Mike Warren
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The 5 day forcast for Milnthorpe Weather is available here
The 7 day predictions for UK tides are available here
October 2004 was about 6 times as wet as last year with
over 150mm of rain, but only half as sunny with 65 hours
only of sunshine - but much of it was during the little summer
named after St Luke which occurs in the middle of the month.
It was also much warmer with the same average maximum temperature (13.4)
but a higher minimum (6.8 compared with 3.4 last year) - and there were
no air frosts this year although a very slight ground frost one night.
This year September started well with some lovely sunshine but
the latter tqo thirds of the month was much more dismal and
autumnal.
Minimum temperature 3.9 compared with 3.1 last year,
maximum temperature 25.1 this year - 23.5 last)
Rainfall was only 130mm this year (147mm last year but only 62mm in 2002).
It was more sunny - 130 hours compared with 107 last year and 107 in 2002.
Weather Lore:
On Michaelmas Day (29th) the devil puts his foot on Blackberries.
They will certainly have got wet this year, but it is the low
temperatures which I believe taints the flavour.
This is the same piece as last year because once again the promise
of a good crop withered in the rain. I had not realised until
recently that there are many species of bramble - a few tens of different
ones occur in Cumbria - I always assumed that the different appearances
in the hedgerows and elsewhere were due to growing conditions.
You always learn something new!
What a wet month, but not exceptional overall according to my
observations over the last 17 years, although rainfall this
August was the most ever (158mm) and 10 times last year's
for August at only 15mm.
Average August rainfall over the last 17 years has been about 87mm,
and average sunshine 138 hours compared with 130 hours this year.
As they say in the long range weather forecast on the bbc website
(www.bbc.co.uk/weather) no-one invoked global warming for weather
of this sort 50 years ago in Lynmouth, so although the theories
and worries are valid, any one month's weather is unlikely to be
due mainly to it but to the random variation which makes our
weather such a talking point.
July was a little cooler but, despite the "poor weather" not as wet as last year. The average minimum temperature was 11.3 compared with 12.9 last year and the maximum was 20.1 compared with 22.1 last year. There was almost as much sunshine this year (126 hours, 133 last year) but also much less rain 53mm this year compared with 117 mm rain 2003. Despite the weather which we perceived to be bad it was more or less average!
This year it did rain on St Swithun's day 15th! It rained on nine days since then although amounts on some of these days were extremely small.
Back to the "English summer" now but early June was very good. Unfortunately we were away and there were some problems with my automatic weather logging (now sorted) so June 2004's records may not be as accurate as they could be, but the pattern is certainly correct.
However, despite the excellent dry weather while we were away, the deterioration in the second half of the month made it cooler again than last year (Minimum average 9.6 (11 last year) - Maximum average 19.3 (21.2 last year), and sunshine was down at 102.6 hours (161 last year) but rainfall was only 42mm (not entirely reliable - the sensor lens was dirty for a while) - 62mm last year, but we had plenty of wind to keep it feeling cool later in the month.
Last year I mentioned Bill Gates 3 month forecast at www.bbc.co.uk/weather but it has stopped - the substitute (only one month) is not as interesting.
May 2004 was much sunnier than last year - Sunshine 192 hours
(108 last year), and drier Rainfall 87 millimetres last year but
only 26mm this year.
Temperatures were higher (average maximum 18.8 degrees C) during
the day but with a lower average overnight (minimum 8.1 last year but 7.1 this year)
with some frosts which damaged vulnerable.
Plants in gardens.
Weather Lore:
St Dunstan was a great brewer, and sold himself to the devil, on condition that he would blight the rival drink - cider, by damaging the set of fruit - it was agreed it would take place on 17th - 19th May hence the blast of cold weather at this time - this year???
Although the night temperatures for April 2004 were markedly
higher than last year (average minimum 6.3 compared with 4.6 - and there
was no frost at all) the maximum was only 14.3 compared with 16.5 last year.
Last year was particularly dry, only 27mm rain but there were only 35mm this year.
The gardens are very dry as the month closes.
Despite all this it was not very sunny - during the high pressure
spell there was a lot of cloud even though it was dry.
Sunshine was only 80 hours this year (189 last).
We had 11 days with gusts of force 6 or more.
