Stormy weather hits Shetland
A mostly mild, unsettled month with bands of rain or showers at times and some strong winds in the first week. Mean temperatures for the month were between 1.0 °C and 1.5 °C above the 1971–2000 average. Rainfall ranged from close to normal across much of northern Scotland to well above normal south of a line from Aberdeen to Glasgow, where around 200% of average was recorded in places including Fife, the Lothians and Borders. In these areas, provisionally it was the fifth or sixth wettest February in the last 100 years. Sunshine totals were somewhat above normal in the north-west but it was duller than normal across the south-east.
The month began on a very unsettled note with spells of heavy rain, especially in the south. These gave 70 mm of rainfall in the first 4 days at Bishopton (Glasgow), with 45 mm at Gogarbank (Edinburgh), equal to the average for the whole month. The most intense winter storm of the season brought widespread gales on 3rd into 4th, severe in places with gusts of 89 mph at Stornoway airport (Western Isles) and 93 mph at Lerwick (Shetland). Mild air on 4th saw the temperature at Hunterston (Ayrshire) reach 13.1 °C. On 5th and 6th further spells of rain affected southern and central areas at times, often heavy. The north remained brighter but colder with some wintry showers. On 7th heavy rain turned to snow over some higher ground, and briefly to lower levels before it cleared in the afternoon. The rest of 7th and 8th were bright with sunshine and scattered showers, these showers mainly in the northwest, though 8th did start frosty in many areas. The 9th was mainly cloudy with rain at times, heavy in the west with Eskdalemuir (Dumfries and Galloway) recording 32 mm in 24 hours.
The 10th was mainly dry with some sunshine, though with frost early and late. Rain spread north-eastwards on 11th, this continuing into the night and giving a 24-hour total of 17 mm at Dyce (Aberdeenshire). Brighter weather spread from the south-west on 12th but more rain crossed the country on 13th, followed by brighter conditions. The 14th was showery, these showers turning wintry across the south-west in the evening. After a frosty start on 15th it clouded over with showers or longer spells of rain. Generally cloudy on 16th with outbreaks of rain, this turning to sleet in Shetland. Overnight freezing fog in central areas cleared around midday on 17th, otherwise it was a generally cloudy day with rain at times, the best of any sunshine in the north-west. Mostly cloudy on 18th, with patchy rain, but brighter on the west coast and in the north-west. Rain and sleet on 19th, with some snow mainly on high ground.
From 20th to 22nd it was rather cloudy but mainly dry, with any rain light and patchy and snow flurries over higher ground. Rain turned heavier in the west on 23rd and 24th, but much of the east stayed dry and mild, Tain Range (Highland) reaching 14.8 °C on 24th. Another band of rain moved eastwards on 25th, followed by frequent showers in the north-west, with Kinlochewe (Highland) recording 41 mm in 24 hours. The 26th and 27th were bright with sunny spells and scattered showers, though less mild. After a frosty start, with the temperature at Altnaharra (Highland) having dipped to -6.6 °C, the 28th ended the month on a fine sunny note.
