xmetman
October 2016 was the third most anticyclonic October since 1871. Not a lot of people know that. Here's a table of the monthly analysis ranked on highest anticyclonicity using the Objective Lamb Weather Type [LWT] data series maintained by the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia.
The more eagled eyed amongst you may have noticed that I have highlighted October 1946, 1962 & 1978 in the first table in green. These of course are October's that preceded the most severe winters since the second World War, namely 1946/47, 1962/63 and 1978/79. In fact the more I look at the list the more severe winters I see, for example 1879/80, 1887/88 and 1985/86 and the bitter cold spell in the January of that winter. Having said that 2007 was the joint 2nd most anticyclonic October and the following winter was super mild, so forget all that twaddle!
David Mitchell
Scott W
Cold enough for one decent snowfall: 53% Too mild: 47%
As you say, however, it can be very much either or - severely cold or super mild
Colin Youngs
David Mitchell
Bruce's table lists October 1956 as joint 11th most anticyclonic October, i.e. after that extreme February.Average temperature at Brussels Uccle in February 1956 was -6.1°C: by far the coldest month on the record, which goes back to 1833.Colin YoungsBrussels
Paul Garvey
Richard Dixon
Great stuff
