1973 Dry and Sunny. A Dry Winter.
In the year that the UK, Ireland and Denmark became members of the EEC (European Economic Community), Greece became a Republic, and Augusto Pinochet successfully led an American-backed coup against the democratically elected government of Chile. In the world of music, Sweet with 'Blockbuster', and Slade with 'Merry Christmas Everybody' each spent 5 weeks at Number One in the UK charts.
Weather Notes:-
6th July - Over 118mm of rain fell in 3 hours at Chessington, Surrey.
20th September - Very wet over Kent, Essex and Sussex . Rainfall was generally over 25mm, with Kent worst hit. More than 60mm fell at Herne Bay, 70mm at Folkestone, nearly 170mm at Manston Airport and over 190mm at West Stourmouth near Canterbury.
30th November - Freezing fog persisted all day across parts of northern England and southern Scotland. The midday temperature was only minus 5°C. at Glasgow Airport, with Manchester and Carlisle having highs for the day of only minus 2°C.
In London...
January - Very dry and dull with temperatures slightly above normal.
The first day of the year was foggy with the temperature not rising above 3°C. Although the following days were milder, high pressure dominated the weather producing many dry, but rather cloudy, days. Less than 1mm of rain fell during the first 11 days of January, but it then became unsettled for a while. On the 14th, 3mm of rain fell but there was no further rain until the 20th. The rest of the month was changeable and mild, but pressure stayed fairly high with rainfall light.
February - Very dry and rather sunny with temperatures slightly below normal.
The opening week of the month was dry and rather mild with variable amounts of cloud. Rain on the 8th was followed by a spell of breezy, unsettled, and often rather cold, weather, with winds predominantly blowing from the northwest. Around mid month, showers turned wintery, but during the third week it became milder for a while. During the last 10 days of the month chilly northwest winds returned, with sunshine and showers, but with only small amounts of rain.
March - Sunny, mild and very dry.
Atlantic fronts brought rather cloudy, damp and mild weather during the first week. The 7th was a sunny day as pressure built across the country, but as the anticyclone settled over northern Britain rather cold and cloudy northeast winds developed. The high on the 13th was only 7°C. At the end of the third week, winds became variable and it became very mild and sunny. On the 23rd, the temperature exceeded 17°C. The last week of March was cooler and fairly unsettled.
April - Cold with above average rainfall and slightly below normal sunshine.
Nearly 8mm of rain fell overnight on the 1st/2nd in a changeable start to April. Northerly winds blew during the second week bringing sunshine and wintery showers, although the end of the week was milder but rather cloudy. On the 15th, the temperature reached 17°C, but cold north to northeast winds returned at the end of the third week. There was some sunny and mild weather during the last week, and on the 26th the temperature exceeded 17°C.
May - Rather cold, dull and wet.
There was a cool start to May, and on the 3rd thundery rain totalled close to 19mm. The weather settled down for a while at the end of the second week, with plenty of sunshine but also chilly nights. On the 18th, the temperature reached 20°C. but then the weather became changeable again. Temperatures were slightly above average, and on the 24th a short warm spell began. On the 27th, the high was above 24°C, but the end of the month became cooler and unsettled.
June - Sunny and rather wet with temperatures slightly above normal.
After a rather cool and cloudy start to June, it became mostly sunny and increasingly warm. on the 8th the high was 26°C. The second week became cooler for a while, but there was still plenty of sunshine. On the 16th, the high was over 27°C. Apart from a little rain early in the month, June had been dry, but on the 20th, over 41mm of rain fell with a high of only 14°C. Heavy rain fell again on the 27th and 28th, but the last 10 days of the month were mostly fine and warm.
July - Cool with below average sunshine and near normal rainfall.
The temperature reached 27°C. on the 1st, and again on the 4th, and although unsettled at times, the mainly warm weather persisted through most of the second week. After mid month, it was rather cool, changeable and often quite breezy. On the 23rd, the maximum temperature was only 16°C. During the last week of July, high pressure brought settled weather, but cloud amounts were variable, and temperatures were only around normal at best.
August - Rather warm and dry with above average sunshine.
The beginning of August was warm and sunny, and on the 2nd, the high was 27°C. Cooler, westerly winds arrived on the 3rd, and the 5th was wet, with almost 17mm of rain and a high of only 17°C. During the second week it became mostly sunny and warm, and on the 14th, the temperature reached 30°C, with nearly 31°C recorded on the 16th. Severe thunderstorms occurred on the evening of the 27th, but generally the rest of the month was sunny and warm.
