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Please note, the focus of this site is local climatology (the study of climate and past weather; not meterology (actual forecasts). For information on up to the minute local conditions and forecasts see - http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/accrington#?tab=map&map=SignificantWeather&fcTime=1360528973&zoom=8&lon=-2.37&lat=53.75 or http://www.a-sojourn.me.uk/Weather/wx.htm or higham-weather.com/index.html. |
| Latest News |
While total extent was not at record low, it remained well below average through March. Ice fracturing continued north of Alaska, and the Arctic Oscillation was in a strongly negative phase during the second half of the month, with unusually high sea level pressure over almost all of the Arctic Ocean. Levels of multiyear ice remain extremely low. The ice is thinner, and satellite data suggests that first-year ice may now cover the North Pole area for the first time since winter 2008. Arctic sea ice reached its maximum extent for the year on March 15 at 15.13 million square kilometres (5.84 million square miles). This year’s maximum ice extent was the sixth lowest in the satellite record (the lowest maximum extent occurred in 2011). The ten lowest maximums in the satellite record have occurred in the last ten years (2004 to 2013). Between the 2012 summer minimum and the 2013 winter maximum, sea ice extent increased 11.72 million square kilometres (4.53 million square miles), the largest increase in the satellite record. This was primarily due to the extreme record low ice extent in September 2012, which resulted in a near-record high first-year ice extent. This is evident in imagery from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) sensor on the European METOP-A satellite provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NOAA NESDIS). The ASCAT data and ice age data both suggest a continued thinning of the ice pack, and overall decline in its volume, but they do not provide direct information on ice thickness. High (Arctic) latitudes are warming more than the mid latitudes leading to weakening of the pressure gradient allowing greater meandering of the Polar Jet Stream. Arctic sea ice is just one of several drivers of the Jet Stream behaviour causing climatic variations in Britain.
Others are |
| Recent Monthly Reports |
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April 2013
Equally as cold as last year and the coldest April since 2001.
The year so far has been markedly cold and dry, total rainfall being only 63% of normal.
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March 2013
The coldest March on record and the dullest since 1998. |
| February 2013
Total Rainfall was 2.09 inches, only 59% of normal.
Total Sunshine was 74 hours, 28% above normal.
Temperatures were colder than average with 11 air frosts and 6 ground frosts.
Winter; December 2012, January and February 2013 |
| January 2013
Total Rainfall was 4.55 inches, 90% of normal.
Total Sunshine was 19 hours, only 40% of normal.
Temperatures were near normal for January with 14 air frosts and 13 ground frosts. |
| 2012 Annual Summary
With a total of nearly 70 inches it was the wettest year ever recorded at a Huncoat weather station.
2.88 inches on 22nd June was the wettest day ever recorded at Huncoat and three other days this year topped 1.33 inches.
Sunshine was 8% below normal with a total of 1,042 hours and was the dullest year since 1998.
Temperatures and air pressure averaged out close to normal but still with a noticeable lack of warmth. |
| December 2012
Total Rainfall was 9.81 inches, 83% above normal.
Total Sunshine was 48 hours, 2% above normal.
Temperatures were near normal for December with 8air frosts and 10 ground frosts. |
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November 2012 Temperatures were quite normal for November. Rainfall 10% extra, Sunshine 24% extra. It was brighter than in 2011 but duller than in 2010. There were 5 ground frosts and 2 windy days.
Autumn; September, October and November 2012 |
| October 2012 The coldest October since 2003, well below average. Sunshine and rainfall both slightly above normal. 13.8 was the lowest months maximum on record. There were 3 ground frosts and 3 windy days. |
| September 2012 The wettest September in 40 years. Also the wettest month in the last 2 years. Sunshine only just over half the normal. The dullest September since 1984. Temperatures considerably depressed, the coolest September since 2001. 2.6 minimum was the lowest in September since 1987. There was a ground frost on Saturday 22nd very rare so early in the Autumn.
Last six months; April to September 2012 |
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August 2012 Yet another poor summer month with a very unsettled second half. It was the wettest August since 2008 but also the warmest since 2004. Sunshine and mean temperature were close to normal. Friday 31st had the lowest minimum temperature for August since 1993.
