How well do the Central England Temperature and the England and Wales Precipitation series represent the climate of the UK?

In this paper we compare the Central England Temperature (CET) and England and Wales Precipitation (EWP) series with temperature and precipitation records from 24 individual meteorological stations throughout the UK over a 41-year period 1964-2004. With a single exception, the correlation of CET monthly means with those of all local stations was highly significant (p < 0.001). Correlations with EWP were not as large, but for the most part were highly significant; exceptions occurring increasingly in the most northerly stations. Because of their general availability, the CET and EWP series will continue to be popular, and their use in a range of broad studies of UK climate appears to be justified.