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.

2010 was a cooler year than average brought about by very low temperatures in January, November and December. December had three days of minus 10 or less with the lowest temperature recorded for at least forty years - 12C on Christmas Day. Nationally it was the coldest December for over 100 years.                                          February too was cold compared to recent years right at the lower end of the expected range. The only month that saw warmer than average temperatures was July but only by a degree and well within the expected range.                                                                                                

Globally, 2010 was the joint hottest year on record, with 2005, despite the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean La Nina this year. 

2011 was warmer than average with three months having night-time between 2 and 4 degrees above the long term average and April and November being over 4C warmer than the long term average. For the UK as a  whole Christmas week was the second warmest on record.

We now know the average monthy temperatures for the period 1981 - 2010 and are able to compare them to the period 1961 - 1990 and have a better knowledge and understanding of how temperatures have changed over recent decades so 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.

February Average Max Temperature - 7.0C - Feb '12 ave = 3.7C

February Average Min Temperature - 1.5C - Feb '12 ave = 0.0C  

Forecast max temp - Thu (2nd) 2  Fri 2  Sat 3  Sun 5  Mon 6                

Forecast min temp  - Thu - 4  Fri -2  Sat 0  Sun 3  Mon 5

January night-time temperatures were warm being over 2C above the long term average and the day time temperatures slightly above long term average but within the expected range.

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. In August 2010 an iceberg 1/5 the size of Greater London (100 sq miles) broke off the Petermann Glacier in NE Greenland. This is the largest iceberg to be formed in Greenland since 1962.

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!By 2010 this catasterophic estimate had been revised back to 2020-2040. The ice continues to be very thin although its extent has increased slightly in recent years.

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. The UK produces 4% of the world's CO2 emissions but has a little less than 1% of the world's population.

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.

The warming of the sub-arctic permafrost is allowing methane to enter the atmosphere. Methane is a far more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2. Research has shown that in places like Alaska the summer growing season is now 50% longer than it was 100 years ago.

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. All electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are only fully emissions free if the electricity used to charge them or produce the hydrogen is produced from renewable sources.