1975 Sunny and Rather Dry. Mild Winter and a Good Summer.
In the year that Margaret Thatcher took over from Edward Heath as leader of the Conservative Party, Bill Gates founded Microsoft, the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon. and Spanish dictator General Franco died. In the world of music, the Bay City Rollers spent 6 weeks at Number One in the UK charts with 'Bye, Bye. Baby', and the the Christmas chart topper was Queen with 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
Weather Notes:-
2nd June - Snow fell widely in the Midlands and East Anglia, briefly lying on high ground. Sleet and snow was also reported locally over southern England.
14th August - A thunderstorm centred over Hampstead (London) gave more than 170mm of rain in less than 3 hours.
14th September - Maximum temperature of only 9°C. at Gatwick Airport (West Sussex), along with Shanklin and Ventnor (Isle of Wight). Most places southeast of line from Essex, through London, to Dorset had between 25 and 50mm of rain, and locally 70 to 90 mm in Kent.
In London...
January - Very mild and wet with below average sunshine.
Winds were mostly from the southwest during the first fortnight of January. It was very dull and mild, with rainfall mostly light and drizzly. There was only 1 day when the maximum temperature failed to reach 10°C. On the 15th, there were sunny spells and the temperature almost reached 14°C. Atlantic weather systems were more active during the second half of January, and on the 20th, close to 14mm of rain fell. It was less mild, although there were no cold days.
February - Dry, sunny and rather mild.
High pressure dominated the weather during early February, and although it was dull with temperatures close to normal at first, it became sunnier and milder. The first measurable rain of the month fell on the 11th, and then it stayed mostly changeable and mild until the 19th. Pressure then rose again with mainly southeasterly winds developing. The rest of the month was mostly sunny and mild but with several frosty nights. On the 23rd, the maximum temperature was 13°C.
March - Sunny and rather cold with below average rainfall.
The first 10 days of March were unsettled, and often windy, with sunshine and showers or longer spells of rain. Temperatures were mostly rather below normal. During the second week, high pressure to the north of the country, brought northeast winds and dull and rather cold weather. After mid month it was sunnier, but cold at times. On the 19th, the maximum temperature was only 4°C. The end of the month was unsettled and cold, but with lengthy spells of sunshine.
April - Below average rainfall, near normal temperatures and sunshine.
The beginning of April was mostly cold, often windy, and showery. Some of the showers fell as sleet or snow and there were a few frosty nights. During the second week much milder westerlies developed, and after a high of only 7°C. on the 9th, the temperature on the 13th was close to 18°C. Rain fell on most days until the 19th, but then plenty of dry weather occurred. It became warm at times, and the temperature on the 22nd and 24th almost reached 21°C.
May - Cold, wet and rather dull.
The first half of May was mostly changeable with temperatures generally near, or rather below, normal. On the 16th, fresh northeast winds blew, 9mm of rain fell, and the high was only 10°C. Temperatures remained low on the 17th and 18th, but it then became briefly warm. The high on the 20th was 21°C. Very cool northeast winds returned on the 22nd, and apart from a few warmer and brighter days, the remainder of May was mainly dull and cool.
June - Very sunny and dry with temperatures slightly below normal.
There was a very cool and changeable start to June, and the high on the 2nd was only 14°C. The 3rd was sunny and cool, but at the end of the first week it became sunny and warm. The maximum temperature was close to 26°C on the 7th, and above 26°C., on the 12th. A few days of cool and changeable weather occurred around mid month, but from the 17th, there was plenty of warm sunshine, although fresh northeast winds kept some days rather cool.
July - Dry, sunny and rather warm.
The first week of July was mostly dry, sunny and warm. The second and third weeks were also mainly warm, but it was unsettled and thundery at times. However, amounts of rain were generally small, with plenty of sunshine between the rain bands. It was rather cooler during the fourth week as winds became northwesterly for a while. However, rainfall was light, and from the 26th it became dry, sunny and warm. On the 28th, 29th and 30th top temperatures were near 29°C.
August - Very dry, warm and sunny.
The beginning of August was very warm, or hot, and also humid. There were some warm nights, and on the night of the 4th/5th there were thunderstorms with a low of 21°C. Highs exceeded 29°C. on several days, with a maximum above 33°C. on the 8th. It became cooler at times during the second week, but generally it remained warm. A cooler, unsettled spell commenced during the third week, but very warm, sunny and dry weather returned during the last week.
September - Very wet with sunshine slightly above normal and temperatures slightly below average.
