1987 Rather dull and cool. Wet Summer.The 'Great Storm' in October.
In the year that the West German pilot Mathias Rust was missed by Russian air defences and landed his light aircraft in Red Square, Moscow, the Conservative government, led by Margaret Thatcher, was elected to a third term in Office, and construction work began on the Channel Tunnel between England and France. In the world of music, Rick Astley with 'Never Gonna Give You Up' and T'Pau with 'China in Your Hand' both spent 5 weeks at Number One in the British Charts.
Weather Notes:-
12th January - The maximum temperature was below zero across the whole of mainland Britain. Typical highs were minus 6°C over low ground of England and Wales, with minus 7 at Herne Bay (Kent), minus 8°C. at Stansted Airport (Essex) and Brighton Race Course (East Sussex), but on the top of the North Downs in Surrey a high of minus 9°C. was recorded.
27th April - Very warm in eastern Scotland with 23°C recorded at both Edinburgh and Leuchars (Fife), and 24°C. at Aberdeen.
16th October - Storm and Hurricane-force winds affected south, and particularly southeast, England and the Home Counties during the early hours of the morning with much damage. Gusts reached 100kn at Shoreham by Sea (West Sussex).
In London...
January - Very cold and dry with near average sunshine.
Early January was unsettled, and fairly mild, although the 8th was cold and foggy. On the 10th cold air swept in, sleet turned to snow in the morning, and from the 11th to the 19th temperatures remained below freezing except briefly on the 15th and 16th. On the 12th, after an early low of minus 9°C., the high for the day was only minus 6°C. Snow lay over 15cm deep on the 14th. A thaw set in on the 20th, and the rest of the month was rather cold but mainly dry.
February - Rather dull with below average rainfall and near normal temperatures.
Much of the opening fortnight of February was mild and rather cloudy but with little in the way of rain. Overnight on the 13th/14th more than 11mm of rain fell, this rain turning to sleet during the morning. It was then rather cold or cold until the last few days of the month. Frost frequently occurred, and light snow fell on the 17th,18th and 19th with maximum temperatures around 3 or 4°C. On the last day of the month it became very mild with a high near 15°C.
March - Cold with below normal sunshine and average rainfall.
The first half of the month was mostly cold with frosty nights and highs, on several days, of only around 3 or 4°C. There was occasional snow during the first week but amounts were small. No measurable rain fell between the 9th and 17th, but it then became unsettled with bands of rain interspersed by days of sunshine and wintery showers, but with temperatures fairly close to normal. The 27th was a particularly stormy day with gales occurring during the morning.
April - Mild with slightly above normal sunshine and average rainfall.
In this frost-free month, temperatures were close to normal during the first 2 weeks, although the 1st was rather cold with a high of only 9°C. It was very changeable, but from the 12th to the 25th the only measurable rain was less than 0.5mm recorded on the afternoon of the 19th. During this period it became warm at times with maximum temperatures exceeding 20°C. on several days between the 16th and 29th, and on 3 days the high was around 23°C.
May - Rather cool with above average rainfall and near normal sunshine.
There was a changeable start to May with thunderstorms occurring on the 2nd, and a high of only 11°C. on the 3rd. Pressure then rose, and although rather cloudy at first, the 7th,8th and 9th were days of unbroken sunshine. On the 9th, the temperature rose close to 24°C. It then became rather cool and unsettled from the beginning of the second week with thundery showers or longer spells of rain, although during the last week it became rather warm..
June - Very dull, rather cool and wet.
There were only 2 completely dry days during the first 3 weeks of June, Sunshine was limited and although rain fell often, heavy rain was short-lived. However, more than 10mm of rain fell on 3 occasions and there were 6 days with thunderstorms. It was mostly cool, especially between the 5th and the 19th, and on the 9th the high only just reached 13°C. The last week was somewhat better, and the maximum temperature on the 29th was above 28°C.
July - Wet with below average sunshine and temperatures.
No measurable rain fell during the first 2 weeks of July, but although there was unbroken sunshine on the 3rd,4th and 5th, skies were often rather cloudy. It was mostly rather warm or warm, and on the 6th the temperature rose above 28°C. The second half of the month was wet with no completely dry days after the 14th. There was very little sunshine and days mostly dull and cool or very cool. On the 21st, the high was only 15°C, with the 17th only a shade warmer.
August - Temperatures, rain and sunshine close to average.
It was mostly rather cool and cloudy at first, and on the 8th the temperature only rose to 17°C. During the second week it became warmer, and on both the 20th and 21st the temperature reached 29°C. Thunderstorms developed late on the 21st and continued through much of the 22nd and it then became cooler for a while. On the 25th, the temperature only just reached 14°C., and it rained for most of the day with a total of 25mm. The last 4 days of August were dry.
