1954 Cool and Dull Summer
In the year that Germany and Finland officially ended their state of war, rationing finally ended in Britain after 14 years. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' was first published and Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under 4 minutes. In the music world, Bill Haley and his Comets recorded 'Rock Around the Clock.'
Weather Notes:-
2nd to 7th February - A spell of very cold weather across much of England and Wales resulted in severe frost, down to minus 20°C. at Welshpool (Powys), and drifts of snow up to 2m deep in north Kent.
8th December - Tornado ripped the roof off Gunnersbury Station (West London) and damaged houses and factories nearby. Six people were injured.
17th and 18th December - On the shores of Loch Quoich, north of Fort William (Highland) over 256 millimetres of rain fell in less than 24 hours spread across these 2 days.
In London...
January - Dry, sunny and rather cold.
The first fortnight of the month was rather mild, but after a mainly dry and bright start to the year it became increasingly unsettled. Nearly 11mm of rain fell on the 13th, but on the 15th the temperature rose above 14°C. A marked change in the weather occurred from the 24th, with snow on the 25th and 26th followed by intense cold. On the 28th, after an overnight minimum below minus 5°C., the maximum temperature during the day was only minus 2.5°C.
February - Cold and rather wet with below average sunshine.
The first week of the month was very cold with fresh east to northeast winds and daytime temperatures close to, or below, freezing with some severe overnight frosts. On the 1st the high was only minus 2.4°C. Occasional snow fell, but then it slowly became milder. The second half of February was unsettled with temperatures close to, or a little above, normal. On the 18th, over 11mm of rain fell, and on the 22nd the temperature rose above 10°C.
March - Rather wet with below average sunshine and near normal temperatures.
There was a cold start to March, with a little sleet and snow. After a frosty night, the temperature on the 2nd only reached 2.6°C. On the 3rd it became milder as snow turned to rain giving a total rainfall of over 10mm. The mild weather continued into the second week, and the temperature on the 11th rose above 16°C. Thereafter, it was mostly changeable and rather cloudy with temperatures mainly close to average, although there was a sunny end to the month.
April - Very dry, cold and rather sunny.
The beginning of April was unsettled and cold at times. On the 2nd, over 5mm of rain fell, and the temperature on the 5th only reached 9.0°C. Rain fell on the first 5 days of April, but no more measurable rain fell during the remainder of the month. The last air frost night of the month occurred on the night of the 10th/11th, but there were further grass frosts, and despite plenty of sunshine, days were rather cold. However, the temperature on the 29th exceeded 15°C.
May - Dull with below average temperatures and near normal rainfall.
The month began very cool and changeable, and on the 2nd the temperature failed to rise above 8.6°C. There were some cool nights with ground frosts before it became warmer for a while during the second week. Around mid month it became cooler and rather cloudy, but warm and sunny weather returned during the last week. The afternoon temperature on the 27th reached 27°C., but then the weather broke down with over 11mm of rain recorded on the 28th.
June - Very wet, dull and cool.
This poor summer month was less sunny than the preceding April and there were no warm days. On the 2nd, the maximum temperature was only 13.2°C. Two days later, the temperature rose above 23°C. Generally, it stayed cool for the rest of the month, and although there were several dry days, some heavy downpours occurred. On the 13th, over 19mm of rain fell. A few sunny days occurred towards the end of the month but temperatures remained depressed.
July - Very cool and dull with slightly below average rainfall.
Winds were mainly from the northwest during July, and although there were several dry days with early sunshine, afternoons were often cool and cloudy. The afternoon temperature on the 8th only reached 15.8°C. Towards the end of the third week, it became sunnier for a short while and temperatures briefly approached normal. On the 20th, the maximum was 23°C. During the last week of July, there was some heavy rain; and on the 25th, over 23mm was recorded.
August - Cool, dull and wet.
There was some humid weather during the first week and temperatures occasionally rose above average. On the 4th, the maximum was above 24°C. At the end of the first week, it was very wet with nearly 28mm of rain falling on the 6th. It then became cool or very cool, and on the 19th, the maximum temperature was only 13.8°C. The weather continued unsetlled, but during the last week there was some sunny weather and it became somewhat warmer.
September - Cool, sunny and rather dry.