Summer; May to August 2012 |
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July 2012 July was another awful summer month, again entirely due to the Atlantic Jet Stream. It was the dullest July since 1998, the coolest since 2007 and the wettest since 2009. |
| June 2012 It must have been the worst June on record with devastating floods in many parts of Britain. Rainfall at Huncoat exceeded the June 2007 figure of 7.70 inches to set a new record of 8.54 inches. Friday 22nd was the wettest 24 hours in my 40 years of records. 2.88 inches surpassed even Hurricane Charlie in 1986. Temperatures likewise were dismally depressed with a daily mean of only 13.2, the coldest June for 28 years. With only 94 hours of sunshine it was the dullest June for 21 years. It's all down to the conveyor belt of rain clouds driven by the Atlantic Jet Stream!! |
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May 2012 A week and a half of warm sunny weather towards the end of the month balanced out the rest of the dull, cool and wet days resulting overall in a very average May. |
| April 2012 The wettest April since 1998, the dullest and coldest since 2001. Lowest April mean maximum for over 10 years. 5 major depressions in the month resulted in 68% extra rain. An unusual phenomenon occurred at the end of the month with the coldest day being followed immediately by the warmest, a difference of 12.5 C. |
| March 2012 A sunny and mild month breaking some of my records. The first two weeks were average but then temperatures dramatically soared. 21.5 on Tue 27th was the highest maximum I have ever recorded in March in 38 years. Both the monthly mean temperature and the mean maximum were also the highest I have ever recorded in March. The mean minimum was the highest in March since 1991. Rainfall was my least ever in March and as no rain fell after Sat 17th the 15 days since count as an absolute drought. It was the sunniest March since 145 hours were recorded in March 2003. A quietish month for depressions and wind due to persistent high pressure. The mean pressure was exceptional being 5 mbrs above anything in the last 11 years. There was 1 day with sleet and hail on Sunday 4th. |
| February 2012 A mild but dull month. Rainfall was a shade under average. The first two weeks were cold but then temperatures gradually climbed. Rather a quiet month for depressions and wind due to consistent high pressure. The mean pressure was exceptional being 4 mbrs above anything in the last 11 years. |
| January 2012 The wettest and mildest January since 2008. However, there was a bit more sunshine than usual. The westerly winds brought the normal sequence of depressions but there were two quiet and dry spells mid month and at the end. It was quite a windy month. Gusts of around gale force occurred on 5 days with the highest 43mph on Wed 4th. There was a heavy snow shower on Fri 27th which left a slight covering on the mornings of 28th and 29th. |
| Rainfall.......at Huncoat (in inches) | |||||||||||||
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.48 | 6.08 | 4.93 | 4.58 | 3.20 | 5.07 | 3.24 | 4.01 | 5.80 | 11.02 | 9.43 | 4.70 | 67.54 |
| 2001 | 3.08 | 5.23 | 2.59 | 4.78 | 3.11 | 2.67 | 1.91 | 5.33 | 6.04 | 7.22 | 4.33 | 3.18 | 49.47 |
| 2002 | 4.10 | 10.90 | 1.85 | 2.39 | 5.51 | 4.31 | 5.72 | 5.12 | 1.97 | 6.22 | 5.14 | 5.23 | 58.46 |
| 2003 | 3.58 | 1.90 | 3.10 | 2.75 | 5.33 | 4.17 | 3.55 | 2.14 | 3.23 | 1.62 | 5.27 | 5.20 | 41.84 |
| 2004 | 6.39 | 3.39 | 2.39 | 3.94 | 2.51 | 4.26 | 3.03 | 9.70 | 4.23 | 6.58 | 4.06 | 5.27 | 55.75 |
| 2005 | 5.21 | 3.55 | 1.40 | 4.72 | 3.00 | 2.90 | 3.20 | 3.37 | 4.15 | 4.27 | 5.65 | 3.37 | 44.79 |
| 2006 | 1.66 | 2.66 | 6.31 | 2.83 | 6.77 | 1.19 | 1.23 | 5.88 | 4.69 | 5.71 | 6.23 | 8.31 | 53.47 |
| 2007 | 6.47 | 3.55 | 3.40 | 0.83 | 5.50 | 7.70 | 7.90 | 2.79 | 5.08 | 1.81 | 3.41 | 6.79 | 55.23 |