Weather Lore:
When April blows his horn - tis good for hay and corn - it was a windy april - look out for the hay and corn.
Average minimum temperature for March this year was the same as last 2.3C, but average maximum was lower at 10.6 compared with 13 last year. It was much sunnier last year (93 hours against 163 last year) but rainfall was similar - 69mm compared with 65mm this year.
But this year the equinox was much more typical with storm force 10 gusts of wind, wonderful high tides and a really turbulent spell of weather followed by some nice sunshine to let March out like a lamb.
Weather Lore:
better be bitten by a snake than feel the sun in March.
It was certainly warm
today (31st) and the warmest day of the month but last
year had a hotter day (though not the 31st).
Whilst February 2003 was a splendid, but much more wintery month
than 2002 - this year was not as cold, despite the cold snap at
the end of the month with sunshine and strong winds at times.
Average minimum temperature was 0.1 last year compared
with 1.2 this year, and the lowest was -4.2 compared with -4.7 last year.
This year's highest maximum was 12.6 compared with 12.8 last year.
We have again had some sustained high pressure, 110 hours of sunshine
last year was not fare ahead of this year's 102. Total rainfall of only
66mm (55mm last year) was still a contrast with 2002 with over 200mm, but
this year over 40mm fell in 36 hours at the beginning of the month
causing flooding.
Weather Lore:
The crocus was dedicated to St Valentine and should flower about that time - the same lore as last year, but this time they were on time and are going over - daffodils are beginning to show but are wilting due to the dry frosty ground.
January this year was colder overnight than last (average minimum
1.9 compared with 2.0) but warmer during the day (average maximum
7.8 compared with 6.8 last year).
Despite lowere temperatures during the night this was not matched
by sunny days (sun 33 hours against 67 last year) but as we have
just seen on 31st it was much wetter (130mm against 69mm last year)
We had 37.8 mm from 7pm on 30th to 7pm on 31st.
Although we did not have much snow here we had more than last year.
Bill Giles I have mentioned before - he was very accurate
on the forecast for January have a look at him sometime - www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
The year was warmer than average - average maximum temperature was 15.3 against 14.2, and in respect to this measure the warmest I have recorded by 0.5 degrees (second warmest 1989), but by contrast my other measure - average minimum was not the highest at 6.2 - in 1988 it was 7.7). It was the driest year since I have started my records 891mm - second lowest 940mm in 1996, and the sunniest with 1464 hours with the second sunniest at 1346 in 1989. I doubt if we can put this down to global warming with such a large variance, since rogue years will always occur, but we shall see how 2004 pans out.
December this year was colder than last year (Average minimum 0.8 compared with 2.9 last year although average maximum was 7.6 compared with 7.1) This year's minimum was -6 on 31st compared with -4.2 last year. With the 40.5mm 0n 26th following the 11.8mm on Christmas day, the rainfall this year was high at 123mm compared with 63mm last. It was however sunnier too with 55 hours (40 last year)
Weather Lore:
if windy on Christmas Day (It gusted up to force 6), trees will bring much fruit - we shall see.
A cooler month than last year although the Maximum minimum temperature was 11.2, so despite a minimum of -2.1 (2.2 last year so not proper frosts then) the average minimum was 5.2 compared with 5.4 last year. This year's was higher at 15.9 (13.8) so extremes were more marked this year. Although we had a moderate amount of rain it was dryer (98mm vs 120mm) and it was sunnier ( 48 hours vs 40)
Weather Lore:
If the geese at Martin's Day (St Martin 11th) do stand on Ice they
will walk on mud at Christmas
Well they certainly did not stand on Ice - the minimum temperature was 7.3 overnight and it was generally mild then. Does this mean that they will stand on Ice at Christmas - my book does not say.
October 2003 gave us an amazing autumn - Sunshine 134 hours
(80 last year), Rainfall 24 millimetres compared with 125 last year,
so the dry weather continues; rainfall looks as though it will
be about 200mm less than last year unless we have disproportionate
amounts in the next two months.
Temperatures were no higher but we had a few nice crisp frosts
(average maximum13.4 degrees C both years and minimum 3.9 compared
with 5 last year).
The colours have been superb - I wonder if we will catch up?
