Bill Cleaver's Weather Reports1972 to 1997

also click Weather Report for other reports

Hallmark December 1972. Christmas arrives - after the nine driest months on record.

Bill & Madeline Cleaver with their two sons, Roland and Jeffrey settled in Lacey Green in 1970.   “Settled” being the appropriate word, as they not only stayed here but actively participated in community life here for the rest of their lives.

Bill was a meteorologist for the RAF at Strike Command, formerly Bomber Command He regularly wrote about the weather in Hallmark, the village magazine.

Shown on the right one of the three meticulous summaries found in Bill's notebooks

Perhaps less well known was the fact that he also regularly wrote a gardening page, which he signed “From the potting shed”, probably not wanting his name to be in the magazine too often.

Hallmark February 1983. From the Gardening Page. "We have to admit to a comparatively mild Winter and at this date, January 15th, we have evidence of the masses of Spring bulbs already thrusting their way through the ground"

Hallmark August 1983. The Long hot summer shows no sign of abating, Some people love it, most think it too hot, while the poor gardener only prays for rain!

Hallmark February 1987. report by Bill Cleaver on 1986.

Snow fell on 11 days in January, and the middle of the month was vey windy. February was dry but very cold; it was below freezing at some time on every day of the month and the highest temerature was only about 35 deg.F. The ground was covered in snow from February 2nd until March 4th. March, April and May were unsettled with 69 rain days and only 23 completely dry days. June was better: often a bit too windy to sit out in the sun. June's rainfall of 0.63 inc contrasts with 5th June 1985 when that much rain fell in less than one hour! Although July only had 1.6 inches of rain there was some rain on 20 days, with no settled spell. Yes, August was dreadful ! It may have been the poorest for 23 years. Total rainfall 4.76 inches included 1.33 inches on Bank Holiday Monday. It rained on 19 days and there were at least 8 thunderstorms. (In August 1984 there were only 4 wet days). Because of these local storms we had nearly twice as much rain in August as London Airport (Heathrow). The second 'summer spell' was from 16th September to 10th October with hardly any rain, but of course it was not as warm as 1985 when October 1st was the warmest day of the year. Late October, November and December were unsettled with about 3.5 inches of rain in each month.

Total rainfall for 1986 was 31.74 inches. Comparable figures are 26.78 inches in 1983, 30.25 inches in 1984 and 29.65 inches in 1985.

Hallmark February 1989. report by Bill Cleaver on the weather in 1988.

As i write this short commentary on the 1988 weather scene in mid January, fuchsia bushes are sprouting, birds are singing and the crocus blooms. As December was frost-free, mild and dry after the snow and frost of mid-November, a false spring seems to have 'tricked' Mother Nature. This set me wondering how soon it would be before the birds needed the magnificent crop of holly berries when winter did strike.

Most people seem to have regarded 1988 as a poor year for weather, particularly the summer: rainfall figures confirm this impression, for only 3 days in July were completely dry and the temperature rarely reached 70 deg. F. August was somewhat better with 13 dry days and short warm spells and temperatures to 80 deg. F.

It is likely that January was one of the wettest on record in S.E. England, but Febuary yet again belied the "Filldyke" myth, for rarely does the rainfall in that month exeed 2 inches.

Spring was average, rather dry with air frosts until 25th Aprl and patchy ground frosts until mid May. Autumn and early winter were rather mild and dry. There was no widespread serious frost damage in the garden until 20 November, although our neighbours in Hughenden Valley had a sharp killing frost as early as 29 September. It isn't always colder up on the hill, although it is usually a bit windier.

Total rainfall for the year 29 inches, just below average.

Hallmark January 1990. report by Bill Cleaver

1989 was an unusual year for weather, prompting many questions about the "greenhouse effect". Although most official comment is "not sure" or "not enough evidence yet" a trend towards more extreme weather seems to be setting in. To older residents ‘89 brought back memories of warm sunny days of childhood holidays. Harry Floyd and the late Tony Adams confirmed that 1921 and 1933 were much like some of our recent splendid summers, but with one major difference. In 1921 frequent journeys had to be made with horse and cart to the stream at Saunderton to fetch water for the cattle (a cow needs at least ten gallons every day) and villagers got their drinking water either from the Parish Well near Loosley Row forge or more likely from a Council water cart. 1933 was somewhat better in this respect as mains water had just been laid on. These old mains are the same ones which seem to have been springing so many leaks in the last few years.

