1980 Rather cool, dry and sunny. Fairly cool Summer
In the year Robert Mugabe was elected Prime Minister of a newly independent Zimbabwe, Lech Walesa founded the snti-communist trades union 'Solidarity' in Poland, and the USA boycotted the Summer Olympics in Moscow. In the world of music, former Beatle John Lennon was murdered in New York, Blondie had 3 number 1s in the UK chart and Police spent 4 weeks at the top with 'Don't Stand so Close to Me.'
Weather Notes:-
25th June - Severe thunderstorm with hail in Sevenoaks (Kent). Over 115mm of rain fell in less than 2 hours with hail several cms deep. The temperature dipped below 7°C. after the late afternoon storm.
8th July - 48hr total of 87mm of rain at Eastbourne (East Sussex) including 73mm on the 6th. Folkestone (Kent) had 59mm as a deep depression edged slowly east in the southern North Sea.
6th November - Jersey (Channel Islands) had snow on the 4th,5th and 6th with maximum temperatures of 1°C. on both the 5th and 6th. By the morning of the 6th, over 10cm of snow was lying in places.
In London...
January - Dry, cold and sunny.
The first day of the year was dull and cold with a high of only 2°C. but it became changeable and milder during the 3rd, and on the 5th, the temperature rose to 11°C. A spell of rather cold and mostly settled weather started at the beginning of the second week, interrupted by a little snow around mid month. On the 14th there was a little snow and a high of only 1°C. The last 10 days of January were unsettled, but generally milder, with a high above 11°C. on the 30th.
February - Mild and rather dull with near normal rainfall.
After an early frost on the 1st, the only one during the month, the temperature rose to 5°C, but the first week was mostly rather mild, windy and changeable. Pressure rose during the 10th, and it was then mainly settled until the 22nd with winds from a mild southerly direction. Maximum temperatures were often between 10 and 12°C. with almost 15°C. recorded on the 15th. Unsettled weather at the beginning of the last week produced 7mm of rain on the 25th.
March - Wet, rather cold and dull.
Much of the first week was fine with temperatures close to normal. However, on the 5th it became unsettled, and changeable, rather mild and often windy, weather continued until the 14th. Rather cold easterly winds then developed, and on the 19th rain turned to sleet with a high of only 4°C. During the last week it was cyclonic, but with winds becoming south or southwest it became milder. The maximum temperature on the 28th was close to 14°C.
April - Dry and rather mild with near normal sunshine.
A total of 11mm of rain fell on the 1st, but then pressure built and the next measurable rain fell on the 20th. Winds were mainly from the north at first and temperatures were close to, or sometimes below, normal. However, southerly winds developed on the 11th and it became warmer. On the 14th,15th and 16th maximum temperatures were around 21°C. It then became cooler and rather unsettled, although amounts of rain were mostly trivial.
May - Cool, dry and rather sunny.
Winds were mostly from the northeast during the first 10 days, and although it was mainly dry, low cloud often lingered into the afternoon and it remained cool. On the 8th, the temperature only reached 11°C. During the second week, winds became east or southeast and it became much warmer. On the 19th, the temperature reached 24°C. A small depression gave 16mm of rain on the 20th, and then the rest of the month was rather cool, breezy and fairly unsettled.
June - Very wet, rather cool and with sunshine close to average.
After a cool start, the first week became warm, and on the 4th the temperature reached 28.7°C. The second week was unsettled and cooler, although there were several rather warm and sunny days. Around mid month a spell of changeable westerlies began and it was often cool, windy and showery. On the 23rd, the temperature only reached 14°C, and from the 14th until the end of the month the temperature failed to exceed 20°C.
July - Very cool and wet with below average sunshine.
On the 1st, there was rain and drizzle for most of the day and the temperature only reached 14°C as a depression slowly edged east from the southern North Sea. After a changeable, but slightly warmer, spell, a repeat occurred on the 8th and 9th with a high of 14°C. on the 10th. The weather became mostly warm and sunny during the last 10 days, although thunderstorms occurred on the 26th following a day when the maximum temperature was 28°C.
August - Rather dry with slightly below average sunshine and near normal temperatures.
The month was changeable and often rather cloudy with few sunny days. There were no warm spells during the month, although daily maxima were frequently between 20 and 23°C. On the 7th, 20th,27th and 30th the highs were above 24°C. Rain regularly fell during August, but often in showers or during the passage of steadily moving fronts and amounts were mostly small. However, on the night of the 14th/15th thundery rain produced 16mm of rain.
