Polar Continental

Hi everyone, Posting early as on hols shortly. July 2005. My records up until the 29th. The first week saw changeable conditions with temperatures rather below average, but with a couple of pleasant days. From the 9th we saw quite a prolonged heat wave over most of the country, as high pressure became centred over the UK, this stuck around for around 8 days. I recorded a maximum temperature of 30c on the 10th and again on the 14th, quite high temperatures really as the heat was home grown, not imported heat. I also recorded some very warm nights during this period, a minimum of 18c on the night of the 11th / 12th. By the 18th low pressure approached NW Scotland bringing a breakdown of the warm settled conditions. Later low pressure also approached the UK from the southwest, bringing very wet conditions for virtually all-southern areas of England. Unfortunately the low pressure virtually parked over southern areas and put an end to any hopes of good weather for the rest of the month, most of the country was cool cloudy and felt autumnal for a time. Have put figures in below, as I don’t think they will change much now. Average maximum temperature = Average minimum temperature = Mean temperature, current = 16.6c +0.1 above average Warmest day on the 10th & 14th = 30c Coldest day on the 25th = 14.7c Warmest night on the 11th / 12th = 18c Coldest night on the 5th/ 6th = 8.4c Rainfall total = 50.8mm

Ok, so here is my effort, sorry about the length, got a bit carried away. <_< Sunday July 17th 2005, 14 day forecast. Using GFS 12z Monday 18th + 24h The break down begins from fine hot weather we’ve enjoyed over the weekend. An area of low pressure will move east over Northern Ireland and Scotland bringing cooler weather with a few showers, which may get as far south as northern England and possibly the Midlands by Tuesday 19th. Areas from the midlands south should remain dry, with a little sunshine, though more wind and cooler than of late. Temperatures in the range 17c in the north to 21c to 23c in the South east, winds moderate, though fresh north westerly in the north. Wednesday 20th 66h + The Azores high looks extending its influence in to Ireland and the far southwest of England, so dry with some warm sunshine here. England and Wales will be mostly dry with some sunny spells, possibly a few light showers. The low will gradually move north east towards Scandinavia, but Scotland will still be close enough to affected by cooler and showery north to north west winds. Temps an range of 17 in the north, 21c to 22c over the Midlands and 23c-24 over the southwest and southeast. Thursday 21st 84h+ The high to the southwest will move northeast to be centred over Southern Ireland, so Ireland, Wales and most England will be dry with warm sunshine, only the far east of Scotland and England will be cooler with cloud and a few showers. Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd 108h + The main high pressure cell looks like being sucked up towards Iceland and Greenland, but pressure looks like staying fairly high over the UK around 1015 to 1030 mb. So conditions should remain fair and dry with sunshine and little wind, temperatures in the range 20c to 21c over Northern Ireland and Scotland to 23c or 24c over the south of England. Sunday 24th- Tuesday 26th 156h + Moving in to FI, the charts suggest most of the UK will be in something of a col, so winds will be slack over most areas. Fair conditions should prevail, with possibly some showers in the afternoons, temps in the range 21c to 22c over Ireland and Scotland, warmer over England and Wales, 23c to 24c. Pressure around 1010mb to 1015mb during this period. Wednesday 27th – Sunday 31st July +228h - +324h. Well in to FI, Another area of low pressure takes an almost identical path as Monday 18th July. So showery and average temperatures for a time over most areas. Saturday 30th looks to be settled with warm sunshine as a ridge of high pressure extend from the Azores through to Norwegian Sea. Regards Paul

Morning everyone, here is my report for June. Burton upon Trent, Midlands. Northern high pressure blocking was the most dominant feature for the first two weeks in to June, the weather was rather mixed with below normal temperatures and I even recorded a couple of ground frosts during this period. The mean temperature here for the first half of June was –0.5c below the average. Apart from 5mm of rain right at the beginning of the month, this period was also very dry, with 10 straight days with out any rain. Although dry there was also a good deal of cloud at times, but there was a couple of very pleasant interludes when high pressure edged closer to the UK. Around the 16th for the first time this summer the Azores high began to extend its influence towards the UK. Temperatures responded very rapidly, and it became very hot at times in Burton, with 32c being recorded on the 19th and 30c on the 23rd. With all this hot weather the inevitable happened. As the Azores high gave ground and shifted west, hot humid air associated with low pressure over France and Spain edged closer, this gave rise to some spectacular thunderstorms on the 19th and the 24th, with the first of the storm producing some impressive hail deposits in parts of Burton, although typically with showers, where I live only about 1.5 miles out of town, I recorded no rain at all. High pressure again took control from the 26th, but the centre was a little further north this time, so temperature were a little lower, though IMO more pleasant, but when the breakdown occurred it did not inhibit the development of more severe storms which lit the sky with some spectacular displays of lightening here on the evenings of the 28th / 29th. Finally the last day was quieter, bright and pleasant with a little sunshine. June turned out to be the wettest month of the year so far, with virtually all of the rain being produced from the above-mentioned thunderstorms at the end of the month. Maximum Temperature for the Month = 32c on the 19th Minimum Temperature for the Month = 2c on the 7th Average Maximum = 20.2 Average Minimum = 10.6c Mean = 15.4c, 1.3c above average. Coldest day on the 12th = 12.6c Warmest Night on the 19th = 17.4c Rainfall total = 43.65mm

