Climate summaries

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

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UK last month

October 2024

October saw a mix of settled conditions due to high-pressure systems as well as wet and windy weather from a succession of low-pressure systems, including the first named storm of the 2024/25 season. The month started with wet weather across the Midlands and East Anglia, followed by a brief interlude of settled weather as high-pressure dominated. A major Atlantic low-pressure system arrived on the 6^th and brought rain, especially in southern England. A return to clear and settled weather on the 10^th and 11^th provided good conditions for viewing the Aurora after another solar geomagnetic storm, before slow-moving weather fronts moved in and brought widespread rain to England and Wales. On the 20^th, the first named storm of the season, Storm Ashley, arrived and brought heavy rain and strong winds to Northern Ireland, Scotland, and northern parts of England and Wales. Further frontal systems brought heavy rain to Scotland and Cumbria on the 27^th, before high pressure returned to close out the month.

Overall, October saw above average temperatures, with the UK 0.7°C above the long-term average. There was little regional variation, with only a few areas of western Scotland and northern Wales experiencing temperatures closer to average. Despite a brief spell of below-average temperatures early in the month, overall October was a month of mild temperatures for most. October was drier than average, with the UK recording 103.5mm of rainfall, 84% of the long-term average. England, and in particular southern England, were both wetter than average, recording 101% and 103% of the long-term average rainfall, respectively. Sunshine duration was around average for the UK in October, with 89.4 hours recorded (97% of the long-term average). Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England were slightly sunnier than average, while southern England and Scotland were both duller than average.

The UK monthly extremes were as follows: A maximum temperature of 22.5°C was recorded at London St James Park on the 16^th. A minimum temperature of -4.1°C was recorded at Braemar (Aberdeenshire) and Aboyne (Aberdeenshire) on the 3^rd and 14^th. In the 24 hours ending at 0900 UTC on the 28^th, 74.2mm of rain fell at Ulpha Duddon W Works (Cumbria). A wind gust of 71 knots (82 mph) was recorded at Aberdaron (Gwynedd) on the 20^th.

Regional values for October 2024