United Kingdom weather records
The United Kingdom weather records show the most extreme weather ever recorded in the United Kingdom, such as temperature, wind speed, and rainfall records.
Records[]
As of 26 September 2021, the records, as recorded by the Met Office are:[1]
Highest temperature by nation[]
Constituent country |
Temperature |
Date |
Place(s) |
---|---|---|---|
England | 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) | 25 July 2019 | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire |
Wales | 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) | 2 August 1990 | Hawarden Bridge, Flintshire |
Scotland | 32.9 °C (91.2 °F) | 9 August 2003 | Greycrook, Scottish Borders |
Northern Ireland | 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) | 21 July 2021 | Castlederg, County Tyrone |
Top 5 hottest days[]
Rank | Temperature | Date | Place(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) | 25 July 2019 | Cambridge University Botanic Gardens[2] |
2 | 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) | 10 August 2003 | Faversham |
3 | 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) | 31 July 2020 | Heathrow |
4 | 37.1 °C (98.8 °F) | 3 August 1990 | Cheltenham |
5 | 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) | 1 July 2015 | Heathrow |
Lowest temperature by nation[]
Constituent country | Temperature | Date | Place(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Scotland | −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F) | 11 February 1895 and 10 January 1982 | Braemar, Aberdeenshire |
30 December 1995 | Altnaharra, Sutherland | ||
England | −26.1 °C (−15.0 °F) | 10 January 1982 | Newport, Shropshire |
Wales | −23.3 °C (−9.9 °F) | 21 January 1940 | Rhayader, Radnorshire |
Northern Ireland | −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) | 24 December 2010 | Castlederg, County Tyrone |
Rainfall[]
Duration | Amount | Place(s) | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Highest 5-min total | 32 mm (1.3 in) | Preston, Lancashire | 10 August 1893 |
Highest 30-min total | 80 mm (3.1 in) | Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway[3] | 26 June 1953 |
Highest 60-min total | 92 mm (3.6 in) | Maidenhead, Berkshire | 12 July 1901 |
Highest 90-min total | 117 mm (4.6 in) | Dunsop Valley, Lancashire | 8 August 1967 |
Highest 120-min total | 193 mm (7.6 in)[4] | Walshaw Dean Lodge, West Yorkshire | 19 May 1989 |
Highest 155-min total | 169 mm (6.7 in) | Hampstead, London | 14 August 1975 |
Highest 180-min total | 178 mm (7.0 in) | Horncastle, Lincolnshire | 7 October 1960 |
Highest 24-hour total (1800-1800) | 341.4 mm (13.44 in) | Honister Pass, Cumbria | 5 December 2015 |
Highest 24-hour total (0900-0900) | 279 mm (11.0 in) | Martinstown, Dorset | 18 July 1955 |
Highest 24-hour total (UK national average) | 31.7 mm (1.25 in) | UK (national average)[5] | 3 October 2020 |
Highest 48-hour total (0900-0900) | 405 mm (15.9 in) | Thirlmere, Cumbria | 4 to 5 December 2015 |
Highest 72-hour total (0900-0900) | 456.4 mm (17.97 in) | Seathwaite, Cumbria | 17 to 19 November 2009 |
Highest 96-hour total (0900-0900) | 495 mm (19.5 in) | Seathwaite, Cumbria | 16 to 19 November 2009 |
Highest monthly total | 1,396.4 mm (54.98 in) | Crib Goch, Snowdon | 1 to 31 December 2015 |
Sunshine[]
Record | Duration | Location | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Highest monthly total (UK national average)[6] | 266 hours | UK (national average) | May 2020 |
Highest monthly total (England)[1] | 383.9 hours | Eastbourne, Sussex | July 1911 |
Highest monthly total (Northern Ireland)[1] | 298 hours | Mount Stewart, County Down | June 1940 |
Highest monthly total (Scotland)[1] | 329.1 hours | Tiree, Argyll & Bute | May 1975 |
Highest monthly total (Wales)[1] | 354.3 hours | Dale Fort, Pembrokeshire | July 1955 |
Wind speed[]
Ground Level | Wind Speed | Location | Date | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | knots | |||
Low level | 142 | 228 | 123 | Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire | 13 February 1989 |
High level | 173 | 278 | 150 | Cairn Gorm, Scottish Highlands | 20 March 1986 |
Shetland holds the unofficial British record for wind speed. A gust of 197 mph (317 km/h) was reported on 1 January 1992. An earlier gust in 1962 was recorded at 177 mph (285 km/h), both at RAF Saxa Vord.[7] However, it is expected that higher gusts than those reported would have been achieved as during both storms the measuring equipment was destroyed by the extreme weather.[8]
A wind gust of 194 mph (312 km/h) was recorded at Cairn Gorm on 19 December 2008 but was discovered too late to be verified by the Met Office.[9]
Snowfall[]
Amount | Location | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
Greatest depth in an inhabited area[10] | 211 cm (83 in) | Forest-in-Teesdale, County Durham | 14 March 1947 |
Atmospheric pressure[]
Record | Level | Location | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Highest | 1,053.6 mbar (31.11 inHg) | Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire | 31 January 1902 |
Lowest | 925.6 mbar (27.33 inHg) | Ochtertyre, Perthshire | 26 January 1884 |
References[]
- ^ a b c d e "UK climate extremes". Met Office. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "UK sizzles as temperatures reach 36C". BBC News. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ The UK Met Office expresses "reservations" about 193 mm on 19 May 1989 at Walshaw Dean Lodge (West Yorkshire).
- ^ McGrath, Matt (16 October 2020). "Extreme weather: October downpour sees UK's wettest day on record". BBC News. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ Harrabin, Roger (1 June 2020). "Climate change: May was sunniest calendar month on record in UK". BBC News. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Unst". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ "A History of RAF Saxa Vord". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ Britten, Nick (6 January 2009). "Highlands mountain claims strongest UK wind". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ Eden, Philip (2 February 2009). "Snow Britain: Wrong kind of snow strikes again". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- Climate of the United Kingdom
- Lists of weather records