6.3 to the 6th

1.8c above the 61 to 90 average

0.7c above the 91 to 20 average

1981 was remarkable in having its lowest mean CET days before mid month, with -6.7°C on 13th and a staggering -8.7°C on 12th. The CET min for 13th was -16.1°C,  with Shawbury in Shropshire recording a record for England -25.2°C on the morning of 13th over powdery snow.

When you think this was less than 2 weeks out of meteorological autumn, it was quite amazing.

7.3 to the 8th

2.7c above the 61 to 90 average

1.8c above the 91 to 20 average

I remember that spell in 1981 very fondly. I was living in North Surrey at the time, not renowned for being a cold magnet, but going for a late evening walk under clear skies and over thick snow, I don't think I've experienced cold like it since in the UK 

7.9 to the 9th

3.3c above the 61 to 90 average

2.4c above the 91 to 20 average

I'm happy that I experienced one as a child (1981) and the other as an adult.

I also have a lot of love for Dec 2009, because that was a magical pre-Xmas and Xmas, too - particularly because my girls were [just] 6 and [nearly] 2.

In fact, by the time she was 8, my eldest had lived through 3 Xmas Days with snow lying on the ground. I'd only experienced 5 in 38 years!!

I remember a few patches of snow hanging around not too far north (around Stockbridge) on Christmas morning 2009, but it slips from memory as the following Christmas Day was white in the same location. I watched my two daughters dancing on the snowy lawn in the after-dinner dusk, in their princess dresses!

8.1 to the 10th

3.5c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average

An absolute abortion of a December (again!)

8.1 to the 11th

3.6c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average

8.2 to the 12th

3.6c above the 61 to 90 average

2.9c above the 91 to 20 average

8.0 to the 13th

3.5c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average

8.0 to the 14th

3.4c above the 61 to 90 average

2.8c above the 91 to 20 average

8.1 to the 15th

3.5c above the 61 to 90 average

2.9c above the 91 to 20 average

8.1 to the 16th

3.5c above the 61 to 90 average

2.9c above the 91 to 20 average

7.9 to the 17th

3.3c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average

7.8 to the 18th

3.3c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average

However, this is a model which is terrible at handling temperature inversions, which often feature during anticyclonic weather in December, especially if skies are clear. I've known it to routinely overestimate minimums on calm, clear nights by more than 3°C.

So for those of us that estimated within 1°C of the 1991-2020 average and would like to finish the year on a good result, that's what should be hoped for if you ask me. Albeit it can cause some trouble with water pipes!

7.8 to the 18th

3.3c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average

7.7 to the 20th

3.2c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average

7.7 to the 21st

3.1c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average

7.7 to the 22nd

3.2c above the 61 to 90 average

2.7c above the 91 to 20 average