1920 Dull. Mild Winter, Poor Summer.
In the year that Poland defeated the Soviet Red Army in the Battle of Warsaw, QANTAS Airlines was founded in Brisbane, Australia, and British forces killed 14 Civilians at a Gaelic Football Match in Dublin during the Irish War of Independence. This day in November became known as 'Bloody Sunday'.
Weather Notes:-
29th May - Thunderstorms produced 150mm of rain in 3 hours on the catchment area of the River Lud. This led to flash flooding in Louth (Lincolnshire) and claimed 23 lives.
17th June - Raunds (Northants) recorded a maximum temperature of 27.8°C, making it the warmest place in Britain for the second consecutive year.
11th/12th December- 10 to 15cm of snow lying across Southern England, with up to 30cm around the Thames Estuary and over South Devon.
In London...
January - Very mild with slightly above normal sunshine and near average rainfall
There was some cold weather early in January, and the maximum temperature on the 6th was only 0.9°C. On the following night, the minimum value was below minus 5°C. However, it then became changeable and milder. On the 10th, nearly 11mm of rain fell, and on the 13th, the temperature climbed close to 13°C. The unsettled pattern of weather continued after mid month, with very mild and drizzly days alternating with sunnier and cooler days.
February - Very mild and dry with sunshine slightly above average.
Pressure was mostly high over southeast Britain during February, and with winds from a south or southwesterly direction, it was both dry and mild. On the 4th, a cold front was sufficiently active to give over 2mm of rain, and the following night was frosty with a minimum temperature below minus 2°C. The third week was very mild with a high near 15°C. on the 18th, but in a brief cooler, but sunny, interlude, the maximum temperature on the 21st was only 5.5°C.
March - Mild and rather dry with above average sunshine.
There were some rather cold and showery days early in March, and some of those showers were wintry. The maximum temperature on the 8th was only 4.4°C., and on the following night the temperature fell close to minus 2°C. This was the last frosty night of the Spring and it then became unsettled and milder. On the 14th, nearly 7mm of rain was measured, but the end of the month became dry, sunny and fairly warm. On the 30th, the high was close to 19°C.
April - Very dull and wet with temperatures close to average.
There was a cool start to April, and the high on the 1st was only 9.2°C. It slowly became milder, although it was frequently cloudy and damp. Amounts of rain were mostly small, however, on the 16th, nearly 9mm fell. The remainder of the month was mostly cloudy and unsettled. Even so, there was the occasional brighter and warmer day. On the 24th, the temperature rose above 17°C., and after an early ground frost on the 30th, the day was fairly sunny.
May - Rather warm and dry with above average sunshine.
The beginning of April was mostly cool and changeable. There were some chilly nights with grass frosts, and on the 8th the maximum temperature was only 12.0°C. It then became generally drier and warmer. During the fourth week there were some very warm and sunny days. On the 25th, the temperature exceeded 26°C., but a thundery breakdown followed, and nearly 22mm of rain was recorded on the 26th. It then became cooler and fresher.
June - Wet with below average sunshine and near normal temperatures.
The first half of June was mostly rather cool and showery, On the 5th, the afternoon temperature was only 14.1°C. There were sunny periods between the showers, and during the first week there were a few clear and chilly nights. On the 12th, it was a particularly wet day with 36mm of rain falling, but after mid month temperatures were close to, and occasionally a little above, normal. Maxima were above 20°C. on several days, and on the 16th, the high was near 24°C.
July - Very wet, dull and cool
The month was changeable and cool, and during the first half of July it was occasionally very cool. The maximum temperature on the 5th was only 12.0°C. The 16th was a rare sunny day, and on the 19th the temperature rose close to 23°C. However, on the 21st, nearly 18mm of rain fell. During the last week, there was some dry and bright weather with sunny spells. The best of the sunshine occurred during the mornings with afternoons continuing cool and rather cloudy.
August - Very cool, dull and rather dry.
Winds were predominantly from between northeast and northwest during August bringing plenty of dry, but often rather cloudy, weather. However, the beginning of the month was wet, and on the 2nd, nearly 18mm of rain fell. Temperatures were persistently below average, although a sunny day on the 8th helped to lift afternoon temperatures close to 23°C. Unsettled weather returned at the end of the month, and the maximum temperature on the 30th was only 14.0°C.
September - Rather cool, dull and wet.
