Tuesday February 26th 2019

The last week or so has seen February temperatures break all records. Tabloids have had a field-day with this unseasonable, but not exceptional 'Winter Weather'. I remember early February 2004 it was really warm when out birdwatching in short sleeves. But yes the end of winter 2019 has broken records, much as the end of February 2018 did in the opposite direction, as the Beast from the East barrelled in and blanketed the country in drifts. The one thing that is certain is that the UK's weather is unpredictable, always has been. It's why we talk about it so much. And why I took an image of my shadow at 2pm. Because the sun was so warm I thought I'll have 10 minutes taking in the Vitamin D. 

Just after taking this Tom Heap, the presenter of Countryfile wandered past and we had a quick chat. Nearby one of the BBC tours was taking place, normally populated by retired people wandering about. I always forget I work with celebrities, they're just colleagues but as Tom and I chatted, the phones came out in the group and snaps of 'that bloke off the telly' were taken. Not sure they knew who I was - hopefully not John Craven, he's nearly 80!

Back to the temperatures, here's February 2019 winter record breaking temperatures

Thursday 21st February - 18.3 oC in Aboyne in Aberdeenshire (Scottish winter record)

Tuesday 25th February - 20.3 oC in Ceredigion, (Welsh winter record)

Tuesday 24th February - 20.6 oC in Teddington, Greater London (English winter record

Postscript - beaten again on Wednesday 27th February - 21.2 oC in Kew, London (new English winter record)

That all got the news journalists excited, but it's not climate change, it's just weather. There will be an effect of climate change pushing the temperatures slightly higher but high winter temperatures have happened for decades.  The past records were ,

Scotland - 120 years ago in 1899 when 17.9 oC was recorded - I'm sure that's before Global Warming was thought about and let's not forget on January 31st this year temperatures dropped to minus 14 in Braemar - when the tabloids then predicted Snowmagheddon February. One thing Climate Change will do is make weather swing about unpredictably. 

Wales - 18.6 oC was the previous record set in 1990 - in January 1953 and 1971, Wales had January temperatures of 18.3 oC

England - in 1890 and 1891 London and Hampshire saw February temperatures reach 18.9 oC and in 1998, 19.7oC in Greenwich. 

It's just weather.