This was the sunniest month since April, but apart from early in the first week, the weather was again unsettled. On the 1st, the temperature exceeded 27°C., the warmest day of the year, but after that there were few warm days. Rain fell frequently but amounts were generally small. The 4th was the wettest day but with only 7mm falling. Towards the end of the month there were some cool nights, and some cool, days. On the 29th, the highest temperature was only 12.3°C.
October - Mild and rather dry with near normal sunshine.
Winds blew from between southeast and southwest through much of the month and brought plenty of mild, and often dry, weather. On the 3rd the temperature exceeded 20°C. There were no cold days during the first 3 week, but on the 24th, over 10mm of rain fell and it then became cooler. During the last week of October, there were several cooler days, and after a maximum temperature of only 11.2°C. on the 25th, a slight frost occurred on the following night.
November - Wet and rather mild with above average sunshine,
The beginning of the month was changeable, but there were severall mild days with spells of sunshine. The temperature on the 6th almost reached 15°C. and on the 9th it was sunny all day. There was a colder interlude during the third week, and on the 18th, after an early frost, the temperature only rose to 6.4°C. It was windy at times during November, but the last week of the month was particularly stormy and wet. On the 28th, over 11mm of rain was recorded.
December - Mild and sunny with rainfall slightly below normal.
The temperature reached 14°C. on the 3rd during a very mild and sunny first week. Squally winds, heavy rain and hail occurred on the evening of the 8th, with a total rainfall for the day of nearly 23mm. It then became colder for a while with sharp frosts. On the 11th, after an overnight minimum below minus 3°C., the temperature during the day only rose to 3.3°C. However, milder weather arrived after mid month, and although often dry, the end of the year was more unsettled.
2nd to 7th February - A spell of very cold weather across much of England and Wales resulted in severe frost, down to minus 20°C. at Welshpool (Powys), and drifts of snow up to 2m deep in north Kent.
8th December - Tornado ripped the roof off Gunnersbury Station (West London) and damaged houses and factories nearby. Six people were injured.
17th and 18th December - On the shores of Loch Quoich, north of Fort William (Highland) over 256 millimetres of rain fell in less than 24 hours spread across these 2 days.
In London...
| Temperature | 10.0°C | Rainfall | 645.4 mm | Warmest | 27.4°C |
| Sunshine | 1415 hrs | Coldest | -5.4°C |
January - Dry, sunny and rather cold.
| Mean Temperature | 3.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 14.3°C | Total Rain | 23 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -5.4°C | Total Sun | 66 hrs |
The first fortnight of the month was rather mild, but after a mainly dry and bright start to the year it became increasingly unsettled. Nearly 11mm of rain fell on the 13th, but on the 15th the temperature rose above 14°C. A marked change in the weather occurred from the 24th, with snow on the 25th and 26th followed by intense cold. On the 28th, after an overnight minimum below minus 5°C., the maximum temperature during the day was only minus 2.5°C.
February - Cold and rather wet with below average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 3.2°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 10.2°C | Total Rain | 49 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -5.4°C | Total Sun | 57 hrs |
The first week of the month was very cold with fresh east to northeast winds and daytime temperatures close to, or below, freezing with some severe overnight frosts. On the 1st the high was only minus 2.4°C. Occasional snow fell, but then it slowly became milder. The second half of February was unsettled with temperatures close to, or a little above, normal. On the 18th, over 11mm of rain fell, and on the 22nd the temperature rose above 10°C.
March - Rather wet with below average sunshine and near normal temperatures.
| Mean Temperature | 6.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 16.5°C | Total Rain | 49 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.8°C | Total Sun | 104 hrs |
There was a cold start to March, with a little sleet and snow. After a frosty night, the temperature on the 2nd only reached 2.6°C. On the 3rd it became milder as snow turned to rain giving a total rainfall of over 10mm. The mild weather continued into the second week, and the temperature on the 11th rose above 16°C. Thereafter, it was mostly changeable and rather cloudy with temperatures mainly close to average, although there was a sunny end to the month.
April - Very dry, cold and rather sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 7.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 15.6°C | Total Rain | 10 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -1.2°C | Total Sun | 186 hrs |
The beginning of April was unsettled and cold at times. On the 2nd, over 5mm of rain fell, and the temperature on the 5th only reached 9.0°C. Rain fell on the first 5 days of April, but no more measurable rain fell during the remainder of the month. The last air frost night of the month occurred on the night of the 10th/11th, but there were further grass frosts, and despite plenty of sunshine, days were rather cold. However, the temperature on the 29th exceeded 15°C.
