Summer Cold

[Nick F]

Before the change in recent years to anomalously above average temperatures during summer months - particularly since the early 1990s - I thought I'd have a look at some of the rightly forgotten poor summer months in the recent past. There were some distinctly chilly periods in some of the summer months in the 1970s in particular. Thanks goes to the excellent Robin Sterling's 'The Weather of Britain' for alot of the data.

- In June 1971, Gorleston in Norfolk and Stonyhurst in Lancashire had a maximum temperature of 15C or less on 17 days that month, in many parts of the country the temperature failed to reach 21C during the entire month. Watnall, Nottinghamshire saw a maximum of just 8.9C on the 9th. The CET that month was 12.4C -compared to the '61-'90 June average of 14.1C.

- June 1972 had a lower mean temperature in many places than June 1971 - with six ground frosts at Kew, London and ten at Exeter, in the normally balmy SW. The CET that month was a chilly 11.8C!

- The first 8 days of July 1978 were very chilly. Manchester (Ringway) saw the temperature remain below 15C until the 9th of that July. The maximum on the 5th in parts of England was only 12C. The month returned a CET of 14.8C

- The summer of 1980 was partcularly poor, especially June and July. The period 18th June to 18th July in 'high summer' saw a mean maximum at Kew of just 16.1C, 4C below average. Seven of these days in that period the temperature failed to reach 15C. In West Wales at Brawdy, Dyfed the maximum temperature was below 15C on 19 days in June and 13 days in July. The 1st July was particularly cold, with maxima of around 10C along the east coast, and only 12C along the south coast.

- August 1986 was rather chilly with a CET of just 13.7C compared to the '71-'00 average of 16.2C ('61-'90: 15.8C). The August Bank Holiday, which was the wettest on record, saw a max of just 10C in the rain, with -3.4C recorded that morning at Kilbrace in the Highlands.

- July 1988 saw a CET of 14.7C, many places in the South failed to exceed 21C all month, London failed to exceed 22C all month.

- June 1991 was rather poor. Rain fell for 28 days along the Sussex coast. At Crawley, West Sussex, the temperature at 1pm was not above 16C on any day during the whole month. From the 1st to 4th and the 18th, much of Scotland and Northern England had max temperatues of 8-10C. Air frosts were recorded in many sheltered parts of the country. The CET was a chilly 12.1C.

Edited May 23, 2006 by Nick F

[Sunshine]

You could also include these months, as they were all quite cool

August 1992

July 1993

August 1993

June 1997 (2nd half)

July 1998

July 2000

Mid June - Mid July 2004

[Summer of 95]

July 1988 was perhaps the last truly bad summer month in the London area, ie cold, dull and wet? Yes there have been wet ones there since but they all seem to have had long spells above 21C, it's unusual these days for any summer month not to reach 26C on more than one day in London.

For this area I'd nominate the following post-1988 months for having in general no more than the odd day above 21C with sunshine, and no prolonged period without rain::

June 1991

July and August 1992 and 1993

June 1997 (first week was quite warm but wet and thundery)

June and July 1998 (August was just about passsable)

July 2000 (very cold first half in particular, though not as wet as some of these months)

June and July 2002

mid-June to mid-July 2004

mid-July to mid-August 2005

Augusts of 1999 and 2004 were very wet and dull but not cold.

