The Great Heatwave of September 1906

[Weather-history]

The end of August and the start of September 1906 saw one of the most exceptional heatwaves to ever occurred in the UK. 

The intense heatwave started at the end of August with low pressure to the west and this pumped a very hot continental southerly across the UK. Temperatures rocketed in the brilliant sunshine with 35C recorded on the 1st in London, 35.6C at Bawtry in South Yorkshire, 34.8C at Old Southgate in London and 34.7C at Wryde in Cambridgeshire on the 2nd, 34.2C at Westley in Suffolk on the 3rd. A cooler air flow toppled over the UK as the ridge over the UK began to retreat.

Despite the heat at the start of September 1906, the CET for the month was just 13.9 , the first half was 16.21C but the second half was just 11.57C

The CET for the period 30th August-3rd September was 20.46C 

30th August: 31.7C at Jersey, 30C at Maidenhead
31st August: 34.9C at Maidenhead, 34.8C at Wryde, Cambs

The heatwave reached it's peak at the beginning of September
1st September: 35.0C at Collyweston and New Malden
2nd September: 35.6C at Bawtry Hall, S Yorks; 34.8C at Old Southgate, London; 34.7C at Wryde
3rd September: 34.2C at Westley, Suffolk

 

Looking at some further data on this remarkable heatwave, I found a couple of extraordinary values

Gordon Castle in Grampian reached 32.2C on the 1st September 1906
Lairg recorded 31.7C on the 2nd September 1906

1st September 1906

Ushaw, Durham: 33.9C
Maidenhead: 35.0C
Colly Weston: 35.0C

2nd September 1906

Epsom: 34.8C
Old Southgate: 34.8C
Wryde: 34.7C

Other maxima recorded

 

27.8C  at Omagh (1st Sep)

27.2C at Killarney (2nd Sep)

25.4C at Dublin (2nd Sep)

27.8C at Aberdeen (1st Sep)

28.6C at Dundee (2nd Sep)

27.8C at Glasgow (2nd Sep)

28.9C at Colmonell (1st Sep)

29.6C at Edinburgh (1st,2nd Sep)

30C at Cargen  (1st Sep)

30C at Aberystwyth (1st Sep)

30.6C at Llandudno (1st Sep)

31.1C at Seathwaite (1st Sep)

30.6C at Hull (1st Sep)

30.9C at Bolton (2nd Sep)

34.4C at Derby (2nd Sep)

 

Camden Square

 

9am shade temp

30th Aug: 17.1C  (max: 29.3C)

31st Aug: 23.7C  (max: 34C)

1st Sep: 26.7C  (max: 33.3C)

2nd Sep: 23.1C (max: 34.4C)

3rd Sep: 23.6C  (max: 31.9C)

It has always fascinated me this event, would love to have experienced it.

The Guardian of the 1st September 1906

[Weather-history]

From 3rd September 1906 Guardian

[Coopsy]

28 minutes ago, Weather-history said:

From 3rd September 1906 Guardian

Thanks - very interesting articles. Certainly a notable hot spell. Also of note is the earlier sunrise/sunset times pre BST. It’s made me think what I’d prefer in September - and I think it’s later nights. 6:57pm in early sep is just too early for me. 

[Weather-history]

4th September 1906 Guardian: Heat subsides

[Weather-history]

Some more data

Coventry

31st Aug: 28.6°C

1st Sep: 32.5°C

2nd: Sep: 33.9°C

3rd Sep: 34.2°C

4th Sep: 29.2°C

Cambridge

31st Aug: 30.0°C

1st Sep: 33.9°C

2nd Sep: 33.3°C

3rd Sep: 34.4°C

4th Sep: 33.3°C

 

Tunbridge Wells

1st Sep: 32.7°C

2nd Sep: 32.7°C

 

Newcastle upon Tyne

1st Sep: 31.5°C

2nd Sep: 33.3°C

 

Manchester

31st Aug: 30.2°C

1st Sep: 32.7°C 

2nd Sep: 32.5°C

 

Gloucester

1st Sep:  32.8°C

2nd Sep:  33.1°C

3rd Sep:  33.3°C

 

 

 

 

[Frigid]

I always think of this event when heat is forecasted in September, it's hard enough to get temps in the high 20s in September these days.. but 30?? Crazy stuff. Correct if wrong but I don't think Manchester has hit 30C in September since,

I guess a similar story could've happened if the heatwave in October 2011 was a month earlier. 

[Metwatch]

7 hours ago, Weather-history said:

Some more data

Coventry

31st Aug: 28.6°C

1st Sep: 32.5°C

2nd: Sep: 33.9°C

3rd Sep: 34.2°C

4th Sep: 29.2°C

Cambridge

31st Aug: 30.0°C

1st Sep: 33.9°C

2nd Sep: 33.3°C

3rd Sep: 34.4°C

4th Sep: 33.3°C

 

Tunbridge Wells

1st Sep: 32.7°C

2nd Sep: 32.7°C

 

Newcastle upon Tyne

1st Sep: 31.5°C

2nd Sep: 33.3°C

 

Manchester

31st Aug: 30.2°C

1st Sep: 32.7°C 

2nd Sep: 32.5°C

 

Gloucester

1st Sep:  32.8°C

2nd Sep:  33.1°C

3rd Sep:  33.3°C

 

 

 

 

Last time Coventry reached 30C in September was in 1911, on the 8th, 32.3C. Just can't seem to reach it since then.

28.9C on 15th September 2020.

29.4C 5th September 1949

29.8C during early September 2021.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Metwatch

[Weather-history]

1st Sept

Slough: 34.2°C

Nottingham: 33.9°C

Spalding 33.3°C

Oxford: 33.1°C

Leeds: 33.0°C

Thirsk: 32.8°C

Newcastle: 32.2°C

Bradford: 31.7°C

Sunderland: 31.7°C

 

 

2nd Sept

Lincoln: 33.6°C

Sheffield: 32.8°C

Grimsby: 32.2°C

Keswick: 30.8°C

Blackpool: 30.7°C

Rhyl: 30.6°C

Harrogate: 30.6°C

Liverpool: 30.0°C

Morecambe: 30.0°C

Buxton: 29.2°C

Matlock: 28.9°C

Southport: 27.8°C

Scarborough: 26.1°C

Bournemouth: 25.0°C

[The PIT]

I wonder if this coming week will bring some interesting temperatures to the table.

[Weather-history]

Looking through reports of the time, Bromley was quoted as to having recorded (97°F)  36.1°C on the 2nd September and Enfield recording (95°F) 35°C

 

 

 

 

[LetItSnow!]

29 minutes ago, Weather-history said:

Looking through reports of the time, Bromley was quoted as to having recorded (97°F)  36.1°C on the 2nd September and Enfield recording (95°F) 35°C

 

 

 

 

36°C in September is insane. Not official so I take it with a pinch of salt but since it's not too far from the official figure of 35.6°C I'm inclined to believe it. It must have been due to day after day the heat building because the uppers didn't even reach 20°C by the looks of it.