Coldest Spring In 51 Years Ends On A Fine & Warm Note

[Guest]

As we call time on the coldest Spring since 1962, we can finally put the cold weather behind us and look forward to fine, dry and warm weather as enter early June.

Read full story here

[mike Meehan]

I really hope that this cold spring is not followed by yet another imdifferent summer, we must be due for a good summer sometime. or is it the harbinger of a colder climate for a while?

 

 

1962 Cold. Dry Spring, Poor Summer.

In the year that Algeria became an independent country, the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred when the USA demanded the dismantling of Soviet missiles in Cuba, and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan sacked 7 of his Cabinet in what was to become known as 'The Night of the Long Knives'. In the world of music, the British Charts were dominated by Elvis Presley who had a total of 15 weeks at number one with 4 hits, including the Christmas chart-topper 'Return to Sender.'

Weather Notes:-
1st January - Minimum temperature of minus 16.1°C occurred at Northolt Airport (Greater London).
16th February - Severe westerly gales, with winds exceeding 65kn and perhaps locally 80kn, the result of lee troughing over the Pennines, brought heavy damage and some loss of life to Sheffield (South Yorkshire).
26th December - The start of a severe winter with snow blanketing large areas of the country. Much of the UK was to keep the ground snow covered until early March.

In London...
Temperature 9.6°C Rainfall 564.6 mm Warmest 25.0°C Sunshine 1489 hrs     Coldest -7.0°C
January - Sunny; rather mild and wet.
Mean Temperature 5.3°C     Monthly Highest 12.3°C Total Rain 71 mm Monthly Lowest -7.0°C Total Sun 66 hrs The start of the year was very cold and frosty, and after a severe frost over deep snow cover, the temperature on the 1st failed to rise above minus 0.7°C. It became much milder, changeable, and often windy from the end of the first week, and then the remainder of the month alternated between fairly sunny days, with temperatures close to normal, and damp but mild days. Much of the rain through January was light, but on the 21st, nearly 19mm of rain fell.

February - Dry and mild with above average sunshine.
Mean Temperature 5.2°C     Monthly Highest 12.3°C Total Rain 16 mm Monthly Lowest -2.9°C Total Sun 68 hrs It was mostly mild during the first 3 weeks of February with plenty of dry weather. It was often breezy and that resulted in fewer than average night frosts.. Atlantic frontal systems occasionally passed through London, most of them weak, but on the 12th, nearly 8mm of rain fell with southwesterly winds gusting to 57kn. During the last week of the month, it became much colder, and on the 26th snow fell with the temperature not rising above minus 0.3°C all day.

March - Very cold with below average rainfall and near normal sunshine.
Mean Temperature 3.6°C     Monthly Highest 13.2°C Total Rain 34 mm Monthly Lowest -4.9°C Total Sun 113 hrs The first 'Spring' month was colder than any month during the preceding winter. Frosty nights were much more frequent than normal, and sleet or snow fell on 10 days, although amounts were often trivial . On the 5th, the maximum temperature was only 2.2°C. Towards the end of the month, north to northeast winds were replaced by somewhat, cloudier milder, and moister southwesterlies. Atlantic fronts brought rain bands, and on the 29th nearly 10mm was measured.

April - Rather dull and cold with below average rainfall.
Mean Temperature 8.6°C     Monthly Highest 20.5°C Total Rain 42 mm Monthly Lowest 1.6°C Total Sun 141 hrs The month had an unsettled start, and on the 4th there were over 10mm of rain recorded. However, in this frost-free month there was plenty of dry, if rather cloudy, weather. Temperatures were mainly below average, with the coldest weather occurring around mid month. On the 15th the maximum temperature was only 6.7°C. During the last week of the month there were several warm and fairly sunny days, and on the 26th the highest temperature was above 20°C.

May - Cold, dull and rather dry.
Mean Temperature 11.1°C     Monthly Highest 17.6°C Total Rain 40 mm Monthly Lowest 3.1°C Total Sun 159 hrs The temperature rose above 17°C. on the 4th, and there were further occasional mild days until the middle of the second week, but generally it was a cool, cloudy and unsettled month. Rainfall, was generally light, but on the 4th more than 10mm of rain was recorded. A particularly cool day occurred on the 26th, when the maximum temperature only reached 9.3°C, and this was followed by an unseasonably chilly end to May but with plenty of sunshine.

