The Seasons: Your Perfect Scenario

[A Winter's Tale]

Hello.

As we get ever so nearer to the met.Spring, I'm starting to think about the seasons and the perfect scenarios for each one of them. I've done my perfect Spring scenario and beginning to come up with ideas for the rest - so, what would be your perfect Spring, Summer, Autumn and winter?

I'd like to see:

Description of the weather for each month with its synoptics and what it would bring and what activities you could do in it. It would be great if you could write it in the form of a met office review/forecast - Also, have a punt at what the CET would be!

I'd would be really fascinated to see what your taste of Autumn, Summer, Spring and Winter is!

My Perfect Spring:

March:

1st-10th: Begins with a North Easterly bringing snow showers to much of the north and east with 5-10cm across many parts of Scotland and NE England. Some lovely sunny spells between potent snow showers and very cold nights. Winds the change to more of a northerly with many interesting troughs and systems moving south and sprawling across much of Northern Ireland, Scotland, N Wales and N England resulting in blizzards. Then, we have a frontal snowfall that ends the cold snap but brings a major snow event to much of the UK:

11th-20th: High pressure moves in as the thaw gets going. This results in a fantastic settled spell with lots of sunshine. Initially, sunny and cold with lots of frost but then things should feel slightly warmer and more pleasant. Fantastic variety in weather, initially snow covered hills with cold sunny days at 6C, to a pleasant 10C then 17C with more sunshine.

21st -31st: We then see the Atlantic break in leading to enough rainfall for Spring plants but not excessively with plenty of long, sunny spells in between fronts with the odd cold day thrown in aswell as the warmer one. So basically a taste of summer and winter with the threat of snow and frost at times aswell as warmer, pleasant days.

April:

1st-7th: We return to a cooler period with the Atlantic less in control as we see north-westerly winds. These should bring cool-chilly days with snow on northern high ground and to low levels at times and lovely sunny spell in between.

8th-12th: Following a cool and showery start, we then find ourselves under a southerly airflow bringing some warmer temperatures and lots of sunshine. However thunderstorms will become possible.

13th-17th: High pressure sits over the UK and we get more sunshine, not hot, but pleasant temperatures with the threat of frost in the north.

18th-22nd: High pressure then ends up to our NW allowing for cold northerlies with some real bite. Temperatures plummit with frost by night and some very cold daytime temps over Scotland. The snow spreads south and dumps 5cm across many areas and snow showers across much of Scotland and both west and east coasts give accumilations.

23rd-30th: Cold, sunny but snowy northerly is replaced by a warmer easterly. This allows for warm days with temperatures into 20C or more aswell as loads of sunshine.

May:

1st-12th: Warm, very sunny. Maximum temps of 17-23C and cooling down in evenings/mornings to around 15-18C, some rain or showers at times but never prolonged.

13th -15th: We then have thunderstorms as the heat battles against atlantic.

16th-18th: Cold northerly, bringing snow to low level over Scotland.

19th-31st: Summer arrives as we get lots of long periods of sunshine and warmth in between fronts.

[Derp Patrol]

I don't have much time, but I'll try and be as detailed as possible.

Winter

Starts with a strong southerly flow bringing temperatures close to 20c. After a warm start, it gets colder and things freeze up. Temperatures hovering around 0C with snow

January starts where December left off - cold and snowy. However, as mid month comes, a thaw comes and a Bartlett High sets up, bringing mild temperatures of 15C. As we enter February we see high pressure over us, with cool but not cold days under the sun of around 8-10C .

Spring

Following from the end of February, we see high pressure over us, bringing beautiful sunny days with cool nights. With the stronger sun, day time temperatures reach around 15C. Towards the end of the month, a more zonal pattern sets in and we see some showers develop with still mild days. As we enter April, we see high pressure return, with beautiful sunny days and 20C being breached, and later 25C as we head to mid month. Into May and we see the first real heat of the year, into the 30s in London with thunderstorms once a week between the hot sunny weather. Night time temperatures staying at a decent level of about 15C.

Summer

Following on from May, the summer months are all way above average sunshine wise and temperature wise. London records 40C in July and night time temperatures don't drop much below 18-20C with day time temperatures from 25-35C. Thunderstorms galore.

