Costa de Whitby?! Heatwave of late Sept/early Oct 1908

[Weather-history]

There was an exceptional late heatwave that ran from the end of September and into early October 1908. A very warm southerly flow flooded the country around a high pressure to the east of UK. Here are the record maxima that were recorded.

28.9C was recorded on the 1st of October 1908 and this was the record until it was beaten in 1985

30th Sept 1908: 27.8C

2nd Oct 1908: 28.1C

3rd Oct 1908: 28.3C

4th Oct 1908: 28.3C

The most sensational part of it is that Whitby recorded the highest maximum in the UK for the first 4 days of October 1908: 28.9C, 28.1C, 28.3C, 28.3C. Residents of Whitby at the time must have wondered what hit them.

The CET mean for that period 29th Sept-4th Oct 1908 was 17.8C

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[Weather-history]

From the Times of 2nd October 1908

Other maxima recorded during that period

York

29th Sep: 20C

30th Sep: 23.9C

1st Oct: 26.7C

2nd Oct: 23.3C

3rd Oct: 22.8C

4th Oct: 24.4C

Leith: 23.9C (3rd)

Camden Square: 26.1C (2nd)

Tenterden: 25.6C (2nd)

Pitsford: 25.2C (2nd)

North Cadbury: 27.5C (2nd)

Bath: 24.9C (1st and 2nd)

Ross on Wye: 25.3C (1st)

Southport: 25.6C (1st)

Edinburgh: 24.6 C (1st)

Edington: Above 21C on 9 days, 26.7C on the 1st

Sowerby Bridge: 27.2C (1st)

[Thundery wintry showers]

Yes, it is astonishing that Whitby was the warmest place in Britain each day! The synoptic setup was pretty much ideal for heat and sunshine on the east coast of northern England by the looks of it- anticyclonic south/south-westerly, which keeps sea breezes at bay and can even introduce a slight fohn effect.

[acbrixton]

Many thanks Mr D. Do you have the date, location and record maximum for October 1985 please?

regards

ACB

[Weather-history]

Many thanks Mr D. Do you have the date, location and record maximum for October 1985 please?

regards

ACB

29.4C on the 1st of October 1985 at March in Cambridgeshire.

[acbrixton]

Mr D thank you.

regards

ACB

[Weather-history]

Glaisher screen temperatures for Camden Square

29th Sept: 23.9C

30th Sept: 26.1C

1st Oct: 25.3C

2nd Oct: 26.1C

3rd Oct: 25.5C

4th Oct: 24.4C

Other occasions that Camden Square recorded maxima of 75F or over up to that point from Sept 29th onwards

Sept 29th 1869: 24.4C

Sept 29th 1895: 25.1C

Sept 30th 1895: 25.3C

4th Oct 1859: 27.2C

4th Oct 1886: 26.0C

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Edited September 26, 2011 by Mr_Data

[georgiedre]

in these years of hot endings to september and early on in october what have the winters been like?

[cheeky_monkey]

in these years of hot endings to september and early on in october what have the winters been like?

Oct 1985 was followed by the sub-zero February of 1986..not a clue about winter 1908-09

[georgiedre]

thanks cheeky monkey! i had to wonder as it rarely happens... heres to a freezing cold and snowy winter...

[Weather-history]

in these years of hot endings to september and early on in october what have the winters been like?

Winter 1908-09 had a couple of potent wintry spells

[georgiedre]

cheers mr data... so going on previous late hot spells it looks good for some cold and snow! fingers crossed for me then!!"

[Weather-history]

From Guardian of 3rd October 1908

 

From the Observer of 4th October 1908

[jonboy]

3 hours ago, Weather-history said:

From Guardian of 3rd October 1908

 

From the Observer of 4th October 1908

Somehow I don't think we will see 'lamp time for cyclists' again

[hillbilly]

Whitby  is similar to North Wales and gets a strong Fohn effect on southerly winds off the North Yorkshire moors.It was a similar case in March 1965 where Whitby recorded  the March all time record of 25 deg .

[A Face like Thunder]

41 minutes ago, hillbilly said:

Whitby  is similar to North Wales and gets a strong Fohn effect on southerly winds off the North Yorkshire moors.It was a similar case in March 1965 where Whitby recorded  the March all time record of 25 deg .

I was going to mention the extra-ordinary weather of late March 1965 at Whitby. I know Whitby well and can confirm that when the wind is in a southerly direction off the NY moors, it can feel incredibly mild / warm there. I will not comment on the feeling when the wind is from the North, North East or East!