[Weather-history]

Here's some stats for the cold Junes of 1971, 1972, 1977, 1985, 1987 and 1991. All these Junes were sub 13C. June 1971 was the first sub 13C June since 1928

Birmingham

Mean Max

1971: 15.3C (-3.5)

1972: 14.9C (-3.9)

1977: 15.7C (-3.1)

1985: 16.6C (-2.2)

1987: 16.9C (-2.0)

1991: 16.0C (-2.9)

Aberdeen

Mean Max

1971: 13.5C (-2.8]

1972: 14.9C (-1.4)

1977: 14.7C (-1.6)

1985: 14.7C (-1.6)

1987: 13.6C (-2.7)

1991: 14.2C (-2.1)

Glasgow

Mean Max

1971: 16.3C (-1.7)

1972: 15.1C (-2.9)

1977: 17.6C (-0.3)

1985: 16.3C (-1.7)

1987: 15.9C (-2.1)

1991: 16.1C (-1.9)

Durham

Mean Max

1971: 14.8C (-3.2)

1972: 15.4C (-2.6)

1977: 15.9C (-2.1)

1985: 15.9C (-2.1)

1987: 15.1C (-2.9)

1991: 15.7C (-2.3)

Plymouth

Mean Max

1971: 16.3C (-1.4)

1972: 14.1C (-3.6)

1977: 15.7C (-2.0)

1985: 16.7C (-1.0)

1987: 15.4C (-2.3)

1991: 15.1C (-2.6)

Eskdalemuir

Mean Max

1971: 13.8C (-2.9)

1972: 14.0C (-2.7)

1977: 16.0C (-0.7)

1985: 14.4C (-2.3)

1987: 13.8C (-2.9)

1991: 13.5C (-3.2)

Belfast

Mean Max

1971: 15.5C (-2.0)

1972: 14.6C (-2.9)

1977: 16.6C (-0.9)

1985: 16.2C (-1.5)

1987: 15.1C (-2.4)

1991: 15.5C (-2.0)

Not included on your list Nick is June 1987

This was a cold wet June, CET 12.8C. The first day of Wimbledon was washed out, the 2nd Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's had 3 days washed out and Royal Ascot was hit by showers and thunderstorms regularly. Temperatures and sunshine totals were well down, rainfall totals well up. In Manchester, it was the wettest month of the 1980s.

Here's some data from that month

Heathrow

Mean Max: 18.6C (-1.9) Sunshine: 133hrs (65%) Rainfall: 70mm (137%)

Cardiff

Mean Max: 16.8C (-1.2) Sunshine: 189hrs (88%) Rainfall: 90mm (148%)

Plymouth

Mean Max: 15.2C (-2.2) Sunshine: 161hrs (73%) Rainfall: 81mm (145%)

Birmingham

Mean Max: 16.9C (-2.0) Sunshine: 119hrs (61%) Rainfall: 107mm (202%)

Manchester

Mean Max: 15.8C (-2.7) Sunshine: 103hrs (54%) Rainfall: 174mm (276%)

Glasgow

Mean Max: 15.9C (-2.0) Sunshine: 146hrs (78%) Rainfall: 93mm (160%)

Aberdeen

Mean Max: 13.6C (-2.7) Sunshine: 125hrs (71%) Rainfall: 84mm (156%)

Belfast

Mean Max: 15.1C (-2.2) Sunshine: 116hrs (66%) Rainfall: 81mm (127%)

Also summer 1985

Here's some data from that summer

Heathrow

Summer Max average: 20.6C (-0.8]

Sunshine: 595hrs (105%)

Rainfall: 183mm (115%)

Days with thunder: 7

Highest Max: 29.8C (25th July)

Bedford

Summer Max average: 18.9C (-1.0)

Sunshine: 541hrs (98%)

Rainfall: 176mm (112%)

Days with thunder: 7

Highest Max: 26.9C (25th July)

Cardiff

Summer Max Average: 18.1C (-0.9)

Sunshine: 594hrs (98%)

Rainfall: 396mm (180%)

Days with thunder: 2

Highest Max: 27.2C (25th July)

Birmingham

Summer Max Average: 19.3C (-1.1)

Sunshine: 517hrs ( 97%)

Rainfall: 227mm (125%)

Days with thunder: 6

Highest Max: 27.3C (25th July)

Manchester

Summer Max Average: 18C (-1.1)

Sunshine: 481hrs (94%)

Rainfall: 200mm (91%)