The first day of the month was dry and sunny, and the afternoon temperature reached 23°C. The rest of the first 10 days stayed rather warm, with temperatures mostly between 21 and 23°C., but the weather became increasingly unsettled. It became much cooler at the end of the second week, and on the 14th, nearly 43mm of rain fell and the temperature failed to rise above 10°C. The changeable, and often windy, weather then continued until the end of the month.
October - Very dry, sunny and rather cool.
Maximum temperatures were around 16 or 17°C. throughout the first week, and although unsettled at first the weather became mainly dry and sunny. The temperature rose above 17°C. on the 9th, but it then turned cooler and changeable. Amounts of rain were small, although 4mm fell on the 16th. At the end of the third week a dry spell began, and although often rather cloudy, it was mostly rather warm, and the temperature on the 23rd, 30th and 31st reached around 17°C.
November - Sunny with below average temperatures and near normal rainfall.
Early November was mild and changeable, but amounts of rain were small. At the end of the first week, high pressure gave plenty of dry and sunny weather. The high on the 6th was 14°C., but it then became less mild. The 16th was wet with 21mm of rain, and in the strong northerly following the rain, the high on the 17th was only 6°C. The rest of the month was mostly unsettled with normal temperatures, although the 30th was cold and foggy with a high of only 3°C.
December - Dry with above normal sunshine and slightly below average temperatures.
There was a wet start to December and nearly 15mm of rain fell on the 1st. Pressure then built to the west of the country giving nearly 3 weeks of rather mild but cloud-laden northwesterly winds. There were some sunny days, and after a frost on the night of the 14th/15th the temperature during the day only reached 4°C. On the 21st, winds became southwesterly, and although most days were cloudy, the rest of the month was mainly dry and miles with highs above 10°C.
2nd June - Snow fell widely in the Midlands and East Anglia, briefly lying on high ground. Sleet and snow was also reported locally over southern England.
14th August - A thunderstorm centred over Hampstead (London) gave more than 170mm of rain in less than 3 hours.
14th September - Maximum temperature of only 9°C. at Gatwick Airport (West Sussex), along with Shanklin and Ventnor (Isle of Wight). Most places southeast of line from Essex, through London, to Dorset had between 25 and 50mm of rain, and locally 70 to 90 mm in Kent.
In London...
| Temperature | 10.3°C | Rainfall | 539.0 mm | Warmest | 33.2°C |
| Sunshine | 1776 hrs | Coldest | -5.5°C |
January - Very mild and wet with below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 7.6°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 13.9°C | Total Rain | 84 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.3°C | Total Sun | 42 hrs |
Winds were mostly from the southwest during the first fortnight of January. It was very dull and mild, with rainfall mostly light and drizzly. There was only 1 day when the maximum temperature failed to reach 10°C. On the 15th, there were sunny spells and the temperature almost reached 14°C. Atlantic weather systems were more active during the second half of January, and on the 20th, close to 14mm of rain fell. It was less mild, although there were no cold days.
February - Dry, sunny and rather mild.
| Mean Temperature | 5.4°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 13.0°C | Total Rain | 25 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.1°C | Total Sun | 87 hrs |
High pressure dominated the weather during early February, and although it was dull with temperatures close to normal at first, it became sunnier and milder. The first measurable rain of the month fell on the 11th, and then it stayed mostly changeable and mild until the 19th. Pressure then rose again with mainly southeasterly winds developing. The rest of the month was mostly sunny and mild but with several frosty nights. On the 23rd, the maximum temperature was 13°C.
March - Sunny and rather cold with below average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 5.6°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 13.7°C | Total Rain | 37 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.4°C | Total Sun | 152 hrs |
The first 10 days of March were unsettled, and often windy, with sunshine and showers or longer spells of rain. Temperatures were mostly rather below normal. During the second week, high pressure to the north of the country, brought northeast winds and dull and rather cold weather. After mid month it was sunnier, but cold at times. On the 19th, the maximum temperature was only 4°C. The end of the month was unsettled and cold, but with lengthy spells of sunshine.
April - Below average rainfall, near normal temperatures and sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 8.7°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 20.8°C | Total Rain | 37 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.9°C | Total Sun | 152 hrs |
The beginning of April was mostly cold, often windy, and showery. Some of the showers fell as sleet or snow and there were a few frosty nights. During the second week much milder westerlies developed, and after a high of only 7°C. on the 9th, the temperature on the 13th was close to 18°C. Rain fell on most days until the 19th, but then plenty of dry weather occurred. It became warm at times, and the temperature on the 22nd and 24th almost reached 21°C.
