2008 is certainly turning out to be exceptional in west Cornwall.

Take a look at www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/20C.htm. Notice that
last year (generally regarded as cool in relation to recent Summers)
67 days reached 20C, an incredibly low 23 days so far last year. Even
in September last year, 17 days reached 20C, including a 9 day run
2nd-10th. This run included 3 days warmer than the warmest day of the
year this year.

If Philip, or anyone, has got daily statistics for Penzance earlier
than 1991 I'd be very interested, to see how this years lack of
temperatures 20C lines up in a longer historical perspective.

There are other aspects of the weather this summer which have been
quite exceptional, in particular the persistence of a swell, often
large. This has meant the very low number of days when small fishing
boats have been able to leave harbours like Sennen, also there hasn't
been 1 day all Summer when surfing lessons have had to be cancelled at
Sennen due to lack of surf. (I'm talking real surfing, not kids on
bodyboards in 2' of water). On the other hand the large swells have
caused major problems on beaches.

Graham
Penzance

Graham

My records only stretch back 3 years for this location but comparing this
summer with last year's is still interesting.

Days lesser or greater than in Summer 2007 & 08.
20C 20C 25C
07 40 51 5
08 40 52 7

Pretty much consistent until we look at the nights:
10C 10C 15C
07 23 67 1
08 22 70 16

There was only 1 night in 2007 where the minimum did not drop below 15C.
________________
Nick.
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk

On Sep 4, 7:18�pm, "Nick Gardner"
wrote:
Graham

My records only stretch back 3 years for this location but comparing this
summer with last year's is still interesting.

Days lesser or greater than in Summer 2007 & 08.
� � � � 20C � �20C � �25C
07 � � �40 � � � � �51 � � � � �5
08 � � �40 � � � � �52 � � � � �7

Pretty much consistent until we look at the nights:
� � � � 10C � �10C � �15C
07 � � � 23 � � � � 67 � � � � �1
08 � � � 22 � � � � 70 � � � � 16

There was only 1 night in 2007 where the minimum did not drop below 15C.
________________
Nick.
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amslhttp://www.ottervalley.co.uk

The number of days when at least 20C was reached here this summer is
only 32 and is a record low for the past 20 years. Nearby 'official'
stations such as Brize Norton and Little Rissington only recorded 33
and 26 days respectively.

Dick Lovett
Charlbury (Oxfordshire Cotswolds) 121m