Thought I would go back and repost this as it is always interesting to look back and reflect. As I said at the time I was sorely tempted to go above 16C but decided to hold off. As it turns out my prediction of 15.9C was very close to the mark. A lot of luck in this of course as I was really basing it on a very warm first half which looked fairly nailed on and then guessing there would only be a gradual drop in the mean during the second half of the month.
Haha yes, I can't say my approach to the CET punt was much different to yours
Thanks for those fascinating stats regarding how this year compares to 2006 across much of the S/SE. I have been tracking London Heathrow as well as my location and can confirm that this year will fall well short 2006 there (difference looks to be around -0.8*C).
From daily records, it seems among the most notably colder days in my locality were early and late in the month; 1st-3rd comes in at a mean of only 17.3*C here compared to 19.9*C at Heathrow, after which that location spends three days climbing several degrees higher than mine. At the other end, the final four days were maxing in the 17-18*C range by day here, while Heathrow was seeing 19-20*C.
Proof that if I want exceptionally high temperatures, I need to get away from this valley, which often seems to channel sea breezes along it and has a habit of being a spawning ground for lingering murkiness and low cloud well into the mornings - these being possible explanations for the relatively cool daytime highs here.
I'm hoping to be living not far from Reading before long now. Could end up near High Wycombe though, which is hardly a hot spot
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T-Max: 30.2°C 9th Sep (...!) | T-Min: -7.1°C 22nd & 23rd Jan | Wettest Day: 25.9mm 2nd Nov | Ice Days: 1 (2nd Dec -1.3°C in freezing fog)
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