East Lancs Rain

14C is cold in Lancashire, esspecially in July! And my house is often cold. Sigh.

The thing is that chart doesn't even look bad, pressure is fairly high over the country, jet stream and low pressure is to the north and we're bringing in a WNW flow. But with today's weather you'd think we're bringing in a chilly northerly or NE'ly. The Synoptics that we've had this summer don't look too bad and look pretty average to me, but the weather and temperatures they've produced have been pretty apauling. It just doesn't add up. I've had better weather from worse looking synoptics in the past.

Even the Lake District can expect some warm and sunny weather on some days during the spring and summer. I visited Keswick in early July last year and the weather was cracking, dry, mostly sunny and very warm. However this summer there has barely been any warm and sunny weather in the north west region.

I don't remember much of summer 2007, but summer 2012 was pretty terrible with some torrential downpours in June in particular. I remember July and August were very dull and wet. 2012 was also cold and wet from April - October. I remember a week of hot sunny weather at the end of May but that was it. My gut feeling is 2012 was worse.

14C cloudy and breezy, would be okay if it was mid October, unfortunately it’s mid July. Heating on again this afternoon.

It’s very strange isn’t it? July 2007 and 2012 had lots of rain and deep low pressure almost consistently parked over the top of the UK as an excuse for the low temperatures, but this July has just been extremely cool and extremely cloudy. Even on Friday and a week last Monday when we had lots of sunshine, temperatures barely scraped 16°C here. My mean maximum for this month so far is a pathetic 15.5°C. Would be acceptable if I lived in Lerwick, but that’s a good 4 degrees below average for July here. 15.5°C is around the average for May or September here, or for London in October. Even when the sun has been out it hasn’t felt particularly warm. It just doesn’t have the same strength as it would normally do at this time of year. Maybe something to do with the solar minimum? It’s as if we’ve just completely by-passed summer this year. Today it’s overcast and currently 13°C. Would be acceptable if it was October.

Yes indeed. Mean max of 15.5°C here so far this month and around 100 mm of rain so far. Not too bad if you live in Lerwick. Unfortunately, we’re in NW England and so the max temp is a good 4 degrees below average. This is the worst summer for lack of sun and warmth. At least summer 2012 had a few warmer days.

Cold and cloudy again, currently 13°C. Not much warmer than last January. Welcome to the North West of England, the land of permanent autumn. Should be renamed “Autumnville” or “Rainville” lol.

While we are enduring this miserable summer, I decided to dig out my old diary from 2018 and had a look at my personal weather observations from that amazing summer. Here are my observations, took from my own weather sensor, outdoor readings on the left, indoor readings on the right. Notice how it slowly deteriorates during August lol. September 2018 wasn’t too bad either, but was much much cooler than the summer itself. Despite the almost continuous heat through July, I never actually reached 30°C, but I came very close on a couple of days. Hard to believe it was only 2 years ago. Feels like longer.

While we are enduring this miserable summer, I decided to dig out my old diary from 2018 and had a look at my personal weather observations from that amazing summer. Here are my observations, took from my own weather sensor, outdoor readings on the left, indoor readings on the right. Notice how it slowly deteriorates during August lol. September 2018 wasn’t too bad either, but was much much cooler than the summer itself. Despite the almost continuous heat through July, I never actually reached 30°C, but I came very close on a couple of days. Hard to believe it was only 2 years ago. Feels like longer.

Or in Markyo’s case, 14C ha ha.

Now perilously close to dropping below 15 degrees! Brrrr... Even though I prefer warm summers, I would like to see the CET drop below 15C because then that would make it the coldest July since 1988, which would be something truly exceptional, esspecially in this period of rising temperatures. I think whatever happens, it’s extremely likely that this month will finish up below the 81-10 average, unless we get some prolonged heatwave.