Last winter was probably the mildest since 1869, and the second mildest since 1659. Aphid and fungal attacks on the plants were widespread and slugs seemed to have a ‘field day'! On 25 February air pressure fell to 952 mb (28.1) the lowest in this area for over a century but fortunately without storm damage. Incidentally, there was a splendid and colourful display of ‘Northern Lights' on 13 March, the best display this far south since 1938. Further good displays are likely as sunspot activity has not yet reached maximum intensity.

April was colder than March (there is only a 1 in 40 chance of this) and this helped to check plant growth and may have contributed much to the abundant crops of soft fruit and apples later on. After 2 inches of snow on 25 April summer arrived on 1st May and with only short and usually welcome rain days, stayed with us until 5 October. There was so much warm sunshine that long-standing records were broken with an average of 9 hours a day - more like Southern Spain or the French Riviera. Temperatures were about 5 deg. F above normal.

Autumn continued rather dry and quite warm (mildest since the '60s) and from 12 November to 12 December we had just one mm of rain, whereas Gibraltar and Southern Spain reported one metre, yes, that's right, three feet of rain! Mid December did, however, help to restore the balance with 64 inches (163mm) of rain, a welcome addition to water reserves.

Rainfall details for the year: Total 686 mm, 27 inches, just a little below average.

As I write in mid January it continues mild. Roses and outdoor fuchsias are coming into leaf. They, and we, should be prepared for at least one cold spell.

Hallmark January 1991. Bill Cleaver reviews the 1990 weather and finds – an exceptionally fine summer

January was unusually mild (indeed free of air frost), wet and often windy. On 25th there was a severe gale, (Benson Airfield recorded mean wind 55 mph with gusts to 84 mph).

February was also mild and wet with SW’ly winds. After a brief cold spell in early March there were several unusually warm and sunny days which led to premature plant growth and flowering so that a frosty week in early April devastated most fruit crops over England. However, for us up on the hill, blossoming was just far enough behind to be unaffected; indeed the subsequent harvest of apples, plums and grapes was abundant.

The second half of April was very warm, dry and sunny, leading to an even warmer drier and sunny May.

June and the first week of July were rather cool, cloudy and wet, but from 8th July to 10th August high pressure dominated with hot, sunny weather.

On 3rd August the shade temperature in Lacey Green reached 95° deg.F, and a record-breaking 99°F at Cheltenham. Gardeners in particular welcomed a wet spell from 14th-19th August, then fine weather returned for about a month. Autumn in general followed a seasonal pattern.

The first ground frost 8th October, and the first snow (at Green Hailey) on 21st November. December was cool, dull and rather wet.

Rainfall over the year was erratic and between 26^th April and 17th September there were 5 spells of drought or near-drought.

Indeed from 1st March to 30th December – the growing season – the total rainfall was only 9 inches, less than the 10 inches which fell on 3rd December 1989 in Gibraltar (mentioned in last year's summary). Total rainfall for 1990 was 24.35 inches, of which Jan/Feb contributed almost 9 inches, and May and July combined less than 1 inch.

Hallmark January 1992, Bill Cleaver reviews the weather in 1991.

From the gardeners' point of view 1991 was much more friendly than 1990, with only one drought spell from 25th August to 14th September. Heavy bursts of rain at the end of April, July and September helped t keep the soil moist. Indeed 30th April may have been the wettest April day since 1904. It was followed by another dry May. June was wet and cool, like 1985; indeed there were only 5 dry days. July was also rather wet, and we were lucky that a heavy thunderstorm cleared at dawn on Village Day, July 6th. Summer lasted from early August to mid- September, with a plague of caterpillars prducing some outstanding 'lacey' greens! Unusually high pressure in December led to a dry and cool end to the year, although a cold front squall at lunchtime on 23rd December did some damage, as did a mini whirlwind on 28th April.