Weather Lore:
St Luke's little summer - around 18th - I have mentioned before - it was a big summer this year!
This month was a return to the more typical mixture of weather we
expect in Britain, although it was notably cooler (Minimum temperature
3.1 compared with 4.1 last year, maximum temperature 23.5 this year - 24.2 last).
Rainfall was also more 147mm this year (36mm - 2002).
42mm rain fell between 8pm on Sept 28th and 8pm Sept 29th.
It was less sunny - 107hours compared with 133 last.
Weather Lore:
On Michaelmas Day (29th) the devil puts his foot on Blackberries.
They will certainly have got wet this year, but it is the low
temperatures which I believe taints the flavour.
As you will expect from the publicity this summer August was a record year in several respects. The average minimum temperature was 12.2 last year compared with 12.4 this year and the maximum was 21.8 last year compared with 23.5 this year. Of course however these small differences cover much more variation than last year - the maximum overall temperature this year was 32.5 on August 9th (27.7 last year) and the minimum was 3.6 on August 31st (7.5 last year), both records for me. There was more sunshine this year (191 hours, 95 last year) but much less rain 15 mm compared with 59 in 2002
Weather Lore:
If the first week in August is unduly warm winter will be long and white - we shall see...
July was a warmer but wetter month than last hear. The average minimum temperature was 12.9 compared with 11.2 last year and the maximum was 22.1 compared with 20 last year. There was more sunshine this year (133 hours, 104 last year) but also much wetter 117 mm rain compared with only 57 in 2002. The sunniest July I have ever recorded was in 1989 with 238 hours of sunshine and only 20mm rain that year. It was also the warmest with a day maximum of 25.
Weather Lore:
It did not rain on St Swithun's day 15th!
Although we have had a fair amount since, we are entering
a period with a good forecast as the month ends.
June 2003 was much better than some over the last decade - temperatures
were a little higher than last year (average maximum 21.2 degrees C
(18.3 last year) and minimum 11.0 (10.4 last year) - but sunshine at 161
hours (79 last year), and rainfall at 62 millimeters compared with 84
last year were much better.
Only 10 records of wind gust speed of force 6 or more.
Weather Lore:
I wonder if anyone has followed Bill Giles as I suggested in Weather Lore
a few months ago - he has been surprisingly accurate in my view.
Given the variability of our weather he performs better than simply
predicting the general pattern.
Worth looking at for important events. (www.bbc.co.uk/weather).
May 2003 was very similar in many respects to last year - Sunshine
108hours (115 last year), Rainfall 87 millimeters compared with 89 last year.
Temperatures (average maximum 16.5 degrees C and minimum 8.1) were
within half a degree of last years values.
Weather Lore:
A cold May and windy makes barns full and findy - I recorded 21 occasions with with speed of Force 6 or more so we shall see what the harvest is like.
April 2003 although warmer than last year (average minimum 4.6
compared with 3.7 last year, average maximum 16.5 compared with
14.0 last, although the lowest minimum was -2.9 this year compared with -1.6 last year.
Similarly the overall maximum for this year was 25.8 compared with only 19.1 last year).
This was the result of the continuing high pressure continuing from March,
with glorious warm days but cool clear nights.
It was wetter last year (57mm compared with 27mm this year, and less
sunny - 189 hours this year against 147 last year.
Weather Lore:(sort of)
15th "This day is called swallow day because swallows ought to appear at this date"
- I did not see them this early this year despite the good weather,
although I have seen them earlier some years.
I suspect bad weather further south delayed them.
March 2003 was exceptional in the sunshine we had - 162 hours (105 last year)
and is the sunniest I have ever recorded (1991 had least 46 hours).
It was not as dry as last year though (69mm against 52 last year).
Average maximum temperature and maximum for the month were up 2
degrees at 13 and 18.
Weather Lore:
No weather lore this time - try Bill Giles month ahead or three month
forecast on
www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
We have been watching it and he is pretty good, although I think the March
weather was better than he had predicted - especially lasting longer
February 2003 was a splendid, but much more wintery month than
last year - average minimum temperature was 0.1 compared with 3.3
last year, and the lowest was -4.7 compared with -1.6 last year.
By contrast this year's highest maximum was 12.8 compared with 11.8 last year.
