England and Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Summary: Mainly dry, sunny and warm, especially in the south. Very warm at times during the first three weeks, then becoming cooler and more unsettled.
Diary of Highlights:
1st to 4th
High pressure migrated slowly across the UK from the Atlantic to the Low Countries bringing dry weather with good sunny periods and some warm temperatures later.
5th to 11th
A rather unsettled period with rain at times as secondary depressions and their associated fronts crossed the region.
After a very warm start on the 5th the first band of thundery showers affected many parts on the 6th, with more rain spreading in on the 7th as a low approached southern areas from Biscay.
Wet in many places on 8th/9th as more depressions tracked close by. The rain was heavy at times in the N with thunder mixed in.
A low near the Thames Estuary on the 10th gave rain in the N and E. More Atlantic fronts brought rain and drizzle too many places on the 11th, while W and N areas were affected by hill and coastal fog.
12th to 17th
An anticyclone, which formed over the UK, drifted E to the near continent retaining the region under its influence. Dry, sunny and very warm or hot weather prevailed, 28.4°C being recorded at Gravesend in Kent on the 17th. Patchy mist and fog in the morning cleared quickly.
18th to 22nd
A cold front became stalled over North Wales and Northern England for much of the period, bringing rain to these parts, often heavy and prolonged. The rest of England and Wales continued to bask in very warm sunny weather, with any mist or fog patches being readily burnt off after dawn.
The cold front advanced S during the 22nd providing some heavy and desperately needed rain to the region. In the SE temperature drops of ten degrees in less than an hour were noted in many places.
23rd to 25th
High pressure established itself again then drifted east maintaining sunny dry conditions. A number of places had air frost on the 24th, minus 2.8°C being recorded at Redhill Airport in Surrey. At Boscombe Down in Wiltshire it was the coldest September night since 1931.
26th to 28th
Occasional showers and sunny periods as a weak cold front moved southwards during the 26th.
29th to 30th
An unsettled spell, with rain and showers affecting many parts of Northern England and North Wales, with 25 mm of rainfall reported at Valley/Anglesey on the 29th.
Statistical details
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| England and Wales Mean Temperature Series (series began in 1961). |
The mean value for the month was 14.0 °C. |
0.9°C above the 1961-1990 average, which is in the above average category. |
| England and Wales Rainfall Series (series began in 1961). |
The total for the month was 37.0mm. |
47% of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well below average category. |
| England and Wales Sunshine Series (series began in 1961). |
The total for the month was 177.0 hours. |
133% of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the exceptionally above average category. Sunniest in series, previous sunniest 1964 with 176.4 hours. |
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The period 1961 to 1990 is the current World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) period for taking climate statistics.
