The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause suffering around the world, but another killer has silently struck in summer 2020. With relatively little by way of official warning or advice on…Read More >
weather
Cold war nuclear tests changed rainfall thousands of miles away
It’s difficult to imagine quite how alarming it would have been for the world’s meteorologists monitoring the atmosphere during the nuclear tests in the 1950s and early 60s. The radioactivity…Read More >
London just broke a 300-year-old weather record – but you probably didn’t even notice it
A London weather record was broken recently making for an exceptionally crisp, clear winter day – but you probably didn’t notice it, explains Professor Stephen Burt in a recent post…Read More >
The heatwave in numbers
The University of Reading weather records, captured at the Atmospheric Observatory, are updated daily and are publicly available online. Temperatures and rain records go back to 1908, while the sunshine…Read More >
Hottest ever Early May Bank Holiday among records broken in Reading
Records have been tumbling this year at the University of Reading’s weather station. Just days after the coldest March day since records began, a new record hottest recorded temperature was…Read More >
ECMWF symposium for Adrian Simmons
A Symposium for Adrian Simmons, ECMWF, Shinfield Road, Reading Former University of Reading meteorologist and Visiting Professor, Adrian Simmons, is being honoured with a research symposium as he retires from his…Read More >
Exploring the impact of drought on 2017 wheat crop
By Professor Donal O’Sullivan, Professor of Crop Science in the School of Agriculture, University of Reading Unfavourable weather patterns and their impact on crop production have again been a major…Read More >
Reading tops rainfall charts: But how does downpour compare historically?
By Dr Rob Thompson, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading Last night Reading experienced an immense thunderstorm, like something I’d previously only experienced in the tropics. Driving conditions were horrendous,…Read More >
The hottest heatwave since 1976? This is what the evidence says
By Stephen Burt, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading There is much febrile comment in the media concerning the current heatwave. A common statement is ‘this is the greatest heatwave…Read More >
Weather forecasters face storm of criticism – so is it time for a new look?
By Dr Andrew Charlton-Perez, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading Former BBC weather forecaster Bill Giles’ criticism of weather forecasts raises questions about how weather is communicated generally. Mr Giles…Read More >
