1946 Wet and Rather Cool. A Dull Autumn.
In the year that Italy was declared a Republic and King Umberto the Second went into exile in Switzerland, the Greek people voted for the return of the monarchy and George the Second was enthroned in Greece. Meanwhile, King Simeon the Second headed into exile as Bulgaria was declared a Republic. The latest members of the United Nations were Iceland, Sweden and Afghanistan. In the music world, Edith Piaf wrote 'La Vie en Rose', a song that was to be her signature tune through the rest of her life.
Weather Notes:-
27th March - The temperature rose to 23°C in Winnipeg (Manitoba), a new March record.
6th August - The maximum temperature of 47.4°C. at Seville/Tablada is recognised as the highest authentically recorded temperature in Spain.
4th November - Maximum temperature on this day was 22°C. at Prestatyn (Denbighshire) and 21°C. at Edinburgh, both national records for November.
In London...
January - Dry and rather cold with above average sunshine.
The beginning of January was changeable, and on the 9th over 10mm of rain fell. It became very mild during the second week, and the temperature on the 11th almost reached 13°C. The following day was sunny, and plenty of fine weather occurred during the third week. It became very cold, and after a sharp overnight frost, the temperature on the 20th failed to rise above. minus 0.5°C. During the last week of January the weather became unsettled and milder.
February - Mild and wet with slightly above average sunshine.
The first week was very mild and stormy with strong winds and rain alternating with sunshine and showers. On both the 6th and 7th maximum temperatures were above 13°C. The weather then become somewhat less unsettled but still mild, before changeable weather returned and ushered in a cold end to February. On the 26th, nearly 11mm of rain was recorded, and on the 27th, although it was sunny nearly all day, the maximum temperature was only 3.5°C.
March - Dull, rather cold and dry.
The first half of the month was mostly cold and rather cloudy with occasional sleet and snow. Some frosty nights occurred, and on both the 8th and 16th the maximum temperature was only 2.1°C. Towards the end of the third week the weather became unsettled for a while but milder. On the 22nd, over 10mm of rain was measured, The end of March became very mild with plenty of sunshine. The afternoon temperature on both the 29th and 30th rose above 18°C.
April - Sunny and rather warm with rainfall slightly above average.
There was a very warm start to the month, and on the 3rd, the afternoon temperature approached 24°C. The 4th was slightly cooler, but the maximum temperature on the 5th was only just above 12°C. The second week was cooler, and on the 10th the temperature failed to rise above 9.7°C., but there were many dry and sunny days and April remained free of air frost. The end of the month became unsettled, and on the 29th, nearly 21mm of rain fell.
May - Very wet and rather cool with slightly below average sunshine.
Unsettled weather prevailed during May and although some dry and bright weather occurred, there were also showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times. On the 8th, over 24mm of rain was measured. The 10th was sunny nearly all day, but temperatures generally remained below average, and on the 14th, the maximum value was only 9.6°C. There were no warm days during May, although the afternoon temperature on the 23rd briefly rose above 19°C.
June - Cool, dull and wet.
There were only 11 days without measurable rain during this disappointingly cool, and often wet,
summer month. On the 4th, the temperature failed to rise above 14.4°C., and on 11th nearly 12mm of rain was recorded. At the beginning of the fourth week there was a brief sunnier and warmer interlude. On the 21st it was sunny nearly all day, and on the 23rd the afternoon temperature exceeded 23°C. The weather then became cooler and unsettled again.
July - Rather wet and sunny with slightly below average temperatures.
There were severe thunderstorms during this July, some of which were accompanied by hail. Between the storms there was plenty of dry weather with spells of sunshine, and during the second week there were several very warm days. On the 12th the temperature exceeded 28°C, but on the 16th the afternoon high was only. 15.1°C. Torrential rain during a thunderstorm on the 26th produced 50mm in just 35 minutes, and a total rain for the day of over 53mm.
August - Cool, wet and rather dull.
There were some sunny and warm days during the first week of August, and after a day of sunshine on the 4th, the temperature on the 5th exceeded 26°C. During the second week, the weather became unsettled and generally cool. On the 9th, nearly 15mm of rain fell. Although further spells of sunshine occurred, the remainder of the month was changeable with rain falling frequently. It was mostly cool, and on the 17th, the afternoon temperature only reached 15.4°C.
September - Dull and wet with below average temperatures.
