Today is: 21 May 2025
Shown below are historical weather observations from the University of Reading (Berkshire, UK) climatological station.
Note that the current site on the University's Whiteknights campus was established in 1968-1970; prior to then observations were made closer to the town centre on the London Road.
The London Road observation site was also known as University College - in 1892 University College, Reading was formed; it received its Royal Charter in 1926 then becoming the University of Reading.The London Road site was typically 0.4degC warmer during the day and 0.6 degC warmer at night with about 12 fewer days of air frost and 32 fewer days of ground frost over the year. Rainfall averages were very similar although sunshine duration amounted to about 90 h less over the year at London Road - which was closer to the (industrial) town centre and in a less rural location. Soil temperatures at London Road were about 0.8 degC higher at a depth of 30 cm when compared to Whiteknights.
Note that in early years measurements were made using imperial units (eg. F, ins and miles) and these have been converted to metric as appropriate. Also, soil depths were measured at depths of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 ins and at depths of 2 and 4 feet; these are noted here as being made at depths of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 cm and at 2 and 4 feet - the former are almost exact equivalents of the modern-day depths while the latter pair were later superceded by measurements at 50 and 100 cm.
100 years ago 75 years ago 50 years ago 25 years ago
10 years ago 5 years ago 1 year ago
Air pressure at 0900 GMT
1012.6 - Mean sea level pressure, mb
Air temperature at 0900 GMT
13.4 - Dry bulb temperature, C
10.8 - Wet bulb temperature, C
8 - Dew point temperature, C
10.8 - Vapour pressure, mb
70 - Relative humidity, %
Extremes of air and surface temperatures
19.0 - Maximum air temperature, C, starting 0900 GMT
5.6 - Minimum air temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
2.6 - Grass minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
12.3 - Daily mean air temperature, C
13.4 - Diurnal air temperature range, degC
Soil temperature at 0900 GMT
14.1 - at 30 cm depth, C
11.4 - at 4 feet depth, C
Cloud and wind
3 - Cloud cover (tenths) at 0900 GMT; OBS=sky obscured
280 - Wind direction (degrees) at 0900 GMT
2 - Wind speed (knots) at 0900 GMT
Weather details at 0900 GMT
00 - Cloud development not observed
Weather details for the day
No snow or sleet fell during 0000-2400 GMT
No snow lying or less than 50 % cover at 0900 GMT
No thunder heard during 0000-2400 GMT
No hail or ice pellets fell during 0000-2400 GMT
Visibility at 0900 GMT
No fog at 0900 GMT
Precipitation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT
0.0 - Rainfall (mm)
Air pressure at 0900 GMT
1008.6 - Mean sea level pressure, mb
Air temperature at 0900 GMT
12.4 - Dry bulb temperature, C
12.1 - Wet bulb temperature, C
12 - Dew point temperature, C
13.9 - Vapour pressure, mb
97 - Relative humidity, %
Extremes of air and surface temperatures
21.3 - Maximum air temperature, C, starting 0900 GMT
8.2 - Minimum air temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
6.2 - Grass minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
14.8 - Daily mean air temperature, C
13.1 - Diurnal air temperature range, degC
Soil temperature at 0900 GMT
12.3 - at 30 cm depth, C
11.1 - at 4 feet depth, C
Cloud and wind
10 - Cloud cover (tenths) at 0900 GMT; OBS=sky obscured
180 - Wind direction (degrees) at 0900 GMT
5 - Wind speed (knots) at 0900 GMT
Weather details at 0900 GMT
00 - Cloud development not observed
Weather details for the day
No snow or sleet fell during 0000-2400 GMT
No snow lying or less than 50 % cover at 0900 GMT
Thunder heard during 0000-2400 GMT
No hail or ice pellets fell during 0000-2400 GMT
Visibility at 0900 GMT
No fog at 0900 GMT
Precipitation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT
1.8 - Rainfall (mm)
Air pressure at 0900 GMT
1025.7 - Mean sea level pressure, mb
Air temperature at 0900 GMT
12.7 - Dry bulb temperature, C
9.9 - Wet bulb temperature, C
7 - Dew point temperature, C
10.0 - Vapour pressure, mb
68 - Relative humidity, %
Extremes of air and surface temperatures
