The high pressure would remain over the UK up to the 6th, but this trapped in an anti-cyclonic gloom resulting in the days being cool, calm and cloudy, occasionally hazy - but it did remain dry.

  Day-time temperatures slowly recovered from 2.7°c (2nd) to just over 5°c with the final day in the period becoming increasingly warmer, continuing overnight into the 7th which at 11.0°c (51.8°f) would be the month's warmest day.

  The HP had been very slowly moving SW through the UK and by the 7th it had slipped into Biscay which allowed a low pressure (LP) system NW of Scotland to exert its influence. This saw a cold front travel south over the UK during the day, bringing with it windy conditions and a little light rain.

  However, the general theme of dry but cloudy that had typified the start to the year would continue - in the first half of the month only 2.7 mm of rain was recorded. This was all courtesy of pressure remaining high and if not over the UK, at least nearby.

  Come the 8th the HP had re-positioned itself in the Atlantic to the west of Eire and whilst the 8th would enjoy a day of sun, thereafter it reverted to type.

  With the HP re-established to our west it again fell calm and both the 9-10th saw air frosts, but a warm front associated to LP north of Iceland, laying north-south through Eire, was gradually nudging towards the UK. This saw a foggy start to the 10th, lasting most of the morning and only marginally lifting during the day - the next few days would remain dry, but overcast.

  The HP was squeezed south during the 11-12th by LP over Iceland and this brought a brisk W'ly over the top of the HP and whilst still dry, it did become mild. The temperature rose to 10.3°c on the 12th and most days and nights saw temperatures above average.

  The constant battle between HP at least being close to and trying to exert its authority over the UK, but being squeezed south by LP travelling over its northern edge, remained the default position up to the 16th.

  During the 16th a LP system tracked to the north of the UK and behind this LP a cold front quickly followed, moving north-south across the UK. However, the associated rainfall was only light, but once again HP would start to ridge in just to the west of the UK.

  With HP to the west and LP to the east, a cold N'ly wind was drawn down and the temperature quickly dropped. The next few days (17-19th), with the HP being the more dominant feature, were cold with air frosts, dropping to -4.2°c on the 18th. The 17th had enjoyed plenty of sun, but once again as fronts associated to LP in the Atlantic started to encroach, the murk returned.

  By the 19th a LP system was sat over the UK and the murk was now accompanied by spells of light rain and/or drizzle. Needless to say the HP wasn't far away and a brief ridge overnight into the 21st was enough to clear the skies and allow the temperature to drop to -4.5°c.

  However, in this on-going battle, LP was fast approaching and the murk descended ahead of a cold front that would give us our first real rain of the year. A wet afternoon and evening followed giving 7.3 mm of rain.

  However, on the 22nd we awoke to a slight dusting of snow on the ground - the first snow of winter!

  Behind the cold front it had turned wintry and there were further snow showers during the day. However, there was also some brighter moments and this saw Shap record 2.9 Hrs of sunshine - we were in a slightly colder phase.

  Throughout January the threat of cold conditions had been ever present, all due to a 'Sudden Stratospheric Warming' (SSW) that had occurred back in December, but it really never came to pass. Certainly the cold NE'ly that had been suggested never materialised and the forecasting of the cold spell that had been expected became somewhat challenging.

  It remained cold through to the 24th with a few more frosts and another dusting snow on the 24th - there was also a morning of fog on the 23rd before it brightened up in the afternoon.

  We then briefly had a return of the Azores High ridging north before being squeezed out by LP. The 26th saw LP in the Atlantic deepening to 981 MB and moving quickly across the UK which brought 11.7 mm of rain and ensured a miserable and the month's wettest day.

  But once again the battle ensued! As the LP exited out into the North Sea, HP started to ridge in the Atlantic and again drew down a very brisk, cold and raw NW'ly wind - the 27th may have seen sunshine and a maximum temperature that was respectable (4.8°c), but it felt bitter and the wind was cutting.

  1200 Hrs 27th -   High pressure west, low pressure to the east = a cold and brisk NW'ly