The opening 3 weeks of September were mostly changeable and rather cool as several Atlantic weather systems brought bands of rain followed by sunny intervals and a few showers. On the 8th, over 46mm of rain was measured, and on the 14th the temperature failed to rise above 15.6°C. The following day was sunny, but the fairly cool weather persisted until the last week. It then became much warmer , and on the 28th the maximum temperature almost reached 23°C.
October - Dull and dry with temperatures slightly below normal.
The first week was quite warm with sunshine, but also some rain. On the 1st, the temperature rose above 20°C., but on the 3rd over 8mm of rain fell. High pressure to the north of the British Isles produced winds from a northeasterly direction for most of the month, and although it was bright and mild at first, it became increasingly cloudy and cool. On the 25th, the temperature only reached 6.9°C., and in a rare clear spell, a ground frost occurred early on the 29th.
November - Dull, wet and rather mild.
There was a chilly start to November, with a maximum temperature of only 7.4°C., on the 1st. A ground frost occurred on the folloeing night but it then became much milder. The 4th, was sunny nearly all day and the temperature almost reached 17°C. The weather then became very unsettled and often windy. There was some heavy rain at times, and on the 14th nearly 18mm was measured, but the month stayed fairly mild, and free of snow and air frosts.
December - Cold and sunny with slightly below average rainfall.
There was a mild start to December, and on the 1st a maximum temperature of 11°C. occurred. It then became colder at times as incursions of east winds brought sunshine, overnight frosts, but also a mixture of rain, sleet and snow. On the 8th, over 12mm of rain was measured, and on the 19th snow fell followed by severe frosts. On the 21st, after an overnight low of minus 7°C., the maximum temperature was only minus 2.1°C. The end of the month was mllder.
27th March - The temperature rose to 23°C in Winnipeg (Manitoba), a new March record.
6th August - The maximum temperature of 47.4°C. at Seville/Tablada is recognised as the highest authentically recorded temperature in Spain.
4th November - Maximum temperature on this day was 22°C. at Prestatyn (Denbighshire) and 21°C. at Edinburgh, both national records for November.
In London...
| Temperature | 10.0°C | Rainfall | 777.4 mm | Warmest | 28.2°C |
| Sunshine | 1441 hrs | Coldest | -7.0°C |
January - Dry and rather cold with above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 3.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 12.9°C | Total Rain | 35 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -5.0°C | Total Sun | 51 hrs |
The beginning of January was changeable, and on the 9th over 10mm of rain fell. It became very mild during the second week, and the temperature on the 11th almost reached 13°C. The following day was sunny, and plenty of fine weather occurred during the third week. It became very cold, and after a sharp overnight frost, the temperature on the 20th failed to rise above. minus 0.5°C. During the last week of January the weather became unsettled and milder.
February - Mild and wet with slightly above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 6.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 13.1°C | Total Rain | 57 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.1°C | Total Sun | 67 hrs |
The first week was very mild and stormy with strong winds and rain alternating with sunshine and showers. On both the 6th and 7th maximum temperatures were above 13°C. The weather then become somewhat less unsettled but still mild, before changeable weather returned and ushered in a cold end to February. On the 26th, nearly 11mm of rain was recorded, and on the 27th, although it was sunny nearly all day, the maximum temperature was only 3.5°C.
March - Dull, rather cold and dry.
| Mean Temperature | 5.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 18.5°C | Total Rain | 30 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.9°C | Total Sun | 84 hrs |
The first half of the month was mostly cold and rather cloudy with occasional sleet and snow. Some frosty nights occurred, and on both the 8th and 16th the maximum temperature was only 2.1°C. Towards the end of the third week the weather became unsettled for a while but milder. On the 22nd, over 10mm of rain was measured, The end of March became very mild with plenty of sunshine. The afternoon temperature on both the 29th and 30th rose above 18°C.
April - Sunny and rather warm with rainfall slightly above average.
| Mean Temperature | 10.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 23.6°C | Total Rain | 49 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.0°C | Total Sun | 199 hrs |
There was a very warm start to the month, and on the 3rd, the afternoon temperature approached 24°C. The 4th was slightly cooler, but the maximum temperature on the 5th was only just above 12°C. The second week was cooler, and on the 10th the temperature failed to rise above 9.7°C., but there were many dry and sunny days and April remained free of air frost. The end of the month became unsettled, and on the 29th, nearly 21mm of rain fell.
