IT WAS a cold and rainy December in Weymouth and Dorchester although freezing temperatures hit near the end of the month.

It was the wettest December in Weymouth since 2000 and the month opened with nine days of rain.

Bob Poots, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council weatherman, said: “There was a short, dry period on December 10 to 14.

“The same period provided a good amount of sun although we had four sunless days.

“From the 14th onward rain fell every day but two making this the wettest December since 2000.

“Paradoxically, the hours of sunshine recorded were also very high.”

Sunshine was well above the December average even though 10 days were completely sunless.

The 30-year December average is 55 hours, 42 minutes. December 2009 was 86 hours 36 minutes – 155.5 per cent of the 30-year average.

The mean temperature was 1.1 degrees below normal at 5.8 degrees.

Dorchester weatherman John Oliver said that the first nine days of December in the county town were mild with some heavy rain at times.

He added: “The weather remained cold for the rest of the month but it did relax its grip a little over the Christmas period.

“Rain on the morning of the 23rd, falling through air at sub-zero temperatures remained in liquid form until hitting surfaces such as roads and pavements and froze on impact.

“This caused dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians alike.”

The phenomena was to blame for a 40-car pile up on the Puddletown bypass in rush hour on December 23rd.