September - Rather dry with temperatures slightly above average and near normal sunshine.
The temperature rose close to 25°C. on the 1st, but although maxima above 20°C. occurred several more times during the first 3 weeks rhere were no more warm days. Thunderstorms occurred on the 5th, and again on the 19th and 23rd, but the heaviest precipitation was from thick drizzle and rain which produced 7mm on the 12th. After the 24th it was dry with sunny periods, but there were cool nights and daily maximum temperatures were only around 15°C.
October - Very wet with above normal sunshine and average temperatures.
The first 3 days were dry, but rain fell overnight on the 3rd/4th then afternoon temperature rose above 20°C. It then became cooler and very wet. On the 9th, almost 53mm of rain was measured, and following heavy rain on the 15th, there were destructive gales overnight as an intense depression tracked northeast over southern Britain. More than 30mm of rain fell on the 21st, and in a quieter end to the month the temperature on the 23rd was only 10°C.
November - Rather dry and dull with temperatures close to normal.
There was no significant rain during the first week although it was mostly misty and damp. It was mild at first but it became rather cold. During the second week there was some heavy rain at times, including 15mm on the 11th. After mid month, there was more in the way of dry weather, and no measurable rain fell during the last week. However, it stayed rather cloudy, and although mild around mid month, the last week was colder, with a high of only 3°C. on the 29th.
December - Very dry, mild and rather dull.
The first half of December was mostly rather cold but with plenty of dry weather. The opening week was generally overcast, but sunny, then clear, spells, during the second week led to a series of frosty nights. On the 9th, there was a little snow in the morning and on the 14th the temperature failed to rise above 3°C. Rain and drizzle mid month marked a change to much milder air which lasted, with only a brief interruption on the 23rd and 24th, until the end of the year.
12th January - The maximum temperature was below zero across the whole of mainland Britain. Typical highs were minus 6°C over low ground of England and Wales, with minus 7 at Herne Bay (Kent), minus 8°C. at Stansted Airport (Essex) and Brighton Race Course (East Sussex), but on the top of the North Downs in Surrey a high of minus 9°C. was recorded.
27th April - Very warm in eastern Scotland with 23°C recorded at both Edinburgh and Leuchars (Fife), and 24°C. at Aberdeen.
16th October - Storm and Hurricane-force winds affected south, and particularly southeast, England and the Home Counties during the early hours of the morning with much damage. Gusts reached 100kn at Shoreham by Sea (West Sussex).
In London...
| Temperature | 10.3°C | Rainfall | 653.0 mm | Warmest | 29.2°C |
| Sunshine | 1394 hrs | Coldest | -9.1°C |
January - Very cold and dry with near average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 1.3°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 11.1°C | Total Rain | 14 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -9.1°C | Total Sun | 54 hrs |
Early January was unsettled, and fairly mild, although the 8th was cold and foggy. On the 10th cold air swept in, sleet turned to snow in the morning, and from the 11th to the 19th temperatures remained below freezing except briefly on the 15th and 16th. On the 12th, after an early low of minus 9°C., the high for the day was only minus 6°C. Snow lay over 15cm deep on the 14th. A thaw set in on the 20th, and the rest of the month was rather cold but mainly dry.
February - Rather dull with below average rainfall and near normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 4.6 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 14.9°C | Total Rain | 32 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -5.1°C | Total Sun | 58 hrs |
Much of the opening fortnight of February was mild and rather cloudy but with little in the way of rain. Overnight on the 13th/14th more than 11mm of rain fell, this rain turning to sleet during the morning. It was then rather cold or cold until the last few days of the month. Frost frequently occurred, and light snow fell on the 17th,18th and 19th with maximum temperatures around 3 or 4°C. On the last day of the month it became very mild with a high near 15°C.
March - Cold with below normal sunshine and average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 5.0 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 13.0°C | Total Rain | 43 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.0°C | Total Sun | 105 hrs |
The first half of the month was mostly cold with frosty nights and highs, on several days, of only around 3 or 4°C. There was occasional snow during the first week but amounts were small. No measurable rain fell between the 9th and 17th, but it then became unsettled with bands of rain interspersed by days of sunshine and wintery showers, but with temperatures fairly close to normal. The 27th was a particularly stormy day with gales occurring during the morning.
April - Mild with slightly above normal sunshine and average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 11.3 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 23.4°C | Total Rain | 40 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 2.1°C | Total Sun | 153 hrs |
In this frost-free month, temperatures were close to normal during the first 2 weeks, although the 1st was rather cold with a high of only 9°C. It was very changeable, but from the 12th to the 25th the only measurable rain was less than 0.5mm recorded on the afternoon of the 19th. During this period it became warm at times with maximum temperatures exceeding 20°C. on several days between the 16th and 29th, and on 3 days the high was around 23°C.