September - Dry, rather warm with slightly above average sunshine.
The opening 3 days of September were dry, sunny and fairly warm with daily maxima of 22 or 23°C. It then became changeable and breezy, but amounts of rain were small until after mid month and on several days the maximum temperatures were over 20°C. After mid month, there was a slight deterioration in the weather, but on several days right to the end of the month, temperatures reached 20°C., and rainfall stayed mostly light.
October - Wet, rather cool but sunny.
The 1st, although rather cloudy, was dry with the maximum temperature close to 18°C. It slowly became cooler through the first week, and more unsettled. A showery day on the 7th produced over 10mm of rain and a high of only 13°C, and the 10th was wet and even colder with a high of only 10°C. A depression over the near Continent gave 41mm of rain on the 16th, with no let up in the unsettled weather. However, it became mild with highs near 18°C on the 27th.
November - Dry and rather sunny with near normal temperatures.
Winds were from the east during the first week, and although fine at first, it was generally cloudy with outbreaks of rain, and even a little sleet. On the 7th, the temperature only reached 4°C. Winds turned northerly, and eventually southwesterly during the second week and it became milder, but still unsettled. On the 16th, the temperature reached 15.6°C, and it stayed mild until the last week. On the 27th, a northerly developed, with snow showers on the 28th.
December - Dry, sunny and rather mild.
There were rather cold north to northwest winds blowing during the first week, and on the 7th and 8th the maximum temperature was only 4°C with some sharp frosts. During the second week it became much milder with highs between 11 and 13°C. It stayed unsettled and windy but rain was mostly light. except on the 17th when 11mm fell, There was little further change through the rest of the month, and on the 23rd the temperature reached 13.3°C.
25th June - Severe thunderstorm with hail in Sevenoaks (Kent). Over 115mm of rain fell in less than 2 hours with hail several cms deep. The temperature dipped below 7°C. after the late afternoon storm.
8th July - 48hr total of 87mm of rain at Eastbourne (East Sussex) including 73mm on the 6th. Folkestone (Kent) had 59mm as a deep depression edged slowly east in the southern North Sea.
6th November - Jersey (Channel Islands) had snow on the 4th,5th and 6th with maximum temperatures of 1°C. on both the 5th and 6th. By the morning of the 6th, over 10cm of snow was lying in places.
In London...
| Temperature | 9.9°C | Rainfall | 576.0 mm | Warmest | 28.7°C |
| Sunshine | 1561 hrs | Coldest | -6.6°C |
January - Dry, cold and sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 2.9 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 11.3°C | Total Rain | 32 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -6.6°C | Total Sun | 70 hrs |
The first day of the year was dull and cold with a high of only 2°C. but it became changeable and milder during the 3rd, and on the 5th, the temperature rose to 11°C. A spell of rather cold and mostly settled weather started at the beginning of the second week, interrupted by a little snow around mid month. On the 14th there was a little snow and a high of only 1°C. The last 10 days of January were unsettled, but generally milder, with a high above 11°C. on the 30th.
February - Mild and rather dull with near normal rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 6.3 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 14.7°C | Total Rain | 37 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.5°C | Total Sun | 50 hrs |
After an early frost on the 1st, the only one during the month, the temperature rose to 5°C, but the first week was mostly rather mild, windy and changeable. Pressure rose during the 10th, and it was then mainly settled until the 22nd with winds from a mild southerly direction. Maximum temperatures were often between 10 and 12°C. with almost 15°C. recorded on the 15th. Unsettled weather at the beginning of the last week produced 7mm of rain on the 25th.
March - Wet, rather cold and dull.
| Mean Temperature | 5.7 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 13.6°C | Total Rain | 65 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.4°C | Total Sun | 85 hrs |
Much of the first week was fine with temperatures close to normal. However, on the 5th it became unsettled, and changeable, rather mild and often windy, weather continued until the 14th. Rather cold easterly winds then developed, and on the 19th rain turned to sleet with a high of only 4°C. During the last week it was cyclonic, but with winds becoming south or southwest it became milder. The maximum temperature on the 28th was close to 14°C.
April - Dry and rather mild with near normal sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 9.1 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 21.5°C | Total Rain | 17 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 1.3°C | Total Sun | 155 hrs |
A total of 11mm of rain fell on the 1st, but then pressure built and the next measurable rain fell on the 20th. Winds were mainly from the north at first and temperatures were close to, or sometimes below, normal. However, southerly winds developed on the 11th and it became warmer. On the 14th,15th and 16th maximum temperatures were around 21°C. It then became cooler and rather unsettled, although amounts of rain were mostly trivial.
