Metro.co.uk is reporting that people in the United Kingdom are bemoaning the extended winter conditions robbing them of typical for the spring temperatures and rainfall patterns. Describing the unusually cold spring, Metro.co.uk writes:
If you’re sick of still having to put the heating on in April, we hear you. The U.K.’s spring 2024 has been a literal washout – with record rainfall and Baltic temperatures to boot.
But it could be worse.
Back in 1816, Brits had no spring, and no summer. And a volcano on the other side of the world was to blame.
Metro.co.uk goes on to explain the radically different conditions that prevail now compared to those occurred in 1816, which resulted in dire global climate conditions which many historians refer to as the “Year without a Summer.”
In a related story, Metro.co.uk explains that normally by late April and early May temperatures have started to increase and rains slack off, but current conditions have forced people to keep their winter coats and umbrellas in steady use.
“At this time of year, temperatures in the capital are meant to be what now seems like a toasty 15°C,” says Metro.co.uk. “The average daily maximum temperature for the month is 13°C while the minimum is 4°C.
“By the end of the month, the mercury is rising to about 16°C and maybe even the odd 21°C with May just around the corner,” Metro.co.uk., continues. “The only time you’d normally see single digits is at night when the average is 5°C. But this is the kind of temperature we’ve been seeing in the daytime for weeks.”
Carol Kirkwood, a Scottish weather presenter employed by the BBC explained that the cause of the well below normal temperatures is a sustained high-pressure system forcing cold air and high winds from the Arctic across the U.K.
“High pressure is out to the west so all the wind is coming around it, down the North Sea coastline, so we are pulling in Arctic air at the moment,” Kirkwood said.
The U.K. Met Office forecast indicates that the brisk rainy weather will continue to linger for a bit longer, with temperatures only beginning to rise to normal spring levels in the coming weeks.