Reading University Observatory recorded warmest September

Residents in Reading may have felt the heat while sleeping without duvets on Monday night (September 2) as temperatures stayed above 18 degrees Celsius throughout the night, making it the 29th warmest night recorded at the Reading University Atmospheric Observatory.

The observatory, based at the Whiteknights campus, has been keeping daily records since 1968.

Reading University Atmospheric Observatory, based at the Whiteknights campus (Image: University of Reading)

All but one of the previous very warm nights, recorded by the observatory, took place in July or August. 

Speaking of the warm temperature, Dr Stephen Burt of the University of Reading's department for Meteorology, said: "The minimum screen temperature this morning at the Whiteknights site was 18.4 °C, making last night (2 September) the warmest September night on our Whiteknights records.

"The previous September highest was 18.0 °C on 5 September 2006."

All but one of the previous warm nights, took place in July or August (Image: Canva)

Dr Burt added: “The only warmer September night recorded – including measurements taken at the London Road campus, where records extend back to 1908 - was 20.3 °C, on 5 September 1949.  

“The warmest night yet recorded - including London Road recordings since 1908 - was 20.8 °C, on 2 August 1995.” 

Temperatures soared to 29 degrees Celsius on Tuesday afternoon (September 3).