May - Very wet and rather cool with slightly below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 11.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 19.4°C | Total Rain | 88 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 1.9°C | Total Sun | 191 hrs |
Unsettled weather prevailed during May and although some dry and bright weather occurred, there were also showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times. On the 8th, over 24mm of rain was measured. The 10th was sunny nearly all day, but temperatures generally remained below average, and on the 14th, the maximum value was only 9.6°C. There were no warm days during May, although the afternoon temperature on the 23rd briefly rose above 19°C.
June - Cool, dull and wet.
| Mean Temperature | 14.3°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 23.2°C | Total Rain | 71 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.1°C | Total Sun | 169 hrs |
There were only 11 days without measurable rain during this disappointingly cool, and often wet,
summer month. On the 4th, the temperature failed to rise above 14.4°C., and on 11th nearly 12mm of rain was recorded. At the beginning of the fourth week there was a brief sunnier and warmer interlude. On the 21st it was sunny nearly all day, and on the 23rd the afternoon temperature exceeded 23°C. The weather then became cooler and unsettled again.
July - Rather wet and sunny with slightly below average temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 17.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 28.2°C | Total Rain | 79 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.1°C | Total Sun | 239 hrs |
There were severe thunderstorms during this July, some of which were accompanied by hail. Between the storms there was plenty of dry weather with spells of sunshine, and during the second week there were several very warm days. On the 12th the temperature exceeded 28°C, but on the 16th the afternoon high was only. 15.1°C. Torrential rain during a thunderstorm on the 26th produced 50mm in just 35 minutes, and a total rain for the day of over 53mm.
August - Cool, wet and rather dull.
| Mean Temperature | 15.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 26.2°C | Total Rain | 95 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 6.8°C | Total Sun | 159 hrs |
There were some sunny and warm days during the first week of August, and after a day of sunshine on the 4th, the temperature on the 5th exceeded 26°C. During the second week, the weather became unsettled and generally cool. On the 9th, nearly 15mm of rain fell. Although further spells of sunshine occurred, the remainder of the month was changeable with rain falling frequently. It was mostly cool, and on the 17th, the afternoon temperature only reached 15.4°C.
September - Dull and wet with below average temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 14.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 22.8°C | Total Rain | 88 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 6.6°C | Total Sun | 116 hrs |
The opening 3 weeks of September were mostly changeable and rather cool as several Atlantic weather systems brought bands of rain followed by sunny intervals and a few showers. On the 8th, over 46mm of rain was measured, and on the 14th the temperature failed to rise above 15.6°C. The following day was sunny, but the fairly cool weather persisted until the last week. It then became much warmer , and on the 28th the maximum temperature almost reached 23°C.
October - Dull and dry with temperatures slightly below normal.
| Mean Temperature | 10.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 20.6°C | Total Rain | 34 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 0.5°C | Total Sun | 77 hrs |
The first week was quite warm with sunshine, but also some rain. On the 1st, the temperature rose above 20°C., but on the 3rd over 8mm of rain fell. High pressure to the north of the British Isles produced winds from a northeasterly direction for most of the month, and although it was bright and mild at first, it became increasingly cloudy and cool. On the 25th, the temperature only reached 6.9°C., and in a rare clear spell, a ground frost occurred early on the 29th.
November - Dull, wet and rather mild.
| Mean Temperature | 8.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 16.9°C | Total Rain | 103 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 2.3°C | Total Sun | 39 hrs |
There was a chilly start to November, with a maximum temperature of only 7.4°C., on the 1st. A ground frost occurred on the folloeing night but it then became much milder. The 4th, was sunny nearly all day and the temperature almost reached 17°C. The weather then became very unsettled and often windy. There was some heavy rain at times, and on the 14th nearly 18mm was measured, but the month stayed fairly mild, and free of snow and air frosts.
December - Cold and sunny with slightly below average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 2.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 11.0°C | Total Rain | 49 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -7.0°C | Total Sun | 50 hrs |
There was a mild start to December, and on the 1st a maximum temperature of 11°C. occurred. It then became colder at times as incursions of east winds brought sunshine, overnight frosts, but also a mixture of rain, sleet and snow. On the 8th, over 12mm of rain was measured, and on the 19th snow fell followed by severe frosts. On the 21st, after an overnight low of minus 7°C., the maximum temperature was only minus 2.1°C. The end of the month was mllder.