May - Dull with below average temperatures and near normal rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 12.2°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 27.0°C | Total Rain | 45 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 2.0°C | Total Sun | 160 hrs |
The month began very cool and changeable, and on the 2nd the temperature failed to rise above 8.6°C. There were some cool nights with ground frosts before it became warmer for a while during the second week. Around mid month it became cooler and rather cloudy, but warm and sunny weather returned during the last week. The afternoon temperature on the 27th reached 27°C., but then the weather broke down with over 11mm of rain recorded on the 28th.
June - Very wet, dull and cool.
| Mean Temperature | 14.5°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 23.2°C | Total Rain | 102 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.7°C | Total Sun | 162 hrs |
This poor summer month was less sunny than the preceding April and there were no warm days. On the 2nd, the maximum temperature was only 13.2°C. Two days later, the temperature rose above 23°C. Generally, it stayed cool for the rest of the month, and although there were several dry days, some heavy downpours occurred. On the 13th, over 19mm of rain fell. A few sunny days occurred towards the end of the month but temperatures remained depressed.
July - Very cool and dull with slightly below average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 15.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 23.0°C | Total Rain | 59 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.0°C | Total Sun | 152 hrs |
Winds were mainly from the northwest during July, and although there were several dry days with early sunshine, afternoons were often cool and cloudy. The afternoon temperature on the 8th only reached 15.8°C. Towards the end of the third week, it became sunnier for a short while and temperatures briefly approached normal. On the 20th, the maximum was 23°C. During the last week of July, there was some heavy rain; and on the 25th, over 23mm was recorded.
August - Cool, dull and wet.
| Mean Temperature | 15.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 24.5°C | Total Rain | 80 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 8.3°C | Total Sun | 153 hrs |
There was some humid weather during the first week and temperatures occasionally rose above average. On the 4th, the maximum was above 24°C. At the end of the first week, it was very wet with nearly 28mm of rain falling on the 6th. It then became cool or very cool, and on the 19th, the maximum temperature was only 13.8°C. The weather continued unsetlled, but during the last week there was some sunny weather and it became somewhat warmer.
September - Cool, sunny and rather dry.
| Mean Temperature | 13.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 27.4°C | Total Rain | 40 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 3.4°C | Total Sun | 170 hrs |
This was the sunniest month since April, but apart from early in the first week, the weather was again unsettled. On the 1st, the temperature exceeded 27°C., the warmest day of the year, but after that there were few warm days. Rain fell frequently but amounts were generally small. The 4th was the wettest day but with only 7mm falling. Towards the end of the month there were some cool nights, and some cool, days. On the 29th, the highest temperature was only 12.3°C.
October - Mild and rather dry with near normal sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 12.5°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 20.3°C | Total Rain | 44 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.1°C | Total Sun | 96 hrs |
Winds blew from between southeast and southwest through much of the month and brought plenty of mild, and often dry, weather. On the 3rd the temperature exceeded 20°C. There were no cold days during the first 3 week, but on the 24th, over 10mm of rain fell and it then became cooler. During the last week of October, there were several cooler days, and after a maximum temperature of only 11.2°C. on the 25th, a slight frost occurred on the following night.
November - Wet and rather mild with above average sunshine,
| Mean Temperature | 7.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 14.7°C | Total Rain | 94 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.6°C | Total Sun | 56 hrs |
The beginning of the month was changeable, but there were severall mild days with spells of sunshine. The temperature on the 6th almost reached 15°C. and on the 9th it was sunny all day. There was a colder interlude during the third week, and on the 18th, after an early frost, the temperature only rose to 6.4°C. It was windy at times during November, but the last week of the month was particularly stormy and wet. On the 28th, over 11mm of rain was recorded.
December - Mild and sunny with rainfall slightly below normal.
| Mean Temperature | 7.0°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 14.2°C | Total Rain | 49 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.5°C | Total Sun | 53 hrs |
The temperature reached 14°C. on the 3rd during a very mild and sunny first week. Squally winds, heavy rain and hail occurred on the evening of the 8th, with a total rainfall for the day of nearly 23mm. It then became colder for a while with sharp frosts. On the 11th, after an overnight minimum below minus 3°C., the temperature during the day only rose to 3.3°C. However, milder weather arrived after mid month, and although often dry, the end of the year was more unsettled.