| 2008 | 10.79 | 3.09 | 5.32 | 2.65 | 1.07 | 3.79 | 5.80 | 6.83 | 6.54 | 7.71 | 3.12 | 4.75 | 61.46 |
| 2009 | 4.38 | 0.90 | 2.55 | 1.80 | 4.58 | 1.99 | 7.61 | 3.76 | 2.29 | 4.67 | 9.98 | 3.25 | 47.76 |
| 2010 | 2.61 | 2.63 | 3.28 | 0.95 | 0.72 | 1.83 | 4.85 | 4.20 | 7.36 | 3.54 | 6.32 | 1.65 | 39.94 |
| 2011 | 3.81 | 7.28 | 0.83 | 0.80 | 4.68 | 3.38 | 3.78 | 4.70 | 5.19 | 6.01 | 2.81 | 8.71 | 52.00 |
| 2012 | 5.97 | 3.38 | 0.81 | 4.98 | 3.60 | 8.54 | 7.11 | 4.88 | 9.45 | 5.59 | 5.56 | 9.81 | 69.68 |
| 2013 | 4.55 | 2.09 | 1.91 | 1.28 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 9.83 |
| Average* | 5.10 | 3.50 | 3.81 | 2.78 | 2.96 | 3.52 | 3.39 | 3.95 | 4.32 | 5.24 | 5.11 | 5.38 | 49.05 |
| *40 years from 1973 | Wettest year - 2012 = 69.68 ins. Driest year - 1995 = 33.66 ins. | ||||||||||||
| Wettest ever month - Oct 1980 = 11.35 ins. Driest ever month - Apr 1980 = 0.11 ins. | |||||||||||||

| Sunshine.......at Huncoat (in hours) | |||||||||||||
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 32 | 40 | 95 | 156 | 147 | 128 | 119 | 117 | 149 | 77 | 60 | 54 | 1174 |
| 2003 | 74 | 108 | 145 | 180 | 168 | 180 | 168 | 169 | 149 | 81 | 63 | 80 | 1565 |
| 2004 | 35 | 96 | 90 | 114 | 231 | 165 | 140 | 163 | 110 | 86 | 42 | 60 | 1332 |
| 2005 | 32 | 72 | 80 | 144 | 210 | 180 | 133 | 189 | 148 | 77 | 90 | 66 | 1421 |
| 2006 | 45 | 64 | 75 | 180 | 168 | 173 | 294 | 110 | 154 | 76 | 74 | 39 | 1452 |
| 2007 | 50 | 76 | 120 | 174 | 154 | 165 | 147 | 137 | 94 | 95 | 56 | 69 | 1337 |
| 2008 | 26 | 100 | 75 | 96 | 196 | 158 | 126 | 85 | 94 | 72 | 63 | 60 | 1156 |
| 2009 | 70 | 44 | 110 | 162 | 182 | 195 | 161 | 124 | 94 | 77 | 35 | 66 | 1320 |
| 2010 | 70 | 52 | 110 | 156 | 168 | 218 | 98 | 137 | 138 | 108 | 101 | 75 | 1431 |
| 2011 | 44 | 48 | 113 | 204 | 154 | 158 | 186 | 87 | 103 | 50 | 49 | 20 | 1216 |
| 2012 | 58 | 44 | 135 | 84 | 182 | 94 | 95 | 105 | 60 | 74 | 63 | 48 | 1042 |
| 2013 | 19 | 74 | 63 | 141 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 297 |
| Average* | 46 | 54 | 75 | 110 | 152 | 137 | 136 | 129 | 96 | 71 | 49 | 44 | 1100 |
| *41 years from 1972 | Sunniest year - 2003 = 1565 hours, Dullest year - 1986 = 821 hours. | ||||||||||||
| Sunniest ever month - July 2006 = 294 hours, Dullest ever month - Dec 1975 = 15 hours. | |||||||||||||
| Please note that these are not precise readings taken with scientific instruments but careful estimates based upon personal observation of hourly cloud and sunlight conditions. This feeds into a specially worked out formula which has served me well over the years to calculate sunshine amounts. I am confident that the table is a good indicator of "sunshine" in Hyndburn and the values are periodically checked against other local sources to ensure reliability. | |||||||||||||


| Mean Temperature.....at Huncoat (in celcius) |
| Minimum | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 year average | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 7.6 | 10.7 | 12.9 | 12.5 | 10.2 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 9.2 | 10.6 | 12.6 | 13.2 | 10.6 | 6.9 | 4.8 | 1.8 |
| 2009 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 10.7 | 12.7 | 13.1 | 10.7 | 8.7 | 5.7 | 1.5 |
| 2010 | -0.3 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 6.9 | 11.4 | 13.0 | 11.6 | 10.7 | 7.4 | 2.9 | -1.9 |
| 2011 | 1.8 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 12.1 | 11.5 | 9.5 | 7.4 | 3.6 |
| 2012 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 7.4 | 10.2 | 12.0 | 12.9 | 9.7 | 6.3 | 4.4 | 2.5 |
| 2013 | 1.7 | 0.6 | -0.9 | 3.2 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Maximum | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 year average | 5.0 | 5.5 | 8.0 | 11.2 | 15.3 | 17.8 | 19.9 | 19.2 | 16.2 | 12.2 | 8.1 | 5.4 |
| 2008 | 7.4 | 8.6 | 7.5 | 10.7 | 17.8 | 17.1 | 19.2 | 17.9 | 15.8 | 11.3 | 8.1 | 5.0 |
