind a winter that had average or slightly below average temps but was dry and sunny. A winter where most days were dry, calm and sunny with temps rising to 6 or 7C during the day and dropping to around freezing at night would suit me fine, with some milder 8-13C and sunny days thrown in in February. Such a winter would probably actually feel milder than the typical mild, wet and windy winters we normally get, at least during the day anyway, because even with mild temps, the wind and rain makes it feel a lot colder. For example, it is currently 8°C, wet and windy outside, but feels like 4°C according to the BBC Weather App.

 

What would be interesting next would be to see the winters/winter months that were cold and cloudy but had above average rainfall, I’m guessing that’s also quite a rare occurrence, although probably not quite as rare as mild, dry and sunny. 
 

It would be also interesting to see how many summers/summer months that have been cool but also dry and sunny, a very rare combination, maybe even rarer than a mild, dry and sunny winter. People who don’t like the heat but still like it dry and sunny would enjoy these summers. So far I’ve found June 2015 which was cooler than the 1961-1990 average, but was dry and sunny in most places.

From my perspective, there would be something very fundamentally wrong if a summer turned out to be thoroughly cool, dry and sunny throughout. It's just not an extreme I would ever expect at this latitude. Given the influence of the Atlantic and the southerly influence of continentality, I can't imagine what hellish combination of factors would need to happen for that scenario to be viable.

Similarly, it would be very unusual if we managed to get a winter that was mild and dry throughout. I certainly wouldn't complain but it certainly would raise some concern I think. But relatively speaking, our location in the world is more likely to see a mild dry winter than a cool dry summer. 

[Rain All Night]

15 hours ago, raz.org.rain said:

From my perspective, there would be something very fundamentally wrong if a summer turned out to be thoroughly cool, dry and sunny throughout. I can't imagine what hellish combination of factors would need to happen for that scenario to be viable.

Persistent northerlies maybe?

[East Lancs Rain]

16 hours ago, raz.org.rain said:

From my perspective, there would be something very fundamentally wrong if a summer turned out to be thoroughly cool, dry and sunny throughout. It's just not an extreme I would ever expect at this latitude. Given the influence of the Atlantic and the southerly influence of continentality, I can't imagine what hellish combination of factors would need to happen for that scenario to be viable.

Similarly, it would be very unusual if we managed to get a winter that was mild and dry throughout. I certainly wouldn't complain but it certainly would raise some concern I think. But relatively speaking, our location in the world is more likely to see a mild dry winter than a cool dry summer. 

 

1 hour ago, RainAllNight said:

Persistent northerlies maybe?

Yes, I think if we got a synoptic setup like April 2021 in summer it would still produce cool, dry and sunny conditions. Day temps might still be average because of the strength of the sun, but nights would be colder than average, so it would still be below average overall.

[Sun Chaser]

On 08/12/2023 at 23:29, Metwatch said:

So I have seen a few mentions recently of the rare mild, dry, and even sunny combination during winter, but it made me curious to find out how often do such months occur, and have any winters had at least 2 of the 3 combinations of mild and dry or mild and sunny throughout the whole season?

What I will do to find this out is use the amazing historic weather data graphs from Starlings Roost Weather and month by month go through the different mild, dry and sunny combinations. I'll use the England and Wales region just for this as often Scotland won't be as mild or sunny if it's dry there compared to further south. I will start from the year 1900.

If you want to play with around the data, it's here:

Starlings Roost Weather

STARLINGSROOST.DDNS.NET

Before going through all the months, It's important to take note the averages of all months in England and Wales, using the 1981-2010 mean.

December

Temperature: 4.4C

Rainfall: 97.3mm

Sunshine: 47 hours

January

Temperature: 4.1C

Rainfall: 92.4mm

Sunshine: 53.7 hours

February

Temperature: 4.1C

Rainfall: 66.9mm

Sunshine: 74.7 hours

 

Now that we know the averages it's time to look through the months, starting with Decembers that were mild and dry, (mean temperature above 5C, rainfall below 70mm)

1941: 5.1C 53.4mm

2004: 5.2C 69mm

1932: 5.2C 51.1mm

1987: 5.3C 64.9mm

2016: 6.0C 42mm

1971: 6.1C 39.6mm

1953: 6.7C 34.8mm (6th driest since 1900)

1988: 7.0C 45.9mm (4th mildest since 1900)

Decembers that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 5C, sunshine above 50 hours)

1980 5.1C 51.5 hours

2014: 5.1C 69.6 hours (second sunniest since 1900) rainfall was at 86mm so although not wet, not dry either!

1951: 5.1C 50.5 hours

2004: 5.2C 52.8 hours

1948: 5.2C 54.0 hours

1983: 5.3C 50.9 hours

1929: 5.3C 56.2 hours

2019: 5.6C 55.3 hours

1986: 5.6C 50.8 hours

2016: 6.0C 50.7 hours

1994: 6.1C 52.2 hours

So from the data above for December, the only ones that were truly mild dry but also somewhat sunny is 2004 and 2016!

 

Moving onto January, starting with mild and dry (mean temperature above 4.6C, rainfall below 65mm)

2000: 4.5C 55.3mm (Special mention even though not very mild it was sunny!)

2022: 4.6C 37.5mm

1949: 4.9C 44.3mm

1923: 5.0C 61.5mm

1976: 5.1C 62.4mm

2005: 5.7C 67.5mm (not below 65mm, but it's not one I would class as being wet either!)

