In the year that over 30,000 people died when Mount Pelee (Martinique) erupted; Cuba gained independence from the United States, although Guantanamo Bay Naval Base continued to be leased to the US, and Edward the Seventh was crowned king in the UK. Weather Notes:- 31st January - The barometric pressure at Aberdeen reached 1053.6mb. 10th September - Over 50mm of rain fell in less than 30 minutes at Surbiton (Surrey). 5th December - 15-20cm of level snow, with drifts over 100cm, was measured in parts of central and northern Kent.
In London...
Temperature
9.7°C
Rainfall
544.6 mm
Warmest
28.3°C
Sunshine
1289 hrs
Coldest
-7.9°C
January - Very dry and rather mild with normal sunshine.
Mean Temperature
5.4°C
Monthly Highest
11.5°C
Total Rain
19 mm
Monthly Lowest
-4.4°C
Total Sun
46 hrs
The beginning of the month was unsettled, and on the 1st, nearly 5mm of rain fell. It was mild at times, and on the 10th, the temperature rose above 11°C. Pressure was high around the middle of January bringing fine weather and some frosty nights. On the 14th, the temperature only rose to 2.1°C., and on the following night the minimum was below minus 4°C. After another milder spell, the end of January became colder with sunshine and wintry showers.
February - Dull, cold and dry.
Mean Temperature
2.2°C
Monthly Highest
11.4°C
Total Rain
22 mm
Monthly Lowest
-7.9°C
Total Sun
47 hrs
The first 3 weeks of February were mainly cold or very cold with plenty of dry, but rather cloudy weather. There was a little rain, drizzle, or snow, but there were some brighter days, and on the 9th it was sunny all day. The coldest weather was around the middle of the month, and on the 14th the maximum temperature only reached 0.9°C. Severe frosts occurred, but at the end of the third week it became milder and unsettled. On the 18th, nearly 5mm of rain fell.
March - Rather mild, dull and wet.
Mean Temperature
7.3°C
Monthly Highest
15.5°C
Total Rain
44 mm
Monthly Lowest
-1.1°C
Total Sun
94 hrs
The month was changeable with Atlantic frontal systems producing bands of rain and drizzle followed by sunny spells and isolated showers. Winds were predominantly from the southwest resulting in above normal temperatures, however there were several slight frosts until the final week of March. Rainfall was generally light, although over 8mm fell on the 14th. On the 30th, the temperature only reached 7.2°C., but the maximum on the last day of the month was above 15°C.
April - Very dry, rather cold and dull.
Mean Temperature
8.5°C
Monthly Highest
18.7°C
Total Rain
12 mm
Monthly Lowest
0.1°C
Total Sun
134 hrs
The first 2 weeks of April were mainly dry, but rather cloudy and cold. There were several grass frosts, and on the 8th, the maximum temperature was only 6.7°C. During the third week the weather was sunnier and warmer for a while, and on the 19th the temperature rose close to 19°C. On the 22nd, nearly 3mm of rain fell, and the last week of the month was rather cool and showery. However, amounts of rain were mostly small, and on the 28th it was sunny all day.
May - Very cool, dull and rather wet.
Mean Temperature
9.7°C
Monthly Highest
21.2°C
Total Rain
62 mm
Monthly Lowest
0.2°C
Total Sun
167 hrs
Most of May was cool or very cool and showery. Amounts of rain were generally small but afternoons were frequently rather cloudy. On the 13th, it was dull and damp all day and the temperature failed to rise above 9.1°C. On the following night, clearing skies led to an air temperature very close to freezing. On the 17th, nearly 10mm of rain fell, but at the end of the month it became warmer with sunny periods. On the 31st, the afternoon temperature rose above 21°C.
June - Very wet, rather cool and dull.
