What a difference a year makes… especially for Glasgow.

This was the frequent scene during July last year, coinciding beautifully with the biggest sporting event in Scottish history was well underway in Glasgow.

Snippet from post July 27, 2014

According to the Met Office, Friday saw the high at Glasgow’s official recording station at Bishopton, near the Airport top 28.6C (83F). That’s in fact the warmest day since July of 2005 according to STV’s Sean Batty, a high warmer than what was experienced during the heat of last July (20 days at or above 21C) as well as the particularly warm summers of 2003 and 2006 (22 days at or above 21C) which I believe where the warmest on record.

Interestingly, this July, as warm as it’s been, has only seen 11 days (as of yesterday), today should make 12.. at or above 21C. That’s barely half the number seen at Glasgow back in July 2006 despite yesterday seeing a warmer actual high. The all-time record high for the site is 31.2C (88F) set back in 1975. The all-time Scotland record was set back in the heat of 2003 with 32.9C (91F) recorded at Greycrook in the Borders.

A very warm Atlantic and North Sea along with dry soil, solar maximum and weak El Nino played a role.

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This year…

Monday and Tuesday of this week we’re particularly cool throughout the British Isles and downright cold over Scotland. In fact parts of Scotland saw the coldest July day in recorded history while others including Glasgow came within 0.3C from the 2001 record cold high of 11.9C.

While hazy, summer sunshine was the scene last year, this has been the frequent scene this year. Glasgow, Perth and Aberdeen have all seen over double the normal rainfall for July.

Some places Monday shivered in their coldest July day while others came awfully close.

Interestingly, Edinburgh’s Gogarbank (Airport) site earlier in the month recorded their coldest July night on record (along with other places) with a minimum of 3.7C and now they’ve sealed the deal by recording their coldest July maximum too. Amazing!

These maximums are widely 4-8, locally 10C below normal. Opposite of this time last year.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was no better.

Quite impressive to see back-to-back July maximums of only 12C in Glasgow and given the all-time coldest maximum is 11.9C. Monday and Tuesday may have been Glasgow’s coldest back to back July days on record.

Why so warm last year and cool this year?

A cool northerly flow and frontal system with a thick cloud shield overhead helped lock in low level cool, damp air and locked out any warmth from a typically very strong late July sun.

Look at the difference in water temperatures in the Atlantic this year (below) compared to last year (above). The oceans ultimately drive our temperature pattern over short and long periods of time.

Let’s not forget the hot spell which started the month.

Unfortunately in a year when the solar cycle is dropping, the Atlantic is as cold as it is and the summer NAO is solidly negative, these hot spells, as extreme as they might be, are short lived and dwarfed by a sea of cool.

An impressively cold day for Ireland and the UK yesterday.

What will probably go down as the UK/northern France’s ‘hottest open to a July’ will be all but meaningless as this July, like June will be below average.

See this morning’s video for more.

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