What Would Your Ideal Weather Year Look Like?

[Milhouse]

January-Starting off cold with snow at times delivering decent accumulations. By the second week the Atlantic will have won out and the remainder of the month will be a mixture of unsettled westerlies and quieter settled spells with some frost. CET- 4.0C

February-Would begin with a spell of very windy and mild weather with bands of rain sweeping from west to east. From the second week onwards it would quieten down with warm southerlies developing and the odd colder day mixed in. CET - 5.2C

March has high pressure dominating but a short northerly spell and more in the way of showery conditions to end the month. CET - 7.8C

April- Consistently dry sunny and warm with frequent days of 25c. Short unsettled spells of a couple of days max. CET - 10.8C

May- Warm and sunny with the threat of thunderstorms to end the month associated with the first proper Spanish plume. CET - 13.4C

June- Hot and sunny with one or two cooler spells to balance things out. CET - 16.1C

July - Once again hot and sunny with below average rainfall and severe thunderstorms. CET 19.3C

August will be very warm but with a week or so of wet, humid conditions to provide some rainfall. CET 18.7C

September - Very warm to start, then cooler and unsettled before a record breaking heatwave which lasts into October. CET 15.1C

October - Heatwave to start, gradually cooling down with the first frosts widespread by mid month. CET 10.7C

November - Mild with above average rainfall. CET 7.5C

December - Cold, dry and sunny with frequent frosts. Snow would set in just before Christmas and last into the new year. CET 3.2C

[Aaron]

January: Cold, the snowiest month, mean -2c/-8c

February: Cold generally overcast, mean -1c/-7c

March: Still cold, snow holding out, mean 1c/-5c

April: Snow thaws by early April, snow possible still, mean 6c/0c

May: Cool, sunnier, flurries possible early in the month, mean 14c/4c

June: Mild, sunny spells of weather but also rain, mean 18c/7c

July: Warm, long stretches of sunny weather but also wet weather, mean 21c/11c

August: Mild to warm, a lot of rain, mean 19c/10

September: Rapid cool down, first frost, perhaps some flurries, mean 15c/6c

October: Snow and frost become more frequent, mean 8c/2c

November: The snow season generally sets in from here, with ice days becoming the norm by late November.. mean 1c/-4c

December: Cold, snowy, stormy, mean -1c/-6c

[Stormyking]

My turnn:

January: Very cold with lots of snow at the start of the month with thundersnow thrown in. Middle of the month a brief Atlantic storm with severe gales and lots of rain, this will be replaced by major easterlies with some big snowfalls and ice days! End of the month Cold, Sunny, frosty with the occasional snow shower from time to time with temperatures barely getting above freezing.

February: Massive Greenland High, combined with a Scandi High, bringing severe easterlies and bitterly cold temperatures below freezing with lots of snow for the first 2 weeks. middle part a nice big winter high bring some nice sunny and frosty days along with some mist and fog thrown in. Last part mainly cold with snow showers on and off from the east/ ENE some of these snow showers to be combined with thundersnow.

March: Milder weather sets in as the atlantic beginns to rage through with heavy rain and severe gales, this will cause major thaws leading to flooding in places. 2nd to third week of march a nice sunny high to develop giving some pleasant warmth with temperatures between 13-16 celcius. Into the last part of march a potent Northerly to hit the UK, giving heavy convective snow showers with thundersnow, hail and strong winds.

April: A proper warm starts with lots of sunshine with temperatures into the mid to high teens. Another Northerly pushes down into the 2nd part of the month giving lots of convective weather with thunderstorms thrown in, these to be combined with Heavy rain, hail, sleet/snow. Last part of the month, sees high pressure developining to our east drawing up some very warm Southerly air, giving lots of sunshine and temperatures into the low to mid 20's.

May: The theme of very warm weather to carry on, but a spanish plume shows its face, bring big thunderstorms to the South Coast of the UK, these lasting all night with amazing lightning shows. Mid month remains very warm and thundery temperatures typically in the mid to high 20's with yet more thunderstorms. Last part of the month sees a cool down with the atlantic briefly affect the UK giving some heavy rain and strongish winds at times.