| 2009 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 9.0 | 14.0 | 14.9 | 19.3 | 18.9 | 18.9 | 15.9 | 13.1 | 9.3 | 4.5 |
| 2010 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 9.1 | 12.6 | 14.8 | 19.7 | 19.0 | 17.4 | 16.2 | 12.4 | 6.4 | 2.0 |
| 2011 | 5.1 | 7.9 | 9.7 | 15.8 | 14.7 | 17.2 | 18.7 | 17.2 | 16.9 | 14.0 | 11.2 | 7.0 |
| 2012 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 11.8 | 9.7 | 15.5 | 16.2 | 17.8 | 19.1 | 14.7 | 11.1 | 8.2 | 5.9 |
| 2013 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 10.6 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Monthly Mean | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 year average | 3.3 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 7.8 | 11.4 | 14.2 | 16.4 | 15.8 | 13.1 | 9.8 | 6.2 | 3.8 |
| 2008 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 7.6 | 13.5 | 13.8 | 15.9 | 15.6 | 13.2 | 9.1 | 6.4 | 3.4 |
| 2009 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 6.4 | 10.0 | 11.5 | 15.0 | 15.8 | 16.0 | 13.3 | 10.9 | 7.5 | 3.0 |
| 2010 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 6.0 | 8.7 | 10.9 | 15.5 | 16.0 | 14.5 | 13.4 | 9.9 | 4.6 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | 3.5 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 11.7 | 11.5 | 13.7 | 15.2 | 14.7 | 14.2 | 11.8 | 9.3 | 5.3 |
| 2012 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 8.5 | 6.9 | 11.4 | 13.2 | 14.9 | 16.0 | 12.2 | 8.7 | 6.3 | 4.2 |
| 2013 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 6.9 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |


| Older Data | |
| The above charts are updated every month. However, if requested further data can be supplied about Hyndburn weather as follows.... | |
| Annual Rainfall from 1870 | Monthly and Daily Rainfall from 1973 |
| Incidence of Snowfall from 1960 | Sunshine estimates from 1972 |
| Barograph traces from 1974 | Temperature Data from 1974 |
| Drought records from 1995 | Monthly Reviews from 1972 |
| Local Extreme Weather Phenomena | Lists of warm, dry or cold spells |
| Data can be made available in metric or imperial measurements | |
| Please contact me with your requirements or questions. There may be a charge for large amounts of information. | |


A study by Roy Chetham first compiled in October 2003 and up-dated in August 2010. Huncoat is a small historic village some 30 miles inland between Accrington and Burnley. As a consequence of being situated on the western slopes of the Pennines below the 1,340 feet high Great Hameldon it receives quite high annual rainfall, records of which, go back to 1875. The earliest known record of rainfall in Britain was kept by Richard Towneley (1629-1707) of Towneley Hall in Burnley, which is just 5 miles east of Huncoat. He placed a funnel on the roof connected to a tube leading down to his bedroom window and measured and recorded the rainfall between 1677 and 1703. His bedroom was in the east wing of the quadrangle which was removed early in the 18th Century so is no longer in existence. Comprehensive records began to be kept around 1726 but it was not until 1860 that they were collected together systematically. George James Symons (1838-1900) took an interest in rainfall after the drought years of 1857-59. He took up a post with the Royal Meteorological Society and began to publish a series of annual books entitled "British Rainfall". The first issue was really only a pamphlet giving the data from 168 “English” stations for 1860 but the enterprise quickly grew and within a quarter of a century he was publishing thick volumes containing over 2000 “British” rainfall recording stations and by the Centenary these exceeded 6000. Symons died in March 1890 aged 61 but the venture was continued by his assistant Herbert Sowerby Wallis and subsequently Hugh Robert Mill and Carle S. Salter until after the First World War it was absorbed into the Meteorological Office Air Ministry. In the 1860 table