1996 Dry, sunny and rather cold . Frosty Spring.
In the year that Dolly the Sheep was born and became the first surviving cloned mammal, Martina Hingis became the youngest person to win a Wimbledon tennis final, and the Prince and Princess of Wales were divorced. In the music world, an estimated 3.5 million people applied for tickets for two Oasis concerts at Knebworth. There were only 250,000 tickets issued.
Weather Notes:-
5th-7th February - Heavy snow from Lancashire through the Lake District to southwest Scotland with 2m drifts in places.
7th June - Violent thunderstorms in Dorset and Hampshire, and through the south and east Midlands to East Anglia. Golf ball sized hail was reported, with over 70mm of rain recorded at Wantage (Oxfordshire).
28th/29th August - Windy and wet in Norfolk with over 100mm of rain at Coltishall (Norfolk).
In London...
January - Very dull, rather cold and dry.
Temperatures were near normal at the start of the year, but at the end of the first week it became mild or very mild. On the 14th the temperature reached 12.8°C. Much of the first fortnight was changeable, and on the 8th nearly 21mm of rain fell. After mid month it became rather cold, and then very cold on the 25th. The temperature was continuously below freezing from early on Christmas day until the morning of the 28tth, and on the 27th the maximum temperature was minus 1.1°C. There was snow at times, but it was mostly light, although 1cm of lying snow was measured on the morning of the 28th. Temperatures slowly rose towards normal over the last 2 days of January.
February - Very cold and sunny with rainfall close to normal.
The first 4 days of the month were dry and rather cold. There were sunny periods and overnight frosts. A 3-day cold snap, starting on the 5th, was accompanied by snow on the 6th, with further light snow on the 8th before it became milder. Temperatures then fluctuated between rather below normal to very mild. On the 16th, the temperature reached 12.9°C. Another cold snap set in late on the 18th, and snow fell on 4 days commencing on the 19th. Level snow to a depth of 2cm was reported on the morning of the 20th, and the maximum temperature on that day was only 1.2°C. The last week of the month was mostly mild by day, and it was wet for a while, with nearly 11 millimetres of rain on the 24th. February ended with frosty nights and sunny days.
March - Very cold, dull and rather dry.
Winds were mostly from between northwest and northeast during March, and although pressure was relatively high, it was often dull with rain and drizzle. The temperature only rose above 10°C. on 7 days, and only exceeded 13°C. once. On the 23rd the maximum temperature was 15.0°C.. The coldest weather was during the second week, and although no snow fell, the maximum temperature on the 12th was only 3.1°C. In spite of the extensive cloud cover, skies were clear for long enough to produce 8 air frosts.
April - Dry with temperatures and sunshine close to average.
No measurable rain fell on the first 9 days of April, and after a cold and frosty start, it became mild. The maximum temperature on the 9th was 16.6°C. A cold day occurred on the 12th with a little sleet and a maximum temperaure of 5.7°C.. However, temperatures were generally above normal from mid month onwards. The maximum was above 21° C. on 3 occasions, and on the 20th the high was 22.6°C. There was plenty of dry weather, and although rain or showers occurred, measurable rain only exceeded 1mm on 5 days.
May - Cool and rather dry with below average sunshine.
The first half of May was mostly dry and cool or very cool. There were 2 air frosts, and on the night of the 4th/5th the temperature fell to minus 1.1°C. After mid month it was generally unsettled, but rain was mainly light. Maximum temperatures were below 10°C. on the 16th,17th and 18th; and on the 18th the high was only 8.4°C. The temperature only rose above 20°C. twice during May, but on the 30th, the high was 24.7°C.
June - Very dry and sunny with temperatures a little above average.
After a cool start, it warmed up considerably with a high of 31.3°C. on the 7th. A squally thunderstorm in the late evening was followed by somewhat cooler weather, although there were further warm days until the 19th. On the 20th, the high was only 14.2°C, the first of 3 very cool days. There were warm and sunny days during the last week, but also some cool and cloudy ones. Rain fell infrequently and the daily total was only above 1mm on 3 occasions.