This no doubt was all down to sustained high pressure, 110 hours of sunshine
(36 last year), and glorious spring like weather on many days, but with night frosts.
A little snow early in the month and total rainfall of only 55mm (215mm last year!)
helped.
As I write we are back in rain and mild weather, but can look back on a glorious
month with some wonderful walks and days out for those of us fortunate enough to
have the opportunity.
Weather Lore:
The crocus was dedicated to St Valentine and should flower about that time - in fact they have been held back this year and are flourishing now.
January 2003 was a cooler month than last year,
although the lowest temperature recorded last year at -6.6
was lower than this years minimum (-5.8), but the average
minimum this year was 2 compared with 2.5 last year and
maximum this year was 6.8 compared with 7.8 last year.
Rainfall was lower this year at 69mm (86 last year)
and sunshine was better at 67 hours compared with only 35 last year.
There were some glorious days for walking this January, although
there was a lot of wind: 16 records of gusts in excess of force 5.
Weather Lore:
If St Paul's Day (25th) be fine so be the rest of the year - it was wet and windy!
As for the year, it has been very average for all measurements, compared with a wet year last time.
As I write this the news shows 31st December to be wet
with flooding in the South although - we have been
surprisingly dry here despite our westerly situation.
Temperatures were unexceptional - although minimum
temperatures were relatively high this year.
If anyone is interested in more detail, please let me know.
This year December had been a considerable contrast to last year.
I began last year's summary with the same words.
It was even drier, 76mm last year, with only 63mm
this year, but much less bright with 40 hours of sunshine
against 68 last year.
A look at the chart shows how many frosty nights
we had in December - nowhere near as cold as last year - average
minimum temperature was 2.9C compared with just below zero last year.
Weather Lore:
Frost on the shortest day is said to indicate a severe winter.
It was mild on that morning last year, although it had
been frosty the day before, but we were in the middle of
the frost spell this year although that spell only
lasted 4 days this year.
Last year I wrote, "A warmer month again than last year."
This applies again - minimum temperature - average - was
4.6C last year compared with 5.4 this year, and maximum was 10.8
this year compared with 10.4 last year.
We had high pressure this year too - average for the month
1012mB compared with 1021 last year, still high but more average for
November.
There was a similar amount of sun - 40 hours against 42 last year,
and rain at 120mm against 90 last year wasmuch more typical.
We have had a very mild month again, noticeably warmer than last year.
Weather Lore:
If there's ice in November that will bear a duck,
There'll be nothing after but sludge and muck.
With a lowest temperature of 2.2C, there was certainly no duck-bearing ice -
it remains to be seen what December is like.
A month of more contrast than last year.
Minimum temperature - average - was 10C last year compared
with 5C this year, and maximum was 13.4 this year compared with 15.9 last year.
There was a frosty spell which set the leaves off to some
fairly good colours, and then storms and rain - although this area
escaped the worst of it.
This year was wetter by 15mm (125mm total) but also sunnier at 80 hours compared with 54.
It was windier - I recorded days with winds of force 6 and above on 13 days
Weather Lore:
St Luke's little summer 18th - a sunny day of blue skies with frost in the morning.
September 2002 was colder than last year at night , with
the average minimum temperature being 9.3C last year and 9.0
this, but warmer by day with average maximum 18.7C last year
and 19.7 this.
September 2001 was not so sunny compared with this year, although it
was compared with the year before (89.5 hours in 2001 compared with 133.1 this year).
It was much drier with 125mm rain last year and only 36mm this.
It really has been a lovely month this year with the dry weather
only now breaking as I write this on October 2nd.
Weather Lore:
"Rain in September is good for the farmer but poison to the vine grower"
- I notice the decimation of the crop in Italy by rain in
September - I wonder how the British wine industry has
done - should be good this year.
The Blackberries are certainly delicious.
August this year has been warmer than last - despite our protestations of a bad summer.
Average minimum temperatures for the month were 12.2C compared with 11 last year,
and average maximum was 21.8 compared with only 17.4 last year.
It was dryer too with 59mm rain (125 last year), and sunnier - 95 hours compared with 83.
I think I have mentioned before the Chinese fifth season - late summer - but I think of
it each year when we get to the middle of August as the Rosebay willow herb begins to
fade and the mornings are often dewey - infact to cheat and look ahead the minimum
temperature on the night of 31st August/1st September was 4C only - very close to frost!