Autumn

Following on from Summer, we see a warm start, staying warm until Mid October with temperatures still 20C or above. After this, the atlantic attacks and we see some some good storms. Staying quite mild with temperatures double figures throughout.

[Bottesford]

One main important ingrediant for all seasons - sunshine. Hot, warm or cold - the more sunshine we get the better.

Winter - for me needs to be a repeat of this winter that has featured ample sunshine, some mild periods that have saved a fortune/been easier to deal with and then some cold periods with good snowfall (best snowfall in years happened this Feb). I think I'd like one more cold & snowy snap early on too to make it perfect - say around mid December. A bit more rain would be useful too I think.

Spring - lots of mixture. Kick off March with some warm sunshine then a move in a heap of needed rain. Move into April we have a northerly with hefty convective snow showers before a switch back to warm sunshine. Then maybe one last gasp of winter cold before things warm up in May and we enjoy some spring showers mixed with sunny warm to very warm periods.

Summer - hot, sunny & dry is the preference, 25c-27c is the ideal temperature for daytime and mins around 18c. We then have some hot 30c+ periods too which break down with massive thunderstorms (but not when I've planned a bbq!). A summer where the sun seems to almost constantly shining and you rarely have that irritating "it's not quite warm enough" feeling when sitting outdoors.

Autumn - starting warm before cooling and bringing in copious rain & gales through October. Get a decent frost in during early November before more rain & wind into early December.

The main rules-

LOTS of sunshine

Most rainfall occurring during autumn & winter with some in early spring.

Summers totally devoid of Atlantic storms and cool cloudy NElies.

Sunniest & driest weather concentrated around the peak daylight months.

[Aaron]

Winter

Begins in late November when average daily temperatures fall below freezing continuously for the first time since March. Come January temperatures are largely sub-zero day and night, maxes around -2C and mins around -11C mostly, but dipping below -20C once or twice. Large snowstorms similar to North American nor'easters deliver massive amounts of snowfall in short periods of time, these are frequent and often create blizzards lasting hours. Many sunny days with little to no wind however.

By mid March, average daily temperatures will start to creep above freezing and the snow cover will be largely gone by April.

Spring

Begins in early April when maximum temperatures begin exceeding 10C with lows around 0C/-1C. By May, maximum temperatures will be well above 10C, averaging around 15C, occasionally rising to 23C a few times later on in the month. The seasons last air frost will occur in late May and the seasons last snowfall will occur in early May.

Summer

Begins in June, when daytime temperatures exceed 20C far more frequently. Daytime highs will usually peak at around 26C by late June, and low temperatures will usually dip to around 3C early in the month. Thundery downpours become more frequent by mid month. By July, average daily highs will be around 23C/24C with some days reaching 31C, but these are usually short lived. Nighttime temperatures will usually be between 9C-15C, rarely above 18C. August is the wettest month of the year due to the high frequency of thunderstorms/thundery downpours. The seasons last 30C will occur late in the month before temperatures rapidly begin to fall by early September/

Autumn

Begins in mid September when daytime highs above 20C all but disappear. The seasons first air frost should occur late in the month, dipping just below freezing. October usually has the seasons first snowfall, usually around 3cm or so, and daytime temperatures below 10C become very frequent with nights down to -5C occasionally. By November, winter is approaching, the first major snowfall occurs in this period, around 20cm or so, with the first nighttime temperatures below -10C occurring.

[Thundery wintry showers]

Like Bottesford the no.1 ingredient for me has to be a reliable supply of sunshine.

In a nutshell my ideal sequence runs as follows:

Winter

Average maxima of 5C and minima of -2C in December and January, maxima up to 6C in February.

December- A cold first week with sunshine and snow showers and occasional thunder. Generally mild during the middle fortnight, often sunny and dry but with a couple of short-lived blustery showery westerly incursions. Cold weather with sunshine and snow showers returning after the 23rd.

January- The late December cold spell continuing during the first week of January with sunshine and snow showers, then a transition to a dry, sunny and increasingly mild second week. A westerly-dominated second half, characterised by sunshine and blustery showers, fairly mild initially but a spell of "cold zonality" during the last third of the month with snow showers (imagine a colder version of the first week of March 1995).