July - Rather sunny with temperatures and rainfall both near average.
The first week of July was cool and unsettled with thunder heard on 3 separate days. During the first 9 days the temperature failed to rise above 21°C. Despite the thunderstorms, rainfall was mainly light, and after the 7th there was no more measurable rain until the 23rd. Temperatures rose into the warm, or very warm, category at times, and on the 22nd the maximum was 31.2°C. Thunderstorms, with hail, on the following day produced over 17mm of rain, and the rest of the month stayed unsettled with further rain, but with temperatures mostly rather warm or warm.
August - Rather sunny, with temperatures and rainfall both slightly below normal.
The beginning of the month was mainly, dry, sunny and fairly warm. A week of unsettled weather, with some thunderstoms commenced on the 6th , but rain was generally light. Temperatures during this second week were a little below normal. A week of dry weather then followed, and temperatures steadily rose. On the 19th, the high was 30.4°C. On the 22nd, nearly 17mm of rain fell, and then the remainder of the month was unsettled and rather cool or cool.
September - Very dry and rather cool with sunshine near average.
Less than 1mm of rain fell during the first 17 days of September, and although there were no very warm days, on 5 occasions the maxima exceeded 22°C. The weather was rather cloudy and unsettled from the 18th although there were only 3 days with rainfall exceeded 1mm. On the last day of the month over 12mm of rain fell, The temperature only rose above 20°C once after the 18th, and on the 23rd the maximum was only 13.9°C.
October - Dry, sunny and rather mild.
The month was unsettled with southwesterly winds predominating, but rainfall only exceeded 5mm on 2 days, The wettest day was the 8th with over 10mm. Over half the maximum temperatures during the month fell in the range 15 to 17°C, but on the 23rd the high was 20.2°C. There were 3 occasions when the maxima were below 13°C, the 6th, 29th, and on the 30th when the high was only 12.0°C.
November - Very sunny, cold and wet.
Although the first day was dry, the month was very unsettled with only 3 more completely dry days. Some heavy rain occurred, with nearly 25mm falling on the 3rd, 20mm was recorded on the 9th; and over 17mm fell on the 19th with thunderstorms, sleet and snow adding variety to the weather. Maximum temperatures during the first 3 days of November were around 17°C, and it stayed mild or very mild for the first 9 days, Thereafter, it was cold with the temperature only rising above 10°C 1 more time, the 29th. Even though the weather was unsettled, there were 12 air frosts during the month.
December - Very dry, cold and rather sunny.
Winds from a northeasterly direction were predominant during December, often bringing cold, and sometimes frosty, weather. On the first 4 days of the month, however, winds were from a westerly point and it was mild or very mild. On the 3rd, the temperature reached 12.7°C, 1 of 3 days in the first 4 when the temperature exceeded 10°C. After that, the temperature only topped 10°C once, on the 18th. Although there was some frost early in the month, most of the cold and frosty weather occurred during the last week. On the 31st, the temperature only reached minus 0.6°C. Precipitation mainly fell as snow during the last week, but it was mostly light, and rain that fell at other times during the month was generally light .
5th-7th February - Heavy snow from Lancashire through the Lake District to southwest Scotland with 2m drifts in places.
7th June - Violent thunderstorms in Dorset and Hampshire, and through the south and east Midlands to East Anglia. Golf ball sized hail was reported, with over 70mm of rain recorded at Wantage (Oxfordshire).
28th/29th August - Windy and wet in Norfolk with over 100mm of rain at Coltishall (Norfolk).