Temperatures here taking a real tumble during these frequent heavy showers, maximum only 9.1c so far, currently 5.5c and heavy rain, with gusty northwest winds. Some very bright sunshine in between the showers, with lost of cb about.

Hello everyone, thought I would stick this in of my views and records of April. The beginning of April saw high pressure to the east of the UK bring mild South to South easterly winds to most of the Country. Indeed it was sunny and warm over many parts on the 2nd with 19c being recorded here in Burton. However this mild / warm spell was short lived because by the 4th temperature started to fall as a deep area of low pressure started to move towards northern Scotland, this bringing cooler westerly winds and some rain to most parts. By the 6th the low had deepened to around 990mb with its centre being just off northwest Scotland, this brought some typical April weather with cool strong showery west to north westerly winds across the country, bringing temperature tumbling down further, with maximums being in the range of 9c to 11c. By the 8th a full Arctic blast had got under way, this brought some spectacular frequent heavy hail, sleet and snow showers to many parts of the UK. Temperature dropped even lower, max of only 6c here. From the 10th to the 21st temperatures recovered to average levels over most of the country. Northerly blocking became quite a feature during this period with areas of low pressure often tracking across central areas of the UK, this causing winds to blow from an easterly direction for some lengthy periods, some frost was recorded also during this period, plus some heavy rain at times too, which made this month the wettest so far this year. However when skies remained clear during daylight hours, warm sunshine made for very pleasant conditions, even though shade temperature were only around the average, the exception to this being the 25th which saw temperature climb to 16c or 17c over many parts, very nice indeed. Finally the end of the saw month warm plumes of air moving up from the south over the UK, but with low pressure not far away, the air was a little unstable, but there was some very warm sunshine at times which sparked off some thundery activity especially over the south and the midlands. Maximum daytime temperature on the 30th = 21.1c Minimum overnight temperature on the 8th / 9th = -2c Average Maximum = 13c Average Minimum = 4.4c Mean = 8.7c Rainfall total = 41.3 mm Air Frosts = 2 Ground frosts = 7 Regards Paul

Hi L.L Interesting looking at your records of December 62, will look forward to reading the rest of your records. I was only 10 years old, and wasn’t recording details then, but can clearly remember that incredible winter. Obviously most people in those days, didn’t have central heating or double-glazing, electric blankets etc, we just had a coal fire in the living room, which had always gone out by the morning. On waking most mornings during that winter, I would have to scrape ice from the inside of my bedroom window to see outside. Even my fish tank froze in my bedroom on one occasion, I remember my dad saying, because the hot water bottle had gone cold, he chucked out of the bed during the night, on waking the next morning he found it frozen on the bedroom floor. I suppose today now with all the home comforts we can enjoy cold weather rather than dread it, as most people did in those days, having to go without water because the pipes had frozen, not being able to wash / or not wanting to, because it was to cold, outside toilet frozen solid, with only a candle to try to keep it warm. I think most people would wish away a winter like that if they lived in those times. Regards Paul

Good evening all, Current conditions in Burton on Trent, Midlands Temp +0.2c Moderate NW winds Heavy wet snow, starting to settle. Regards Paul

Good Morning, from Burton upon Trent, 07:46am. Current temp –1c, with a slight air frost, wind, calm, skies mostly clear, just a few vapour trials and high cirrus, visibility about 2 miles.

Morning all, Burton upon Trent, min -1c, currently very clear & sunny, light nw wind, temp, 5.1c.

I can remember doing very similar things too. Every day without fail I would listen to the forecast on the Home Service (now radio 4) at 5:55, followed by the BBC TV Weather Forecast, usually by Jack Scot. Preceding a famous cold spell, I am sure it was 1962, he explained that the temperature in Finland was –30c and he was watching the situation very carefully, because there was a high chance our weather may soon be coming from there. I told my mum and dad it was going to freeze soon, they said don’t worry it will never get this far. When it happened I was hooked, I am just as fanatical today 42 years later.