17.8 - Maximum air temperature, C, starting 0900 GMT
8.1 - Minimum air temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
1.9 - Grass minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
4.4 - Soil minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
6.5 - Concrete minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
13.0 - Daily mean air temperature, C
9.7 - Diurnal air temperature range, degC
Soil temperature at 0900 GMT
14.6 - at 5 cm depth, C
13.1 - at 10 cm depth, C
12.7 - at 20 cm depth, C
12.0 - at 30 cm depth, C
11.5 - at 50 cm depth, C
10.4 - at 100 cm depth, C
Cloud and wind
2 - Cloud cover (eighths) at 0900 GMT; 9=sky obscured
080 - Wind direction (degrees) at 0900 GMT
8 - Wind speed (knots) at 0900 GMT
17 - Maximum wind gust (knots) in 24 hours
Weather details at 0900 GMT
02 - State of sky not changing
Weather details for the day
No snow or sleet fell during 0000-2400 GMT
No snow lying or less than 50 % cover at 0900 GMT
No thunder heard during 0000-2400 GMT
No hail observed during 0000-2400 GMT
Visibility at 0900 GMT
20 km to 39 km at 0900 GMT
No fog at 0900 GMT
Precipitation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT
0.0 - Rainfall (mm)
0.0 - Rainfall duration (hours)
State of the ground at 0900 GMT
0.0 - Total snow depth (cm) at 0900 GMT
Bare plot dry
Evaporation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT, and sunshine (sunrise-sunset)
11.8 - Sunshine duration (hours)
3.2 - Piche tube evaporation (ml)
3.23 - Standard tank evaporation (mm)
Air pressure at 0900 GMT
1007.1 - Mean sea level pressure, mb
Air temperature at 0900 GMT
12.1 - Dry bulb temperature, C
10.9 - Wet bulb temperature, C
10 - Dew point temperature, C
12.1 - Vapour pressure, mb
86 - Relative humidity, %
Extremes of air and surface temperatures
16.3 - Maximum air temperature, C, starting 0900 GMT
7.8 - Minimum air temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
7.1 - Grass minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
9.0 - Soil minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
9.0 - Concrete minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
12.1 - Daily mean air temperature, C
8.5 - Diurnal air temperature range, degC
Soil temperature at 0900 GMT
14.0 - at 5 cm depth, C
13.4 - at 10 cm depth, C
13.0 - at 20 cm depth, C
13.6 - at 30 cm depth, C
13.5 - at 50 cm depth, C
12.9 - at 100 cm depth, C
Cloud and wind
4 - Cloud cover (eighths) at 0900 GMT; 9=sky obscured
300 - Wind direction (degrees) at 0900 GMT
5 - Wind speed (knots) at 0900 GMT
21 - Maximum wind gust (knots) in 24 hours
Weather details at 0900 GMT
02 - State of sky not changing
Weather details for the day
No snow or sleet fell during 0000-2400 GMT
No snow lying or less than 50 % cover at 0900 GMT
No thunder heard during 0000-2400 GMT
No hail observed during 0000-2400 GMT
Visibility at 0900 GMT
4000 m to 9 km at 0900 GMT
No fog at 0900 GMT
Precipitation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT
0.1 - Rainfall (mm)
0.2 - Rainfall duration (hours)
State of the ground at 0900 GMT
0 - Total snow depth (cm) at 0900 GMT
Ground surface moist
Evaporation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT, and sunshine (sunrise-sunset)
7.0 - Sunshine duration (hours)
3.4 - Piche tube evaporation (ml)
2.99 - Standard tank evaporation (mm)
Air pressure at 0900 GMT
1025.8 - Mean sea level pressure, mb
Air temperature at 0900 GMT
14.0 - Dry bulb temperature, C
11.0 - Wet bulb temperature, C
8 - Dew point temperature, C
10.7 - Vapour pressure, mb
67 - Relative humidity, %
Extremes of air and surface temperatures
18.4 - Maximum air temperature, C, starting 0900 GMT
4.0 - Minimum air temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
-4.4 - Grass minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
2.0 - Soil minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
2.1 - Concrete minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
11.2 - Daily mean air temperature, C
14.4 - Diurnal air temperature range, degC
Soil temperature at 0900 GMT
15.2 - at 5 cm depth, C
12.3 - at 10 cm depth, C
11.0 - at 20 cm depth, C
12.4 - at 30 cm depth, C
12.4 - at 50 cm depth, C
12.0 - at 100 cm depth, C
Cloud and wind
2 - Cloud cover (eighths) at 0900 GMT; 9=sky obscured
250 - Wind direction (degrees) at 0900 GMT
5 - Wind speed (knots) at 0900 GMT
