Ok, the
following blog may be a bit patronising but it is all said with a grin on my
face and with no offence meant, BUT
Does nobody understand
how seasons work anymore? Are children not taught about seasons at school now?
Let me give anyone in any doubt a quick lesson.
There are
four seasons in the year, at least in the UK and I think most of Europe. I know
places further south have different climates and some places have things like
the ‘rainy season’, the ‘monsoon season’ and things like that. But I am talking
about the standard North European weather pattern here.
In general
each season lasts for three months. Sometimes it feels longer, or shorter, but
that is often down to anticipation.
At one time
the start of a season coincided with the Solstice. The summer solstice occurs
around the 21st June and the winter solstice around the 21st
December, with Spring starting on the 21st March and Autumn the 21st
September. Since the Met office poked it’s nose in the seasons have been
accredited with starting on the 1st of those months.
So summer
does not start until June, and mid-June at that! It is no surprise that the
weather in May is changeable. It is still Spring. It is still working up to
summer. Spring is the time when the world gets ready for new crops. We need
rain to soak the ground so that crops can grow. The warmer weather encourages
new growth and we are treated to a much greener and colourful environment after
the bleak, blank days of winter. But it is not summer.
Summer comes
with lengthened days and warmer weather. Like other seasons it lasts for three
months and that’s it. Some people, mainly garden centres I think, would like
you to think that summer lasts from Easter to Hallowe’en. But it doesn’t. You
might get hints of it early in the year; lingering memories of it throughout
Autumn, but it is not Summer.
Having said
all that, no one has told Mother Nature these things and sometimes it is quite
possible to experience at least three out of four seasons in one day in the UK.
Sometimes four out of four! It has been known to snow in June and be nice and
warm in December. But don’t expect such things!
Weather is
controlled by elements over which we have absolutely no control. Whether we get
a good summer or a cold winter depends entirely on what is happening way above
us with the air currents that circulate around the world.
So remember,
keep wrapped up, or at least have an extra layer handy, until the end of May.
When June arrives and it is officially Summer, that is the time to start
complaining if you are still cold. But nothing is guaranteed, so keep those
winter woollies handy just in case.
