1908 Rather Cool and Dry.
In the year that Baden Powell began the Boy Scout movement, Inter Milan Football Club was founded, and the somewhat mysterious Tunguska event occurred in which 80 million Siberian trees were felled as a result of an explosion above the earh's surface thought to have been caused by an asteroid. It was the year that women were first allowed to compete in the Olympic Games and the first Model T Ford rolled off the production line.
Weather Notes:-
25th April - An exceptional fall of snow occurred across parts of southern England and the Midlands. A depth of 30cm of lying snow was reported from Oxford, Bournemouth, the Isle of Wight, and Alderney in the Channel Islands. The minimum temperature on the morning of the 25th in Edinburgh was minus 12°C, and the maximum during that day in Southampton was only 1°C.
2nd July - The temperature reached 33°C. in Dumfries, Scotland.
1st-3rd October - Very warm for the time of year in parts of northern and western Britain. The temperature rose to 29°C. at Whitby (North Yorkshire), with record breaking highs for October of 27°C. in Aberdeenshire and Gwynedd.
In London...
January - Cold and dull with below average rainfall.
The beginning of January was fairly cold with a little snow. On the 5th, after a severe overnight frost, the temperature during the day failed to rise above minus 1.3°C. The second week was milder at times and on the 8th over 22mm of rain was recorded, one of only 8 days with measurable rain. The third and fourth weeks were mostly rather cold and cloudy, but the last few days of the month were brighter and milder, and on the 27th the temperature exceeded 12°C.
February - Mild, sunny and rather dry.
Winds were mainly from the southwest during February, but with pressure fairly high, rain-bearing Atlantic fronts were mostly weak. It was rather mild and sunny at times, and on the 12th it was sunny all day. However, on the 17th it was breezy and mild with a maximum temperature near 12°C., but with nearly 11mm of rain falling. At the end of the month it became cold with sunshine and wintry showers. The maximum temperature on the 29th was only 5.0°C.
March - Cold and wet with below average sunshine.
Active frontal systems, often accompanied by strong winds, were a feature of the month, but there were also some quieter, drier days. There were several frosty nights and days were fairly cold. On the 15th, after an overnight minimum below minus 2°C', the temperature during the day failed to rise above 3.3°C. There were no warm days during March, but the 24th was mostly sunny with an afternoon high near 14°C. However, on the following day over 21mm of rain fell.
April - Very cold and rather wet with below average sunshine.
April was changeable, although there were a few sunny days followed by overnight frosts. Several days had a mixture of sunshine and showers, with some of the showers heavy and wintry. On the 24th, after early frost, there was some heavy wet snow during the morning and it briefly settled, but the temperature rose to 5.7°C. later in the day. The end of April was unsettled but warmer. Over 15mm of rain fell on the 28th, and on the 29th the temperature almost reached 17°C.
May - Rather dry and warm with slightly below average sunshine.
There were some warm and sunny days during this month, but the weather was generally unsetlled with no lengthy warm spells, and on the 14th, the afternoon temperature failed to rise above 12.6°C. Despite the changeable nature of the weather, rain was light, and during the last week there were many bright and warm days. On the 27th it was sunny all day, but on the 30th over 5mm of rain fell. However, on the following day the maximum temperature exceeded 24°C.
June - Sunny with above average rainfall and near normal temperatures.
The beginning of June was warm and thundery. The maximum temperature on the 4th was above 26°C., but thunderstorms gave nearly 14mm of rain and it then became much cooler. The highest temperature on the 6th was only 13.8°C. The rather cool and changeable weather lasted until the middle of the third week, but after the 17th there was no more measurable for the rest of the month. Temperatures were slow to rise, but the last day of June was very warm.
July - Below normal sunshine, slightly below average temperatures and near normal rainfall.
There was a sunny and very warm start to July. On the 1st it was sunny all day, and on the 3rd the afternoon temperature rose above 27°C. The first rain of the month fell on the 4th, and it remained rather cool and changeable until the end of the third week. The highest temperature on the 13th was only 16.3°C., and on the 16th over 20mm of rain fell. After the 19th, there was no more measurable rain during July, and it became very warm during the fourth week.
August - Cool with above average rainfall and sunshine.
The beginning of August was sunny and warm. On the 2nd it was sunny all day, and on thefollowing day the maximum temperature was above 26°C. The first rain of the month fell on the 5th, and although there were several more dry days, the remainder of the month was generally cool and changeable. much of the rain was light but the 23rd was a particularly unpleasant summer's day. The maximum temperature was only 13.7°C., and nearly 21mm of rain was recorded.
