Before today the England and Wales figure stood at 107 hours
which is 58% of the 1971-2000 norm for Aug 1-29 (my series,
not the MO's) so the final figure will probably settle between
114 and 117h (58-60%).

The only other August in this series below 130h is 1912
(mentioned several times previously this month) when the
figure was just 94h. August 1879 may have been almost as
dull, but the only sunshine recorders in operation then were
at Kew and Greenwich. The lowest in relatively recent
times was 143h in Aug 1986.

The usual caveats apply in respect of trying to merge records
from the Campbell Stokes era and the electronic era. The
differences between the two are greatest during unsettled
summer months at inland locations, amounting to 25-35%,
and possibly even more locally. With that in mind, this
August's E&W sunshine total may be an underestimate,
but even if it is as much as 10% too low, it is still the dullest
August since 1912.

Philip

The hour yesterday and 1.6 hrs today as managed to push this dull month
past my record low recorded in 1978.

Now standing at 92.4 hrs (1978 was 90.2 hrs)

The only two August's recording less than 100 hours on my records
(1960-2008)

Weston Coyney weather station (North Staffordshire) 220 metres asl
--
Graham

"Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote in message
...
Before today the England and Wales figure stood at 107 hours
which is 58% of the 1971-2000 norm for Aug 1-29 (my series,
not the MO's) so the final figure will probably settle between
114 and 117h (58-60%).

The only other August in this series below 130h is 1912
(mentioned several times previously this month) when the
figure was just 94h. August 1879 may have been almost as
dull, but the only sunshine recorders in operation then were
at Kew and Greenwich. The lowest in relatively recent
times was 143h in Aug 1986.

The usual caveats apply in respect of trying to merge records
from the Campbell Stokes era and the electronic era. The
differences between the two are greatest during unsettled
summer months at inland locations, amounting to 25-35%,
and possibly even more locally. With that in mind, this
August's E&W sunshine total may be an underestimate,
but even if it is as much as 10% too low, it is still the dullest
August since 1912.

Philip


Amazing -it sure feels like it though. I have never known a month like it in
summer.

On 30 Aug, 17:39, "Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote:

The only other August in this series below 130h is 1912
(mentioned several times previously this month) when the
figure was just 94h. August 1879 may have been almost as
dull, but the only sunshine recorders in operation then were
at Kew and Greenwich. The lowest in relatively recent
times was 143h in Aug 1986.

Hi Philip, what was the E&W sunshine total for August 1968?

I have a figure of just 93.2hr for Coventry, but that was before my
time, so I thought I would check it out with you.

We also have low figures of 106.2hr in 1957, 110.7hr in 1956, both
below what is likely to be this year's August total.

Steve Jackson
Bablake Weather Station
Coventry UK
www.bablakeweather.co.uk

"Steve J" wrote:
On 30 Aug, 17:39, "Philip Eden" wrote:

The only other August in this series below 130h is 1912
(mentioned several times previously this month) when the
figure was just 94h. August 1879 may have been almost as
dull, but the only sunshine recorders in operation then were
at Kew and Greenwich. The lowest in relatively recent
times was 143h in Aug 1986.

Hi Philip, what was the E&W sunshine total for August 1968?

I have a figure of just 93.2hr for Coventry, but that was before my
time, so I thought I would check it out with you.

We also have low figures of 106.2hr in 1957, 110.7hr in 1956, both
below what is likely to be this year's August total.

Steve ... 147h ... Aug 1968 was such an odd month with huge
deficits in the Midlands, East Anglia and the Southeast, but with
plenty of sun towards the west. I'll dig out some more figures later.

Philip

On 31 Aug, 12:25, "Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote:

Hi Philip, what was the E&W sunshine total for August 1968?

I have a figure of just 93.2hr for Coventry, but that was before my
time, so I thought I would check it out with you.

We also have low figures of 106.2hr in 1957, 110.7hr in 1956, both
below what is likely to be this year's August total.


August 1968 was also the dullest August on Reading's continuous
records, 1938 to date various sites, with 116.9 h at the University
(the current site). Earlier records for Leighton Park School, within
300 m of the current University site, covering the period 1908-19
showed 110.7 h in August 1912. My total this month is still 4 hours
below that value, but with a different sensor and about 10 km distant.

But back to August 1968. Monthly totals, from MWR, Coventry area:

Coventry 97.0 h *
Edgbaston 118.1
Luddington 127.7 h
S-upon-Avon 110.7 h
Elmdon 118.1 h
Shipston-upon-Stour 127.7 h
Wellesbourne 114.1
Moreton Morrell 122.8 h
Newtown Linford, Leics 108.8 h
Oxford 124.0 h

(My, how many climat stations there were 40 years ago ... !)

* The monthly mean, 3.13 h/day, is in brackets indicating some
adjustment has been made to the record - perhaps some days were
missing? Wellesbourne's figure is also bracketed. But to me the
Coventry figure looks to be a tad on the low side compared with its
neighbours, and a figure of 115-120 h also appears the more likely
from the mapped values in the MWR.

HTH.

--
Stephen Burt
Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire

wrote:

On 31 Aug, 12:25, "Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote:

Hi Philip, what was the E&W sunshine total for August 1968?

I have a figure of just 93.2hr for Coventry, but that was before my
time, so I thought I would check it out with you.

We also have low figures of 106.2hr in 1957, 110.7hr in 1956, both
below what is likely to be this year's August total.


August 1968 was also the dullest August on Reading's continuous
records, 1938 to date various sites, with 116.9 h at the University
(the current site). Earlier records for Leighton Park School, within
300 m of the current University site, covering the period 1908-19
showed 110.7 h in August 1912. My total this month is still 4 hours
below that value, but with a different sensor and about 10 km distant.

But back to August 1968. Monthly totals, from MWR, Coventry area:

Coventry 97.0 h *
Edgbaston 118.1
Luddington 127.7 h
S-upon-Avon 110.7 h
Elmdon 118.1 h
Shipston-upon-Stour 127.7 h
Wellesbourne 114.1
Moreton Morrell 122.8 h
Newtown Linford, Leics 108.8 h
Oxford 124.0 h

(My, how many climat stations there were 40 years ago ... !)

* The monthly mean, 3.13 h/day, is in brackets indicating some
adjustment has been made to the record - perhaps some days were
missing? Wellesbourne's figure is also bracketed. But to me the
Coventry figure looks to be a tad on the low side compared with its
neighbours, and a figure of 115-120 h also appears the more likely
from the mapped values in the MWR.


My recollection of '68 is that July and September were also dull and that
the three months were cold and wet.

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks., UK. E-mail: newsman not newsboy