June: High pressure starts to develope over the SW and pushes up towards the UK, giving some very nice pleasant weather with temperatures into the mid 20's, into middle part of the month the high pressure pushes to the east, bring up hot South/South easterlies temperatures will exceed into the high 20's to low 30's. After this a massive thundery breakdown for the whole of the UK, with severe Thunderstorms pushing from the South/ South East, this to give the best lightning displays to be seen in the UK.

Last part will become generally nice and warm with comfortable pleasant temperatures in the low to mid 20's.

July: Things start to hot up again as pressure builds to the east, and we get more hot Southerlies with temperatures again in the high tweenties and the low 30's even as high as 34-35c. 2nd half of the month sees another thundery breakdown, with more big thunderstorms affect most of the UK. After this we see a cool down and things start going unsettled with lots of thundery rain about.

August: First week remains cool and breezy along with showery weather too. into the wnd week a major heatwave to develope bring very hot air from the South, temperatures breaking 2003 record with 40c maxed, this to be broken down by major thunderstorms along with a lot of rain. last part of august remaining settled and pleasant, temperatures between 20-24 celcius.

September: To be quite unsettled with some plumey weather to start with bringing decent thunderstorms. After this and Atlantic low to push through the UK giving strong winds and heavy rain. Rest of the month being mostly settled and fine with pleanty of sunshine with temperatures between high teens and low twenties.

October: A potent Atlantic low to push through, giving severe gales and lots of heavy rain, after this high pressure will build over the UK from like the 10th to around the 25th, this will give lots of sunshine and light winds, nights to be cool at night. End of october, things go unsettled again with weather systems pushing from the west giving lots of strong with winds.

November: A relatively unsettled start, but becoming quieter with settled and cool calm weather, this will lead to nice foggy and frosty nights. End of the month the first proper cold spell arrives from the North East, giving some snow to places, even in the South.

December: A replica of last december, major snowfall at the beginning, then a rest bite which would give frosty and cold days. Towards Christmas time, the snow arrives back to give big accumulations well into the new year as well.

[damianslaw]

Seem to recall we had a very similiar thread last year.

Jan - I prefer January to be the bleakest month as it should be. Lots of snow thanks to battleground scenarios interspersed with freezing blue sky days as heights build in from the north and north east.

Feb - A toned down version of Jan with a greater bias towards the dry cold settled theme with biting frosts but the ever strengthening sun. At least one major snowstorm at some point.

Mar - Cold and showery with potent northerlies but also occasional drier and increasingly milder spells.

Apr - Similiar to March with a cold northerly first half, but rapidly becoming warmer in the second half.

May - Warm, dry with blue skies - not much to ask for. It is my favourite month.

June - Mostly fine and warm but occasionaly thundery/showery interludes to wet the ground.

July - A warmer version of June.

August - Showery at times but mainly fine and sunny

Spetember - Generally fine first half, but rapidly cooling in the second half with first autumnal gales - Sept never fits this bill anymore it seems!

October - Autumnal, first air frost mid month, stormy end

November - Wet and stormy start, cold quiet middle with frost and fog (where has autumn fog dissapeared too?), first snows of the season at the end and very cold days like Nov 2010.

December - Cold throughout, battleground scenarios first half, becoming very cold mid month with a major snowstorm around the 21/22 depositing a foot of snow which stays on the ground through to the New Year with a arctic northerly flow dominating christmas period - not much to ask for!

As you can see I like my seasons to be traditional, with a strong bias to snow and cold between mid Nov-mid March, a showery start to spring but rapidly becoming warm sunny and dry by May, a mostly warm sunny summer with occasional showery/thundery interludes, a fine start to autumn, becoming much more mixed by late sept with gales and frost and fog thereafter.

[I remember Atlantic 252]

Jan, Starting very snowy, cold until last week, then warmer

Feb, Spring like with sun and 15C

Mar, same but slightly warmer than Feb

Apr, sunny maxes around 21C

May, dry maxes around 22C

Jun, dry, maxes around 22C, hotter for wimbledon

Jul, hotter for wimbledon, then around 22C

Aug, dry maxes around 21C

Sep, dry maxes around 20C

0ct, warm first half, winter thoughts 2nd half

Nov, high pressure dominant 1st-15th, then snow, frost, rime and ice

Dec, dominated by snow, frost, rime and ice, meaning a festive build up to xmas/ new year

Feb-0ct all rain to fall at night!

[Lauren]

Having had a look through all of these the conclusion that can be drawn is that we all want hot summers, lots of snow in winter and a generous mount of storms!