June - Very dry, rather sunny and cold.
Mean Temperature 14.6°C     Monthly Highest 25.0°C Total Rain 7 mm Monthly Lowest 3.5°C Total Sun 262 hrs Measurable rain only fell on 6 days during this month and there was plenty of sunshine. However, with winds predominantly from a north or northwesterly direction, temperatures in June were mostly low both by day and by night. On the 1st, the maximum was only 12.5°C, but during the first week, although nights were cool, there were sunny days. During the second week it was briefly warm, and on the 9th the temperature reached 25°C for the only time in the year.

July - Very dull and cool with rainfall slightly below normal.
Mean Temperature 16.3°C     Monthly Highest 23.7°C Total Rain 59 mm Monthly Lowest 9.4°C Total Sun 133 hrs In this very disappointing summer month, the temperature on the 2nd reached 23.7°C, but 2 days later the maximum was only 14.1°C. There were many dry and rather cloudy days, and rain, which was generally light, was only recorded on 9 days. However, after 4 consecutive days when the afternoon temperature reached, or even exceeded, 21°C, the 26th was a cold and very wet day. The midday temperature was only 13°C and over 38mm of rain fell.

August - Cool with above average rainfall and below average sunshine.
Mean Temperature 15.8°C     Monthly Highest 22.9°C Total Rain 62 mm Monthly Lowest 7.6°C Total Sun 173 hrs Although temperatures rose close to 21°C on the 1st and 2nd, the first fortnight was mostly cool and changeable. On the 6th, more than 21mm of rain fell and the temperature only reached 15.5°C. The weather briefly improved during the third week, with maxima exceeding 21°C. from the 18th through to the 20th including a high near 23°C on the 19th, but apart from the 31st, when 21°C occurred once again, the rest of the month was cool and changeable.

September - Cool and wet with above average sunshine.
Mean Temperature 13.6°C     Monthly Highest 23.2°C Total Rain 72 mm Monthly Lowest 5.4°C Total Sun 152 hrs The first 3 days of the month were fairly warm with maximum temperatures reaching 21°C, including a high above 23°C on the 2nd, From the middle of the first week through to mid month temperatures were fairly close to normal and there were several sunny days. From the 16th until the end of the month it was mostly very cool, cloudy and changeable with showers or longer spells of rain. On the 21st the high was only 13.2°C, and on the 31st nearly 18mm of rain fell.

October - Rather mild and sunny with below average rainfall.
Mean Temperature 11.5°C     Monthly Highest 18.7°C Total Rain 55 mm Monthly Lowest 1.3°C Total Sun 117 hrs On the 1st day of the month more than 19mm of rain fell, but the changeable and windy start to October was replaced by dry weather on the the 2nd, and no measurable rain fell again until the 25th. There were some misty mornings, and on both the 16th and 17th it was quite cold as fog lingered into the afternoon, but there were several pleasantly warm and sunny days. The last week was cool and changeable with maxima of only 9.7°C. on both the 27th and 29th.

November - Dull, rather cold and fairly dry.
Mean Temperature 6.6°C     Monthly Highest 13.6°C Total Rain 51 mm Monthly Lowest -1.2°C Total Sun 37 hrs The opening day of November was wet with nearly 9mm of rain falling. Showers followed on the 2nd but it was the mildest day of the month. Rather mild and cloudy weather prevailed until the 10th and it then turned rather cold. After mid month, it became cold with a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow. On the 19th the maximum temperature was only 3.5°C. Highs of 12°C were recorded on the 24th and 25th, but it then became colder with a dull and damp end to the month.

December - Very sunny and cold with above average rainfall.
Mean Temperature 2.7°C     Monthly Highest 13.2°C Total Rain 56 mm Monthly Lowest -4.7°C Total Sun 68 hrs After a rather cold and misty start to December, it became very cold with dense fog, much of it freezing. On the 5th, the temperature only reached minus 0.6°C. The fog lifted on the 7th followed by some mild sunshine. It then became unsettled, and on the 15th the high was above 13°C. It was sunny and rather cold from the 21st, but on the 26th it snowed and by the following morning 9cm was lying. Further snow accumulated during the remainder of the month.

[johnholmes]

you little ray of sunshine!

interesting read though