1989: 5.8C 46.9mm

1916: 6.9C 58.0mm (mildest on record!)

Januarys that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 4.6C, sunshine above 60 hours)

2022: 4.6C 79.0 hours

1994: 4.8C 63.10 hours

2023: 4.9C 74.6 hours

1989: 5.2C 61.5 hours

2012: 5.3C 67.2 hours

2007: 6.6C 60.0 hours

 

Although not as mild, 2000, 2003 and 2015 could be considered with mean temperatures of 4.5C, 4.3C and 4.2C respectively, and all with above 66 - 71 hours hours of sunshine!

So from the data above for January, the only ones that were mild, dry but also somewhat sunny is 1989, 2000 and 2022! 2003 could also be considered as well but it wasn't as dry or mild, and with a rainfall figure of 86-91mm.

 

Finally on February, starting with mild and dry (mean temperature above 4.7C, rainfall below 50mm)

1999: 4.8C 52.3mm (Slightly above 50mm again but was slighty sunny at 79 hours)

2004: 5C 58.7mm (Not reaching the dry threshold but sunny)

1949: 5.2C 42.1mm

1992: 5.1C 47.3mm

2008: 5.2C 43.6mm

1943: 5.5C 49mm (82.9 hours of sunshine so potentially a 3 way combo!)

1920: 5.4C 48.2mm

2023: 6.1C 16.8mm

2019: 6.4C 53.1mm (Above 50mm but had to include this one!)

1998: 6.9C 23mm

Februarys that were mild but sunny (mean temperature above 4.6C, sunshine above 85 hours)

2016 4.7C 91.0 hours

2014 5.0C 85.4 hours

1939 5.0C 82.3 hours (below 85 but mild and dry with 60mm of rain!)

2008 5.2C 116.5 hours (another big total)

1949 5.2C 106 hours

2004 5.0C 88.1 hours

2000 5.8C 93.6 hours

2023 6.1C 84.3 hours

2019 6.4C 118 hours (incredible total)

1998 6.8C 88.9 hours

So from the data above for February, the only ones that were mild, dry but also somewhat sunny is 1943, 1998, 2004, 2019, and 2023, a lot more!

 

Spent a while writing this one up but from all of this is it possible for winters to feature all 3 clear combinations? Pretty much no to the best of my knowledge, however some can be mild and dry such as 2004-05, 2016-17, or on the mild and sunny side such as 1988-89! I would say the more previous winter of 2022-23 wasn't too far off, seeing a dry, but sunny winter, however it wasn't that mild. 2018-19 is another contender too @Summer8906 after 1988-89.

If there's any knowledge gaps or winters pre 20th century that stand out ( @Weather-history) That would be nice to add.

I know those who don't like cold but want it sunny will enjoy some of these months. Thinking of you all @East Lancs Rain @baddie @NEVES SCREAMER @Sun Chaser @SunSean@Alderc 2.0 @In Absence of True Seasons@raz.org.rain

Amazing post! I agree 22/23 was a very good winter, dry and sunny almost in its entirety forgiving a three-week period at the end of Dec/start of Jan. Not necessarily mild but I'll always forgive that for sun and dry weather. We've been spoiled recently with the last properly miserable winter month being Dec 2021! This December I'm undecided on so far, depends how sunny this upcoming spell is.

I still think Feb 2019 is the gold standard of winter months, 2008 a close second.

[cheeky_monkey]

11 hours ago, Sun Chaser said:

 

I still think Feb 2019 is the gold standard of winter months, 2008 a close second.

For me it has to be Feb 1998..granted i wasn't in the UK in 2019 ..but it was exceptionally dry exceptionally mild and pretty sunny 

[Metwatch]

Looks like no months to add to the list from this winter. December and soon February ending up as mild, dull, washout months.

January however quite sunny with 68.7 hours, but a mean temperature of 4.4C so not quite reaching the mild and sunny combined threshold. Very similar statistics wise to January 2003 and 2000, but 2000 looks drier.

Edited February 14 by Metwatch

[Harry233]

January 2022 is probably a good example of this type of weather. The month was very mild, dry and sunny which is a very rare occurrence for January. A very mild beginning with New Years Day being exceptionally mild. Then we had a spell of weather in the third week with maximum temperatures around 10-13.C with plenty of sunshine and light winds. Think it was the 20th especially where it felt very springlike. 

February 2019 is probably another example of this weather if you took the first week out which was very cold. That period between 21st-27th was amazing. The 26th was my hottest day with 15.9.C recorded. I was walking about in shorts and t shirt that day and for February it really felt so strange. February 2012 also had a similar spell at the end of the month with very mild temperatures and sunshine although it wasn’t quite as mild as February 2019 but wasn’t far behind at all.

December I can’t recall any spell of weather where it was mild, dry and sunny. Those types of winter months are very rare for my part unfortunately, February however usually does bring a few days where it is pleasantly mild and sunny with no wind.

[BruenSryan]

If allowing some leeway for periods of mild, dry and sunny weather rather than months, December 2001 could be included. It was a cold month overall due to northerly winds later and a lot of frost. However, the second week had some very sunny and mild weather locally. Mainly in foehn affected areas. In the south it was rather cool, especially inland where there must have been some inversions going on.

NASA satellite imagery for the 11th December 2001 for instance and the max temperature was as much as 16.1C at Nantmor in west Wales on this day. Must have felt a bit strange for the time of year.