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Massive increase in rainfall for Sittingbourne area in January

We all know that it’s been wet, wet, wet...but how much rain fell across the area during the first month of the year?

Jeremy Procter, the News Extra’s own weatherman, has filed his report for January and says figures from it show 105.6mm more rain fell than in the same month last year.

Jeremy Procter and his weather monitoring station
Jeremy Procter and his weather monitoring station

Mr Procter measures the elements from his home in Cobham Avenue, Sittingbourne, using a Davis Vantage Pro 2 weather station, which gives him accurate, daily information.

Using sensors linked to his computer, the equipment gives rainfall, temperature, humidity and pressure readings.

Mr Procter also has an anemometer – a wind speed indicator – on a mast on his roof. The sensors record data, wirelessly feeding the details to a control box.

He can then access a programme that enables him to monitor, interpret and analyse the results. The former master mariner said: “One word could describe January's weather - rain.

An in-depth look at what the station is recording
An in-depth look at what the station is recording

“I felt it was comparable with the SW Monsoon, not only for the rain but also for the wind direction which remained in a south westerly direction for the whole month, apart from three days.

"This was caused by a succession of deep Atlantic low pressure systems guided by a stronger than usual jet stream.

“For the UK as a whole, it turned out to be the wettest January since the Met Office records began in 1910.

“Here in Sittingbourne, we only had two days free of precipitation. As a comparison, in January 2013 we had 10 dry days.

“The total rainfall for the month was 142.7 mm compared with 37.1 mm for January 2013.

“Unfortunately the wet and windy weather pattern looks like it will continue for the first 10 days of February.”

The weather's station's measurements displayed on screen
The weather's station's measurements displayed on screen

The highest temperature came on January 6 when the mercury ‘soared’ to 12.3C. The warmest day in January last year was 12.6C.

The month’s coldest temperature came on January 12 at -1.8C – compared to -5.6C in 2013.

There were three recorded air frost days compared to 12 last year and the average monthly temperature was 6.5C against 4.1C 12 months earlier.

A total of 142.7mm of the wet stuff fell compared to 37.1mm with January 1 being the wettest day when 14.2mm was recorded. Jan 2013’s wettest day saw only 2.8mm.

On January 6, Mr Procter measured that the rain was falling at a rate of 256mm an hour.

Out of 31 days, 29 saw rainfall compared to 21 last year. The highest wind speed came on January 3 when gusts of 38mph were felt – 3mph stronger than the highest in Jan 2013.

The highest pressure came on Jan 11 at 1023.88mb, with the minimum recorded on January 28 at 983.82.

January 28 also experienced 100% humidity while the lowest recording of this came on January 3 at 66%.

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