Days with thunder: 6

Highest Max: 27.2C (25th July)

Glasgow

Summer Max Average: 16.8C (-1.6)

Sunshine: 416hrs (83%)

Rainfall: 361mm (180%)

Days with thunder: 1

Highest Max: 25.7C (4th July)

Belfast

Summer Max Average: 16.9C (-1.0)

Sunshine: 396hrs (79%)

Rainfall: 274mm (125%)

Days with thunder: 3

Highest Max: 24.2C (4th July)

Edited May 23, 2006 by Mr_Data

[Thundery wintry showers]

In the Tyne & Wear region, there would appear to have been three poor summers in a row from 1985-87. The worst of the three summers appears to have been 1987, with all three summer months being cold and cloudy, and two of them also being outstandingly wet.

The summer of 1985 was notably cold, but sunshine and rainfall were closer to the long-term average. By far the wettest month of the three summers was August 1986, which was also very cold and cloudy, but Summer 1986 came out nearer average because of a reasonably warm sunny June.

For most of the rest of the country Summer 1988 was equally poor, but not so in the North East- July 1988, despite being cold and wet, contrived to have near average sunshine, while June and August were sunny and dry.

1992 and 1993 were similar- cool and unsettled, yet sunshine was a little above the long-term average. Junes 1990 and 1991 were pretty poor though.

In recent years there haven't been many significantly cool summer months in the North East- the only ones I can think of were June 1997 and July 2000. However, there have certainly been many dull ones with the June 1997, June/July 1998, June/July 2000, June 2002 and July/August 2004 all having a marked shortage of sunshine. June 2002 and August 2004 were notable in that despite being cloudy and wet, they were also warm due to a notably high average minimum.

[Nick F]

Not included on your list Nick is June 1987

This was a cold wet June, CET 12.8C. The first day of Wimbledon was washed out, the 2nd Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's had 3 days washed out and Royal Ascot was hit by showers and thunderstorms regularly. Temperatures and sunshine totals were well down, rainfall totals well up. In Manchester, it was the wettest month of the 1980s.

Also summer 1985

Yes, in retrospect I should have included Junes of 1985 and 1987, which I overlooked.

Though June 1987 was kind of redeemed, in the South at least, by a hot spell at the end of that month, with 27C at Epping on the 29th. UK wise 30C was reached in Jersey on the 30th. Epping had a max of just 9.5C on the 9th, the minimum temp for 14th-16th was just 5C.

Looking at June 1985 for Epping (Essex), there was a max of 23C on the 4th. The 6th, 7th and 8th saw a max of only 11C, 12C and 13C respectively. The mean max for Epping that June was a dismal 16.7C.

[PersianPaladin]

Here's some stats for the cold Junes of 1971, 1972, 1977, 1985, 1987 and 1991. All these Junes were sub 13C. June 1971 was the first sub 13C June since 1928

Birmingham

Where are you getting your data from though?

[Weather-history]