17 - Maximum wind gust (knots) in 24 hours
Weather details at 0900 GMT
02 - State of sky not changing
Weather details for the day
No snow or sleet fell during 0000-2400 GMT
No snow lying or less than 50 % cover at 0900 GMT
No thunder heard during 0000-2400 GMT
No hail observed during 0000-2400 GMT
Visibility at 0900 GMT
10 km to 19 km at 0900 GMT
No fog at 0900 GMT
Precipitation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT
trace - Rainfall (mm)
0.0 - Rainfall duration (hours)
State of the ground at 0900 GMT
0 - Total snow depth (cm) at 0900 GMT
Ground surface dry
Evaporation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT, and sunshine (sunrise-sunset)
12.1 - Sunshine duration (hours)
4.9 - Piche tube evaporation (ml)
4.14 - Standard tank evaporation (mm)
Air pressure at 0900 GMT
1020.1 - Mean sea level pressure, mb
Air temperature at 0900 GMT
20.1 - Dry bulb temperature, C
14.6 - Wet bulb temperature, C
10 - Dew point temperature, C
12.2 - Vapour pressure, mb
52 - Relative humidity, %
Extremes of air and surface temperatures
25.7 - Maximum air temperature, C, starting 0900 GMT
9.0 - Minimum air temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
0.1 - Grass minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
7.2 - Soil minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
4.9 - Concrete minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
17.4 - Daily mean air temperature, C
16.7 - Diurnal air temperature range, degC
Soil temperature at 0900 GMT
26.5 - at 5 cm depth, C
20.7 - at 10 cm depth, C
17.7 - at 20 cm depth, C
15.9 - at 30 cm depth, C
14.5 - at 50 cm depth, C
12.9 - at 100 cm depth, C
Cloud and wind
2 - Cloud cover (eighths) at 0900 GMT; 9=sky obscured
290 - Wind direction (degrees) at 0900 GMT
5 - Wind speed (knots) at 0900 GMT
13 - Maximum wind gust (knots) in 24 hours
Weather details at 0900 GMT
02 - State of sky not changing
Weather details for the day
No snow or sleet fell during 0000-2400 GMT
No snow lying or less than 50 % cover at 0900 GMT
No thunder heard during 0000-2400 GMT
No hail observed during 0000-2400 GMT
Visibility at 0900 GMT
20 km to 39 km at 0900 GMT
No fog at 0900 GMT
Precipitation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT
trace - Rainfall (mm)
0.0 - Rainfall duration (hours)
State of the ground at 0900 GMT
0 - Total snow depth (cm) at 0900 GMT
Ground very dry with cracks
Evaporation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT, and sunshine (sunrise-sunset)
11.8 - Sunshine duration (hours)
8.0 - Piche tube evaporation (ml)
5.96 - Standard tank evaporation (mm)
Air pressure at 0900 GMT
1010.9 - Mean sea level pressure, mb
Air temperature at 0900 GMT
12.0 - Dry bulb temperature, C
11.0 - Wet bulb temperature, C
10 - Dew point temperature, C
12.3 - Vapour pressure, mb
88 - Relative humidity, %
Extremes of air and surface temperatures
14.2 - Maximum air temperature, C, starting 0900 GMT
9.9 - Minimum air temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
4.5 - Grass minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
10.6 - Soil minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
10.5 - Concrete minimum temperature, C, ending 0900 GMT
12.1 - Daily mean air temperature, C
4.3 - Diurnal air temperature range, degC
Soil temperature at 0900 GMT
15.0 - at 5 cm depth, C
15.1 - at 10 cm depth, C
15.9 - at 20 cm depth, C
15.6 - at 30 cm depth, C
15.1 - at 50 cm depth, C
13.9 - at 100 cm depth, C
Cloud and wind
8 - Cloud cover (eighths) at 0900 GMT; 9=sky obscured
030 - Wind direction (degrees) at 0900 GMT
3 - Wind speed (knots) at 0900 GMT
9 - Maximum wind gust (knots) in 24 hours
Weather details at 0900 GMT
02 - State of sky not changing
Weather details for the day
No snow or sleet fell during 0000-2400 GMT
No snow lying or less than 50 % cover at 0900 GMT
No thunder heard during 0000-2400 GMT
No hail observed during 0000-2400 GMT
Visibility at 0900 GMT
4000 m to 9 km at 0900 GMT
No fog at 0900 GMT
Precipitation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT
2.6 - Rainfall (mm)
State of the ground at 0900 GMT
0 - Total snow depth (cm) at 0900 GMT
Ground surface moist
Evaporation in 24 hours beginning 0900 GMT, and sunshine (sunrise-sunset)
0.0 - Sunshine duration (hours)
0.6 - Piche tube evaporation (ml)
-0.20 - Standard tank evaporation (mm)