The poor summer continues - July had 57mm rain (last year 37) and
only 104 hours of sunshine (154).
Average maximum temperature was 2.2 degrees C lower at 20, and
average minimum was 1 degree lower at 11.2.
I recorded 6 occasions with a wind force of 6 or more - none last year.
There were 13 days with less than an hours sunshine compared with
only 2 last year.
There was no rain on St Swithin's day (15th).
Weather Lore:
Ne'er trust a July sky
When I wrote about May at the beginning of June, I said it was
raining, and as I write this at the end of June it is raining
again and very windy too. However, this last month has not been
so much wetter than last year with only 83 mm rain (63 last year)
and 79 hours of sun (92 last year).
The best recent June was in 1999 with 146 hours, and the best
I have recorded was 249 hours in 1995. As with May it was
windy - very few still days, and maxima of force 6 or
more on 11 days.
Lots of broken plants!
Lets look forward to July and hope for better.
Weather Lore:
If it rains on June 27th it will rain for seven weeks (It did not rain!)
I always used to say that the best month in the year is May,
and that the last couple of weeks are the best within the
month - how wrong this was this year.
Rainfall in 2001 was only 32mm with 89 this year and sun was
only 115 hours compared with 194 last year.
I have recorded 9 maximum wind speeds of force 6 or more, with
one gust at force 9.
Average maximum temperature for the month this year was 16.9
compared with 19.2 last year.
Minima were not much different.
The highest sunshine record was 232 hours in 1989 and the
least 101 hours in 1991.
The average is 138 for the period from 1989 - 2002.
The average rainfall has been 65mm.
As I write this it is 2nd June - and I am doing it because it is raining!
Weather Lore:
A wet may makes a big lot of Hay.
Weather in April was much sunnier than last year with 147
hours compared with 79 last year and drier with 57mm rain
compared with 94mm.
Average maximum temperature for this year was 14 degrees
Celsius compared with 12 last year.
More next month.
Weather Lore:
I am a bit late submitting this month's results having been away so this comment is short and I have no weather lore this time.
What a lovely few days we have had to end the month with the first
day of spring in it.
The average maximum temperature this year was 11.3C compared
with 9.2 last year, and the average minimum was 2.8, compared with 0.5
last year, when the overall minimum for the month was -7.3, eclipsing by
a long way this year's -1.7.
Rainfall and sunshine were similar - 52.4mm
of rain this year (55.8mm last year), and 105 hours of sunshine this year
with 119 last year.
Global warming continuing apace perhaps, or a natural phenomenon, or
blip in the weather which may be redressed next winter - we shall have to wait and see.
Weather Lore:
If it does not freeze on the 10th (it did not), a fertile year may be expected.
February 2002 has been an exceptional month.
- warmer than last year (average max 9 degrees C compared with 7.5
last year, minimum average 3.3 compared with -0.5 last year!)
and wetter - almost twice as much rain (215mm against 117 last year),
and only half as much sun ( 36 hours compared with 71 last year).
It has been windy - I recorded maximum speeds of force 8 only
once last year, with one force 10, seven force 9, eleven force 8 and
eleven force 7.
(See last month for Beaufort wind scale.)
As I write the temperature is dropping and winter is returning - but certainly this year has been unusual.
Weather Lore:
"On the eve of Candlemas day, Winter gets stronger or passes away."
Candlemas is February 2nd - on the eve it was very mild - so the saying
holds for this year.
The first month of 2002 was a warmer, wetter and less sunny month
than January 2001, (Average minimum temperature, 2.5C in 2002,
-0.2 in 2001, average maximum temperature, 7.8 in 2002, 5.8 2001,
rainfall 86 mm in 2002 against 64 in 2001, with sun at 65
and 35 hours respectively.
The cold start to the month continuing the wintry weather
of last December did not last, and it has been a very mild time.
Although the rain was forecast to be heavy, we actually had less
than one might imagine, so much so in fact that I wondered if my
rain gauge was giving accurate results, because sometimes it gets
blocked up if I do not check it often enough, but it was alright.