[Guest]

This is a description of the climatic year at a village called Ouveillan, about 5 miles from Capestang - you will note that there is very little snow in the winter but that should not cause too much of a problem to snow lovers, since it can easily be found, either an hour to the south and a little closer to the north i.e the Pyrenees and the Massif respectively

Ouveillan, Aude - weather from January 1992 - January 2000

Ouveillan is a pretty village, 17 kms from Narbonne, and 25 kms from Beziers, surrounded by vineyards, perched on a small hill. At its center is the beautiful church of St Jean dating from the 11th Century. The village was almost totally destroyed by the Black Prince in 1355. To the south amidst vineyards in the direction of Cuxac d'Aude, is the Grange of Fontcalvy, originally run by the Hospitaliers de St Jean de Jerusalem before being taken over by the Abbey of Fontfroide. Recently it is the background of Son et Lumiere, concerts, theater events, promoting the history and culture of the region. Wine is exceptional here - either at the Cave Cooperative, or Gleize, Lalaurie, are well worth tasting and buying.

JANUARY A third of the days have sunshine all day. The same number will have none at all. Temperatures, are mostly below 15° C, none under 5° C. Some days, warmer, even over 20° C, none under 5° C. Nights, colder, a quarter of them below 5° C, with a few frosts. Not a particularly windy/rainy month. Snow uncommon.

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FEBRUARY More sunshine than in January. Only a quarter of days with none. Temperatures are higher too, most in the range of 15° - 25° C. Most nights are over 5° C with very few frosts. Less windy and rainy. Snow rare.

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MARCH The improvement is maintained. Half the days have sunshine all day. Only a fifth of day temperatures are under 15° C, half over 25° C. Very few days, under 10° C. Nights, less cold, very few frosts. Some wind, less rain.

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APRIL A mixed month, but winter is over and temperatures are higher. No days are under 10° C and many are in the 20° - 30° C range. It remains windy and rainy.

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MAY We hope to swim by mid month. There is more sunshine, temperatures rise with some really hot days. Nights are noticeably warmer. Rainfall, the same, less wind.

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JUNE Summer has arrived. Three quarters of days are over 25° C with sunshine all days for half of them. Nights under 15° C are rare. Still windy, rain less likely.

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JULY A good month, difficult to separate from August, but the French, who holiday in droves from mid July to mid August have probably got it right! Three quarters of days have temperatures over 30° C with plentiful sunshine. Nights can be too warm. It is still liable to be windy. Most days are dry. A few thunderstorms.

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AUGUST Difficult to distinguish from July. The weather seems to go off towards the end of the month. There are probably more thunderstorms than July. It's still very hot, often over 30° C, with the occasional 35°+ C. Night still warm.

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SEPTEMBER Early September is often just a continuation of August, but the month overall shows differences. Only a third of the days are over 30° C, less than half have sunshine all day, but there is plenty and it is rare for day temperatures to be below 15° C. Nights are above 10° C. Winds and rainfall light. Some thunderstorms.

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OCTOBER The amount of sunshine is roughly the same as in September but the temperatures are falling. Only 10% of the days are over 30° C. The biggest group lies around 25° C. At night 20 % are under 10° C but rarely less than 5° C. Wind and rain as in previous months. Thunderstorms still likely.

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NOVEMBER Still sunny, but there is winter in the air. On average only 3 days a month have temperatures above 25° C. Most are between 10° - 20° C with some less than 5° C. Frosts are rare. Wind and rainfall as in October. Rare snow.

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DECEMBER Noticeably less sunny than November, otherwise weather is roughly the same. Temperatures rarely reach 25° C and are mostly between 5° - 15° C. Nights are colder and night frosts, although rare, more frequent. Not a bad month. Snow rare!

MONTHS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JLY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Ave. daily C° 15 16 19 20 24 27 31 31 27 23 18 15

Ave. night C° 6 6 9 11 15 18 20 20 17 13 9 5

Range C° -5 to 25 -5 to 25 0 to 30 0 to 30 5 to 35 10 to 35 10 to 35 10 to 35 10 to 35 0 to 35 -5 to 30 -5 to 25

Sunshine % 66% 77% 78% 74% 76% 80% 92% 87% 75% 71% 69% 63%

© Eric.Mitchell 2000

Weather in France Today and Tomorrow

I can live with that provided provided there's air con in the house and the car for the hotter periods.

