FEBRUARY was “average”, but I can’t remember any month with such contrasting halves, especially with regard to temperatures.

The statistics for here at Carlton, near Stokesley, were typical and speak for themselves.

For the first 14 days, it was an astonishing 4C (7F) lower than the mean and there were 12 air frosts, 11 days with snow falling and 13 with it lying. The latter fortnight saw mercury levels 3.5C (6.5F) higher than usual, with no air frost nor any snow.

The hike in temperatures was equivalent to a jump from a normal mid-February to the third week in May. February was also remarkable because both its phases were at odds with the perceived link between winter warmth and rainfall. So, initially, it was cold but wet and then mild but quite dry.

There was more snow in February 2005. However, the 13 occasions with a covering at 9am was the most in any February since 1991.

The difference in rainfall between the two halves might not have been apparent since it seemed to continue almost as frequently. Nevertheless, after the 12th it was very light and just one-eighth of February’s total drizzled down from this date, with a mere trace during the final week.

Rainfall accumulations across our region ranged from near expected amounts in the east to barely 50pc up in the Dales. It was a dull month as well, with less than half the sunshine we had in last year’s brilliant February.

Over the winter, temperatures in the North-East were only about 0.5C (1F) below average but this made it the coldest winter for 13 years in most parts. Rainfall was not far from the norm.

The dramatic change midmonth was simply due to a switch in the positions of the main high pressure areas.

February temperatures and rainfall at Carlton in Cleveland: mean max: 6.7C, 44F (-0.5C, 1F); mean min: 1.5C, 34.5F (+0.2C, 0.5F); highest max: 12.1C, 54F, 24th; lowest min: -5.6C, 22F, 7th; total rainfall: 45mm, 1.75ins (-6mm, 0.25ins); wettest day: 13mm, 0.5ins, 2nd and no of rain days, with 0.2mm (0.01ins) or more: 16 (-2). (Figures in brackets show the difference from the 25-year mean, 1984-2008)