DECEMBER was mild, sunny and dry here in the North-East, especially during the first two weeks. Maximum temperatures were 0.5 to 1C (1 to 2F) above average but minima were near normal. Rainfall varied from around a third of what we'd usually expect in the east of the region to two-thirds in the west.

At Carlton-in-Cleveland, near Stokesley, it was the warmest December since 1997, though that in 1998 was very close. In my records spanning over twenty years, the sole December to be appreciably warmer by day was in 1988. This one was also unique in not having a single air frost.

After what proved to be my driest November, last month promised to match that feat. Up until Monday the 13th, a mere 0.7mm (0.03ins) of rain had fallen, with only small amounts after, that is until the 30th. Then, 12mm (0.5ins) tumbled down, mostly in a few hours in the late evening, contributing two-fifths of the month's final total. So, the month was pushed into fourth place in my league of arid Decembers. December 1988, alone, had notably less rain, 20mm (0.8ins), whilst those of 1998 and 1984 were drier by a mere trace.

For a day or two at the start of the month a ridge of high pressure straddled central Britain from west to east before it sank south. Then, the weather followed November's pattern with a mainly warm south-westerly airflow circulating clock-wise round a persistent anticyclone to the south of England. Occasionally, a cold front would sweep south-east, behind which the wind would veer north-westerly or even northerly for a brief spell.

However, during the first couple of weeks of December there was a subtle difference in that the high tended to be centred further east over northern France rather than off the South-West Approaches. This slowed the progress of cold fronts crossing the country and in their wake, the breeze could only swing into the west with the result that it became just slightly less mild temporarily.

Winds fell light around the middle of the second week, reducing the flow of warm air from the ocean. Largely clear skies on this side of the Pennines allowed a massive loss of heat by radiation into space, with, at this time of the year, negligible input from the sun. Consequently, temperatures dropped by day as well as at night. Mist and fog also formed in parts.

Although the breeze picked up again over the second week-end, it backed into the south as the high slipped slowly away into Europe. This pulled in cold air from the continent, maintaining mercury levels a little below the norm. Mild Atlantic air flooded back across the Britain on Tuesday the 14th bringing first significant rain of the month to us early on the Wednesday. This marked the resumption of the south-westerly regime, which continued for the rest of the month, but with the odd short-lived interlude of cold north-westerlies.

Depressions were more in evidence, too, keeping mainly to the north of Scotland. These were often very deep, so winds were frequently strong and gusty. Rainfall from the fronts that crossed the country from time to time, though briefly heavy, still gave modest quantities in the lee of the moors. This was apart from that deluge on the 30th, which mostly affected the north of our area, brought courtesy of a small, developing wave depression that ran east close to Teesside.

A similar but much more vicious system charged east up the Channel early on Saturday the 18th producing storm force winds over northern France and causing structural damage and several deaths. Meanwhile, we had a pleasant, sunny day but with a scattering of showers. These turned wintry and gave a thin covering of snow in places, the first of the winter for some.

The forecast of widespread substantial snowfalls the following week-end didn't materialise in our region as the breeze didn't go round sufficiently into the north. The north and west of the British Isles bore the brunt of the snow, but a few rogue showers did manage to negotiate the Pennines to give a sprinkling and a 'whitish' Christmas in many parts of the North-East.

The year was warm and wet. It was about 0.5 to 1C (1 to 2F) milder than the mean but marginally cooler than the previous two years. The only month cooler than usual was July, with March and October near normal. Average minima for August were the second highest of any month after August 1997. The temperature on August the 9th didn't drop below 20C (68F) - the first day on which this has happened in my records.

The excess of rainfall across our region ranged from around ten to twenty per cent from west to east. With two dry months at the end, 2004 just failed to beat the wettest year at Carlton. This was 2000, with 910mm (35.8ins). Rainfall varied a great deal from month to month. November was the driest in my data for that month. March, May, September and now December were all quite dry as well. January and October were the wettest I've known here for those months, as was August, which was the third wettest of any. July and April were also very soggy. I noted three more days with thunder than in any previous year.

December temperatures and rainfall at Carlton in Cleveland:Mean maximum 8.2C, 47F, (+1.0C, +2.0F), mean minimum 2.0C, 35.5F, (+0.0C, +0.0F), highest maximum 12.5C, 54.5F, 22nd, lowest minimum -2.9C, 27F, 10th, total rainfall 31mm, 1.2ins, (-37mm, -1.5ins), wettest day 12.5mm, 0.5ins, 30th, number of rain days, with 0.2mm (0.01ins) or more: 10 (-7). Figures in brackets show the difference from the 21-year mean, 1983-2003.

2004: Mean maximum 13.4C, 56F, (+0.6C, +1.1F), mean minimum 6.4C, 43.5F, (+0.5C, +1.0F), highest maximum 27.2C, 81F, August 7, lowest minimum -6.9C, 19.5F, February 29 and March 1, total rainfall 860mm, 33.9ins, (+161mm, +6.3ins), wettest day 51mm, 2.0ins, August 9, number of rain days, with 0.2mm (0.01ins) or more: 194 (+18). Figures in brackets show the difference from the 20-year mean, 1984-2003.