September - Cool and rather dry with near normal sunshine.
There was some very cool and changeable weather during the opening week of September. On the 4th. it rained for most of the day producing a total of over 14mm. It was very cool, too, with a maximum temperature of only 12.4°C. The 7th was a sunny day, and it was bright and dry at times during the following 2 weeks. However, winds were often from the north and it was cool. Later in the month it was warmer, and on the 30th the temperature rose above 24°C.
October - Warm with above average sunshine and slightly below normal rainfall.
The first 3 weeks of October were mostly pleasantly warm and sunny. The temperature on the 2nd almost reached 25°C., and on the 6th it was sunny all day. There was plenty of dry weather during the first fortnight, but it then became more changeable, and during the last week temperatures fell. On the 19th, nearly 17mm of rain was recorded, and on the 24th the maximum temperature failed to rise above 7.9°C., and on the following night a grass frost developed.
November - Very dry, rather mild and sunny.
The beginning of November was mild but changeable, although amounts of rain were small. The afternoon temperature on the 1st was above 14°C. The second week was generally colder but with sunny or clear spells, After a frost early on the 10th, the highest temperature during the day was only 6.8°C. There were only 9 days during November with measurable rain, but the end of the month was rather unsettled, and on the 21st nearly 6mm of rain was recorded.
December - Very dull and rather cold with near average rainfall.
Most of December was rather cloudy with temperatures not far from average. However, it was mild on the 10th, with a maximum temperature above 11°C., and on the 11th a rare mainly sunny day occurred. Rainfall during December was generally light, but on the 14th nearly 14mm fell. Just after Christmas there was a short spell of very cold and snowy weather. On the 30th, after a severe frost, the maximum temperature during the day was only minus 3.3°C.
25th April - An exceptional fall of snow occurred across parts of southern England and the Midlands. A depth of 30cm of lying snow was reported from Oxford, Bournemouth, the Isle of Wight, and Alderney in the Channel Islands. The minimum temperature on the morning of the 25th in Edinburgh was minus 12°C, and the maximum during that day in Southampton was only 1°C.
2nd July - The temperature reached 33°C. in Dumfries, Scotland.
1st-3rd October - Very warm for the time of year in parts of northern and western Britain. The temperature rose to 29°C. at Whitby (North Yorkshire), with record breaking highs for October of 27°C. in Aberdeenshire and Gwynedd.
In London...
| Temperature | 10.0°C | Rainfall | 564.6 mm | Warmest | 27.3°C |
| Sunshine | 1544 hrs | Coldest | -9.6°C |
January - Cold and dull with below average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 2.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 12.2°C | Total Rain | 46 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -7.0°C | Total Sun | 33 hrs |
The beginning of January was fairly cold with a little snow. On the 5th, after a severe overnight frost, the temperature during the day failed to rise above minus 1.3°C. The second week was milder at times and on the 8th over 22mm of rain was recorded, one of only 8 days with measurable rain. The third and fourth weeks were mostly rather cold and cloudy, but the last few days of the month were brighter and milder, and on the 27th the temperature exceeded 12°C.
February - Mild, sunny and rather dry.
| Mean Temperature | 5.8°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 11.9°C | Total Rain | 30 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.6°C | Total Sun | 78 hrs |
Winds were mainly from the southwest during February, but with pressure fairly high, rain-bearing Atlantic fronts were mostly weak. It was rather mild and sunny at times, and on the 12th it was sunny all day. However, on the 17th it was breezy and mild with a maximum temperature near 12°C., but with nearly 11mm of rain falling. At the end of the month it became cold with sunshine and wintry showers. The maximum temperature on the 29th was only 5.0°C.
March - Cold and wet with below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 5.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 13.7°C | Total Rain | 61 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.5°C | Total Sun | 104 hrs |
Active frontal systems, often accompanied by strong winds, were a feature of the month, but there were also some quieter, drier days. There were several frosty nights and days were fairly cold. On the 15th, after an overnight minimum below minus 2°C', the temperature during the day failed to rise above 3.3°C. There were no warm days during March, but the 24th was mostly sunny with an afternoon high near 14°C. However, on the following day over 21mm of rain fell.
April - Very cold and rather wet with below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 6.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 16.9°C | Total Rain | 59 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.2°C | Total Sun | 151 hrs |
April was changeable, although there were a few sunny days followed by overnight frosts. Several days had a mixture of sunshine and showers, with some of the showers heavy and wintry. On the 24th, after early frost, there was some heavy wet snow during the morning and it briefly settled, but the temperature rose to 5.7°C. later in the day. The end of April was unsettled but warmer. Over 15mm of rain fell on the 28th, and on the 29th the temperature almost reached 17°C.
