Record Breaking Weather of 2012

2012 has been a year of extremes as far as weather has been concerned. We’ve had heatwaves, drought and are currently suffering flooding across some parts of the UK. Here’s a review of what we’ve seen so far:

March Sunshine

Scotland set new records for the highest ever recorded March temperature three days in a row. On Sunday 25th March, Fyvie castle in Aberdeenshire recorded 22.8C, beating a 55 year old record, but this was to be beaten the very next day at Cromden, near Grantown on Spey (23.2C). Amazingly, the run continued for a third day when Aboyne in Aberdeenshire set a new record of 23.6C.

Scotland was hotter than many parts of Europe at that time, even beating Athens, Bermuda, Cairo, Lisban and Rome.

All in all, March was declared the third warmest, the fifth driest and third sunniest on record by the Met office.

April Showers

If March was hot, then April was cold and wet. Temperatures plummeted and snow fell in the north of England and the Midlands. Badminton Horse Trials was also cancelled for only the second time in its history due to a waterlogged course.

April was a month of severe weather warnings and flooding, particularly in the south on the country. In fact, it was the wettest April in over 100 years, almost double the long term average, yet swathes of the country were still officially in drought.

June Misery

We’re now nearly at the end of June and it is set to be another record breaker for all the wrong reasons. So far, it is the third wettest in UK records with an average of 4.8 inches falling – one and a half times the usual amount. Parts of the country are also suffering flooding once again.

This month though, the weather has not been consistent across the country. Whilst England and Wales have suffered their second wettest Junes on record, Scotland has only had slightly more rain than usual. This is due to the jetstream being positioned more southerly than usual, allowing systems to flow over the UK rather than to the north.

Do you think these extremes of weather are due to climate change? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Related posts:

1. Record Breakers
2. Looking Forward To March.
3. Towel Day 2012
4. National Cycle to Work Day (UK) – 22 June 2012