the nearest station to Huncoat was Stonyhurst which returned 50.60 inches in that year. Huncoat first appeared in the "British Rainfall" books in 1875 with readings taken at Burnley Road Reservoirs. Unfortunately, that station disappeared in 1982 but from 1961 readings had also been taken at the nearby Mitchell's House Reservoir at the head of Warmden Clough and those continue to this day. Rainfall was also recorded in Oak Hill Park, Accrington from 1939 until 1961, at Burnley Road Cemetery, Accrington from 1985 until 1997, at Coppy Clough Sewage works Church from 1947 to 1973 and at Jackhouse Reservoir Oswaldtwistle from 1870 to 1881 and 1966 to 1982. Sadly, the Meteorological Office discontinued the publication of Rainfall Books after 1991 on economic grounds but the local water authorities still continue to measure and report rainfall amounts to the Environment Agency and Meteorological Office and the data eventually gets into their National Library and Archive at Exeter. In April 2010 the Royal Meteorological Society organised a meeting in London to mark the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the British Rainfall Organisation. To see my report of that event click here. The modern rainfall recording network is governed by the Met Office who inspect the sites once every three years to make sure each site conforms to the required standards and is producing good data. The Environment Agency maintains a network of tipping bucket rain gauges to supply information of relevance to flood defences and bathing water quality. The rim diameter of a standard rain gauge is 12.7cm (5 inches) and the height of the mouth should be 30cm above ground level but anything between 15 and 50cm would result in very little error. The standard rain gauge is called a “Snowdon” pattern because it became approved after Captain Mathew used it for an extensive series of observations on the lower slopes of Snowdon in 1865. In fact the design was first employed by Col. M.F. Ward at Calne in 1862 having been made by a local chemist named Rowdon. The first “tipping bucket” rain gauge was made in 1662 by Sir Christopher Wren! In the early 1970's John, David, Martin and Roy began measuring rainfall in Accrington and from 1992 Roy has done so at Sutton Crescent in Huncoat. In 2003 Jim joined the club taking readings in Oswaldtwistle and in 2005 David’s station moved to Oswaldtwistle. Mitchell's House Reservoir is 980 feet above sea level just south west of Great Hameldon and less than 2 miles away from Huncoat village. The "Huncoat Data" therefore all comes from within a small radius. Most of the readings taken over the years at all the above sites compare quite well with each other so we can be pretty sure that we have an accurate picture of local rainfall patterns and extremes. Moreover, rainfall was recorded at Stonyhurst College (7 miles to the NW) for 100 years and that data also collaborates the Huncoat figures.
The 135 year average for Huncoat is nearly 50 inches (1,270 millimetres) per annum. Since 1875 there is no evidence that this has increased so it does not indicate that our climate is getting any wetter. The wettest ten year average was 53.39 inches (1,356 millimetres) between 1922 and 1931. The driest ten year average was 40.42 inches (1,027 millimetres) between 1892 and 1901.
Huncoat’s wettest years have been 1981 with 67.05 inches (1,703 millimetres) at Mitchell's House Reservoir, 2000 with 67.54 inches (1,716 millimetres) at Sutton Crescent and 2012 with 69.68 inches (1,771 millimetres) at Sutton Crescent. The wettest place in Britain is firmly established as Borrowdale in the Cumbrian Mountains. The average annual fall at Styhead on the front of Seathwaite Fell is 172.00 inches (4368 millimetres). The highest annual total ever was at Sprinkling Tarn with 257.00 inches (6,528 millimetres) in 1954 which is just a mile from Styhead.
