WEATHER experts at the University of Reading recorded the hottest September day in more than 100 years last week.
With the temperatures set to return to more normal levels in the coming weeks, Dr Stephen Burt, of Reading’s Department of Meteorology, has delved into the archives to provide a short summary of last week’s heatwave.
Dr Burt explained: “The maximum temperature on Saturday, September 9, was 31.4 degrees celsius, making it both the hottest day of the heatwave and the hottest day of the year, surpassing 30.9 degrees celsius recorded on June 10.
“Based on the university’s records back to 1908, this is the latest date in the year to have become the hottest day of the year – the previous ‘latest hottest day in the year’ being in 1929, when 31.2 degrees celsius was recorded on September 4. In over 100 years of records, only twice before – 1929 (September 4) and 1954 (September 1) – has the hottest day of the year occurred in September.
“Saturday was the hottest September day on the university’s records since 31.7 degrees celsius was recorded on September 8, 1911. That record was made at the more sheltered and slightly warmer London Road site, and had records still been made there, the 1911 record would almost certainly have been surpassed.”
He added that near-record temperatures were observed at night with temperatures falling no lower than 17.5 degrees celsius recorded on September 7 and 11 – only two September nights have been warmer since records commenced at the Whiteknights Atmospheric Observatory site.