In London...
| Temperature | 10.4°C | Rainfall | 454.2 mm | Warmest | 31.3°C |
| Sunshine | 1715 hrs | Coldest | -4.9°C |
January - Very dull, rather cold and dry.
| Mean Temperature | 5.3 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 12.8°C | Total Rain | 45 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.9°C | Total Sun | 25 hrs |
Temperatures were near normal at the start of the year, but at the end of the first week it became mild or very mild. On the 14th the temperature reached 12.8°C. Much of the first fortnight was changeable, and on the 8th nearly 21mm of rain fell. After mid month it became rather cold, and then very cold on the 25th. The temperature was continuously below freezing from early on Christmas day until the morning of the 28tth, and on the 27th the maximum temperature was minus 1.1°C. There was snow at times, but it was mostly light, although 1cm of lying snow was measured on the morning of the 28th. Temperatures slowly rose towards normal over the last 2 days of January.
February - Very cold and sunny with rainfall close to normal.
| Mean Temperature | 3.6 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 12.9°C | Total Rain | 44 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.6°C | Total Sun | 100 hrs |
The first 4 days of the month were dry and rather cold. There were sunny periods and overnight frosts. A 3-day cold snap, starting on the 5th, was accompanied by snow on the 6th, with further light snow on the 8th before it became milder. Temperatures then fluctuated between rather below normal to very mild. On the 16th, the temperature reached 12.9°C. Another cold snap set in late on the 18th, and snow fell on 4 days commencing on the 19th. Level snow to a depth of 2cm was reported on the morning of the 20th, and the maximum temperature on that day was only 1.2°C. The last week of the month was mostly mild by day, and it was wet for a while, with nearly 11 millimetres of rain on the 24th. February ended with frosty nights and sunny days.
March - Very cold, dull and rather dry.
| Mean Temperature | 5.3 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 15.0°C | Total Rain | 31 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.5°C | Total Sun | 76 hrs |
Winds were mostly from between northwest and northeast during March, and although pressure was relatively high, it was often dull with rain and drizzle. The temperature only rose above 10°C. on 7 days, and only exceeded 13°C. once. On the 23rd the maximum temperature was 15.0°C.. The coldest weather was during the second week, and although no snow fell, the maximum temperature on the 12th was only 3.1°C. In spite of the extensive cloud cover, skies were clear for long enough to produce 8 air frosts.
April - Dry with temperatures and sunshine close to average.
| Mean Temperature | 9.6 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 22.6°C | Total Rain | 27 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.8°C | Total Sun | 147 hrs |
No measurable rain fell on the first 9 days of April, and after a cold and frosty start, it became mild. The maximum temperature on the 9th was 16.6°C. A cold day occurred on the 12th with a little sleet and a maximum temperaure of 5.7°C.. However, temperatures were generally above normal from mid month onwards. The maximum was above 21° C. on 3 occasions, and on the 20th the high was 22.6°C. There was plenty of dry weather, and although rain or showers occurred, measurable rain only exceeded 1mm on 5 days.
May - Cool and rather dry with below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 10.3 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 24.7°C | Total Rain | 34 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -1.1°C | Total Sun | 183 hrs |
The first half of May was mostly dry and cool or very cool. There were 2 air frosts, and on the night of the 4th/5th the temperature fell to minus 1.1°C. After mid month it was generally unsettled, but rain was mainly light. Maximum temperatures were below 10°C. on the 16th,17th and 18th; and on the 18th the high was only 8.4°C. The temperature only rose above 20°C. twice during May, but on the 30th, the high was 24.7°C.
June - Very dry and sunny with temperatures a little above average.
| Mean Temperature | 16.4 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 31.3°C | Total Rain | 7 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 6.7°C | Total Sun | 283 hrs |
After a cool start, it warmed up considerably with a high of 31.3°C. on the 7th. A squally thunderstorm in the late evening was followed by somewhat cooler weather, although there were further warm days until the 19th. On the 20th, the high was only 14.2°C, the first of 3 very cool days. There were warm and sunny days during the last week, but also some cool and cloudy ones. Rain fell infrequently and the daily total was only above 1mm on 3 occasions.
