1973

[Optimus Prime]

Looking at the monthly CET for 1973 it's remarkable consistency. Very little deviation from the 61-90 norm with most months being very slightly above average but with an outstanding October cold snap early on;

January; 4.5 (+0.7c)

February; 4.3 (+0.5c)

March; 6.2 (+0.5c)

April; 7.0c (-0.9c)

May; 11.4 (+0.2c)

June; 14.8 (+0.7c)

July; 15.6 (-0.4c)

August; 16.5 (+0.8c)

September; 14.3 (+0.7c)

October; 9.0 (-1.6c)

November; 6.0 (-0.5c)

December; 4.9 (+0.3c)

Most months were slightly above average. Despite a Cold October and a couple of cool months the year was so slightly above average;

9.54c (+0.07c)

Does Mr Data or anyone else have any data with anything exceptional that happened that year. I know there was a remarkable early heatwave in September, A record Cold snap early on in October and a very cold end to November.

[Weather-history]

1973 is the last year where no single month recorded a rainfall average of 100mm+ for England and Wales, it was a pretty dry year.

The wettest month of that year was July.

It is the 16th driest year on record for England and Wales.

February: -21C at Carnwath on the 14th

July: Sheffield 119mm in 24hrs; Finningley 66mm in 24hrs (15th/16th)

August: RAF Mildenhall 35C on the 16th, Southampton 32C on the 14th. Cape Wrath didn't fall below 20C on the night of 15th/16th

September: 30C at the London Weather Centre on the 5th; Manston recorded 6.67 inches of rain in 24hrs from 7pm 20th to 7pm 21st

October: Crawfordjohn: -8C on the night of 11th/12th

November: -14.7C at Crawfordjohn on the night of 28th/29th

December: -17.5C at Glenlivet on the 1st

[Thundery wintry showers]

1973 was not a particularly snowy year but for some it was the snowiest of the 1971-76 period, with snowstorms affecting western areas in particular on 13-15 February, further snow in April, and more towards the end of November.

[summer blizzard]

1973 is the last year where no single month recorded a rainfall average of 100mm+ for England and Wales, it was a pretty dry year.

The wettest month of that year was July.

It is the 16th driest year on record for England and Wales.

February: -21C at Carnwath on the 14th

July: Sheffield 119mm in 24hrs; Finningley 66mm in 24hrs (15th/16th)

August: RAF Mildenhall 35C on the 16th, Southampton 32C on the 14th. Cape Wrath didn't fall below 20C on the night of 15th/16th

September: 30C at the London Weather Centre on the 5th; Manston recorded 6.67 inches of rain in 24hrs from 7pm 20th to 7pm 21st

October: Crawfordjohn: -8C on the night of 11th/12th

November: -14.7C at Crawfordjohn on the night of 28th/29th

December: -17.5C at Glenlivet on the 1st

I thought i'd post a few charts from those dates...

I'm very suprised that minima was so low...

It must of been due to an intense quasi-stationary frontal system..

A very nice summer chart..

Quite a messy chart really...

The wonders of an inversion, even in mid-Autumn...

Potent northerly, plus a slight inversion...

An inversion in early winter..