Autumn 2008

The following represents a final assessment of the weather experienced across the UK during Autumn 2008 (September/October/November) and how it compares with the 1971 to 2000 average (period used for the seasonal forecast).

Mean temperatures were 0.2 °C above the 1971-2000 average during September, 0.6 °C below average during October and 0.3 °C above average during November. Mean temperatures for the autumn were very close to average, although it was the coldest for the UK since 1993. A very cold end to October with some areas having their coldest daily maximum October temperatures (in a daily areal series back to 1960) on the 28th or 29th. A cold end to November too, with Northern Ireland having its coldest November daily maximum on the 30th (in a daily areal series back to 1960) and many other areas having their coldest daily maximum since autumn 1993 on the 29th or 30th.

Rainfall amounts were close to the 1971-2000 average during September with 106%, October was above average with 133% and November was slightly below average with 90%. Some notable variations for autumn, with isolated parts of NE England and the Midlands recording over 150% of the average rainfall, whilst parts of eastern Scotland recorded less than 70% of the average rainfall. It was the wettest autumn since 2000 for northern England.

Sunshine durations were below the 1971-2000 average during September with 83%, October was above average with 120% and November was just below average with 92%. It was the dullest autumn since 2001 for England and the UK.

Graph of UK daily mean temperature for Autumn 2008

Mean temperature anomaly (difference from average) map for Autumn 2008

Rainfall percent of average map for Autumn 2008

Last updated: 27 February 2013