Autumn 2009 (so far)

The following represents a provisional assessment of the weather experienced across the UK during Autumn 2009 so far (September and October - November to be added later), and how it compares with the averages for 1971 to 2000 (the period used for the seasonal forecast).

The UK mean temperature for September and October was 11.8 °C, which is 1.0 °C above the 1971-2000 average. Mean temperatures were 0.9 °C above average during September, and 1.1 °C above in October.

UK autumn rainfall so far has been below normal in most areas. September had 63% of the 1971-2000 average, and October had 90%. September was very dry across much of East Anglia, the Midlands, south Wales and Northern Ireland, with less than a third of the normal amount. Provisionally it was the 11th driest September across England in a series from 1914. October was also drier than average over most of the UK; the driest areas stretched from London across the Midlands to Merseyside, with around 50% of normal, but easternmost parts of Scotland exceeded the average.

Sunshine totals over the UK were slightly above the 1971-2000 average during September (108%) and close to average for October (95%).

Provisional graph of UK daily mean temperature for September and October 2009

Provisional mean temperature anomaly (difference from average) map for September and October 2009

Provisional rainfall percent of average map for September and October 2009