The local forecast up until 1800hr on Saturday 4th February 2012.

***Snow alert***

Not that it is saying much, but it was the coldest night of the winter so far last night, and the coldest night in Coventry since December 2010.

It will remain cold by the looks of it well into next week, perhaps even into the middle of February according to the GFS model, so perhaps we had better get used to it. As for that snow alert, it looks like that we will finally have some snow this winter over the weekend!

After this hard early morning frost, temperatures will only recover slowly today, despite almost uninterupted winter sunshine, with just a little patchy fair weather cloud developing from time to time.

It will feel very cold again in a light west to north-westerly breeze, with maximum temperatures only rising to 1°C, well below average (8.0°C) for the 3rd February in Coventry over the past 30 years or so.

Another cold dry and clear frosty night will follow, with minimum temperatures around -5°C again, with a penetrating frost first thing on Saturday, with a bright dawn first thing.

It will be dry and bright first thing on Saturday with sunny spells, though skies will be clouding over to threaten some snow by afternoon, turning to rain perhaps by evening; expect maximum temperatures of just 1°C or so.

Outlook - still cold but milder than of late.

Did you know...........?

Looking back through the archives, we find that only five January months have been milder than January 2012 in Coventry in the past 22 years (1993, 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2008).

What is more, only 17 January months have been warmer than January 2012 since temperature records were first kept in Coventry in 1892.

**If this page does not update, and you need a local forecast, try telephoning our answerphone on 02476 223141**

Daily 0900hr GMT (+1hr BST) Climatological Readings can be found here!

Extracts from a "typical year" in Coventry

February - "shortest and worst of all the months"

By tradition, this is a cold and dark month often commencing stormy, though by the second week it is likely to become calm, frosty and cold. According to folk lore, a mild February is a bad omen, as it is often followed by a cold, frosty May. With February now much milder, and much more sunny than a century ago, we might just have to change our description of a typical February month in Coventry and Warwickshire.

There appeared to be little variation in February's average temperature between 1892 and 1989, apart that is for that dreadfully cold decade in the 1940's. Recent warming is however very evident since 1990, which itself was the mildest February on record; for example, we have enjoyed four of the mildest five months at this time of year since 1997, while the mean February temperature in the 21st century so far (4.8°C) is more than one degree warmer than a century ago

It is the shortest and driest month of the year in Coventry - even the wettest day is likely to record less than 10mm of rain, and there are only 8 wet days on average. This century has seen a rise in February's mean rainfall total by 15% compared to that of the 1990's. Not surprising really, because our mild February months are usually wet, whilst the driest ones are the cold months.

Once again, thanks to the "Clean Air Acts", the local sunshine records reveal a 56% increase in February's average sunshine total in the past century. In the first decade of the 21st century, February averaged 86.5 hours of sunshine, compared to just 38.9 hours between 1910 and 1919. No fewer than 6 Februarys have recorded more than 100 hours of sunshine (1949, 1988, 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2008).

The warmest day of the month should on average register 12°C. We would expect 12 air frosts and 4 days with some snowfall. It is usually less windy, with less fog than in January.

So what of winter in Coventry?

Naturally, this is Coventry's coldest season, though with an average temperature of 4°C, it cannot be considered cold by continental or northern standards; even at night the average temperature is 1.2°C. Even so, we would expect 33 air frosts in the 90 winter nights - a testimony to the effects of long winter nights.

Strangely, it is not our wettest season, despite an average of 33 wet days; that dubious distinction lies with the summer! It is however, the dullest time of year, with an average of only 1.7 hours of winter sun per day.

Winters in Coventry have been getting warmer of late; our coldest 20th century winters occured between 1930 and 1969.

The most remarkable winter statistic however, concerns the sunshine levels. Through the 20th century there has been a steady increase in winter sunshine; the average winter sunshine so in the first eleven years of the 21st century (2000-2011 = 218.8hr) is 79% higher than the first decade of the 20th century (127.1hr), one hundred years ago. This is, no doubt, thanks to the Clean Air Act and increased environmental awareness.

Current Phase of the moon

Coventry Forecast from other agencies

The forecast for Coventry over the next five days - provided by "Weather Online".

Forecast data for Coventry over the next seven days - provided by "Metcheck".

Forecast for Coventry over the next six days - provided by "XC Weather".

Met Office 5 day forecast for Coventry.

Please Select which Statistics you would like to view.

The Statistics for Last Week

Coventry Extremes

Please Select which type of Extremes you would like to view.

Temperature Extremes

2012 Extremes