Across the estuary I could see it raining the other day while it
was dry at home, and in the Lakes and other places it has rained
much more heavily.
It has however been quite windy I have recorded maximum wind speeds of force 7, 8 and 9 on 6, 5 and 2 occasions respectively in January. (Last month there was on gust of force 11). There were no maxima above 4 or 5 in 2001.
| 0 | Calm | Smoke rises vertically | less than 1 knot |
| 1 | Light Air | Direction shown by smoke | 1- 3 knots |
| 2 | Light Breeze | Felt on face;leaves rustle Wind vane moves | 4 - 6 knots |
| 3 | Gentle Breeze | Small twigs in motion; light flag extended | 7 - 10 knots |
| 4 | Moderate Breeze | Raises dust small branches in motion | 11 - 16 knots |
| 5 | Fresh Breeze | Small trees in leaf sway, crested wavelets | 17 -21 knots |
| 6 | Strong Breeze | Large branches move, wires sing; umbrellas used with difficulty | 22 -27 knots |
| 7 | Near Gale | Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt when walking | 28 - 33 knots |
| 8 | Gale | Breaks off twigs, generally slows progress | 34 - 40 knots |
| 9 | Strong Gale | Structural damage - slates and chimneys | 41 - 47 knots |
| 10 | Storm | Trees uprooted; considerable structural damage | 48 - 55 knots |
| 11 | Hurricane | Seldom seen in UK severe damage | above 56 knots |
(Multiply the speed in knots by 1.15 to obtain miles per hour - eg upper gale force speed is 46 mph)
Weather Lore:
"If there is no snow before January there will be the more in March and April."
we shall see!
This year December had been a considerable contrast to last year.
It was very much drier, 147mm last year, with only 76mm this year,
and brighter with 68 hours of sunshine against 50 last year.
However, although we did not have the storms of the last two
years over Christmas, we had a maximum gust strength of Force
11 (60 knots, almost 70 mph) overnight on 27th December.
A look at the chart shows how many frosty nights we had in
December a colder month than for many years.
As for the year, it has been only the fourth sunniest since
I started to record sunshine, but also the third driest
(by comparison with last year which was the wettest).
Using the maxima and minima which I record, it was certainly not
the warmest year since 1987 - fourth coolest in fact.
I do not know the method used to calculate average temperatures,
for global warming studies.
If anyone is interested in more detail, please let me know.
Weather Lore:
"Frost on the shortest day is said to indicate a severe winter."
It was mild on that morning this year, although it had been frosty the day before.
A warmer month again than last year.
Minimum temperature - average - was 3.9C last year compared
with 4.6 this year, and maximum was 10.4 this year compared with 9.2 last year.
We had high pressure this month too - average for the month 1021mB compared
with 993 last year.
Also as the graphs show there was more sun - 42 hours against 30 last year,
and less rain - 90mm against 216 last year. At least we have not had the
floods of last autumn - put down to global warming, but we have had a very mild month.
Next month I shall be preparing the annual figures, and those showing the trends over the years I have been keeping records.
Weather Lore:
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member,
No shade, no flowers, no leaves, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds - No-vember
October has been particularly mild, and what a wonderful day to finish the month - compare these temperatures:
Average for month 2000 2001 8am temperature (degrees C) 8.0 12.0 Night Minimum temperature 6.1 10.0 8pm temperature 9.1 12.5 Day Maximum temperature 13.5 15.9
Also
2000 2001
Rainfall 241.5 110.7
Sunshine 61.5 54.2
But note also that it has not been as wet.
Some parts of the country have been on flood alerts again,
but here it has been relatively dry, although last year was
the wettest I have recorded since 1987, this year was the ninth wettest.
So is global warming established in Heversham - I still think we
must take a broad view, and recognise that natural variations
probably account for much of what we see, although we should
take the threat seriously, and not waste resources.
Weather Lore:
St Luke, 18th - St Luke's little summer - often a spell of good weather at this time.
The best day in October this year was the 12th, with 6.74 hours of sunshine,
the 18th itself having 4.29, but also 6.63mm rain.
Weather Lore:
"South Wind on September 21st indicates that the rest of the autumn will be warm"
- we shall see - the wind on that day was so light that no direction was recordable.
Weather Lore:
"At St Batholomew, there comes cold dew."