There were a few pleasantly warm days with sunny spells early in September, and on the 12th, the afternoon temperature reached 22°C. However, most of the first fortnight was changeable, and after mid month the weather became generally more unsettled and cooler. On the 16th, over 17mm of rain fell, and although the 19th was an uncharacteristically sunny day, the 21st produced a more typically cloudy and damp day with a maximum temperature of only 12.1°C.
October - Rather dry and sunny with temperatures slightly above average.
On the first day of the month nearly 19mm of rain fell, and the remainder of the first fortnight was rather unsettled. However, it was pleasantly warm at times, and on the 5th, the afternoon temperature almost reached 22°C. After mid month, there was plenty of dry weather, and although rather cloudy at first, from the 20th until the end of the month there were several sunny days. It turned colder, and after a high of only 9.2°C on the 27th, the following night was frosty.
November - Dry and rather cold with below average sunshine.
High pressure dominated the weather during November, although weak fronts gave a few changeable days. Frost was frequent, and overnight mist and fog was sometimes slow to clear. The 4th was a grey day with a high of only 2.9°C. The 15th was cloudy and damp with the temperature above 14°C., but frost and fog returned during the following week with a high of only 2.9°C. again on the 22nd. An unsettled end to the month gave nearly 8mm of rain on the 27th.
December - Dull with below average temperatures and rainfall.
After a sunny day on the 1st, the first few days of December were generally, mild, changeable and windy. A quieter spell followed, but bitterly cold east winds with snow set in on the 11th. The maximum temperature was only minus 0.7°C. on the 12th, and above lying snow, the minimum on the following night was below minus 6°C. It became changeable and mild during the third week, and over 11mm of rain fell on the 23rd, with a high above 13°C. on th 31st.
29th May - Thunderstorms produced 150mm of rain in 3 hours on the catchment area of the River Lud. This led to flash flooding in Louth (Lincolnshire) and claimed 23 lives.
17th June - Raunds (Northants) recorded a maximum temperature of 27.8°C, making it the warmest place in Britain for the second consecutive year.
11th/12th December- 10 to 15cm of snow lying across Southern England, with up to 30cm around the Thames Estuary and over South Devon.
In London...
| Temperature | 10.4°C | Rainfall | 616.7 mm | Warmest | 26.2°C |
| Sunshine | 1294 hrs | Coldest | -6.3°C |
January - Very mild with slightly above normal sunshine and near average rainfall
| Mean Temperature | 5.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 13.7°C | Total Rain | 55 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -5.3°C | Total Sun | 48 hrs |
There was some cold weather early in January, and the maximum temperature on the 6th was only 0.9°C. On the following night, the minimum value was below minus 5°C. However, it then became changeable and milder. On the 10th, nearly 11mm of rain fell, and on the 13th, the temperature climbed close to 13°C. The unsettled pattern of weather continued after mid month, with very mild and drizzly days alternating with sunnier and cooler days.
February - Very mild and dry with sunshine slightly above average.
| Mean Temperature | 6.3°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 14.6°C | Total Rain | 10 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.5°C | Total Sun | 66 hrs |
Pressure was mostly high over southeast Britain during February, and with winds from a south or southwesterly direction, it was both dry and mild. On the 4th, a cold front was sufficiently active to give over 2mm of rain, and the following night was frosty with a minimum temperature below minus 2°C. The third week was very mild with a high near 15°C. on the 18th, but in a brief cooler, but sunny, interlude, the maximum temperature on the 21st was only 5.5°C.
March - Mild and rather dry with above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 8.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 18.8°C | Total Rain | 30 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -1.7°C | Total Sun | 128 hrs |
There were some rather cold and showery days early in March, and some of those showers were wintry. The maximum temperature on the 8th was only 4.4°C., and on the following night the temperature fell close to minus 2°C. This was the last frosty night of the Spring and it then became unsettled and milder. On the 14th, nearly 7mm of rain was measured, but the end of the month became dry, sunny and fairly warm. On the 30th, the high was close to 19°C.
April - Very dull and wet with temperatures close to average.
| Mean Temperature | 9.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 17.2°C | Total Rain | 68 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 1.5°C | Total Sun | 79 hrs |
There was a cool start to April, and the high on the 1st was only 9.2°C. It slowly became milder, although it was frequently cloudy and damp. Amounts of rain were mostly small, however, on the 16th, nearly 9mm fell. The remainder of the month was mostly cloudy and unsettled. Even so, there was the occasional brighter and warmer day. On the 24th, the temperature rose above 17°C., and after an early ground frost on the 30th, the day was fairly sunny.
