Don't forget also that the surrounding water/landmasses greatly affect our temps and weather. Currents differ, and cold dry air (in a widley generalised term) is a frequent occurance from the N/NE, where lies a huge cold icy block of land. Low in moisture and temp, we receive the air mass as it moves south/west. The dominant air flow in deep winter is polar continental, and summer changes to tropical maritime - prevailing SW.
Obviously these are prevailing, not permanent, hence crappy mild wet days dominated by dry cold crisp days. Well, that's the pre-global warming trend.
Regards and Happy new year