Uncle_Barty

13.1c and very wet and dull

January - has to be 1987. No contest. February - 1978. Mostly mild (I dont like TOO much freezing cold weather to follow the Jan of 87!) but a spectacular cold spell and snowfall in the 2nd half of the month. 1986 was just boring and very very cold with no snow. March - Tricky one. by this time of year I am looking forward to spring and some early warmth is welcome. For the variety of weather though, I'll plump for 1995. April - Cant beat the one we've just had, so 2007 it is, with an honourable mention for 1981 for the warmth followed by snow (even down here!) for interest! May - Hard to choose between 1989 and 1976. Both were warm and sunny months.. 76 has the happier memories for me personally so 76 it is. June - 1976. No contest. I cant think of any other June that comes close. July - Contenders for me are 1976, 1983 and 2006. Last year had warmth aplenty and some spectacular thunderstorms that are so rare down here in Bournemouth, so 2006 it is, just shading 76. August - 1976, 1990, 1995, 2003... which one?! I'll go for 2003. September - Tricky one. 1976 was v interesting, plenty of thunderstorms to end the glorious summer that year, 2002 was warm and sunny here as was 1991. I'll take 1976 as we needed the rain!! October - by this time of year my thoughts turn to the hope of high pressure bringing good radio conditions as I had a big interest in VHF communication on amatuer radio. For the lovely warm weather early in the month and days and days of great radio conditions, I'll have 1985 thank you very much! November. Tough one this, as I hate November with a passion.. Days are getting colder and damp and dark, and there's still the whole of bleedin' winter to come! The one of 1994 was exceptionally mild, so I'll take that one. December - 1981. The snowiest one we had down here (not saying much, I know...) Ok.. how about the worst/least ideal months of the year? Guess that's another thread...

No scientific basis for this, just gut feeling. We are long overdue a real shocker (e.g. 1985, 1988 bar June, ) think the last one was 1998 after a decent first three weeks of May. So my guess.. a poor June after an unsettled May, first half of July seeing a few warm sunny days before the weather breaks for good (so far as the summer months are concerned) just before mid-month. August unsettled and cool but an Indian summer makes up for it to a small degree.

Those T850 charts indicate that it will be rain from the word go here, and probably over most of the South. Looks like turning gradually more zonal if the 06h GFS is to be believed?