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News release


The Queen's birthday weather
 

20 April 2006

Eighty years ago the arrival of the future Queen was heralded with some thunderstorms, rain and cool temperatures. It was on 21 April 1926 that HRH Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) was born at 17 Bruton Street in London at 2.40 a.m.

Met Office weather reports from the day, show that the British Isles experienced a mixture of sunshine and showers, and even some thunderstorms.

Reports from nearby Kew Observatory in London show that:

  • temperatures during the day reached 53 °F (12 °C), with overnight temperatures of 42 °F (6 °C);
  • there was a cool north-westerly wind of around 10 m.p.h.;
  • 11 mm of rain fell, and that most of the showers were in the afternoon;
  • it was predominantly cloudy but with some short sunny spells giving a total of two hours of sunshine for the day.
Synoptic chart for 21 April 1926
Synoptic chart for 21 April 1926

Eighty years on, the forecast is very different for the south of England. April 21 2006 is forecast to be a warm, mainly dry day with temperatures up to 17 °C in London. However, in the north and east of the UK it will be cold and cloudy with mist and fog in some coastal areas, temperatures will be no higher than 7 °C.

Latest UK weather forecast

For further information:
Met Office Press Office  +44 (0)1392 886655
E-mail: pressoffice@metoffice.gov.uk
 
Met Office Customer Centre  0870 900 0100
If you're outside the UK  +44 (0)1392 885680