February- Often dry sunny and mild during the first half, interspersed with a cold showery episode around the 8th with some snow and hail showers. A cold spell in the second half with several days of sunshine and snow showers, occasional thunder and sharp night frosts. Milder with blustery showers at the very end of the month.

Spring

Average maxima of 9-10C in March, 13-14C in April, 18C in May. Average minima, 0C in March, 3C in April, 6-7C in May.

March- A potent Arctic outbreak in the first few days with sunshine and snow showers, snow cover surviving the daytime sunshine, occasional thunder and sharp night frosts. Often dry, sunny and warm during the middle fortnight but a couple of short-lived colder showery episodes with hail showers. Another Arctic outbreak in the last week with sunshine, snow showers, hail and occasional thunder.

April- Showery first week with occasional hail and thunder. Dry, sunny and increasingly warm in the second week (up to around 20C) then a switch-around with sunshine and wintry showers and some hail and thunder in the third week. Sunny and increasingly warm again in the last third of the month, a thundery breakdown at the end.

May- A heatwave during the first week followed by a thundery breakdown, then a switch to cold weather in the second week, wintry showers accompanied at times by thunder. A switch back to warm sunshine around midmonth, and generally warm and sunny during the second half apart from a couple of brief cooler showery thundery episodes.

Summer

Average maxima of 22-23C in June, 25C in July and August. Minima: 11C in June, 13C in July and August.

June- Hot sunshine interspersed with thundery outbreaks in the first week. A cooler showery episode in the second week, followed by a sunny and increasingly hot third week (up to around 30C at the peak of the heatwave). A showery and thundery spell around the 21st-24th then sunny and mostly dry for the remainder of the month.

July- A showery thundery start then dry sunny and increasingly hot up until the 11th. A showery thundery spell around midmonth with a cooler showery episode following in the third week, followed by more sunny and increasingly hot weather during the last third of the month, mostly dry bar a couple of thundery days.

August- The hottest and sunniest month of the summer. After a couple of showery days, sunny and mostly warm/hot from the 3rd to 25th but with a couple of notable thundery interruptions around the 9th-12th and 16th-18th, the former preceded by the hottest spell of the year (up to around 32C). Another thundery breakdown around 22nd/23rd leading into a cooler last week, with a northerly outbreak around the 27th giving hail showers and some thunder, but becoming warm and sunny again at the month's end.

Autumn

Average maxima of 20C in September, 13-14C in October, 8C in November. Average minima of 9-10C in September, 4-5C in October, 0C in November.

September- Starting off hot and sunny, then a thundery breakdown. Cool, showery and breezy for a time around midmonth with some hail, then mostly warm and sunny in the last third with a couple of thundery outbreaks.

October- A mixed first week, showery and thundery midweek, notably warm and sunny near both ends of the week. An exceptional cold snap in the second week with thundery wintry showers, even on low ground. An anticyclonic spell in the third week, warm with hazy sunshine by day, cool and misty by night. Often showery and blustery during the last third of the month, and on the cool side.

November- Dry and warm with hazy sunshine during the first week, some chilly foggy nights. A cold snap in the second week with snow showers and occasional thunder. A mixed but generally sunny and often mild third week, then another Arctic outbreak in the last week with snow showers and night frosts.

[Isolated Frost]

Spring- sunshine every day- sometimes with cold snow showers, sometimes with thundery outbreaks and sometimes with warm air and high temperatures.

Summer- sunshine every day- sometimes simply just hot with very high temps and beautiful evenings, sometimes thundery outbreaks inbetween.

Autumn- sunshine every day- sometimes with heavy rain, sometimes with snow and sleet, and the odd thundery outbreak.

Winter- sunshine every day- sometimes snow showers, sometimes just cold, crisp sunshine.

Basically, extremely sunny first of all, some convection, preferably thundery between May-September, or wintry between October-April- but not too much.

[damianslaw]

With thoughts slowly turning to spring - my ideal spring would be a spring like 1995 which had it all:

-Cold start to March with much snow in the NW, further cold mid month, milder thereafter but a further cold northerly blast late in the month.

- Topsy turvy April with some very mild sunny conditions and some cold conditions but a major warm period at the end.

