A summary of Eastbourne's weather records for 2006 from our official, Met Office approved weather station.
2006 Warmest Year Since Records Began
2006 was statistically the warmest year overall since records began in 1867. The average annual temperatures were:
maximum 14.9ºC
minimum 9.6ºC
combined max/min 12.2ºC
The highest years prior to 2006 were 1989 and 1990.
The highest temperature of the year was 27.5ºC on 18th and 19 July and the lowest temperature was -2.1ºC on 25th January.
The highest and lowest temperatures recorded since records began were 32.6ºC in August 1990 and -12ºC in January 1867.
Sea Temperature
The average sea temperature for the year was 12.1ºC and the highest sea temperature recorded was 19.7ºC on 5th and 6th August.
Although this was not the highest year, the average annual sea temperatures show a small but nevertheless gradual increase over the last 56 years. Since 1989 the average has exceeded 12ºC for 11 years.
Prior to 1989, the only year the average exceeded 12ºC was 1959. The highest sea temperature previously recorded was 21.4ºC on 5th August 1995 and 12th August 2003.
Rainfall
The total rainfall for 2006 was 701.5 mm which is below the annual average since 1867 of about 800mm with rain falling on 147 days.
The rainfall figures over the last four years have been below average with last year (612.8mm) being the lowest since 1973 thus prolonging the current dry weather spell.
Sunshine Records
The total sunshine hours for the year were 1,922.5 which is above the annual average of 1,848 hours since 1950. The highest previously recorded annual sunshine hour was 2,161.5 hours in 2003.
Rain and temperature readings are taken from the weather station opposite the Congress Theatre and wind and sun readings are taken from the roof of 1 Grove Road by Environmental Health staff.