May - Cold, wet and rather dull.
| Mean Temperature | 10.3°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 21.0°C | Total Rain | 67 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.1°C | Total Sun | 171 hrs |
The first half of May was mostly changeable with temperatures generally near, or rather below, normal. On the 16th, fresh northeast winds blew, 9mm of rain fell, and the high was only 10°C. Temperatures remained low on the 17th and 18th, but it then became briefly warm. The high on the 20th was 21°C. Very cool northeast winds returned on the 22nd, and apart from a few warmer and brighter days, the remainder of May was mainly dull and cool.
June - Very sunny and dry with temperatures slightly below normal.
| Mean Temperature | 14.8°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 26.2°C | Total Rain | 17 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.6°C | Total Sun | 302 hrs |
There was a very cool and changeable start to June, and the high on the 2nd was only 14°C. The 3rd was sunny and cool, but at the end of the first week it became sunny and warm. The maximum temperature was close to 26°C on the 7th, and above 26°C., on the 12th. A few days of cool and changeable weather occurred around mid month, but from the 17th, there was plenty of warm sunshine, although fresh northeast winds kept some days rather cool.
July - Dry, sunny and rather warm.
| Mean Temperature | 18.0°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 29.8°C | Total Rain | 26 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 6.7°C | Total Sun | 237 hrs |
The first week of July was mostly dry, sunny and warm. The second and third weeks were also mainly warm, but it was unsettled and thundery at times. However, amounts of rain were generally small, with plenty of sunshine between the rain bands. It was rather cooler during the fourth week as winds became northwesterly for a while. However, rainfall was light, and from the 26th it became dry, sunny and warm. On the 28th, 29th and 30th top temperatures were near 29°C.
August - Very dry, warm and sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 18.9°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 33.2°C | Total Rain | 13 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.1°C | Total Sun | 235 hrs |
The beginning of August was very warm, or hot, and also humid. There were some warm nights, and on the night of the 4th/5th there were thunderstorms with a low of 21°C. Highs exceeded 29°C. on several days, with a maximum above 33°C. on the 8th. It became cooler at times during the second week, but generally it remained warm. A cooler, unsettled spell commenced during the third week, but very warm, sunny and dry weather returned during the last week.
September - Very wet with sunshine slightly above normal and temperatures slightly below average.
| Mean Temperature | 14.1°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 23.5°C | Total Rain | 120 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 4.6°C | Total Sun | 151 hrs |
The first day of the month was dry and sunny, and the afternoon temperature reached 23°C. The rest of the first 10 days stayed rather warm, with temperatures mostly between 21 and 23°C., but the weather became increasingly unsettled. It became much cooler at the end of the second week, and on the 14th, nearly 43mm of rain fell and the temperature failed to rise above 10°C. The changeable, and often windy, weather then continued until the end of the month.
October - Very dry, sunny and rather cool.
| Mean Temperature | 9.9°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 17.6°C | Total Rain | 21 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.4°C | Total Sun | 121 hrs |
Maximum temperatures were around 16 or 17°C. throughout the first week, and although unsettled at first the weather became mainly dry and sunny. The temperature rose above 17°C. on the 9th, but it then turned cooler and changeable. Amounts of rain were small, although 4mm fell on the 16th. At the end of the third week a dry spell began, and although often rather cloudy, it was mostly rather warm, and the temperature on the 23rd, 30th and 31st reached around 17°C.
November - Sunny with below average temperatures and near normal rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 6.2°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 14.3°C | Total Rain | 64 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.5°C | Total Sun | 81 hrs |
Early November was mild and changeable, but amounts of rain were small. At the end of the first week, high pressure gave plenty of dry and sunny weather. The high on the 6th was 14°C., but it then became less mild. The 16th was wet with 21mm of rain, and in the strong northerly following the rain, the high on the 17th was only 6°C. The rest of the month was mostly unsettled with normal temperatures, although the 30th was cold and foggy with a high of only 3°C.
December - Dry with above normal sunshine and slightly below average temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 4.7°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 12.0°C | Total Rain | 28 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -5.5°C | Total Sun | 45 hrs |
There was a wet start to December and nearly 15mm of rain fell on the 1st. Pressure then built to the west of the country giving nearly 3 weeks of rather mild but cloud-laden northwesterly winds. There were some sunny days, and after a frost on the night of the 14th/15th the temperature during the day only reached 4°C. On the 21st, winds became southwesterly, and although most days were cloudy, the rest of the month was mainly dry and miles with highs above 10°C.
