February weather - wet, windy and mild

Strong winds for 21 days

If you hadn't already guessed the month of February in the Isle of Man was wetter, windier and a little milder than normal.

After a benign January we feared February might have a sting in its tail, and so it was, with wet and windy conditions for much of the time.

The mean wind speed for the month was 18.8 knots - over 4 knots higher than the long term average. In fact the wind blew at force 6 or higher for 21 of February's 28 days; the highest gust was recorded during Storn Eunice's unwelcome visit at a speed of 65 miles per hour on the 18th.

Rainfall was 35 per cent above average. The fact that the mean day average temperature was a degree above normal at 9.6 celsius, was cold comfort.

88.6 hours of sunshine were recorded - the sunniest day being the 21st, in the midst of Storm Eunice.