Blackpool Weather Watch - Is Blackpool getting warmer? 
The long term (1961 - 2000) average daily temperatures for Blackpool are compared to the current weekly forecast as follows, this  forecast is from the Met Office. 

2008 was slightly warmer than the long term average but still within the expected range. The only main deviation from this was that February was the hottest ever recorded.

2009 was slightly warmer than average with night-time temperatures in 4 months (March, April, May & November) being over 2C above the long term average. April was the only month in which the day time temperature was more than 2C above the long term average. Decemember, although still within the expected range, was the coldest since at least 1995. Nationally the winter period Dec 09/Jan/Feb 10 was the coldest since 1978/9.

Sept Average Max Temperature -17.0C - Sept '10 ave = 19.7C                 Sept Average Min Temperature - 10.0C - Sept '10 ave = 11.7C

Forecast max temp - Thu (2nd) 20  Fri 20  Sat 20  Sun 20  Mon 19            Forecast min temp  - Thu 10  Fri 13  Sat 13  Sun 14  Mon 14 

August minimum temperatures were exactly average. The daytime temperatures were 1C cooler than average but comfortably within the expected range.

July was again close to the long term average temperature-wise, but very wet! Day-time temperature was right on the long term average but once again the night-time temperature was a full degree above the average but still within the expected range.

June was close to the long term average. The night-time temperature was only 0.6C above but, more unusually than in the last decade, the daytime temperature differential was higher than the night-time at just over a degree above the long term average. Both, however, were within the normal range.

May started a cooler than average, particularly during the day. In the third week of the month high temperatures were recorded and the month finished being just half a degree cooler than the long term average, well within the expected range.

April started cooler than average but by mid month both daily maximimum and minimum temperatures were close to the long term average. For the whole month the average minimum temerature was very close to the long term average, whilst the daily maximum temerature was 3/4 degree above the average but still within the expected range. It will be interesting to see how the Icelandic volcano affects our summer climate, if at all.

March started cold with temperatures well below average until mid month. Then warmer conditions prevailed and the average for the month ended just 0.25C cooler than the long term average for both daytime and night-time temperatures.

February was colder than recent years, the winter period, in Blackpool, as a whole being the coldest since 1978/9. However, both the day time and night-time temperatures were just inside the expected range at about 1.5C below the long term average.

January 2010 was colder than recent years. The night time temperature was a degree cooler but within the expected range. The daytime temperature, however, was 2.5 degrees colder and half  a degree outside the expected range. This compares well with the Met Office's data from the Central England Temperature records. Our night-time temperature was a little warmer than the CET but this is to be expected due to our coastal location, the warmer sea acts as a buffer to dropping temperatures.

 
By early 2011 we should know the average monthy temperatures for the period 1981 - 2010 and will be able to compare them to the period 1961 - 1990. We will then have a better knowledge and understanding of how temperatures have changed over recent decades and we should be able to predict future changes better. The time to act is NOW if those changes are not to be increases in temperature that are too high for us to be able to cope with.

Think Global...

 
Global temperatures have risen by 0.7°C in the last 300 years. 0.5°C of this warming occurred during the 20th Century. 2006 was the hottest year ever recorded in Britain. 

Sea level has risen only by 20cm (8 inches) in the last 2000 years, it is estimated to rise by between 40cm - 75cm by 2100. The exact amount is very hard to determine. Many of the world’s major cities are on the coast and therefore are at risk from being permanently flooded. 27 cities of over 8 million people will suffer serious devastation. Children born today will live to see this happen.

If the Greenland Ice Cap totally melts the sea level will rise by 8 metres (27 feet) - it has already started to melt. Total melt is, fortunately, about 1000 years away.

The Arctic Ice Cap has shrunk to its smallest ever summer extent and is likely to disappear altogether during the summer within the next 50 years. In December 2007 this estimate was revised to only 20 years although 2008 and 2009 have seen a slight increase in summer sea ice over 2007; but it is believed that much of this new ice is thin and vulnerable to melting. In 2009 the estimated time to total summer melt was reduce to within the next decade!

Over 20% of UK Carbon Dioxide emissions come from road transport.

UK traffic volume has increased by over 10% in the last 10 years. There are 27 million private cars in Britain 

On average each person in the UK is responsible for over 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. It is colourless, if we could see it we would appreciate the problem more. 

Increases in temperature and extreme weather events are forecast but be aware that weather and climate are not the same thing; climate is the 'average' of the weather over a long period.

The energy used in constructing, occupying and operating buildings represents 50% of the UK’s greenhouse emissions.

It is imperative to stop the current increase in emissions of Carbon Dioxide in to the atmosphere.

Act Local...

Scientists now believe that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere may be 20-25% higher than previously estimated. Sustainable solutions to reduce this are required. But what do we mean by sustainability? 

 “Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” .

A sustainable process must be based on resources that will remain un-exhausted over a sensible term nor must the process generate unacceptable greenhouse gas emissions.

Recycle as much as possible. Recycling materials can save up to 80% of the energy required to make the same product from new raw materials. Every ton of recycled paper saves 380 gallons of oil from being burned and 15 trees from being felled.

Plant at least one tree each year. trees absorb CO2 and other airborne pollutants as well as trapping dust. If you don't have space for a tree at home why not sponsor one in your local park. Trees also provide shade and shelter and valuable habitat for your local wildlife. Choose suitable native species' whenever possible. 

CO2 emissions from domestic properties in Blackpool is currently around 2 tonnes per person per year.

Turn down your central heating thermostat by one degree, 19°C is a comfortable temperature for your heating. Fuel consumption (and bills) can be cut by as much as 10%!  If you still feel chilly wear a jumper rather than turning the heating back up - a man-made 'fleece' will have been made from recycled plastic drinks bottles.

Close your curtains at night, they help keep your heat in.

Even if you are using energy saving bulbs turn lights off when leaving a room empty.

Do you really need those outside lights on all night? For all night security lighting use energy saving bulbs or fit motion sensors. For decorative purposes use solar powered LEDs.

Leave the car behind; walk, cycle or use public transport for short journeys.

Walk more – drive less - for every gallon of diesel used 13kg of carbon dioxide are emitted from your exhaust pipe - if you must drive, choose a smaller car and use biofuel (from either recycled cooking oil or sustainable sources) whenever possible. Or buy a hybrid car.