September - Rather warm, wet and sunny.
September began mainly very warm and sunny. On the 5th, the temperature rose above 29°C. This weather persisted until the 9th, but although a cold front then brought somewhat lower temperatures, it remained pleasantly warm and sunny until mid month. The third week was was unsettled, and on the 19th, the high was only 15°C. It became very wet on the 20th with over 48mm of rain falling. The rest of the month was then rather cool and changeable.
October - Cold and dry with slightly above average sunshine.
The first week of October was unsettled but rather warm. On the 5th, the temperature climbed above 21°C. During the second week it became much cooler, and the high of 12°C. on the 11th was 5°C. lower than on the previous day. The rather cold, and sometimes wet and windy, weather persisted until the fourth week. On the 23rd, an area of high pressure developed bringing dry, sunny and pleasantly mild weather, although the last 2 days of October were dull.
November - Dry, sunny and rather cold.
After a mild start to the month, with a high of 16°C. on the 3rd, the weather became colder on the 4th as brisk northwest winds developed. However, very mild air returned on the 8th with a high of 15°C, before cool northwesterlies followed around mid month. There was plenty of dry and bright weather after mid month, and although daytime temperatures were near normal there were some frosty nights. There was a wintery end to the month with a high only 2°C. on the 28th.
December - Rather mild, dry and sunny.
Sunny weather and severe overnight frosts gave way to much milder weather early on the 3rd, and on the 4th, after an overnight low near 9°C, the afternoon high was over 12°C. Although the weather was fairly unsettled after the 3rd, amounts of rain were small until the end of the third week. Nearly 11mm of rain fell on the 21st, but from Christmas until the last day of December it was mostly cloudy, breezy and generally mild with little in the way of further rainfall.
6th July - Over 118mm of rain fell in 3 hours at Chessington, Surrey.
20th September - Very wet over Kent, Essex and Sussex . Rainfall was generally over 25mm, with Kent worst hit. More than 60mm fell at Herne Bay, 70mm at Folkestone, nearly 170mm at Manston Airport and over 190mm at West Stourmouth near Canterbury.
30th November - Freezing fog persisted all day across parts of northern England and southern Scotland. The midday temperature was only minus 5°C. at Glasgow Airport, with Manchester and Carlisle having highs for the day of only minus 2°C.
In London...
| Temperature | 10.1°C | Rainfall | 476.0 mm | Warmest | 30.6°C |
| Sunshine | 1668 hrs | Coldest | -7.1°C |
January - Very dry and dull with temperatures slightly above normal.
| Mean Temperature | 4.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 11.1°C | Total Rain | 14 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.0°C | Total Sun | 33 hrs |
The first day of the year was foggy with the temperature not rising above 3°C. Although the following days were milder, high pressure dominated the weather producing many dry, but rather cloudy, days. Less than 1mm of rain fell during the first 11 days of January, but it then became unsettled for a while. On the 14th, 3mm of rain fell but there was no further rain until the 20th. The rest of the month was changeable and mild, but pressure stayed fairly high with rainfall light.
February - Very dry and rather sunny with temperatures slightly below normal.
| Mean Temperature | 4.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 11.9°C | Total Rain | 13 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -1.0°C | Total Sun | 72 hrs |
The opening week of the month was dry and rather mild with variable amounts of cloud. Rain on the 8th was followed by a spell of breezy, unsettled, and often rather cold, weather, with winds predominantly blowing from the northwest. Around mid month, showers turned wintery, but during the third week it became milder for a while. During the last 10 days of the month chilly northwest winds returned, with sunshine and showers, but with only small amounts of rain.
March - Sunny, mild and very dry.
| Mean Temperature | 7.3°C | ||
| Monthly Hghest | 17.4°C | Total Rain | 14 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.5°C | Total Sun | 147 hrs |
Atlantic fronts brought rather cloudy, damp and mild weather during the first week. The 7th was a sunny day as pressure built across the country, but as the anticyclone settled over northern Britain rather cold and cloudy northeast winds developed. The high on the 13th was only 7°C. At the end of the third week, winds became variable and it became very mild and sunny. On the 23rd, the temperature exceeded 17°C. The last week of March was cooler and fairly unsettled.
April - Cold with above average rainfall and slightly below normal sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 7.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 17.1°C | Total Rain | 47 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.3°C | Total Sun | 147 hrs |
Nearly 8mm of rain fell overnight on the 1st/2nd in a changeable start to April. Northerly winds blew during the second week bringing sunshine and wintery showers, although the end of the week was milder but rather cloudy. On the 15th, the temperature reached 17°C, but cold north to northeast winds returned at the end of the third week. There was some sunny and mild weather during the last week, and on the 26th the temperature exceeded 17°C.