![]() By comparison Crib Goch mountain in Snowdonia, Wales also approaches 172 inches (4,368 millimetres) annual average but recording ceased in 2003 and the current rain gauge at Capel Curig only gets 104.41 inches (2,652 millimetres) annual average. The highest annual total in Wales was 237.00 inches (6,020 millimetres) in 1908 at Llyn Lydaw, Snowdonia. Surprisingly, despite possible impressions to the contrary Scotland is not as wet as Cumbria or Snowdonia. The highest annual average in Scotland is 150.95 inches (3,834 millimetres) at Beinn Ime mountain, Loch Sloy near Loch Lomond. The highest annual totals in Scotland have been 240.00 inches (6,096 millimetres) at Ben Nevis Observatory in 1898 and 213.00 inches (5,410 millimetres) at Loch Quoich Knoydart in 1938. The wettest place in Northern Ireland seems to be Slieve Bearnagh in the Mountains of Mourne with an annual average of only 74.20 inches (1884.7 millimetres) and in Southern Ireland it’s the Ballaghbeena Gap in Macgillycuddys Reeks mountains, County Kerry with an annual average of around 100.00 inches (2,540 millimetres). The legend of the Styhead site in Borrowdale began in 1845 when Dr. J. Fletcher Miller of Whitehaven established the first rain gauge at nearby Seathwaite in the garden of Mr. John Dixon. Dr. Miller also placed rain gauges higher in the mountains because he suspected higher falls occurred there. This proved to be the case at the notorious location known as “The Stye,” a shelf on Black Waugh Crag which seemed to suffer converging rain bearing clouds coming over Styhead Pass. It may not be unrelated that the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike is a bare two miles away. Sadly, most of the mountain gauges except The Stye were abandoned in 1853 frequently proving inaccessible due to ice and snow and Miller died in 1856. However, Mr Dixon continued to record at the Seathwaite site and measurements of rainfall there have continued unbroken to the present day. The 165 year average is 129.75 inches (3,295.7 millimetres). Until 1857 Mr. Dixon also managed to record the readings from The Stye but then there was a gap until Mr. Isaac Fletcher a relative of Dr. Miller tried to re-establish the mountain network in 1864 but after 1869 they were again neglected. They were revived in 1877 by a Mr. Maitland of Hyde Park with the assistance of Mr. Wilson of Wasdale and since then have continued with short interruptions until the present day. In 1929 after one of these short interruptions through lack of an observer the name was changed to Stye Head which is rather confusing with the more popularly known Sty Head pass and tarn being only a mile to the SW. Nevertheless, this is still the same location as established by Dr. Miller in 1845. It is at a height of 1,077 feet (328 metres) about 200 yards off the footpath to Styhead Tarn. There have been at least four gauge sites here all within a range of 200 yards, see the sepia coloured map click here.
![]() The record breaking site of Sprinkling Tarn was located at a height of 1990 feet (607 metres) but closed in 1987. There have been higher rain gauges in the Cumbrian mountains but they did not record greater falls. Ullscarf just to the SW of Thirlmere was at a height of 2100 feet (640 metres) until it closed in 2005 but the annual average there was only 119 inches (3,022 millimetres). Birkside on Dollywaggon Pike near Helvellyn must be the highest rain gauge still in regular use. It is at 2096 feet (639 metres) and has an annual average of 119.5 inches (3,035 millimetres).
Heavy rain and consequent flooding can occur virtually anywhere particularly if culverts or river courses have become blocked by fallen trees etc or the natural flood plain has gone.
The most serious flood events can follow intense localised thunderstorms or prolonged cyclonic rainfall over high ground draining into converging valleys. For instance the Cockermouth and Workington disaster in November 2009 followed 12.40 inches (314.4 millimetres) in 24 hours at Seathwaite. The small coastal town of Lynmouth became known throughout the world for the disaster that struck on 15th August 1952. After 9.00 inches (229 millimetres) fell upon the Chains; the western part of Exmoor, the East and West Lyn Rivers rose suddenly and swept large boulders and rocks through the village, destroying houses, roads and bridges.
Carlisle was submerged on 8th January 2005 because of 8.85 inches (225 millimetres) in 72 hours over the Shap Mountains and 4.53 inches (115 millimetres) in 24 hours at Keswick.
Before the Boscastle flood on 17th August 2004, 7.89 inches (200 millimetres) fell in 24 hours on the Cornish uplands.
The wettest days ever recorded in England were –
The wettest days ever recorded in the Huncoat area were - Droughts A shortage of rainfall leading to low reservoir levels is usually termed a drought. However, technically there are very precise definitions. An “Absolute Drought” is when there is a period of 15 consecutive days without measurable rainfall (less than 0.01 inches or 0.25 millimetres per day) although if there are 29 consecutive days where the average daily rainfall does not exceed 0.01 inches then that is a “Partial Drought.” If there are 15 consecutive days on each of which there is less than 0.04 inches or 1.0 millimetres then that is defined as a “Dry Spell.”