Mean Temperature
14.8°C
Monthly Highest
26.9°C
Total Rain
94 mm
Monthly Lowest
4.5°C
Total Sun
181 hrs
The opening 3 weeks of June were mostly rather cool or cool and changeable. The second week was particularly poor, with a maximum temperature of only 12.2°C on the 9th. The 13th was another very cool, dull and wet day, with over 26mm of rain recorded. A slow improvement took place in the weather after mid month, and the last week of June became mainly dry with lengthy spells of sunshine. On the 30th, the afternoon temperature almost reached 27°C.
July - Dry and cool with near normal sunshine.
Mean Temperature
16.2°C
Monthly Highest
28.3°C
Total Rain
29 mm
Monthly Lowest
7.5°C
Total Sun
202 hrs
The first 2 days of July were cool and unsettled. On the 1st, over 10mm of rain fell, and on the 2nd, the afternoon temperature failed to rise above 16.3°C. The remainder of the first week and most of the second week were mainly dry, sunny and warm. On the 7th there was unbroken sunshine, and on the 14th, the temperature reached 28°C. After mid month, although there was plenty of dry weather, winds were often from a cool northeasterly direction.
August - Very dull, cool and wet.
Mean Temperature
15.7°C
Monthly Highest
24.7°C
Total Rain
88 mm
Monthly Lowest
6.9°C
Total Sun
126 hrs
There were no sustained warm spells in this cool and unsettled month, and during the first half of August it was occasionally wet and very cool. On the 6th, over 21mm of rain fell, and on the 11th the maximum temperature was only 15.9°C. The weather was slightly better during the second half of August, and on the 16th the temperature rose close to 25°C. There were a few fairly sunny days, and on the 29th the highest temperature was near 25°C. again.
September - Cool and rather wet with above average sunshine.
Mean Temperature
13.6°C
Monthly Highest
23.2°C
Total Rain
64 mm
Monthly Lowest
2.8°C
Total Sun
161 hrs
The first half of September was mostly cool or very cool and changeable. On the 10th, over 35mm of rain fell, and on the 13th the afternoon temperature only reached 12.9°C. There were some dry and sunny days, and after mid month it generally became sunnier and less cool. After the 16th, there was no further measurable rain for the remainder of the month. A few rather warm days occurred, and on the 22nd the maximum temperature for the day was above 23°C.
October - Very dull, dry and rather cold.
Mean Temperature
9.9°C
Monthly Highest
17.9°C
Total Rain
33 mm
Monthly Lowest
1.6°C
Total Sun
60 hrs
Pressure was relatively high across the country during October, but the weather was often rather cloudy and damp. It was cold at times, and on the 3rd, it was exceptionally cold for so early in the month with a maximum temperature of only 8.3°C. There were some warmer days during the second week, and the high on the 10th was close to 18°C. Rainfall was mainly light during the month, but over 8mm fell on the 15th. By way of contrast, a rare sunny day occurred on the 21st.
November - Dull and dry with temperatures slightly below normal.
Mean Temperature
7.2°C
Monthly Highest
14.5°C
Total Rain
40 mm
Monthly Lowest
-1.2°C
Total Sun
40 hrs
The beginning of November was fairly mild and changeable, but with sunny periods occurring between rain bands. On the 7th, the temperature rose above 14°C. A colder and more settled spell of weather commenced at the end of the second week, and on the 19th the temperature failed to rise above 1.5°C. all day. There were some frosty night during the third week, but the end of the month was milder and unsettled again. On the 30th, nearly 9mm of rain fell.
December - Dull and dry with near normal temperatures.
Mean Temperature
5.3°C
Monthly Highest
13.9°C
Total Rain
35 mm
Monthly Lowest
-3.5°C
Total Sun
32 hrs
A strenghtening east to northeast wind brought cold weather early in the first week, and this lasted until the middle of the second week. On both the 5th and 6th the maximum temperature was only 0.5°C. Sharp frosts occurred, but later in the second week it became milder. There was plenty of dry weather through the rest of December and it was often mild. On the 17th the temperature almost reached 14°C., but on the same day over 11m of rain was recorded.