May - Cool, dry and rather sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 11.0 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 24.1°C | Total Rain | 30 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.5°C | Total Sun | 227 hrs |
Winds were mostly from the northeast during the first 10 days, and although it was mainly dry, low cloud often lingered into the afternoon and it remained cool. On the 8th, the temperature only reached 11°C. During the second week, winds became east or southeast and it became much warmer. On the 19th, the temperature reached 24°C. A small depression gave 16mm of rain on the 20th, and then the rest of the month was rather cool, breezy and fairly unsettled.
June - Very wet, rather cool and with sunshine close to average.
| Mean Temperature | 14.7 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 28.7°C | Total Rain | 103 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.0°C | Total Sun | 205 hrs |
After a cool start, the first week became warm, and on the 4th the temperature reached 28.7°C. The second week was unsettled and cooler, although there were several rather warm and sunny days. Around mid month a spell of changeable westerlies began and it was often cool, windy and showery. On the 23rd, the temperature only reached 14°C, and from the 14th until the end of the month the temperature failed to exceed 20°C.
July - Very cool and wet with below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 15.2 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 28.0°C | Total Rain | 73 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 8.0°C | Total Sun | 175 hrs |
On the 1st, there was rain and drizzle for most of the day and the temperature only reached 14°C as a depression slowly edged east from the southern North Sea. After a changeable, but slightly warmer, spell, a repeat occurred on the 8th and 9th with a high of 14°C. on the 10th. The weather became mostly warm and sunny during the last 10 days, although thunderstorms occurred on the 26th following a day when the maximum temperature was 28°C.
August - Rather dry with slightly below average sunshine and near normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 16.9 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 24.9°C | Total Rain | 47 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.3°C | Total Sun | 176 hrs |
The month was changeable and often rather cloudy with few sunny days. There were no warm spells during the month, although daily maxima were frequently between 20 and 23°C. On the 7th, 20th,27th and 30th the highs were above 24°C. Rain regularly fell during August, but often in showers or during the passage of steadily moving fronts and amounts were mostly small. However, on the night of the 14th/15th thundery rain produced 16mm of rain.
September - Dry, rather warm with slightly above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 15.1 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 23.2°C | Total Rain | 25 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.7°C | Total Sun | 154 hrs |
The opening 3 days of September were dry, sunny and fairly warm with daily maxima of 22 or 23°C. It then became changeable and breezy, but amounts of rain were small until after mid month and on several days the maximum temperatures were over 20°C. After mid month, there was a slight deterioration in the weather, but on several days right to the end of the month, temperatures reached 20°C., and rainfall stayed mostly light.
October - Wet, rather cool but sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 9.5 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 17.9°C | Total Rain | 102 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.4°C | Total Sun | 130 hrs |
The 1st, although rather cloudy, was dry with the maximum temperature close to 18°C. It slowly became cooler through the first week, and more unsettled. A showery day on the 7th produced over 10mm of rain and a high of only 13°C, and the 10th was wet and even colder with a high of only 10°C. A depression over the near Continent gave 41mm of rain on the 16th, with no let up in the unsettled weather. However, it became mild with highs near 18°C on the 27th.
November - Dry and rather sunny with near normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 7.0 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 15.6°C | Total Rain | 27 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.0°C | Total Sun | 68 hrs |
Winds were from the east during the first week, and although fine at first, it was generally cloudy with outbreaks of rain, and even a little sleet. On the 7th, the temperature only reached 4°C. Winds turned northerly, and eventually southwesterly during the second week and it became milder, but still unsettled. On the 16th, the temperature reached 15.6°C, and it stayed mild until the last week. On the 27th, a northerly developed, with snow showers on the 28th.
December - Dry, sunny and rather mild.
| Mean Temperature | 5.9 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 13.3°C | Total Rain | 34 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.6°C | Total Sun | 66 hrs |
There were rather cold north to northwest winds blowing during the first week, and on the 7th and 8th the maximum temperature was only 4°C with some sharp frosts. During the second week it became much milder with highs between 11 and 13°C. It stayed unsettled and windy but rain was mostly light. except on the 17th when 11mm fell, There was little further change through the rest of the month, and on the 23rd the temperature reached 13.3°C.