May - Rather cold, dull and wet.
| Mean Temperature | 11.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 24.1°C | Total Rain | 60 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.6°C | Total Sun | 176 hrs |
There was a cool start to May, and on the 3rd thundery rain totalled close to 19mm. The weather settled down for a while at the end of the second week, with plenty of sunshine but also chilly nights. On the 18th, the temperature reached 20°C. but then the weather became changeable again. Temperatures were slightly above average, and on the 24th a short warm spell began. On the 27th, the high was above 24°C, but the end of the month became cooler and unsettled.
June - Sunny and rather wet with temperatures slightly above normal.
| Mean Temperature | 15.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 27.1°C | Total Rain | 68 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 2.6°C | Total Sun | 265 hrs |
After a rather cool and cloudy start to June, it became mostly sunny and increasingly warm. on the 8th the high was 26°C. The second week became cooler for a while, but there was still plenty of sunshine. On the 16th, the high was over 27°C. Apart from a little rain early in the month, June had been dry, but on the 20th, over 41mm of rain fell with a high of only 14°C. Heavy rain fell again on the 27th and 28th, but the last 10 days of the month were mostly fine and warm.
July - Cool with below average sunshine and near normal rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 16.2°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 27.1°C | Total Rain | 54 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 4.6°C | Total Sun | 186 hrs |
The temperature reached 27°C. on the 1st, and again on the 4th, and although unsettled at times, the mainly warm weather persisted through most of the second week. After mid month, it was rather cool, changeable and often quite breezy. On the 23rd, the maximum temperature was only 16°C. During the last week of July, high pressure brought settled weather, but cloud amounts were variable, and temperatures were only around normal at best.
August - Rather warm and dry with above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 17.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 30.6°C | Total Rain | 43 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 8.1°C | Total Sun | 199 hrs |
The beginning of August was warm and sunny, and on the 2nd, the high was 27°C. Cooler, westerly winds arrived on the 3rd, and the 5th was wet, with almost 17mm of rain and a high of only 17°C. During the second week it became mostly sunny and warm, and on the 14th, the temperature reached 30°C, with nearly 31°C recorded on the 16th. Severe thunderstorms occurred on the evening of the 27th, but generally the rest of the month was sunny and warm.
September - Rather warm, wet and sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 15.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 29.1°C | Total Rain | 71 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 3.2°C | Total Sun | 184 hrs |
September began mainly very warm and sunny. On the 5th, the temperature rose above 29°C. This weather persisted until the 9th, but although a cold front then brought somewhat lower temperatures, it remained pleasantly warm and sunny until mid month. The third week was was unsettled, and on the 19th, the high was only 15°C. It became very wet on the 20th with over 48mm of rain falling. The rest of the month was then rather cool and changeable.
October - Cold and dry with slightly above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 9.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 21.5°C | Total Rain | 25 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -1.3°C | Total Sun | 104 hrs |
The first week of October was unsettled but rather warm. On the 5th, the temperature climbed above 21°C. During the second week it became much cooler, and the high of 12°C. on the 11th was 5°C. lower than on the previous day. The rather cold, and sometimes wet and windy, weather persisted until the fourth week. On the 23rd, an area of high pressure developed bringing dry, sunny and pleasantly mild weather, although the last 2 days of October were dull.
November - Dry, sunny and rather cold.
| Mean Temperature | 6.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 16.1°C | Total Rain | 29 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -7.1°C | Total Sun | 94 hrs |
After a mild start to the month, with a high of 16°C. on the 3rd, the weather became colder on the 4th as brisk northwest winds developed. However, very mild air returned on the 8th with a high of 15°C, before cool northwesterlies followed around mid month. There was plenty of dry and bright weather after mid month, and although daytime temperatures were near normal there were some frosty nights. There was a wintery end to the month with a high only 2°C. on the 28th.
December - Rather mild, dry and sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 5.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 12.3°C | Total Rain | 38 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -6.6°C | Total Sun | 61 hrs |
Sunny weather and severe overnight frosts gave way to much milder weather early on the 3rd, and on the 4th, after an overnight low near 9°C, the afternoon high was over 12°C. Although the weather was fairly unsettled after the 3rd, amounts of rain were small until the end of the third week. Nearly 11mm of rain fell on the 21st, but from Christmas until the last day of December it was mostly cloudy, breezy and generally mild with little in the way of further rainfall.
