With the UK squeezed between high pressure over Spain and a series of deep depressions running north of Scotland, the first week of 2005 was windy but mild and mostly dry. A deepening low pressure crossed Scotland on the 7th/8th bringing particularly stormy conditions to the UK, Denmark and Sweden. This was quickly followed by another intense low tracking north of Scotland bringing more windy and wet weather. The pattern of the first week then re-established itself, but with less wind and more sunshine. The clear skies brought the first air frost of 2005 on the 14th, followed by changeable and mild conditions again. The pattern changed on the 22nd with high pressure to the west of Ireland bring much cooler air from the north. There was a flurry of wet snow on the 24th which melted on reaching the ground and a very light dusting on the pre-dawn of the 26th. The weather remained cool but largely dry to the end of the month, resulting in the mildest January since 1990 and the driest since 1997.