Local observer Michael Hilton recorded a cool summer in Buxton in 2024. This article reports readings from his independent Harpur Hill station.

A cool local season does not contradict global warming: weather varies from place to place and year to year, while climate describes longer-term patterns.

At the end of summer 2024, we looked back at the season’s sunshine, rain and temperatures.

But has the summer weather of 2024 really been so bad?

The original report described 2024 as the coolest summer in these records since 2015. However, the published monthly figures give a lower June–August average for 2020: about 14.0°C, compared with 14.2°C in 2024, weighted by days in each month.

The station recorded 50.4 mm (1.98 inches) of rain in August 2024. At the time this was its driest August since 2003; August 2025 was drier, at 44.2 mm.

The same station recorded about 408 hours of sunshine in June, July and August 2024, compared with about 382 hours in summer 2020.

At the time, Michael’s autumn 2024 outlook suggested higher chances of warmer, wetter and windier conditions than average.

The original article looked ahead to summer 2025.

With thanks to Michael Hilton at Buxton Weather for information and data in this article. Head over to Buxton Weather for the latest updates on Buxton and Peak District weather and live updates on local road conditions.

What is Buxton Climatological Station?

The Met Office climatological station on The Slopes moved there in 1925 and is maintained by volunteers. It is separate from Michael Hilton’s independent Harpur Hill station, whose readings are used above. Read the station history.