It's that time of year when young people head off for the first time and families worry saying - take a big coat, you will need it. A new location brings new weather and climate with showers forecast for mid September.
As autumn begins to make its presence felt, it is the start of University terms and their 'Welcome Weeks' over the next month. As second and third years confidently return, wide-eyed freshers (and often their families) head off to new parts of the UK starting the next stage of the young person’s life. The local weather can come as a bit of a shock.
Several Scottish Universities started their semesters this weekend with brilliant sunshine and warmth on Saturday, fooling those heading to Edinburgh Uni that the weather of Scotland might be just like southern England. Locals pulled their waterproof coats out of bags with routine ease as the rain finally set in. And damp newbies ponder, maybe Mum/Dad was right. It won’t be the only time to think that over the next few months.
It’s a tricky, unstructured start before lectures actually get going. All the meet and greet questions and smiles, whilst finding your way around a new city or part of the country.
There is the warmth of halls, before the reality of heating your own rented flat. The different ‘TOG’ of duvets as the winter sets in. After the heat and fine weather of this summer, this month is cooling off. Maybe do just pack that winter coat.
It might be a change from the frequent rain of western Britain to the drier east coast. To an area of drought, although not many students will have a need for a hosepipe. It's worth thinking about if you do have a car to wash. Or the other way round, east to west and you will need that waterproof coat as weather systems run in from the Atlantic, making Northern Ireland, NW England and Wales wetter parts of Britain. For those heading north, you might even need thermals in a few months.
Universities heading back in mid-September will be Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, Bristol and UEA in Norwich. The forecast looks a bit mixed and showery on Saturday 13th. Liverpool 18C, Bristol 19C, Norwich 20C, Belfast and Glasgow at 16C. There will be sunny spells and the times of rain coming and going. Hopefully, the unloading slot at halls will be in brighter weather rather than a downpour. The forecast for Sunday might bring heavier rain and windy weather for Northern Ireland and Scotland. Just something to keep an eye on if you are travelling later in the weekend.
Forecast models are showing the possibility of a deep low pressure bringing heavy rain and stronger winds by Sunday 14th Sept
Average temperatures and rainfall through Autumn
September, then November - Average temperatures, maximum and minimum along with average days of rainfall (over 1mm). Based on nearest climate sites
Belfast - 16.6C 10C and 12 days. 10C 4.5C and 15 days
Liverpool - 17.7C 11C and 12 days. 10.5C 6C and 15.5 days
Norwich - 19C 10.5C and 9.4 days. 11C 4.5C and 12.8 days
Bristol - 19C 11C and 10.4 days. 11C 5C and 14.6 days
Glasgow - 16.5C 9C and 14 days. 9.3C 3.5C and 18 days
A move around the UK might also bring a higher chance of seeing snow, especially if mountains and hills are nearby. The thunderstorm distribution could also change but some people like a lightning storm, others really don’t.
Most thoughts might be about making friends, study and food or cooking, perhaps for the first time. However, do think about this change of seasons, along with your change of location. Yes, Scotland to southern England will be warmer, but by November you’ll be wanting that warm coat, rather than shorts and sandals in your tiny Uni hall wardrobe.
Another change will be laundry. Although sales of foldable indoor drying clothes airers must rocket in September and early October (along with IKEA kitchen utensils) this is a time to be mindful of your own indoor air quality. Opening windows and putting on the extractor fan, for bathrooms and kitchen hobs. Not letting damp build up inside your room or flat as your laundry dries. Mould is likely to flourish as the weather outside cools down.
For those who love running or cycling, there is a change in outdoor air quality to consider. If you have moved from a rural setting to an inner city, it is worth thinking about the times of day when air pollution will peak, and how to track that information.
With a change of location, you may need to update any Met Office warning settings. Getting an amber alert for the place that you grew up in is of little use. The same for local flood warnings, from the Environment Agency in England, SEPA in Scotland and Natural Resources Wales. These can be for river levels, surface flooding and coastal conditions at the beach. Maybe check those out for your new address or workplace. This is not all doom and gloom, it’s just adult living. Just like the Emergency Alert on Sunday but that knows your location already.
September and October are months of change in our UK weather to windier, more unsettled and cooler conditions. There can be times of late heat, a bonus when everyone gets excited and then suddenly the mornings turn chilly and frost appears.
Good luck to all the freshers and their family and friends. It’s an exciting and emotional time. It’s sometimes easier when the structure of lectures begins. And just take a decent coat. Keep an eye on the Netweather Radar.
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