Wick’s mild run of winters continues as warming effect bites

Weather Watch by Keith Banks

Recent research suggests that there is a concerning phenomenon of reduced low cloud cover, particularly in the tropics, and the mid high latitudes, most notably over the Atlantic Ocean.

Scientists believe that the disappearance of these low-lying clouds may be contributing to an acceleration in global warming.

Low altitude thick cloud cover plays a crucial role in reflecting the Sun’s energy back into space. The Earth’s reflectivity is known as the “planetary albedo”.

The thick low-lying clouds behave like an umbrella, reflecting sunlight. These low altitude clouds have little effect on the long-wave electromagnetic radiation (heat) returning to space from the Earth’s surface and therefore exert a net cooling effect on the Earth.

However, thin, high altitude clouds act like an insulating blanket, allowing the incoming short wavelength radiation, another part of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS),to pass through them but subsequently trap most of the heat energy created at the planet’s surface.

Because the atmosphere currently contains more low-lying, thick clouds than high, thin clouds, the umbrella effect is dominant. Therefore the Earth would be significantly hotter if these thick low altitude clouds ceased to exist.

Read more:

• Steps taken to keep invasive mink out of Caithness and Sutherland

• Six-day Flow Country fire shows ‘devastating impact’ wildfires can have

• Net zero planning help for food and drink businesses

Exponential global warming is expected to cause changes to the amount of cloud cover, together with the thickness and altitude of the clouds. This will change the balance between the umbrella and blanket properties of the clouds and, as a consequence, accelerate the warning process.

A review of Wick’s historic record for mean air temperature for February showed that February 2025 was the mildest since that of 2023, and that it is currently the 6th equal most mild in a series of Februaries stretching back to 1910. The town’s mean air temperature was identical in February 2007.

In terms of precipitation, February 2025 was driest since that of 1986. A closer look at the town’s rainfall archive for a series of Februaries commencing from 1910 attested that it is presently the 8th least wet.

Winter 2024/25 was Wick’s mildest since that of 2018/19. Mean air temperature was 5.06C (41.11F). The burgh’s mean air temperature for winter, in terms of the 30-year averaging period 1991-2020, is 4.11C (39.40F).

Winter 2024/25 was Wick’s driest since that of 2020/21. The precipitation total was 197.4mm (7.77 inches). The long-term average for winter is 205.45mm (8.09 inches).

Wick’s mean air temperature for February 2025 was 5.53C (41.95F). The long-term average, in terms of the averaging period 1991-2020, is 4.06C (39.31F).

Wick’s average daily maximum air temperature for February 2025 was 7.83C (46.09F). The current long-term average is 6.72C (44.10F).

Highest maximum was 10.9C (51.6F), recorded on February 21. Lowest daily maximum was 4.9C (40.8F), logged on February 14.

Wick’s average daily minimum air temperature for February 2025 was 3.22C (37.80F). The long-term average for the month, in terms of the current 30-year averaging period is 1.39C (34.50F). Highest minimum was 8.0C (46.4F), witnessed on February 4.

Air frosts occurred on five dates. The lowest air temperature observed was minus 2.1C (28.2F), on February 9.

The temperature fell to 0C (32F) or lower at 5cm over the grass on eight dates. Lowest temperature over the grass was minus 4.7C (23.5F) on February 9.

Precipitation was measurable on 24 dates. The total for the month was 22.4mm (0.88 of an inch) or 35.8 per cent of the current long-term average for February.

Wettest day was February 21. The amount recorded during the 24 hours commencing 9am (GMT) was 3.8mm (0.15 of an inch).

There were no “days of gale” experienced during the month. However, wind velocities reached or exceeded gale force 8 (39.0mph/33.9knots) on seven dates.

The strongest wind velocity was observed during the hour ending 11am (GMT) on February 21 when a force 6 south-south-east wind gusted up to 48.3mph/42.0knots, severe gale force 9 on the Beaufort scale.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.