Summer of 1976 (Europe)
Encyclopedia
The summer of 1976 was considered to be one of the hottest summers in Europe
(and especially the United Kingdom
) within recent memory. A large high-pressure area dominated the majority of Europe for all of the summer
months. The pressure system moved into place in late May 1976 and remained until the first traces of rain were recorded on August the 27th. Rainfall throughout the July–August period was down by half the annual average. During this spell of hot weather temperatures exceeded 32 °C (89.6 °F) at several weather stations within the United Kingdom every day and the town of Cheltenham
had eleven, including seven successive days from the 1st of July - recording 35.9 °C (96.6 °F) on the 3rd.
For the entire period much of Europe was bathed in continual sunshine with the United Kingdom seeing an average of more than 14 hours of sunshine per day. 1976 was dubbed "The year of the Ladybird" in that country due to the rise in the mass numbers of Ladybirds brought on by the long hot period.
"The long hot summer of 1976 which eventually ended in September of that year, was the culmination of a 16-week dry spell - the longest recorded over England and Wales since 1727. "Quote From Met Office
The summer of 1976 is by now a firmly established reference point for discussion in the UK of contemporary hot spells.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(and especially the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) within recent memory. A large high-pressure area dominated the majority of Europe for all of the summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
months. The pressure system moved into place in late May 1976 and remained until the first traces of rain were recorded on August the 27th. Rainfall throughout the July–August period was down by half the annual average. During this spell of hot weather temperatures exceeded 32 °C (89.6 °F) at several weather stations within the United Kingdom every day and the town of Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
had eleven, including seven successive days from the 1st of July - recording 35.9 °C (96.6 °F) on the 3rd.
For the entire period much of Europe was bathed in continual sunshine with the United Kingdom seeing an average of more than 14 hours of sunshine per day. 1976 was dubbed "The year of the Ladybird" in that country due to the rise in the mass numbers of Ladybirds brought on by the long hot period.
"The long hot summer of 1976 which eventually ended in September of that year, was the culmination of a 16-week dry spell - the longest recorded over England and Wales since 1727. "Quote From Met Office
The summer of 1976 is by now a firmly established reference point for discussion in the UK of contemporary hot spells.