DESPITE the approach of winter, November was pretty kind to us. There were few frosts, none severe, and no snow, except on hills over 300 metres (1,000ft). Winds were mostly light, though fairly strong at times during the first two weeks.

Its only significant failing was its lack of sunshine, particularly near the coast and up in the Dales. The ten days or so around the middle of the month and the final five were largely dull, damp and misty.

However, November’s chief plus point was its mildness. With temperatures 1-1.5C (2-3F) above normal, it was the warmest since 2011. Then, the mercury was a good 1C (2F) higher still, making it the hottest in more than 30 years. In the past 12 months, 11 have now been warmer than average, and most by the same margin as November.

It was just on the dry side, too, though the first half was quite wet. Last year’s was slightly drier generally, but November 2012 had twice as much rain. Thanks to the arid September, this autumn was also dry, with about 70 per cent of expected totals. It was the driest since 2011, even going back to 2007 in the west of our region.

With all three months being 1C (2F) above the mean, not surprisingly, the autumn was similarly mild. It was widely the third warmest in over three decades, and in 75 years at Whitby. The one in 2006 was the hottest of this era, with temperatures around 1C (2F) higher than this season’s. Autumn 2011 was in between.

The balmy conditions in November were brought by frequent winds, unusually from a southeasterly quarter. They often originated from the Mediterranean, which helped as well. With the continent cooling rapidly at this time of the year, had these breezes occurred just a month later, they would have been bitterly cold, especially if they’d come from Siberia.

As in October, Atlantic depressions headed our way, mainly turning north to the west of Scotland. After about the 10th though, they tended to amble south-east towards Portugal, a few pressing on into the Mediterranean. These gave distinctly unsettled weather in this area, and as far south as the Canaries – a shame for those trying to escape the British gloom.

November’s figures at Carlton-in-Cleveland

Mean Maximum: 10.5C, 51F (+1.2C, 2.2F)

Mean Minimum: 5.4C, 41.5F (+1.5C, 2.5F)

Highest Maximum: 14.2C, 57.5F, 1st

Lowest Minimum: -1.0C, 30F, 6th

Total Rainfall: 65mm, 2.55ins (-8mm, -0.3ins)

Wettest Day: 15mm, 0.6ins, 14th

No of Rain Days, with 0.2mm (0.01ins) or more: 21 (+4½)

(Figures in brackets show the difference from the 31-year mean, 1983-2013)