 Owing to its inland position, and sheltered by the Pennines to the west, North Yorkshire is one of the driest counties in the UK, receiving, on average, less than of rain per year.The mean annual daily duration of bright sunshine is three hours and 42 minutes.There are two distinct local weather phenomenon, marked downslope lee winds caused by the proximity of the Pennines, leading to super geostrophic winds which can reach in excess of 70 mph, most commonly in winter and spring.