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full screen Stockholmers enjoy the summer heat in September, here at Munkbrohamnen by Gamla stan. Photo: Jakob Åkersten Brodén/TT
Birgitta’s name day is on Monday – but the British summer seems to be missing.
– It doesn’t look like there will be any very hot and summer-like weather in the coming days, says Linnea Rehn Wittskog, at SMHI.
For a British summer to occur, there must be a warm and sunny period around Bridget’s Day and before that there must have been a cooler and more autumn-like period, says Linnea Rehn Wittskog, meteorologist at SMHI.
However, it does not look like that will be the case this year.
– It doesn’t look like there will be any very hot and summer-like weather in the coming days. I wouldn’t have called it any type of British summer as it is heading towards unstable weather, says Linnea Rehn Wittskog.
Saturday and Sunday there may be some sun, especially in eastern Svealand, eastern Götaland and on Gotland. But the temperatures of 11-14 degrees are quite normal for the time of year.
It may be a few degrees warmer at the beginning of next week, but at the same time rain and wind are expected.
– So it won’t feel very summer-like. In northern Sweden, temperatures will also be significantly lower and tonight it is even expected to bring in some snowfall, says Linnea Rehn Wittskog.
There is no strict meteorological definition of what constitutes a British summer.
– It’s a little in the eye of the beholder, says Linnea Rehn Wittskog.
Therefore, it is difficult to keep statistics. But according to SMHI, there have been a few years that stood out with warm October months: 2018, 2005, 1995 and 1973.
In 1999 and 2000 there were, according to SMHI, “very warm” autumns, but no British summer because the warm period had not been preceded by temporarily cooler weather.
FACT The legend behind British summers
British summer is called when sunny and warm days return around Birgitta’s name day on October 7, after a more autumn-like period.
It is not a defined meteorological concept.
According to SMHI, there is a legend behind the phenomenon. It is about how Saint Birgitta felt sorry for the northerners who had such a cold and grim climate, so she prayed for us. According to legend, God responded by giving a few extra summer days around her name day.
Over time, the concept has loosened up, sometimes talking about British summer even in milder weather as early as September.
Source: SMHI.
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