May - Rather dry and warm with slightly below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 13.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 24.4°C | Total Rain | 34 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 5.3°C | Total Sun | 191 hrs |
There were some warm and sunny days during this month, but the weather was generally unsetlled with no lengthy warm spells, and on the 14th, the afternoon temperature failed to rise above 12.6°C. Despite the changeable nature of the weather, rain was light, and during the last week there were many bright and warm days. On the 27th it was sunny all day, but on the 30th over 5mm of rain fell. However, on the following day the maximum temperature exceeded 24°C.
June - Sunny with above average rainfall and near normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 15.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 26.3°C | Total Rain | 49 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 5.1°C | Total Sun | 259 hrs |
The beginning of June was warm and thundery. The maximum temperature on the 4th was above 26°C., but thunderstorms gave nearly 14mm of rain and it then became much cooler. The highest temperature on the 6th was only 13.8°C. The rather cool and changeable weather lasted until the middle of the third week, but after the 17th there was no more measurable for the rest of the month. Temperatures were slow to rise, but the last day of June was very warm.
July - Below normal sunshine, slightly below average temperatures and near normal rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 17.3°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 27.3°C | Total Rain | 62 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 9.8°C | Total Sun | 187 hrs |
There was a sunny and very warm start to July. On the 1st it was sunny all day, and on the 3rd the afternoon temperature rose above 27°C. The first rain of the month fell on the 4th, and it remained rather cool and changeable until the end of the third week. The highest temperature on the 13th was only 16.3°C., and on the 16th over 20mm of rain fell. After the 19th, there was no more measurable rain during July, and it became very warm during the fourth week.
August - Cool with above average rainfall and sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 15.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 26.5°C | Total Rain | 62 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.9°C | Total Sun | 205 hrs |
The beginning of August was sunny and warm. On the 2nd it was sunny all day, and on thefollowing day the maximum temperature was above 26°C. The first rain of the month fell on the 5th, and although there were several more dry days, the remainder of the month was generally cool and changeable. much of the rain was light but the 23rd was a particularly unpleasant summer's day. The maximum temperature was only 13.7°C., and nearly 21mm of rain was recorded.
September - Cool and rather dry with near normal sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 13.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 24.4°C | Total Rain | 36 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 2.9°C | Total Sun | 144 hrs |
There was some very cool and changeable weather during the opening week of September. On the 4th. it rained for most of the day producing a total of over 14mm. It was very cool, too, with a maximum temperature of only 12.4°C. The 7th was a sunny day, and it was bright and dry at times during the following 2 weeks. However, winds were often from the north and it was cool. Later in the month it was warmer, and on the 30th the temperature rose above 24°C.
October - Warm with above average sunshine and slightly below normal rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 12.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 24.6°C | Total Rain | 55 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.9°C | Total Sun | 108 hrs |
The first 3 weeks of October were mostly pleasantly warm and sunny. The temperature on the 2nd almost reached 25°C., and on the 6th it was sunny all day. There was plenty of dry weather during the first fortnight, but it then became more changeable, and during the last week temperatures fell. On the 19th, nearly 17mm of rain was recorded, and on the 24th the maximum temperature failed to rise above 7.9°C., and on the following night a grass frost developed.
November - Very dry, rather mild and sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 8.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 14.6°C | Total Rain | 17 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.3°C | Total Sun | 60 hrs |
The beginning of November was mild but changeable, although amounts of rain were small. The afternoon temperature on the 1st was above 14°C. The second week was generally colder but with sunny or clear spells, After a frost early on the 10th, the highest temperature during the day was only 6.8°C. There were only 9 days during November with measurable rain, but the end of the month was rather unsettled, and on the 21st nearly 6mm of rain was recorded.
December - Very dull and rather cold with near average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 4.5°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 11.4°C | Total Rain | 53 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -9.6°C | Total Sun | 23 hrs |
Most of December was rather cloudy with temperatures not far from average. However, it was mild on the 10th, with a maximum temperature above 11°C., and on the 11th a rare mainly sunny day occurred. Rainfall during December was generally light, but on the 14th nearly 14mm fell. Just after Christmas there was a short spell of very cold and snowy weather. On the 30th, after a severe frost, the maximum temperature during the day was only minus 3.3°C.