May - Rather cool with above average rainfall and near normal sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 11.7 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 23.7°C | Total Rain | 54 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 2.2°C | Total Sun | 198 hrs |
There was a changeable start to May with thunderstorms occurring on the 2nd, and a high of only 11°C. on the 3rd. Pressure then rose, and although rather cloudy at first, the 7th,8th and 9th were days of unbroken sunshine. On the 9th, the temperature rose close to 24°C. It then became rather cool and unsettled from the beginning of the second week with thundery showers or longer spells of rain, although during the last week it became rather warm..
June - Very dull, rather cool and wet.
| Mean Temperature | 14.6 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 28.5°C | Total Rain | 70 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 5.3°C | Total Sun | 133 hrs |
There were only 2 completely dry days during the first 3 weeks of June, Sunshine was limited and although rain fell often, heavy rain was short-lived. However, more than 10mm of rain fell on 3 occasions and there were 6 days with thunderstorms. It was mostly cool, especially between the 5th and the 19th, and on the 9th the high only just reached 13°C. The last week was somewhat better, and the maximum temperature on the 29th was above 28°C.
July - Wet with below average sunshine and temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 17.5 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 28.3°C | Total Rain | 77 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 8.2°C | Total Sun | 176 hrs |
No measurable rain fell during the first 2 weeks of July, but although there was unbroken sunshine on the 3rd,4th and 5th, skies were often rather cloudy. It was mostly rather warm or warm, and on the 6th the temperature rose above 28°C. The second half of the month was wet with no completely dry days after the 14th. There was very little sunshine and days mostly dull and cool or very cool. On the 21st, the high was only 15°C, with the 17th only a shade warmer.
August - Temperatures, rain and sunshine close to average.
| Mean Temperature | 17.2 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 29.2°C | Total Rain | 57 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 8.5°C | Total Sun | 172 hrs |
It was mostly rather cool and cloudy at first, and on the 8th the temperature only rose to 17°C. During the second week it became warmer, and on both the 20th and 21st the temperature reached 29°C. Thunderstorms developed late on the 21st and continued through much of the 22nd and it then became cooler for a while. On the 25th, the temperature only just reached 14°C., and it rained for most of the day with a total of 25mm. The last 4 days of August were dry.
September - Rather dry with temperatures slightly above average and near normal sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 15.4 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 24.7°C | Total Rain | 37 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 3.6°C | Total Sun | 147 hrs |
The temperature rose close to 25°C. on the 1st, but although maxima above 20°C. occurred several more times during the first 3 weeks rhere were no more warm days. Thunderstorms occurred on the 5th, and again on the 19th and 23rd, but the heaviest precipitation was from thick drizzle and rain which produced 7mm on the 12th. After the 24th it was dry with sunny periods, but there were cool nights and daily maximum temperatures were only around 15°C.
October - Very wet with above normal sunshine and average temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 11.4 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 20.5°C | Total Rain | 175 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.5°C | Total Sun | 121 hrs |
The first 3 days were dry, but rain fell overnight on the 3rd/4th then afternoon temperature rose above 20°C. It then became cooler and very wet. On the 9th, almost 53mm of rain was measured, and following heavy rain on the 15th, there were destructive gales overnight as an intense depression tracked northeast over southern Britain. More than 30mm of rain fell on the 21st, and in a quieter end to the month the temperature on the 23rd was only 10°C.
November - Rather dry and dull with temperatures close to normal.
| Mean Temperature | 7.0 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 13.8°C | Total Rain | 40 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.8°C | Total Sun | 43 hrs |
There was no significant rain during the first week although it was mostly misty and damp. It was mild at first but it became rather cold. During the second week there was some heavy rain at times, including 15mm on the 11th. After mid month, there was more in the way of dry weather, and no measurable rain fell during the last week. However, it stayed rather cloudy, and although mild around mid month, the last week was colder, with a high of only 3°C. on the 29th.
December - Very dry, mild and rather dull.
| Mean Temperature | 6.5 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 14.2°C | Total Rain | 14 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.7°C | Total Sun | 34 hrs |
The first half of December was mostly rather cold but with plenty of dry weather. The opening week was generally overcast, but sunny, then clear, spells, during the second week led to a series of frosty nights. On the 9th, there was a little snow in the morning and on the 14th the temperature failed to rise above 3°C. Rain and drizzle mid month marked a change to much milder air which lasted, with only a brief interruption on the 23rd and 24th, until the end of the year.
