THE UNIVERSITY of Reading has released data that shows last month was the “dullest” December since the 1950s.
Weather data collected by the university shows that December last year saw fewer than 13 hours of sunlight.
This makes it the gloomiest recorded since 1956, when fewer than eight hours of sunlight were recorded.
It follows 2023, which also saw just over 13 hours of sunlight, making it the third gloomiest, followed by 2010–at 13.4– and 1998–and 21.8– at fourth and fifth respectively.
Last month saw 21 days devoid of sunlight, leaving just 10 where there were hours of sun.
This averages at less than an hour of sunlight a day for each sunny day, and just 24 minutes of sunlight for every day in December.
Despite this, it was also one of the driest Decembers of the last decade, with more than 40% less rain than any of the previous nine years.
It was also milder, with a temperature higher than average by nearly 2° Celsius.
The data was collected by the Reading University Atmospheric Observatory, which has been recording meteorological information since 1901.
Dr Rob Thompson, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, said: “Christmas 2024 was not a white Christmas, it was grey and gloomy– in total, there were 21 sunless days in December, eight more than normal.
“Despite a lack of sunshine at the end of the year, it was the driest December recorded since 2016, when 43% less rain fell than the average.
It was also a bit milder, as the temperature was 1.83c warmer than what we are used to in December.
“January has been a little over a degree (Celsius) colder than average so far, thanks to two clear icy days followed by sleet and snow.”