- Topsy turvy May a very warm glorious start, a very cold mid month with snow on the fells, warmer conditions towards the end.

Worst type of spring is one like 2009 - endless benign mild weather. Last spring was also very uninteresting apart from the very warm April. I'm always alarmed when we see a very warm April, the likes of April 87, 07 and 11 were followed by generally poor/very poor summers. Much rather the warmth arrived in May.

[MP-R]

Okay here goes:

January

The harshest month of the year. Low pressure frequently over the Channel bringing heavy snowfalls with bitterly cold E/NE winds. Where high pressure sinks southwards from the north, often sunny with harsh overnight frosts. Snow on the ground most days of the month.

Ave. Max: -2C

Ave. Min: -6C

February

More high pressure dominated with sunshine becoming a lot more common with snow on the ground and overnight frosts. Occasionally, Atlantic lows come up against a block to the NE and cause more snowfalls to keep snow totals up. On calm days, feeling occasionally like Spring is coming but very cold at night.

Ave. Max: 2C

Ave. Min: -5C

March

The jet gradually moves north throughout the month, starting with battleground snowy scenarios during the first third. Then turning wet and often windy for the second third. Then finally becoming springlike during the final third with high pressure trying to nudge in. Frosty nights still possible.

Ave. Max: 8C

Ave. Min: 2C

April

A mixed month, often bright and showery with at least one notherly bringing overnight snow followed by a clear sunny day. As the month goes on, it begins feeling pleasantly warm. High pressure and slack low pressure alternating with each other. The first heatwave towards the end of the month with thunderstorms.

Ave. Max: 16C

Ave. Min: 6C

May

Often a high pressure-dominated month with sparkling sunny days and fresh nights, but occasionally high pressure moving eastwards and becoming increasingly warm and humid with thunderstorms. At least one spell of 3-4 days of rPm sunshine and showers as these bring hail for added interest.

Ave. Max: 21C

Ave. Min: 10C

June

The driest and sunniest month of the year. Pretty constant high pressure reasserting itself after drifting eastwards and another replacing itself. Occasional heavy downpours and/or thunderstorms but an equal share of warm and cool nights.

Ave. Max: 25C

Ave. Min: 14C

July

The hottest month of the year. A continuation of anticyclonic periods but with increasing emphasis on slacker airflows and thunderstorms breaking out in the evening/overnight/early morning. Winds often off the continent and feeling humid.

Ave. Max: 27C

Ave. Min: 16C

August

A continuation of July's theme with increasingly hot and humid days and warm night, often with thunderstorms around. Still emphasis on sunshine and occasionally misty/foggy mornings to remind us autumn is not far.

Ave. Max: 26C

Ave. Min: 17C

September

The most thundery month of the year. Increasing pressure from the Atlantic as the month wares on with frequent thunderstorms/thundery downpours and feeling cooler by the middle of the month. The first cooler nights by the final third ofthe month with misty mornings at times.

Ave. Max: 22C

Ave. Min: 13C

October

Often quite settled still during the first half with pleasant days and increasingly cool nights. Becoming more Atlantic-dominated towards the second half of the month with the first gales showing hand by the final third. More frontal rainfall as well as convective setups.

Ave. Max: 16C

Ave. Min: 7C

November

The wettest and most unsettled month of the year. Frequently Atlantic-dominated with gales, heavy rain and showers around, turning increasingly wintry later in the month. Occasional settled interludes with the first frosts of the season.

Ave. Max: 10C

Ave. Min: 2C

December

Still Atlantic-dominated to start with increasingly chilly days with mixed showers. Calming down as high pressure moves in from the Atlantic and merges with the Scandi or Siberian high bringing a frosty spell. Heights moving northwards in the final third opening the door to easterlies and Channel lows with the first snowfall before Christmas.

Ave. Max: 4C

Ave. Min: -2C

I clearly have far too much spare time at the moment.

