ANNUAL MEANS / TOTALS IN SITTINGBOURNE (1985 – 2009 inclusive)

The graph to the right shows the mean annual maximum, minimum and overall average temperatures for the period 1985–2009 inclusive. Although climatologies are typically calculated using 30 years of continuous observations at a single site with unchanging exposure and surroundings, the Sittingbourne site now has a database of 25 years and thus can provide a reasonable summary of mean conditions at the site. Mean annual average maximum, minimum and mean temperatures for the site are 14.8ºC, 7.0ºC and 10.9ºC respectively.

1989, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2006 show up as particularly warm years with both average annual maximum temperatures above 15.3ºC and overall mean temperatures above 10.9ºC.

1985, 1986 and 1996 proved to be the coldest years with overall mean temperatures below 10ºC.

It is worth comparing the mean maximum temperature ranges from the highest, 15.89ºC in 2003, to the coldest, 13.47ºC in 1986. There really is quite a difference!

There does seem to be a gradual warming trend over the whole measurement period though it is interesting to note that the 1996 values are noticeably lower than preceding and subsequent years. Also it is interesting to note that temperatures have dropped in the three most recent years in the record.

Rainfall is another interesting variable that can show large year-to-year variations.

The mean annual precipitation for Sittingbourne for the 25-year period 1985–2009 is 639.9mm. Low-lying areas of Southeast England and East Anglia are the driest parts of the country.

2005 holds the record for the driest year with just 410.3mm measured, less than 64% of the average. June of that year saw just 4.2mm collected in the standard 5‑inch rain gauge.

Looking back in time, 1985–87 were years with above-average precipitation followed by four years where the annual means were below average. May 1989 is worth mentioning as it was the driest month on record with just 0.4mm being recorded.

The year 2000 was an exceptionally wet year with 935mm of precipitation recorded, some 47% above the 1985–2009 mean! October was the wettest month since records began.