Edited October 16, 2011 by mike Meehan

[95 Degrees]

January: A mixture of mild blowtorch winds, with occasional 20-25C occurring, but mostly cold and frosty with occasional heavy snowfalls, nice and deep, some -10 and below nights with sharp hoar and rime frosts with some freezing fog also, a few stormy (60-70mph+) days as well with more t-storms.

February: Similar, but more frosty with some -15 below occurring and light snow all day, more days with 20+.

March: 20-25c for half the month, with some snow shower and rain shower days and t-storms.

April: Hot for a couple of days of the month (30+), many shower/slack HP days with one or two frontal systems.

May: Hot late in the month with T-showers and very active fronts, one 32+ day, start of the month overcast and windy

June: Very sunny and warm all month with only t-storms and active fronts halting the HP, 35+ reached on one day and half the days are sunny all day.

July: Nice and hot with 32 the average high and 45C on one day, very day month with brown grass

August: Huge storms mixed with desert like heat with 40+ on 5 days and one very rare 47C, Atlantic late-month like storms and hail and flooding after many downpours.

September: Warm and wet with humid nights 25-26C on some nights! and cloudy 30C days, many storms and a wet month overall.

October: Warm and day all month but a three day frontal deluge and light frosts late month.

November: Very Wet but still 15-20C with frontal and connective blasts. very frosty mid-month.

December: 22 the max and warm early month before NE blast mid-month, -5 during the day with Ice/Snow and even freezing rain, one blizzard giving 3 foot drifts before warm and dry late month and after -6C with snow lying on X-Mas day, melting later with 23C high on boxing day, Wet finish to the year.

Ideal climate: OKLAHOMA CITY (has everything weather-wise i mentioned above)

or

Hovd, Mongolia (Very dry and cold in winter but some snow, hot in summer and t-stormy)

or for something more unpredictable and in Europe, SW France, get less snow than places above but still gets some good events now and again and warm nights in winter also at times, and snow is nearby in the Pyreenes and Massif Central.

[Thundery wintry showers]

January- cold with sunshine and snow showers during the first and last weeks, and 10-11 inches of snow in the first week. Often mild and sunny during the middle fortnight of the month, also with a brief bout of Atlantic westerlies midmonth with squally showers.

February- often mild and sunny until the 18th, with plenty of 8th-20th February 2008 style anticyclonic weather and just brief cold snaps, but then very cold and snowy for a week starting on the 19th, snow as much as a foot deep. Showery blustery end with westerlies.

March- an episodic month with warm, anticyclonic interludes alternating with cold north-westerlies. Frequent snow showers during the first and last weeks, also with a high incidence of hail, but often sunny and warm during the middle sector of the month, with temperatures as high as 16-18C on occasion.

April- sunshine and showers with some thunder during the first week, then often sunny and warm, but a northerly outbreak in the third week with 4-5 days of wintry showers, occasional thunder, frequent hail, and night frosts. A warm end to the month, as high as 22C.

May- a heatwave in the first week (as high as 27C) then a northerly in the second week with some snow and hail in the heavier showers. A mix of dry sunny anticyclonic spells and showery cyclonic spells in the second half of the month with occasional thunder thrown in.

June- a mix of dry sunny interludes and showery thundery outbreaks in the first half, a hot dry sunny spell in the third week with temperatures briefly as high as 32C, then frequent showers and thunderstorms around the 22nd with a couple of funnel clouds. Showers dying out again during the last week leaving warm sunshine.

July- a showery thundery start, sunny and anticyclonic 5th-11th, more thundery showers midmonth, then often sunny and dry during the last third of the month with just one thundery interruption.

August- mostly dry, sunny and warm/hot (frequent maxima in the 25-30C range) until the last week with just two or three short lived thundery interruptions, then a northerly outbreak around the 27th with some hail and thunder.

September- mostly dry, sunny and warm near both ends of the month, a cooler changeable showery spell in the middle of the month, and a couple of northerly outbreaks also resulting in some cool nights.

October- mostly sunny and warm first week (as high as 25C at the start of the month), followed by an exceptional cold snap in the second week with snow showers, accompanied on occasion by thunder, even on low ground, mostly sunny and warm again in the third week, then a windy showery end to the month.

