2008 Rather mild. A wet Spring
In the year that Fidel Castro, the President of Cuba, resigned and was replaced by his brother Raul; Barack Obama was elected 44th President of the United States; and after 41 years at sea, the passenger liner QE2 embarked on its last voyage. In the world of music: the best-selling single was Hallelujah by Alexandra Burke, and Madonna had her 13th number one hit.
Weather Notes:-
10th August - Over 100mm of rain fell on Fair Isle.
28th October - Snow fell in many places, including the Midlands and around Greater London. Up to 5cm was measured, mainly on higher ground, on the following morning.
30th October - Up to 30cm of hail fell in 2 hours at Ottery St Mary (Devon). The equivalent of around 70mm of rain was recorded from the melted hail.
In London...
January - Very mild and rather wet with above average sunshine.
Sleet fell on the afternoon of the 3rd and the maximum temperature fo that day was only 2.9°C. Otherwise, almost every other day during the month was mild or very mild. It was an unsettled January, and on the 10th nearly 9mm of rain fell. The only air frost of the month occurred on the night of the 16th/17th, but on both the 19th and 20th the highest temperature was above 14°C. Pressure became high after mid month with rainfall totals generally light.
February - Very sunny, dry and mild.
The 1st February was mostly sunny, but much of the first week was changeable. Rainfall was mainly light, but nearly 4mm of rain fell on tne 4th. From the 5th to 23rd, it was mainly dry, sunny and mild. The temperature exceeded 16°C. on the 9th, but several frosts occurred, and on the night of the 16th/17th the minimum was minus 6°C. The 20th was foggy with a high of only 4.4°C. The end of the month was rather unsettled, and on the 25th, nearly 4mm of rain fell.
March - Very wet, dull and rather mild.
There were only 4 completely dry days during this very changeable month, and during the second week in particular there was some heavy rain. On the 9th, over 19mm was recorded. Although a couple of slight frosts occurred, the first fortnight of March was mild. The temperature on the 15th rose above 15°C. After mid month it became colder for a while, and in the fourth week wintry showers occurred. The maximum temperature on the 23rd was only 4.0°C
April - Wet with below average sunshine and slightly above normal temperatures.
After a mild start to April, it became cold at the end of the first week. On the morning of the 6th, there were 5cm of snow lying, and the maximum temperature was only 5.2°C. Sharp frosts occurred at the start of the second week, but daytime temperatures rose. In this unsettled month, there were 6 days with thunder, but from the end of the third week it became warmer. On the 26th, the afternoon temperature rose above 20°C, but on the 29th over 17mm of rain fell.
May - Very warm, dull and wet.
The first few days of May were rather cool and changeable, but it then became dry, sunny and warm, and this fine weather lasted until the end of the second week. There were several very warm days during the second week, and the temperature on the 11th approached 27°C. A short spell of unsettled weather was followed by fine and cooler conditions, but the last week was often wet. On the 25th, 21mm of rain fell, and on the 26th, the temperature only reached 12.4°C.
June - Rather dry with sunshine and temperatures slightly above average.
There was a changeable start to June, and on the 2nd, over 11mm of rain fell. It was rather cool at times, but during the second week it was warmer and dry for a while. The temperature on the 9th reached 27°C. Towards the end of the second week it became unsettled and cooler. On the 11th, nearly 11mm of rain fell, and on the 12th maximum temperature was only 15.2°C. After mid month there were several dry and fairly sunny days, and generally it was rather warm.
July - Rather wet with below average sunshine and near normal temperatures.
The 1st was a fine and warm day, otherwise the beginning of July was changeable, cloudy and mostly cool. There was some heavy and thundery rain at times, and on the 7th, a total of 14mm was recorded. On the 9th, nearly 17mm of rain fell with a maximum temperature of only 17.0°C. After the 12th, there was only 1 further day with measurable rain, the 28th, and the weather was often sunny and warm. On the 27th, the temperature exceeded 29°C.
August - Very dull with below average rainfall and above normal temperatures.
Winds were predominantly from the southwest during this very changeable August. Thunderstorms occurred on 5 days during the month and there were only 3 completely dry days. However, the wettest day, the 11th, produced less than 10mm of rain. Extensive cloud cover helped to give mild nights and rather cool days. The temperature on the 13th only reached 18.2°C. and the only day that could be described as warm was the 30th with a maximum of 26.3°C.
September - Dull with below average rainfall and temperatures.