May - Rather warm and dry with above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 13.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 26.2°C | Total Rain | 38 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 2.4°C | Total Sun | 212 hrs |
The beginning of April was mostly cool and changeable. There were some chilly nights with grass frosts, and on the 8th the maximum temperature was only 12.0°C. It then became generally drier and warmer. During the fourth week there were some very warm and sunny days. On the 25th, the temperature exceeded 26°C., but a thundery breakdown followed, and nearly 22mm of rain was recorded on the 26th. It then became cooler and fresher.
June - Wet with below average sunshine and near normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 15.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 23.9°C | Total Rain | 78 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 4.3°C | Total Sun | 195 hrs |
The first half of June was mostly rather cool and showery, On the 5th, the afternoon temperature was only 14.1°C. There were sunny periods between the showers, and during the first week there were a few clear and chilly nights. On the 12th, it was a particularly wet day with 36mm of rain falling, but after mid month temperatures were close to, and occasionally a little above, normal. Maxima were above 20°C. on several days, and on the 16th, the high was near 24°C.
July - Very wet, dull and cool
| Mean Temperature | 15.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 22.8°C | Total Rain | 112 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.5°C | Total Sun | 133 hrs |
The month was changeable and cool, and during the first half of July it was occasionally very cool. The maximum temperature on the 5th was only 12.0°C. The 16th was a rare sunny day, and on the 19th the temperature rose close to 23°C. However, on the 21st, nearly 18mm of rain fell. During the last week, there was some dry and bright weather with sunny spells. The best of the sunshine occurred during the mornings with afternoons continuing cool and rather cloudy.
August - Very cool, dull and rather dry.
| Mean Temperature | 14.3°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 22.9°C | Total Rain | 38 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 6.0°C | Total Sun | 140 hrs |
Winds were predominantly from between northeast and northwest during August bringing plenty of dry, but often rather cloudy, weather. However, the beginning of the month was wet, and on the 2nd, nearly 18mm of rain fell. Temperatures were persistently below average, although a sunny day on the 8th helped to lift afternoon temperatures close to 23°C. Unsettled weather returned at the end of the month, and the maximum temperature on the 30th was only 14.0°C.
September - Rather cool, dull and wet.
| Mean Temperature | 13.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 22.1°C | Total Rain | 62 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 4.2°C | Total Sun | 104 hrs |
There were a few pleasantly warm days with sunny spells early in September, and on the 12th, the afternoon temperature reached 22°C. However, most of the first fortnight was changeable, and after mid month the weather became generally more unsettled and cooler. On the 16th, over 17mm of rain fell, and although the 19th was an uncharacteristically sunny day, the 21st produced a more typically cloudy and damp day with a maximum temperature of only 12.1°C.
October - Rather dry and sunny with temperatures slightly above average.
| Mean Temperature | 11.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 21.7°C | Total Rain | 43 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.1°C | Total Sun | 113 hrs |
On the first day of the month nearly 19mm of rain fell, and the remainder of the first fortnight was rather unsettled. However, it was pleasantly warm at times, and on the 5th, the afternoon temperature almost reached 22°C. After mid month, there was plenty of dry weather, and although rather cloudy at first, from the 20th until the end of the month there were several sunny days. It turned colder, and after a high of only 9.2°C on the 27th, the following night was frosty.
November - Dry and rather cold with below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 6.3°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 14.4°C | Total Rain | 33 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.3°C | Total Sun | 49 hrs |
High pressure dominated the weather during November, although weak fronts gave a few changeable days. Frost was frequent, and overnight mist and fog was sometimes slow to clear. The 4th was a grey day with a high of only 2.9°C. The 15th was cloudy and damp with the temperature above 14°C., but frost and fog returned during the following week with a high of only 2.9°C. again on the 22nd. An unsettled end to the month gave nearly 8mm of rain on the 27th.
December - Dull with below average temperatures and rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 5.0°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 13.3°C | Total Rain | 49 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -6.3°C | Total Sun | 28 hrs |
After a sunny day on the 1st, the first few days of December were generally, mild, changeable and windy. A quieter spell followed, but bitterly cold east winds with snow set in on the 11th. The maximum temperature was only minus 0.7°C. on the 12th, and above lying snow, the minimum on the following night was below minus 6°C. It became changeable and mild during the third week, and over 11mm of rain fell on the 23rd, with a high above 13°C. on th 31st.