Some parts of the country had an unusually dry year, but our total rainfall of 27.7 inches was about average.

Hallmark January 1993. '1992 A Topsy-Turvey Year Weatherwise'. Report by Bill Cleaver

At least the Water Authorities should be well pleased with 1992 – the wettest for many years. Our Lacey Green total of 933mm (over 37 inches) compares with an average of about 28 inches. Observers at Meadle and Saunderton also recorded about 302 more than average. As is usual rainfall was uneven; Winter 5 inches, Spring 8 inches, Summer 13 inches and Autumn 12 inches. The Spring was reputedly the warmest since 1659, so no wonder strawberries were ripe by 4^th June, over a fortnight early, and June was the warmest since 1976.

Then it was ‘downhill’ all the way, with few warm dry spells. Overnight 22nd/23rd September well over 2 inches of rain fell. October was the coldest since 1974, and the only creatures which seemed happy were slugs and snails. I have never seen so many on my allotment. Perhaps the cold spell in the second half of December may have cooled their ardour.

Only 5 days of snowfall were recorded, the latest on 15th April and the earliest 19^th December, thunder noted on 12 days daring this topsy-turvey year.

Hallmark February 1995. Report for 1994. Unusually mild with an exceptional November. Report by Bill Cleaver.

The year was a little warmer and wetter than average here in Lacey Green. There were several heavy thunderstorms, notably one inch of rain in an hour on 24th June, and a downpour on 24th July. Snow fell on 13 days, with up to six inches lying on 15th February. After a cold spell in early April Spring settled in by St George's Day April 23rd. June, July and August were often pleasanly warm without oppressive heat, while November was the most unusual month, being almost as warm as October, and reputedly the warmest November since 1659. Indeed the first air frost did not occur until 15th December.

Rainfall for the year totalled 31.1 inches, a little above average, with July being the only dry month.

Hallmark February 1996. Report for 1995. An Outstanding Year. Report by Bill Cleaver.

Each month seemed to try to beat some record or other. For the gardener it was the warmest and driest growing season, April to August, since 1976, and for the holidaymaker August was as warm and sunny as the Mediterranean. October '94 to October '95 was the warmest 12-month spell on record. Crops of berries were unusually heavy - an excellent sloe-gin vintage!

January, wettest for over 50 years over much of Southern England, but 1988 was slightly wetter in Lacey Green. February frost-free, March cold with a snowy start. April brought high pressure and drought, with another drought in June. The third warmest July this century was followed by a very hot, sunny and very dry August, then December was the wettest since 1976 (which also had a very hot summer). Warm weather returned for October, warmest since 1923, and about 6*F warmer than 1994. Strawberies were flowering until a sharp frost on 7th November, and 'AUTUMN' was the warmest this century. Cold and dull weather prevailed in December, with dangerous ice and freezing rain all dayon the 30th.

Hallmark February 1997. Report for 1996. Horrible, Cold, Damp Beginning and End, but Pleasant Middle. Report by Bill Cleaver.

The dullest January this century was followed by a cold wet spring. Two inches of snow on 12th April was happily soon followed by a warm spell. Early May, though sunny, had cold, dry, east winds and a drought; late May was rather wet. A warm dry June was marred by an exceptionally heavy thunderstorm on the evening of the 7th. We just missed the heavy hail which devastated Princes Risborough, Monks Risborough and nearby villages. July was mainly warm and sunny but with severe storms, especially on the 5th. Further storms in a warm August ensured that gardens did not suffer dought as they had in 1995. September and October were pleasantly warm and rather dry. The remnants of Hurricane Lily on 28th October brought a brief, very windy spell. November soon deteriorated into a cold, wet and sometimes snowy month and December though dry, was even colder and duller.

Last frost 4th May. First frost 8th November. Total Rainfall 24.25 inches - rather below average.