There was some heavy rain during the first week. On the 1st, over 11mm fell, and on the 5th more than 19mm was recorded. No measurable rain fell between the 12th and 22nd, but skies were often rather cloudy. There were no warm days during September and there was only a small range of daily maxima. The 20th was the warmest day, 1 of only 5 days with a high above 20°C. The 30th, with a high of 15.5°C., was 1 of only 5 days with a maximum below 17°C.
October - Sunny and rather dry with below average temperatures.
The opening week of October was changeable with temperatures close to average. It then became mainly dry with plenty of sunshine and generally warmer. The maximum on the 12th was over 22°C. On the 20th, over 10mm of rain fell and the rest of the month was unsettled. It became cooler, especially during the last 4 days of October. Frost occurred, sleet fell on the night of the 28th/29th, and the maximum temperature on the 30th was only 9.0°C.
November - Very dull, mild and rather wet.
The first 10 days of November were changeable with heavy rain at times. Totals of Nearly 17mm fell on the 1st, over 19mm on the 8th, and almost 24mm on the 10th. The rest of the month was unsettled, but with lighter rain. It became mild for a while around mid month, and the temperature on the 15th exceeded 15°C. Towards the end of November it became colder, and after a sharp frost, snow fell on the 23rd. On the 29th, the highest temperature was only 4.9°C.
December - Sunny, rather dry and cold.
Unsettled weather prevailed during the first half of December, although there was plenty of sunshine and many frosty nights. Heavy rain occurred during the second week, and after nearly 11mm fell on the 12th, over 25mm was recorded on the 13th. No measurable rain fell after the 18th, and for a while it was mild and cloudy. The temperature on the 20th exceeded 13°C., but the end of the month was colder. On the 31st, the maximum temperature was only 1.5°C.
10th August - Over 100mm of rain fell on Fair Isle.
28th October - Snow fell in many places, including the Midlands and around Greater London. Up to 5cm was measured, mainly on higher ground, on the following morning.
30th October - Up to 30cm of hail fell in 2 hours at Ottery St Mary (Devon). The equivalent of around 70mm of rain was recorded from the melted hail.
In London...
| Temperature | 11.3°C | Rainfall | 660.0 mm | Warmest | 29.1°C |
| Sunshine | 1394 hrs | Coldest | -6.0°C |
January - Very mild and rather wet with above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 7.8°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 14.4°C | Total Rain | 68 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.7°C | Total Sun | 60 hrs |
Sleet fell on the afternoon of the 3rd and the maximum temperature fo that day was only 2.9°C. Otherwise, almost every other day during the month was mild or very mild. It was an unsettled January, and on the 10th nearly 9mm of rain fell. The only air frost of the month occurred on the night of the 16th/17th, but on both the 19th and 20th the highest temperature was above 14°C. Pressure became high after mid month with rainfall totals generally light.
February - Very sunny, dry and mild.
| Mean Temperature | 6.5°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 16.1°C | Total Rain | 11 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -6.0°C | Total Sun | 130 hrs |
The 1st February was mostly sunny, but much of the first week was changeable. Rainfall was mainly light, but nearly 4mm of rain fell on tne 4th. From the 5th to 23rd, it was mainly dry, sunny and mild. The temperature exceeded 16°C. on the 9th, but several frosts occurred, and on the night of the 16th/17th the minimum was minus 6°C. The 20th was foggy with a high of only 4.4°C. The end of the month was rather unsettled, and on the 25th, nearly 4mm of rain fell.
March - Very wet, dull and rather mild.
| Mean Temperature | 7.3°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 15.4°C | Total Rain | 88 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.4°C | Total Sun | 86 hrs |
There were only 4 completely dry days during this very changeable month, and during the second week in particular there was some heavy rain. On the 9th, over 19mm was recorded. Although a couple of slight frosts occurred, the first fortnight of March was mild. The temperature on the 15th rose above 15°C. After mid month it became colder for a while, and in the fourth week wintry showers occurred. The maximum temperature on the 23rd was only 4.0°C
April - Wet with below average sunshine and slightly above normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 9.2°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 20.6°C | Total Rain | 62 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.8°C | Total Sun | 140 hrs |
After a mild start to April, it became cold at the end of the first week. On the morning of the 6th, there were 5cm of snow lying, and the maximum temperature was only 5.2°C. Sharp frosts occurred at the start of the second week, but daytime temperatures rose. In this unsettled month, there were 6 days with thunder, but from the end of the third week it became warmer. On the 26th, the afternoon temperature rose above 20°C, but on the 29th over 17mm of rain fell.