[A Winter's Tale]

Winter

December:

To begin with, the Atlantic dominating, however on the cold side with potent arctic and polar maritime blasts lasting around 3 or 4 days and bringing below average temperatures and persistent, widespread, beefy snowy showers and some troughs and polar lows bringing more prolonged periods of snow. Anticyclonic conditions for around mid-month bringing sunny but cold days with some fog and harsh night-time frosts. High pressure finds itself over Greenland with a ridge linking to Iceland and Svalbard bringing very cold and snowy conditions for the week leading to and including Christmas. Potent NEly bringing very cold conditions to all with ice days and sub -10C nights for many. Widespread, heavy snow showers and streamers for many areas with Scotland and NE England worst hit - still with plenty of sunny spells. Following Christmas, a northerly establishes itslef bringing snow to the N, W and Ireland with very cold conditions with sunshine continuing. Mean Max: -3C Mean Min: -7C

January:

Very cold to start off with under a Nly. Settled with some snow flurries until we see Low pressure in the south bringing heavy snow, before an easterly reastablishes itself with more snow for the N and E. Around mid-month, settled but very cold until the Atlantic breaks through bringing stormy, less cold conditions with hill snow and to lower levels in the north at times. Cold, conditions in between fronts with more heavy snow showers and more substanstial systems for Scotland and the W. One or two more pronounced northerlies with one or two frontal snowfalls. Rarely mild before high pressure sets up over UK bringing settled but cold conditions. Mean Max: -1C Mean Min: -6C

February:

High pressure ends up Northern Scandinavia and Iceland resulting in a cold easterly feed into the UK with regular snow showers to Eastern and Central areas. One or two frontal snowfalls for the S and SW, generally very cold and sunny. Before mid month, high pressure moves further west allowing for a northerly. Before one final atlantic surge from the Atlantic, High pressure sits over the UK to end the winter on a settled, but cold note. Mean Max: 0C Mean Min: -5C

Spring

March:

We have a final attack from the NE to begin Spring with very cold conditions and notable snow for the North and East. Winds then changing to a northerly before the Atlantic breaksthrough with a frontal snowfall. Then it becomes far more settled and sunny with high pressure and the first warmth. Finally, the Atlantic takes control bringing over night rain and sunny days with varied temperatures depending on the airstream, some days warm, some days cool with hail and hill snow. To finish the month, we have a northerly outbreak bringing some regular light snow showers before an area of low pressure moves north over the UK stalls over Scotland resulting in major snowfall. Mean Max: 8C Mean Min: 2C

April:

A mixed month with generally sunny but showery conditions inbetween overnight fronts with some mild conditions and some cold. However, one notable northerly outbreak around mid-month leading to cold conditions with snow showers and some accumilations in an unstable flow. However, for the final third of the month, high pressure takes control and we have lots of sunny and pleasant to warm temperatures. Mean Max: 15C Mean Min: 5C

May:

Warm and sunny to begin with some cool nights and gradually getting warmer, until the 12th when we see intesnse thunderstorms. Fronts crossing the UK with overnight rain and sunny days, but cool in polar westerly winds with some hail showers before we see a potent northerly bringing hill snow and to lower levels in Scotland. For the final third of the month, a return to sunny and warm conditions with any rain tending to occur during the night. Mean Max: 18C Mean Min: 6C

Summer

June: To begin with warm and sunny with occasional showers but little in the way of thunderstorms. This ends before mid month with a thundery breakdown with a cooler but sunny period prevailing with some thundery spells and hail being a possibility. To end the month, very warm and sunny conditions around the mid to late 20s but feeling pleasant with a nice breeze. Some cool nights with a touch of frost in Scottish Glens and some warmer nights but never muggy. Average Max: 23C Average Min: 14C

July: Warm and thundery to begin with and a return to the Atlantic for a breif period - again rainfall overnight. However, for a good week or two, we return to the warm and sunny conditions with few showers but feeling fresh in the breeze. Then, a hot and thundery end as shower activity increases until the Atlantic intervenes again to top up on the rainfall front. Average Max: 25C Average Min: 15C

August: Very warm start but with a fresh breeze and the odd, sharp, but short shower. Then becoming drier and hotter with a lighter breeze. Then, we see a return to showery conditions and the breeze in a slightly cooler period but still sunny with temperatures hovering around the late teens and low twenties. We finish the month on a relatively cool night with spells of settled, conditions with mist and fog with cool morning aswell as cold showery spells inbetween the odd front with hail in the north - still generally sunny. Average Max: 23C Average Min: 12C

