[November 2016]

Don't remember it being particularly cold, even after a very warm September and pleasant October. Do remember a lot of rain the morning after Trump won however

[Coldest monthly peaks for the Summer months]

On 12/06/2021 at 07:04, SummerShower said:

Imagine a summer of June 1972, July 1988 and August 1912..

Conversely, imagine a summer of June 2018, July 2018 and August 2019 

[Summer 2019 - pleasant but often forgotten!]

21st June - 23rd September 

London, U.K.

Let me preface this by first defining what constitutes a "pleasant day" in Summer for me personally (daytime). Cloud cover wise, I prefer it to not be clear all day with sunshine, unless the temperature is below 28c or so, and any cloud barring overcast in summer is fine with me. Temperature wise, a maximum daily high of 23-27c, from late June to the end of August. After that 21c and above for first 2 weeks or so of September is enough to be a pleasant day. I counted 53 (56% in total) of these such days, with July having a whopping 19 (!) of these 'pleasant' days alone, the most I can ever remember for a summer month, 2014 comes close. 

In that regard, the summer period from 21st June to 21st September really ought to be mentioned in the same breath as 2018, 2013 and 2006, at least in terms of how pleasant it was. Whilst lacking the hot July's these months had, avg max was still only 1.4, 2.7 and 2.8c less, and the nights were cooler in 2019, which I think everyone prefers. Late June was also very pleasant after a very poor start to the month (astronomical spring anyways )

August was a bit more mixed, but still a nice month. It was the 5th hottest August in the last 40 years, tbf the temperature was bolstered by a late prolonged heat spell of 4 days, temps in the low 30s. August 2020 was similar in that regard, exact same max temp avg with available data (25.1c), just cloudier, wetter, muggier nights, longer hotter heat spell, longer colder cool spell and 4 more days with precipitation. This extremity means August 2019 was better overall, with way more pleasant days (16 compared to 10).

Finally September, probably the worst of a good bunch, but still above average, with some notable days. It started off cool but dry, and temperatures lifted from the 12th onwards, with 2 nice warm sunny late summer weekends in a row (15th and 21st hit 25c). I will admit it was a worse version of September 2020 however.

To conclude, I honestly think this summer had something for everyone, for heat/sun lovers, there was lengthy even record breaking (July 25th) spells of warmth, with these heatwaves in July and late August followed by cool spells in late July and early September, and overall whilst not the sunniest or hottest, I think it just might be the most pleasant. At least in my preference. 

Anyway what's everyone's memories of this summer? I didn't think of it as too notable at the time, maybe some saw it as a let down, possibly due to skewed high expectations following Summer 2018, or just personal preference. But in light of the last 2 slightly disappointing and extreme summers, I think it stands up pretty well.

 

[July 2006 - Heat!]

I was only 6 then but I remember getting a headache because of all the heat 

Best historical data I could find: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjj7NqH55LyAhUSV8AKHa2SBvIQFjACegQIBhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.tutiempo.net%2Fclimate%2F07-2006%2Fws-37790.html&usg=AOvVaw0JNwa52QFcwCAn2yXXBGHJ

 

On 24/07/2021 at 20:35, SummerShower said:

Yes, August 2003 wasn't always great in the west, but July 2006 was truly great nationwide, at varying periods throughout.

This was the summer month that for me comes closest to perfection.  I remember on the 1st we lost to Portugal in the world Cup, I was with a lot of disappointed people but the fact there was a plume around ensured my mood stayed very positive indeed.

There were thunderstorms on the 2nd-6th with some severe ones in places.  We had a good one here on the 5th.  Then we had the briefest of cooldowns before a pleasant spell of dry heat until about the 15th.  In fact if I remember some places actually had a frost on the 14th!  Then the heat just built and built until the 19th.  That day was the warmest day I ever remember here at over 35C (25th July 2019 might have matched it but only just).  Then after that it became tropically humid, with a number of thunderstorms (this period i feel was similar in character to august 1997) and the East actually did fare better from about 21st to 26th.  Then there was only a gradual cooldown through the rest of the month but even by the 31st it was still just above average.

For the combination  of heat and thunderstorms not many months come close.  The July's of 2013 and 2018 were good, but not in the same league as July 2006.  That said,  I would have loved to have experienced July 1983 though.

Those were the days

2018 was almost identical to 2006, perhaps 0.1 degrees difference either way in London. Was sunnier in both 2013 nd 2018 and if i'm correct late june 2018 to early august 2018 was widespread warmth across the UK, so I would put july 2018 slightly above those 2.