July - Rather sunny with temperatures and rainfall both near average.
| Mean Temperature | 18.2°C | ||
| Monthly highest | 31.2°C | Total Rain | 37 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 8.0°C | Total Sun | 234 hrs |
The first week of July was cool and unsettled with thunder heard on 3 separate days. During the first 9 days the temperature failed to rise above 21°C. Despite the thunderstorms, rainfall was mainly light, and after the 7th there was no more measurable rain until the 23rd. Temperatures rose into the warm, or very warm, category at times, and on the 22nd the maximum was 31.2°C. Thunderstorms, with hail, on the following day produced over 17mm of rain, and the rest of the month stayed unsettled with further rain, but with temperatures mostly rather warm or warm.
August - Rather sunny, with temperatures and rainfall both slightly below normal.
| Mean Temperature | 17.8 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 30.4°C | Total Rain | 47 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.9°C | Total Sun | 218 hrs |
The beginning of the month was mainly, dry, sunny and fairly warm. A week of unsettled weather, with some thunderstoms commenced on the 6th , but rain was generally light. Temperatures during this second week were a little below normal. A week of dry weather then followed, and temperatures steadily rose. On the 19th, the high was 30.4°C. On the 22nd, nearly 17mm of rain fell, and then the remainder of the month was unsettled and rather cool or cool.
September - Very dry and rather cool with sunshine near average.
| Mean Temperature | 14.8 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 22.6°C | Total Rain | 19 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 4.2°C | Total Sun | 142 hrs |
Less than 1mm of rain fell during the first 17 days of September, and although there were no very warm days, on 5 occasions the maxima exceeded 22°C. The weather was rather cloudy and unsettled from the 18th although there were only 3 days with rainfall exceeded 1mm. On the last day of the month over 12mm of rain fell, The temperature only rose above 20°C once after the 18th, and on the 23rd the maximum was only 13.9°C.
October - Dry, sunny and rather mild.
| Mean Temperature | 12.5 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 20.2°C | Total Rain | 40 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 3.0°C | Total Sun | 142 hrs |
The month was unsettled with southwesterly winds predominating, but rainfall only exceeded 5mm on 2 days, The wettest day was the 8th with over 10mm. Over half the maximum temperatures during the month fell in the range 15 to 17°C, but on the 23rd the high was 20.2°C. There were 3 occasions when the maxima were below 13°C, the 6th, 29th, and on the 30th when the high was only 12.0°C.
November - Very sunny, cold and wet.
| Mean Temperature | 6.6 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 17.4°C | Total Rain | 107 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.1°C | Total Sun | 107 hrs |
Although the first day was dry, the month was very unsettled with only 3 more completely dry days. Some heavy rain occurred, with nearly 25mm falling on the 3rd, 20mm was recorded on the 9th; and over 17mm fell on the 19th with thunderstorms, sleet and snow adding variety to the weather. Maximum temperatures during the first 3 days of November were around 17°C, and it stayed mild or very mild for the first 9 days, Thereafter, it was cold with the temperature only rising above 10°C 1 more time, the 29th. Even though the weather was unsettled, there were 12 air frosts during the month.
December - Very dry, cold and rather sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 4.1 °C | ||
| Monthly highest | 12.7°C | Total Rain | 16 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.9°C | Total Sun | 58 hrs |
Winds from a northeasterly direction were predominant during December, often bringing cold, and sometimes frosty, weather. On the first 4 days of the month, however, winds were from a westerly point and it was mild or very mild. On the 3rd, the temperature reached 12.7°C, 1 of 3 days in the first 4 when the temperature exceeded 10°C. After that, the temperature only topped 10°C once, on the 18th. Although there was some frost early in the month, most of the cold and frosty weather occurred during the last week. On the 31st, the temperature only reached minus 0.6°C. Precipitation mainly fell as snow during the last week, but it was mostly light, and rain that fell at other times during the month was generally light .
