What is 'average' winter weather here in Wales?

In winter, temperatures are influenced to a very large extent by those of the surface of the surrounding sea, which reach their lowest values in late February or early March.

Around the coasts February is therefore normally the coldest month. But inland there is little to choose between January and February. The January mean daily minimum temperatures vary from just above 0 °C in the higher parts of north and mid-Wales to 3 or 4 °C around the coast.

The highest values occur in Pembrokeshire, due to the proximity of air from the relatively warm Atlantic.

Minimum temperatures usually occur around sunrise with the coldest nights being those when there is little wind, skies are clear, and there is a covering of snow; the lowest temperatures occur away from the moderating influence of the sea, on the floors of inland valleys into which cold air can drain. It was under such conditions that the temperature fell to -23.3 °C, the lowest ever recorded in Wales, at Rhyader (Powys) on 21 January 1940.

Coastal areas do not experience such cold nights; as an example, the lowest temperature ever recorded at Brawdy (Pembrokeshire) is -10.7 °C on 13 January 1987.

In contrast, some of the highest winter temperatures in the UK have been recorded on the North Wales coast. These high winter temperatures (up to 18 °C on occasion) occur when a moist south to south-westerly airflow warms up downwind of Snowdonia after crossing the high ground.

Whatever the weather, keep warm this winter! And keep an eye on here for your latest forecasts!