Autumn

September: We start off with a cool, showery, fresh note with lots of sunshine in between overnight, prolonged rainfall. We then see the warmth return in an Indian Summer with lots of sunshine - however nights remain on the cool side. Before the final third, we see one last sight of the Atlantic before we return to sunny conditions but gradualy getting cooler from the mid teens to begin with. To finish the month off, it's cold with the first frosts and hill snow and mist around but again, generally sunny and daytime temperatures at their peak feeling quite pleasant despite cool mornings, evenings and nights. Average Max: 17C Average Min: 7C

October: October starts on a cool, sunny note with showers and nigh-time frost until we see a short-lived spell of the Atlantic with heavy rainfall over night and cool, sunny days. Following this spell, we see a late bit of summer warmth with sunshine and warm to very warm conditions. However, this is also short-lived before we see a return to cooler conditions with Atlantic Low pressure systems over the UK at night allowing for sunnier days. A northerly before the end of the month before Halloween brings snowfall to many areas and widespread frosts. However, the cool conditions continue, but we see the Atlantic return with some overnight heavy rain and storms leading to long, settled, dry spells in between fronts with sunny intervals and generally cool with the risk of frost and fog - atmospheric for Halloween. Average Max: 15C Average Min: 4C

November: November starts off where October left off, with generally cool conditions with the frontal rainfall overnight and cold, sunny days with some cloud cover during the long spells. For Bonfire Night period, generally dry with no rainfall and partially cloudy skies with clear patches with the stars visible periods. However, cold evenings with frosts and perhaps fog is likely before fronts arrive. This routine of overnight rain and long settled periods with spells of sun and light cloud cover and frost should continue into the throughout the first half until we see a northerly around mid month bringing heavy snow to the North and many other areas. A frontal snowfall follows aswell as the High Pressure which brings settled, sunny and very cold conditions. To end the month we end up with a Greenie High ridging to Scandinavia bringing a potent easterly with very cold conditions and very heavy, persistent snow showers.

Mean Max: 7C

Mean Min: -1C

Edited February 15, 2012 by Campsie Snow Storm

[summer blizzard]

To be honest i am not the biggest fan of heat (no problems with extremely low temperatures though) but i am a fan of extremes provided there is sunshine so taking months from the last decade...

January: 2010

February: 2006

March: 2011

April: 2011

May: 2008

June: 2006

July: 2006

August: 2003

September: 2007

October: 2004

November: 2010 (2005 was very close though)

December: 2010

Sunny, dry and temperature extremes.

[Alex95]

January - Bitterly cold easterly winds in the first half bringing well over a foot of snow in the east. Milder second half with loads of sunshine.

February - A couple of potent NNE blasts bringing significant snow to the NE, otherwise mild and sunny.

March - Mostly mild or warm and showery, occasional thundery shower. Potent northerly lasting a few days towards the end bringing some significant snow from the North Sea.

April - Similar to March; mostly warm sunshine interspersed with showery spells, and a cold northerly around mid month.

May - Hot and humid spells with temperatures in the mid 20s with thunderstorms, interspersed with cooler showery spells.

June - Pleasantly warm and showery, with a couple of those showery SW'lies which give thunderstorms in the E and NE. Much cooler around mid month with ground frost at night, but getting hotter again by the end of the month.

July - Temperatures soar into the 30s to begin with, accompanied with spectacular thunderstorms. Cooler mid month, though still quite warm and showery, with a few thunderstorms here and there. Very warm and dry later on.

August - Becoming exceptionally hot at the beginning, leading to an amazing thundery breakdown. 20-25C mid month with some thundery outbreaks. A big Atlantic storm to follow, but a thundery spell with heatwave conditions to finish off the month.

September - Late summer sunshine throughout the month, with a Spanish Plume early on. Quite showery overall despite the warm sunshine in between, although there would be a few ground frosts by the end of the month when the winds fall light.

October - Big Atlantic storm at the start, followed by an Indian summer with temperatures in the mid 20s. Cold northerly to finish off with snow widely at low levels.

November - Settled first half with frost and fog, followed by a NE'ly dominated second half, with copious amounts of snow in the NE.

December - Mild stormy weather returns at the start, followed by high pressure and cold sunshine mid month. Snowy NNE'ly between Christmas and New Year.