Climate summaries

Overview of weather across the UK for previous months, seasons and years

Those interested in climate change and predictions of future climates should also visit the Climate Change pages.

UK last month

September 2021

The weather through much of September was reasonably settled and quiet, though there were outbreaks of rain at times. It was also rather warm, especially around the 7th/8th. A marked change came about on the 27th, with much more unsettled and notably cooler conditions for the last few days of the month. Mean monthly temperatures were well above average, with rainfall and sunshine near average, although Northern Ireland was particularly dull.

The provisional UK mean temperature was 14.7 °C, which is 2.1 °C above the 1981-2010 long-term average. This was only slightly cooler than August’s mean temperature, and ranks it as the second warmest September in a series from 1884. Mean monthly maxima and minima were both similarly elevated relative to normal. Most parts of the UK saw rainfall totals not far from average, with a few areas rather drier, and much of this rainfall fell in the final four days. The UK overall had 82% of average September rainfall. Sunshine was rather above average in many eastern areas, but below average in the north-west of the UK, giving an overall figure of 96% of average.

The UK monthly extremes were as follows: A maximum temperature of 30.8 °C was recorded at Hartpury College (Gloucestershire) on the 7th. A minimum temperature of -1.4 °C was recorded at Aboyne (Aberdeenshire) on the 30th. In the 24 hours ending at 0900 UTC on the 29th, 76.6 mm of rain fell at White Barrow (Devon). A wind gust of 64 knots (74 mph)was recorded at Needles (Isle of Wight) on the 27th.

Regional values for September 2021