Storm Aileen – 2017
On the night of 12 September 2017, Britain was lashed by Storm Aileen, the first officially named storm of that autumn.
- Northern England, Wales, and southern Scotland bore the brunt.
- Gusts of 65–75 mph tore across exposed coasts and hills, felling trees and tearing down power lines.
- Thousands of homes were left without electricity, and roads and railways faced widespread disruption.
- The timing made it memorable — the first proper storm of the season arriving just as many people were still clinging to summer routines.
Record Heat at Westonzoyland
But 12 September has also shown the other side of the coin. In Somerset, at Westonzoyland, a searing 33.9 °C was once recorded on this date — an astonishing figure for mid-September, hotter than many midsummer days.
People spoke of late-season days that felt like an extra slice of July: gardens alive with insects, harvest fields still baking under the sun, and evenings that stayed warm long after dusk. It was the kind of day that made you forget autumn was even on the doorstep.
Why Mid-September Swings So Wildly
The period from 12–15 September is often unsettled in UK climatology. Warm air masses from the continent can still surge north, but the Atlantic storm track is waking up too. The result: some years, we get a heatwave encore. Other years, we get our first real gale.
Legacy of 12 September
- 2017: Storm Aileen brought disruption and damage, setting the tone for an unsettled season ahead.
- Other years: Searing late heat, enough to break long-standing temperature records.