WET, wild, and mild.That was the weather picture that brought in 2008 as January produced a succession of storms from the sub-tropical atlantic.And on the 20th of the month a record January temperature for the Ipswich area was set - 58F (14C).

WET, wild, and mild.

That was the weather picture that brought in 2008 as January produced a succession of storms from the sub-tropical atlantic.

And on the 20th of the month a record January temperature for the Ipswich area was set - 58F (14C).

The mild south westerly pattern of weather gave 28 days with the daytime maximum temperatures above the long-term average of 43F(6C).

Rainfall exceeded the January normal throughout the region and in most places there was measurable rainfall on 17 days. The heaviest rain was on January 12 with well over half an inch and other notable amounts of rain fell on January 18 and 19.

Total amounts of rainfall from across the region were Ipswich 2.98 inches, Belstead Hall and Colchester 2.74 in, Felixstowe 2.71 in and Higham (Suffolk) 2.46 in.

Sunniest day was January 12 with a total of 6.8 hours and during the month the sun beamed down on Suffolk for a total of 65 hours or just under 10 hours above the January average.

In a weather pattern known as a mobile westerly there were strong winds on three days of the month. Gusts of 60mph were recorded on parts of the coast and 50mph inland on January 7 and again on the last day of the month.

For the second year in succession the month was mild and without snow and there were no signs of cold easterly airstreams often associated with mid-winter.

The jetstream, a ribbon of strong winds aloft, was in its normal January position and in consequence depressions were steered north east across northern regions of the British Isles.

On January 31 a deep depression of 954 millibars tracked to the north of Scotland and generated gale force winds with occasional gusts of 60mph.

The lowest night temperatures were registered in the early hours of January 6 when air temperatures dropped to 33F(1C). The coldest day was January 3 and most places reported maximum readings of only 37F(3C). An abnormal feature of the month was the total absence of air frosts but several ground frosts were recorded.

JANUARY AVERAGES and EXTREMES

Maximum daytime average temperature 43F

Minimum night temperature 34F

Average number of air frosts 13

Average number of ground frosts 20

Rainfall average (1903 to 2007) 2.07 inches

Average number of days with rain 15

Average duration of rain 43 hours

Average month's sunshine hours 56

Maximum possible daily sunshine 8.2 hours

Midday sun altitude above horizon (Jan 15) 17 degrees

Average barometric pressure (at sea level) 1015 millibars

North Sea temperature 42F

Highest day temperature on record 58F on Jan 20 2008

Lowest day temperature on record 20F on Jan 12 1987

Highest wind velocity in a gust 96 mph on Jan 2 1987