HC Deb 23 January 1998 vol 304 cc699-701W
Mr. Levitt

To Ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the categories of meteorological data which are currently available from the weather stations at(a) Manchester Ringway and (b) Buxton; [24086]

(2) if he will give the (a) average daily maximum temperatures, (b) average daily minimum temperatures and (c) number of days of snowfall, month by month, from the Manchester Ringway and Buxton weather stations for the most recent 12 month period available [24085]

Mr. Spellar

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Peter Ewins to Mr. Tom Levitt, dated 23 January 1998: I am replying to your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about meteorological data available from Manchester Ringway and Buxton weather stations and the temperature readings recorded there for the last twelve months. As Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office, this matter falls within my area of responsibility. I enclose a list of the categories of meteorological data observed on a daily basis at the weather stations concerned, together with details of the average temperatures and snowfall levels at the two sites for the year ending 31 December 1997.

MANCHESTER RINGWAY

(1) Hourly Weather Data (sent to Met Office HQ each hour)

Hourly values of the following:

  1. (a) 10 minute mean wind speed
  2. (b) 10 minute mean wind direction
  3. (c) maximum gust speed in the previous hour
  4. (d) air temperature (dry bulb)
  5. (e) dew point temperature
  6. (f) atmospheric pressure
  7. (g) pressure change over last 3 hours
  8. (h) present weather (code)
  9. (i) past weather (code)
  10. (j) visibility
  11. (k) cloud base heights(s)
  12. (l) cloud amount(s)
  13. (m) cloud type(s)

Monthly averages of daily maximum air temperatures, daily minimum air temperatures and number of days with snowfall during 1997 at

Manchester—Ringway and Buxton

Manchester 1997
Daily max. temp. (degs. C) Daily min. temp. (degs. C) Snow lying at 0900 (days) Sleet/snow falling (days)
January 5.7 0.8 5 4
February 9.6 4.2 0 0
March 12.0 4.6 0 0
April 12.9 5.2 0 0
May 16.7 7.2 0 2
  1. (n)hourly mean wind speed
  2. (o) hourly modal wind direction
  3. (p) direction of maximum gust
  4. (q) time of maximum gust
  5. (r) precipitation total
  6. (s) sunshine duration
  7. (t) snow depth

(2) Climatological data (sent to met Office HQ each day) Observed at 0900

  1. (a) minimum air temperature 2100–0900
  2. (b) maximum air temperature 2100–0900
  3. (c) minimum grass temperature dusk–0900
  4. (d) minimum concrete temperature dusk–0900
  5. (e) precipitation 2100–0900
  6. (f) snow depth
  7. (g) state of ground

Observed at 2100

  1. (a) minimum air temperature 0900–2100
  2. (b) maximum air temperature 0900–2100
  3. (c) precipitation 0900–2100

Daily 9000–2400

  1. (a) daily sunshine duration
  2. (b) significant weather (sleet, snow, hail etc.)

BUXTON

Climatological Data (daily values sent to Met Office HQ at end of month)

Observed at 0900

  1. (a) air temperature (dry bulb, wet bulb)
  2. (b) minimum air temperature 0900–0900
  3. (c) maximum air temperature 0900–0900
  4. (d) minimum grass temperature 0900–0900
  5. (e) 10 cm soil temperature
  6. (e) 20 cm soil temperature
  7. (g) 30 cm soil temperature
  8. (h) 50 cm soil temperature
  9. (i) 100 cm soil temperature
  10. (j) precipitation total 0900–0900
  11. (k) snow depth
  12. (l) present weather (code)
  13. (m) state of ground (code)
  14. (n) total cloud cover
  15. (o) wind speed
  16. (p) wind direction
  17. (g) visibility (code)

Daily 0000–2400

  1. (a) daily sunshine duration
  2. (b) significant weather (sleet, snow, hail etc.)

Monthly averages of daily maximum air temperatures, daily minimum air temperatures and number of days with snowfall during 1997 at

Manchester—Ringway and Buxton

Manchester 1997
Daily max. temp. (degs. C) Daily min. temp. (degs. C) Snow lying at 0900 (days) Sleet/snow falling (days)
June 17.8 10.2 0 0
July 21.0 12.5 0 0
August 23.5 14.2 0 0
September 17.2 10.7 0 0
October 13.6 6.6 0 0
November 11.1 6.2 0 0
December 8.2 3.7 0 3

Temperature maxima refer to 09–21GMT and minima to 21–09GMT.

Buxton 1997
Daily max. temp. (degs. C) Daily min. temp. (degs. C) Snow lying at 0900 (days) Sleet/snow falling (days)
January 3.7 -1.2 11 6
February 7.3 2.3 0 7
March 9.8 3.6 0 1
April 10.6 3.6 0 0
May 14.7 5.2 0 3
June 15.7 8.8 0 1
July 19.4 10.9 0 0
August 21.5 12.3 0 0
September 15.1 8.9 0 0
October 11.2 4.5 0 0
November 8.7 5.0 0 0
December 6.6 2.5 0 5

Temperature maxima and minima refer to 09–09GMT.

Back to