May - Very warm, dull and wet.
| Mean Temperature | 14.8°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 26.6°C | Total Rain | 68 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 2.2°C | Total Sun | 163 hrs |
The first few days of May were rather cool and changeable, but it then became dry, sunny and warm, and this fine weather lasted until the end of the second week. There were several very warm days during the second week, and the temperature on the 11th approached 27°C. A short spell of unsettled weather was followed by fine and cooler conditions, but the last week was often wet. On the 25th, 21mm of rain fell, and on the 26th, the temperature only reached 12.4°C.
June - Rather dry with sunshine and temperatures slightly above average.
| Mean Temperature | 16.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 27.0°C | Total Rain | 33 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.6°C | Total Sun | 202 hrs |
There was a changeable start to June, and on the 2nd, over 11mm of rain fell. It was rather cool at times, but during the second week it was warmer and dry for a while. The temperature on the 9th reached 27°C. Towards the end of the second week it became unsettled and cooler. On the 11th, nearly 11mm of rain fell, and on the 12th maximum temperature was only 15.2°C. After mid month there were several dry and fairly sunny days, and generally it was rather warm.
July - Rather wet with below average sunshine and near normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 17.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 29.1°C | Total Rain | 61 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.7°C | Total Sun | 173 hrs |
The 1st was a fine and warm day, otherwise the beginning of July was changeable, cloudy and mostly cool. There was some heavy and thundery rain at times, and on the 7th, a total of 14mm was recorded. On the 9th, nearly 17mm of rain fell with a maximum temperature of only 17.0°C. After the 12th, there was only 1 further day with measurable rain, the 28th, and the weather was often sunny and warm. On the 27th, the temperature exceeded 29°C.
August - Very dull with below average rainfall and above normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 17.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 26.3°C | Total Rain | 50 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 8.1°C | Total Sun | 104 hrs |
Winds were predominantly from the southwest during this very changeable August. Thunderstorms occurred on 5 days during the month and there were only 3 completely dry days. However, the wettest day, the 11th, produced less than 10mm of rain. Extensive cloud cover helped to give mild nights and rather cool days. The temperature on the 13th only reached 18.2°C. and the only day that could be described as warm was the 30th with a maximum of 26.3°C.
September - Dull with below average rainfall and temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 14.2°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 20.5°C | Total Rain | 49 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 4.4°C | Total Sun | 111 hrs |
There was some heavy rain during the first week. On the 1st, over 11mm fell, and on the 5th more than 19mm was recorded. No measurable rain fell between the 12th and 22nd, but skies were often rather cloudy. There were no warm days during September and there was only a small range of daily maxima. The 20th was the warmest day, 1 of only 5 days with a high above 20°C. The 30th, with a high of 15.5°C., was 1 of only 5 days with a maximum below 17°C.
October - Sunny and rather dry with below average temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 10.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 22.2°C | Total Rain | 36 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.9°C | Total Sun | 134 hrs |
The opening week of October was changeable with temperatures close to average. It then became mainly dry with plenty of sunshine and generally warmer. The maximum on the 12th was over 22°C. On the 20th, over 10mm of rain fell and the rest of the month was unsettled. It became cooler, especially during the last 4 days of October. Frost occurred, sleet fell on the night of the 28th/29th, and the maximum temperature on the 30th was only 9.0°C.
November - Very dull, mild and rather wet.
| Mean Temperature | 8.3°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 15.2°C | Total Rain | 89 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.0°C | Total Sun | 42 hrs |
The first 10 days of November were changeable with heavy rain at times. Totals of Nearly 17mm fell on the 1st, over 19mm on the 8th, and almost 24mm on the 10th. The rest of the month was unsettled, but with lighter rain. It became mild for a while around mid month, and the temperature on the 15th exceeded 15°C. Towards the end of November it became colder, and after a sharp frost, snow fell on the 23rd. On the 29th, the highest temperature was only 4.9°C.
December - Sunny, rather dry and cold.
| Mean Temperature | 4.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 13.3°C | Total Rain | 45 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -5.8°C | Total Sun | 49 hrs |
Unsettled weather prevailed during the first half of December, although there was plenty of sunshine and many frosty nights. Heavy rain occurred during the second week, and after nearly 11mm fell on the 12th, over 25mm was recorded on the 13th. No measurable rain fell after the 18th, and for a while it was mild and cloudy. The temperature on the 20th exceeded 13°C., but the end of the month was colder. On the 31st, the maximum temperature was only 1.5°C.