Some notable cool June days of recent times

12th June 2005: 8C at Boltshope Park

19th June 2004: 7.3C at Loch Glascarnoch

3rd June 2000: Spadeham 7C

3rd June 1998: Bingley 7.2C

1st June 1998: Glenlivet 7.1C

26th June 1997: Fylingdales 8C

21st June 1996: Cape Wrath 8C

8th June 1995: Glenlivet 7.4C Fylingdales 8C

9th June 1994: Buxton 9.5C

11th June 1993: Aberporth 11C

2nd June 1993: Inverbrie 6.9C

2nd June 1991: St Abbs Head, Cape Wrath 6.7C

12th June 1990: Fylingdales 8.9C

29th June 1989: Shetlands 8C

8th June 1987: London 12C Fylingdales 7.2C

6th June 1977: Glasgow 7C

Some notable cool July days of recent times

27th July 2005: 10.9C at Boltshope Park

4th July 2005: 10.9C at Thorncliff

8th July 2004: Sennybridge 9.6C,RAF Shawbury 11.4C,Nottingham, Watnall 11.7C

3rd July 2003: 11.1C at Fylingdales

1st July 2002: 10.1C at Spadeham

6th July 2000:maxima of 11-12C was widely recorded across NE England

12th July 1998: 10C at Tulloch Bridge

2nd July 1998: 12C at Fylingdales

7th July 1996: 9.8C at Cape Wrath

6th July 1996: 9.9C at Cape Wrath

9th July 1993: Benson recorded 9.2C at 1pm, Whipsnade recorded 7.5C at 12pm

1st July 1992: a number of places in Scotland recorded maxima of between 11-14C

24th July 1981: Maxima around 12C across eastern England

8th-10th July 1980: Maxima around 14C across eastern England

5th-7th July 1978: 9C across northern Scotland

[Terminal Moraine]

That's an interesting list, Mr D.

From my own station I can add;

7.4c on June 6th 1985

8.6c on June 2nd 1991

8.8c on June 26th 1998

For July; 10.8c on 5th 1978

11.0c on 18th 1987

11.5c on 9th 1993

11.2c on 8th 2004 (daytime max' was 9.8c but temp' rose to 11.2c by 0900 the next morning.

T.M

[Dawlish]

That's an interesting list, Mr D.

From my own station I can add;

7.4c on June 6th 1985

8.6c on June 2nd 1991

8.8c on June 26th 1998

For July; 10.8c on 5th 1978

11.0c on 18th 1987

11.5c on 9th 1993

11.2c on 8th 2004 (daytime max' was 9.8c but temp' rose to 11.2c by 0900 the next morning.

T.M

TM, (had to say!); you do realise (and I'm sure an educated gent like yourself would) that you are really the first published collection of poetry by one of my all-time favourite poets, don't you?

*>))

Paul

[Terminal Moraine]

In addition to the above, since I began records at the current site almost 30 years ago, there have been 2 Junes, 1 July and 3 Augusts which failed to reach 20.0c .

These were June 1985.....18.7c

June 1991.....18.7c

July 1988......18.5c

August 1985..19.6c

August 1986..18.3c

August 1992..19.8c

At nearby Buxton, at a similar elevation, there have been 8 Junes, 6 Julys and 8 Augusts failing to reach 20.0c since 1871. In addition there were a further 5 Junes, 1 July and 1August which recorded a max' temp' of 20.0c.

Perhaps the most notable was a monthly max' of 16.7c in August 1912.

Oh happy, happy days.

T.M

TM, (had to say!); you do realise (and I'm sure an educated gent like yourself would) that you are really the first published collection of poetry by one of my all-time favourite poets, don't you?

*>))

Paul

I stand humbled before you, sir. You are a gentleman and I remove my heavily feathered hat in your presence.

T.M

[Dawlish]

In addition to the above, since I began records at the current site almost 30 years ago, there have been 2 Junes, 1 July and 3 Augusts which failed to reach 20.0c .

These were June 1985.....18.7c

June 1991.....18.7c

July 1988......18.5c

August 1985..19.6c

August 1986..18.3c

August 1992..19.8c

At nearby Buxton, at a similar elevation, there have been 8 Junes, 6 Julys and 8 Augusts failing to reach 20.0c since 1871. In addition there were a further 5 Junes, 1 July and 1August which recorded a max' temp' of 20.0c.

Perhaps the most notable was a monthly max' of 16.7c in August 1912.

Oh happy, happy days.

T.M

I stand humbled before you, sir. You are a gentleman and I remove my heavily feathered hat in your presence.

T.M

No I'm not, but it is nice of you to think so! I'd recommend "Children in Exile" from a later collection as his finest work and one of the finest poems of the 20th Century.

Love the stats. I suppose you were on the boundary fence, chucking snowballs, on that most memorable Buxton June Day!