The longest local drought in living memory was an Absolute Drought of 33 days in February and March 1953. July and August of the same year also had a Dry spell of 17 days. |
A special study by Roy Chetham completed in November 2003.
9th Century
10th Century
11th Century
12th Century
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14th Century
15th Century
16th Century
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century |
A special study by Roy Chetham completed in March 2012. |
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Introduction
Three scientific papers have been in the headlines recently. Global temperatures in 2010 According to the World Meteorological Organisation average global temperatures for 2010 are estimated to be in the region of 0.53°C above the 1961–1990 annual average of 14°C making it (along with 1998 and 2005) one of the warmest years on record dating back to 1880. The decade 2001–2010 was also the warmest on record. Temperatures over the decade averaged 0.46°C above the 1961–1990 mean, 0.21°C warmer than the previous record decade 1991–2000. In turn, 1991–2000 was warmer than previous decades, consistent with a long-term warming trend. The global average surface air temperature is estimated to increase between 1.4°C and 5.8°C by 2100. Climate models cannot yet provide a detailed picture of regional climate change, but it is likely that nearly all land areas, particularly those at high latitudes in the winter season, will warm more rapidly than the global average. Most notable is the warming in the northern regions of North America, and northern and central Asia. This can be seen in the image to the right. In contrast, the warming is less than the expected global mean over South and Southeast Asia in summer and southern South America in winter. The surface temperature is likely to rise least in the North Atlantic and the circumpolar Southern Ocean. I am particularly struck by the last sentence above which may indicate that areas affected by North Atlantic weather will see less climate change due to global warming than other places! C.E.T. Data
The Central England Temperature series peaked at 10.8 in 2006 but dropped to 8.8 in 2010. The ten year CET trend shows peaks in 1738, 1828, 1868 and 1878 and then a gradual rise between 1888 and 1988 but then an abrupt rise in the last two decades. The current decade up to 2018 is currently projecting downwards slightly due to the cold year of 2010. Annual Mean Temperatures at Huncoat From 1975 to 1987 my annual mean was generally between 8 and 9 Celsius except for the cold years of 1981 and 1986. In 1988, 1989 and 1990 it soared by 2.5 degrees before settling down to between 9 and 10 Celsius between 1991 and the present. Only in 2006 and 2011 has it reached anywhere near the 1990 high. Nevertheless, the jump in the three years up to 1990 was clearly a watershed step up in local temperature that has not fallen back. Seasonal Mean Temperatures at Huncoat
My Winter and Spring mean temperatures reflect the same trends as my Annual values but my Autumn and Summer mean temperatures show different patterns. Winter Mean Minimum Temperatures at Huncoat
This is where I can see a dramatic reflection of climate change in my data. Annual Rainfall at Huncoat 50 years of annual rainfall data for Huncoat shows no change or pattern emerging. Total amounts still vary between 827mm and 1,715mm with an average of 1,262mm. There has been no change in the frequency of either wet years or dry years. Seasonal Rainfall at Huncoat Closer scrutiny of the 50 years of annual rainfall data for Huncoat reveals a tendency for Summer rainfall totals to be increasing whilst the other seasons, like the annual data show no significant change. From 1987 onwards Summer totals have increased by 21%, Spring by 7%, Winter by 4% and Autumn has gone down by 5%. Frequency of High Rainfall Days at Huncoat
Days with more than 25mm of rain have increased by 12% since 1987. Frost and Snow In the 70’s and 80’s there were always more than 40 days per year with frost and/or snow but between 1987 and 1999 there were generally less than 30. After 2000 it has gradually crept back up to an average of 40 days per year. Conclusions Whilst Britain and Huncoat in particular, may not have suffered any dramatic changes in climate due to global warming there appears to have been some subtle changes. The turning point seems to have been the late 80’s. After the step up nothing much else has changed. Summers are generally poorer with higher rainfall and lower temperatures whilst Winters are producing less cold minimums. Average sunshine amounts after 1987 are no different than the 40 years before 1987. Although some parts of Britain have experienced extreme storms and floods there is little in my findings to argue that such events are increasing in frequency or intensity other than the modest rises in frequency of high rainfall days at Huncoat.
I cannot contribute anything to the debate about the causes of climate change/global warming. |


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Please note that most of these are Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) using a Davis Vantage Pro 2 array of instruments or similar. The rainfall amounts recorded by such installations are not to be 100% trusted unless they are regularly maintained, properly calibrated and checked against Met Office standard manual rain gauge measurements. | |
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