November- mostly sunny and warm first week (temps of 12-15C) with fog patches overnight. Frequent northerly and north-westerly winds during the remainder of the month with a couple of significant snowfalls.

December- similar to January, very cold and snowy during the first and last weeks, but generally mild during the middle fortnight, with some dry sunny anticyclonic spells and also a bout of Atlantic weather midmonth.

[Lauren]

All your ideal years are so detailed compared to mine. Think I shall have to give a more detailed one later!

[Isolated Frost]

Actually i'll change mine:

Spring: Warming rapidly throughout with a mixture of cool north westerlies bringing convective showers and wintry weather at times, and warm, pleasant, bright weather from HP cells. Very little cloud throughout with high diurnal ranges

March 11C/-1C

April 18C/4C

May 24C/8C

Summer: HP grows stronger over the nation and it's generally unbroken sunshine and warmth. The odd northerly outbreak bringing cool, bright weather. And maybe the odd trough from the west, bringing torrential flash rainfall before normal service.

June 26C/10C

July 27C/11C

August 24C/9C

Autumn: HP sinks generally but delivers some frosty nights at times. North westerlies rev up as LP moves gradually east. Towards the end the odd northerly outbreak, which becomes very potent, can occur. Showery and cool generally. HP usually brings cool, not warm weather after September.

September 19C/6C

October 13C/2C

November 8C/-2C

Winter: HP moves away and generally Greenland highs and mid-atlantic ridges affect the weather mostly, with LP systems near or to the north/east of the UK. Generally cool and showery with the odd cool ridge of HP from the south east. Very potent northerly outbreaks generally with lows nearby giving blizzards and lake effect snow after the front clears.

December 4C/-5C

January 5C/-4C

February 7C/-3C

[Lauren]

OK:

January: Very cold, thick snow on the ground and continued blizzards until the end of the month. We'd have a better way of dealing with the snow obviously although for several days even our best equipment won't be able to deal with it and the nation will have no choice but to frolick in the snow all day. High 4C/Low -15C

February: Snow eases off but blizzards are still likely, snow is now eay to deal with, but still moderate on the ground. Bright days and the snow is melted by the end of the month. 6C/-5C

March: First signs of springs. Light rain showers wash away any remaining sludge and freshens up the landscape. Days feel warmer, but nothing much happens weatherwise. 17C/3C

April: Really starts to warm up with occasional April showers thrown in. Still the occasional cold day, but most are warm enough not to need a jumper or coat. The occasional hot day signals the start of the hot summer to come. 21C/10C

May: The heat starts to kick in. We will have hot May bank holidays and relief comes in the form of the very occasional downpour (not electrical). These are the first BBQ days of the year and it's time to bring out the shorts and flip flops. 25C/15C

June: Hot, hot, hot! Very little, if any rain all month. Expect the typical British pastime of not putting any suncream on and most of the population looking like lobsters. A heavy thunderstorm brings some relief at the end of the month. 32C/24C

July: Same as June. Papers headlines will say 'What A Scorcher!' with pictures of packed beaches (this has also happened numerous times in May and June) 37C/24C

August: Still hot, but the heat becomes more humid as moisture collects in the air. Mid August brings the start of some strong thunderstorms although these will only be a few short storms with a couple of all nighters. 32C/21C

September: Still warm, but the cool down has started. BBQ's and sunbathing are still on the agenda but this is thunderstorm month. Not a week goes by without having at least 3 storms. Several all nighters (like the good old days). Expect many multicells and a couple of supercells. 28C/18C

October: A few strong thunderstorms still igniting over most of the country but get less as the month goes on. A few chilly days and it feels like the world is getting ready for winter. Most days are still enjoyably warm and it doesn't rain (except in thunderstorms). People have their last BBQ's. All in all a pleasant month after the hot summer and active thunderstorm month of September. 22C/12C.

November: Much cooler this month. Time to get coats out again and mornings are cold and crisp, but during the day the sun still warms up the earth and feels nice on your face. The month is interspersed with a handful of showers, some heavy. Nights are cold. 12c/1C

December: First half starts out bitterly cold with wet and windy weather. Torrential downpours are common. Heavy snow arrives just in time for Christmas and everyone enjoys a white Christmas all over the land. Snow is think on the ground and will be until the end of January. The conective energy in the armosphere from the hot summer and warm autumn create plenty of thundersnow. 7C/-6C