This is the 24th, and this year the cold dew was three days
late - minimum temperature 6.5C on 27th.
Weather Lore:
It has to be St Swithun's day (15th) for the first July of my reports.
On the 15th it was dry, as it was last year, but there has been rain
on four days since but also some good summer weather.
Although we sometimes get wet summers, the 40 days reputed to follow
a wet St Swithun's day never seems to occur.
Weather Lore:
"Cut your thistles before St John (24th), You will have two,
instead of one.
(If farmers cut them too soon they sprout even more
flowers and produce more seed)"
Weather Lore:
"A cold May and a windy, Makes a barn full and findy (good quality feel to the corn)."
Weather Lore:
"The 3rd April comes with the cuckoo and nightingale."
This seems odd - we are told springs are getting earlier, and yet
this date seems very early.
Nightingales had only just started singing in Mallorca when we
were there, and the cuckoos were passing through.
I think we have to be sensible about pollution, but I also
think we cannot be sure that what are percieved as changes due
to global warming might be a reflection of changes which have
gone on for a long time.
Weather Lore:
"March grows, never dows(thrives)" {Yorkshire}
If it is warm in March, and things grow too much, they will not thrive.
This month has not been too hot and unseasonal growth has not occurred.
Weather Lore:
"Good Morrow, Benedict; why, what's the matter, That you have such a February face, So full of frost, of storm, of cloudiness ?"
Shakespeare (Much ado about Nothing)
Alluding to the wide range of weather seen in the month, and "February fill dyke, be it black or white; But if it be white it's better to like.", suggesting that a cold snowy winter is better than a wet one.
There has been little growth in January, since this year the month has been noticeably colder than last with more sun and less rain. The average minimum temperature this year was -0.2 against 1.3 last year, reflecting the frosty spells we had (15 vs 11 nights below zero). Last year there were 178mm of rain and 57 hours of sunshine, but this year we had 64mm of rain and 65 hours of sunshine. 1987 and 1997 were the coldest Januaries which I have recorded (Average minimum -0.8), and 1994 and 1995 were the wettest with about 185mm rain each. The warmest January was in 1992 (average maximum temperature 9.2 - this year 7.1)
Monthly charts for the year 2004 charts are made available here.
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| Barometric Pressure |
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| Rainfall & Sunshine |
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Monthly charts for the year 2003 charts are made available here.
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| Barometric Pressure |
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| Rainfall & Sunshine |
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Monthly charts for the year 2002 charts are made available here.
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| Barometric Pressure |
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| Rainfall & Sunshine |
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Monthly charts for the year 2001 charts are made available here.
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| Barometric Pressure |
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| Rainfall & Sunshine |
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Monthly charts for the year 2000 charts are available now to look back over what has been a reasonable year apart from the intensely wet period, and I shall attempt to produce monthly charts for this new year as it progresses and add some comments and interesting comparisons with earlier years.
The charts for the months in 2000 can be found with the links below:
| Temperature |
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| Barometric Pressure |
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| Rainfall & Sunshine |
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We have lived in Heversham for twenty years, and fourteen
years ago I started to keep weather observations, something
I had not done since childhood.
I have always had an interest
in the weather and so dropped some hints around Christmas and some
meteorological thermometers turned up!
I built a Stevenson screen out of some unwanted louvre doors and started records from January 1987.
I recorded temperature twice a day, with maximum and minimum, wet bulb temperature for relative humidity, rainfall, sunshine from 1989, wind direction and force, cloud height and cover and general conditions.
This type of screen is widespread, and can be seen in a variety of locations. The thermometers are kept inside to give conditions which measure temperatures in the shade without the influence of direct sun, for example, to give consistent and comparable results from day to day.
Three years ago, my thermometers were showing signs of age and so further seasonal hints produced some new apparatus - this time electronic, with cables from sensors outside to a display case in the hall and a logging box in my study, which allows me to keeptrack when I am away!
My original records were kept on a BBC computer, but after its day have been processed using windows bases software to produce basic tables of measurements, and charts of major weather indices.
Below are pictures of my modern apparatus the small thermometer screen, the optical sensor rain gauge on a post and the wind and sunshine sensors on the TV mast:
Dr Mike Warren
email
Mike Warren