The south coast of England (ie places like Bournemouth, Brighton, Bognor Regis, Isle of Wight, Torquay etc) is generally pretty reliable for warm, dry, sunny weather from May - Sep. Average highs in the low 20’s with lots of sun and not too much rain. Had a cracking weeks weather when I went to Paignton in South Devon (English Riveria) in late August 2017 - the bank holiday weekend in particular was absolutely spectacular, could not ask for better. Was like being abroad, esspecially with all the palm trees as well. Amazing area.

Often the case being on the coast in summer. You get an annoying sea breeze. I went on holiday to Barmouth in August last year which is on the west coast of Wales, nearly every day was 17C with a very chilly nagging westerly breeze. Would have been pleasant enough without the breeze. Walking on the prom was a nightmare, as there was sand being blown off the sand dunes straight into my eyes and face, horrible. Also went to the Tyne coast (NE England) in late June/early July 2018. While most of the country was getting warm sunny weather and thunderstorms, the NE was much much colder as the wind was easterly and coming straight off the freezing North Sea. Was 13C and foggy on one day, felt like winter.

I remember July 2010 here in the NW of England had a lot of sudden torrential downpours. There was also a big thunderstorm near the beginning of the month, or it might have been at the end of June 2010, after a period of hot weather, I can’t remember. Otherwise I think the month was pretty unremarkable here, near average temps (19/20C), sunny at times, cloudy at times, cool at times. August 2010 was cool and cloudy here, best weather was in June that year. I remember September 2010 was also pretty nice though.

It hasn’t been quite as wet as 2007 or 2012, but we’ve had so many days this summer where it’s been unseasonably cold (below 15C) and overcast with rain/drizzle. The first 10 days or so of June were unseasonably cold, needed the heating on. This July has been the coldest and dullest I’ve ever known, so little sunshine and so many days not even reaching 15C. The house has never warmed up. From a temperature/cloudiness perspective, it has been the worst for me. Sunshine and warmth is more important than dryness to me, I would rather have Lo-mid 20’s and sun most days with the occasional washout day than endless days of gloomy and drizzly weather with temperatures struggling to reach the mid teens and just the occasional warm sunny day.

After yesterday’s sunshine, it’s back to normal here today. Overcast and drizzly early afternoon, clearing to cloudy with occasional sunny spells by late afternoon. It also feels quite humid as well despite the cooler temperatures. Currently 15.8°C with 84% humidity. Reached 19.7°C at Stonyhurst yesterday, the highest temperature so far this month. Shows how bad this month has been.

After yesterday’s sunshine, it’s back to normal here today. Overcast and drizzly early afternoon, clearing to cloudy with occasional sunny spells by late afternoon. It’s also quite humid as well despite the cooler temperatures. Currently around 16°C with 85% humidity.

That’s a shame, low 20’s and sun is an awesome combo in summer. Or at any time of the year really.

Yes if kind of feels as if summer has just bypassed us this year. Sunny day yesterday, back to cloud with periods of drizzle today. A few occasional sunny spells.

Mostly sunny with a high of around 20°C. Finally a normal July day! ?

Why is it the forecast temperatures are consistently higher than the actual recorded maximum daytime temperature? Yesterday for example reached a measly 14.7°C at the nearest weather station, and about the same at Stonyhurst, despite the maximum temperature for yesterday forecast be be 17°C on Thursday and 16°C on Friday. It’s completely the opposite to last summer and summer 2018, when the actual maxima were often 1 to 2° higher than what was originally forecast.

Forecast to reach the dizzy heights of 19°C today! Will be the “hottest” day of the month so far here if the forecast high comes off. Currently 17°C. Plenty of sunshine too. Nice.

Lower than 2012 and 2007’s CET, might be a chance we could below 15?

Yes, same here, what happened to that sunny day they were forecasting for today? Even the very mediocre weather that they are forecasting keeps getting downgraded, and gets worse everytime you look at it. Next week for example, a few days ago it looked like being 20/21C temps with sun/clouds, now it looks like the mid to high teens and mostly cloudy with rain at times.