Why does Cornwall get such crappy weather ?

[Mycatisanevilgenius]

Every summer it’s so much worse than say Dorset or anywhere along the south coast
there must be a reason for it

Because rain in the UK largely blows in from the Atlantic and so the further west you are, the wetter it is- east of UK (eg Norfolk) is driest . Parts of Dorset (eg Poole) also have a sort of microclimate for reasons I don't fully understand which means they dont get as much rain as you might expect.

St Agnes here. It even rains when it’s forecast to be sunny

<shakes fist at the sky>

This^^

Same reason the Lake District is wet. Low pressure blows in off the Atlantic. Dartmoor has areas that are effectively rainforest. Mild, yes, because it’s the south of this little island, but definitely not dry. Norfolk, though, gets far less precipitation!

Oh I posted this picture on another thread - it shows rainfall over the past few decades. Westerly places are the wettest; higher ground - mountains, Lake District etc but yes, Cornwall gets a lot. But that’s we the West Country is so green.

Love the map. My DC asthma and allergies disappear when we go East! How interesting 🤔

That scale is upsetting me.

ahh very interesting thank you, I knew there had to be an explanation
I’d love to find out more why dorset seems to have its own microclimate tho.

when do you think the best time to visit Cornwall is ? May/june ?
or just wait for the weather to be decent then head down !

every single summer, talking school holidays, as far as I can remember, it’s always rubbish
and I always think shouldn’t have gone to Dorset

Because rain in the UK largely blows in from the Atlantic and so the further west you are, the wetter it is-

Yep…

Following will make Met people whinge but it will do for starters

Prevailing wind is westerly for the UK’s part of the world, so before air gets to UK it flows over the Atlantic and while doing so absorbs moisture

Air gets UK coast..land might be cooler than the sea, certainly in general has to climb due terrain, so air cools, cool air can’t hold as much water as warm as so as the air cools starts to dump water in the form of rain…

Higher ground forces air up more => more cooling = more rain => Dartmoor.

In lee of high ground air descends again having dried out, which can explain some of the microclimate on the south coast.

Excellent description that even makes sense to me

in the part of Dorset tho
when you say in Lee of
does that mean because the land is low
in lack of high ground

@APurpleSquirrel
Thanks for the map. Norfolk looks a good bet for summer holidays.

it’s also the case that it’s often cooler in Cornwall in summer than the rest of England. The breezes that are a result of it being a narrow strip of land jutting out into the Atlantic doubtless have a lot to do with this. We went to Cornwall a few summers ago when temperatures were a stifling 35°C at home in the Midlands and it was quite pleasant to sit on a Cornish beach that was just 22°C. However, it’s true to say that the weather in Cornwall is often crap in summer and of course it’s too damn far away. Last summer, it took us 9 hours to get there from the East Midlands, another 9 hours to get back and the weather was dire all week. We could have got to Barbados in less time.

I’ve always been very lucky with the weather in Cornwall. I went twice last year, for a week at a time, and only had one poor day. I can’t wait to go again soon.

The Met Office live rainfall map is fascinating as you can see the rain sweeping up the channel from the Atlantic. The land that juts out into its path really catches the weather.

This is making me wish I’d booked Norfolk instead of Wales for Easter…

Because it sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean. We have a temperate maritime climate in the UK and Cornwall is more maritime than most. The upside is we don't freeze solid for months at a time in winter, and the downside of is wet summers.

One of the many reasons we decided to relocate to Norfolk, weather is much better than when we lived on the South Coast.

But it is so flat! I am always in search of a good view.

My DH has a cousin with chronic asthma, and the GP told his parents to always take him on holiday to Skegness, Bridlington, Scarborough at al and to avoid Blackpool at all costs! This was in the 1960s.

@Mycatisanevilgeniusi live on the Devon/Somerset border & we’ve been to Cornwall a fair bit - May/June would be the best bet for sunny & dry weather. We’ve gone in May half term 3 times in the last few years & its been lovely & warm each time.

I have often wondered what kind of weather Ireland gets. I have family in Cornwall and they also comment on the crappy weather and the amount rain, and obviously Cornwall is in the west of these islands, like Ireland itself. Just out of curiosity, has anyone lived in both Ireland and the U.K.? Which would you say gets the most rain/gloomy days?

It's the Gulf Stream. It's also why it's so mild and you get spring flowers about a month ahead of the rest of the country. But also makes it wet and changeable. On average probably more sun than the rest of the country but 4 seasons in a day. West Cork and Kerry see a similar climate in Ireland.

The Gulf Stream's Role:
The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean. As it reaches the coast of Cornwall, it brings with it warm water and air, which has a warming effect on the local climate.

Milder Temperatures:
This warming effect keeps temperatures in Cornwall milder than in other parts of the UK, even during the winter months.

Sunnier Climate:
Cornwall is known for having the sunniest climate in the UK, with some of the longest hours of sunlight.

Sub-Tropical Conditions:
The south-west coast of Cornwall even has a sub-tropical climate, with palm trees being found in the area.

Botanical Gardens:
The mild climate has resulted in a number of botanical gardens, such as Trebah and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Unique Location:
Cornwall is located on the eastern edge of the Gulf Stream, which is a key factor in its mild maritime climate.

Changeable Weather:
While the Gulf Stream contributes to a milder climate, the sea surrounding the coasts and the southwesterly position mean that the weather can be relatively changeable.

Try East Lancashire

It gets loads of rain because it’s….. a bit shite.

It's not just Cornwall but the whole west coast of the country.
I used to live in the West Country (Devon) and we moved to Leeds. You wouldn't believe all the pity I got from Devon people "Oh poor you, the weather will be dreadful in Leeds". However, I actually think it's sunnier and drier in Leeds than Devon! Yes, the winters were more mild in Devon but apart from that the weather was rubbish. Always grey and raining when other parts of the country were having lovely summers.

Second or third week of September are generally glorious in the South West. As soon as the kids go back to school in long trousers, blazers and jumpers you can guarantee the sun will be out.