June 1975 in Durham was one for the books. If you were living in or around County Durham back then, chances are it left a mark on your memory. Not just because of how the month started—though that was remarkable in itself—but because of how quickly it turned around. It was a month that packed in winter, spring, and summer all in the space of a few short weeks.
Let’s start at the beginning, because it was bonkers.
Snow in Durham. In June.
Yes, really. On the morning of the 2nd of June, people in Durham woke up to snowfall. Not just a flutter of flakes, but the kind of snow you expect in February, not June. In fact, records from the Durham University Observatory on Observatory Hill confirmed snow fell and even settled for a time, especially on the higher ground around the city and further up into the Pennines. The hilltops above Ushaw Moor and out toward Lanchester turned white, and the A68 had reports of snow covering the verges. For early June, this was beyond unusual—it was unheard of.
That snowfall came off the back of an Arctic outbreak. Cold air, dragged down from the north in the wake of a deep low-pressure system, plunged temperatures well below average for the time of year. Maximum temperatures on the 2nd barely scraped 6–7°C in Durham, which is staggeringly cold for early summer. Night-time temperatures flirted with frost territory, especially in the valleys where cold air pooled.
Gardeners got the worst of it. Tender plants that had gone into the soil during the warm spell in May took a hammering. Dahlias and bedding plants blackened overnight. Fruit trees in blossom were at risk, and there were grumbles from allotment holders all over the city. It was the sort of event that throws off the whole growing calendar.
Cricket matches were affected. I think Derbyshire’s County Championship match at Buxton posted a ‘Snow Stopped Play’ update at the time. See the header image here.
Then summer arrived—quickly
But, almost as if nature felt guilty about the whole thing, summer arrived not long after and stayed for a while. From around the 7th or 8th of June, pressure began to rise, and the cold air retreated. Skies cleared, winds calmed, and sunshine began to dominate.
By mid-month, Durham was basking in proper summer weather. The second half of June 1975 saw dry and settled conditions, with temperatures rising into the low-20s Celsius fairly regularly. It wasn’t extreme heat, but after snow and single digits earlier in the month, it felt glorious. There was a noticeable cheeriness in the air. Markets were busier, people were out walking along the River Wear, and coats were swapped out for T-shirts. Students up at the university might’ve even got a bit of colour from the sun.
Rainfall for the month ended up below average in Durham, despite that unsettled start. The only real blip came from occasional cloudy intrusions off the North Sea—June wouldn’t be June in Durham without a bit of fret coming up the Wear valley. But on the whole, it was a lovely month after that initial shock.
Durham Observatory Records
If you look at the climate data from the Durham University Observatory for June 1975, a few things jump out. The month began with an abnormally low mean temperature for the time of year—dragged down by that extraordinary start. But by the end of the month, the average had balanced out closer to the seasonal norm. There were around 200 hours of sunshine recorded, which is quite good for Durham in June.
Rainfall totals were modest. Most of the precipitation fell in the first week, some of it as snow or cold rain. After that, the ground began to dry out and temperatures gradually climbed. By the end of the month, summer had very much taken the reins. There were only two days recording rain after the 6th June.
How was it remembered locally?
Those who lived through it remembered it as the year when you needed both a snow shovel and a sun hat in the same month. There’s something very British about that, isn’t there? People laughed about it, puzzled over it, and then carried on as we always do.
It’s also worth noting that June 1975’s madness was a bit of a curtain-raiser. The following year—1976—would become the stuff of legend for heat and drought. But June 1975 was like the warm-up act that stole the show in its own peculiar way.
Did you or someone you know in Durham remember the snow that month? Maybe you’ve seen old photos or kept weather notes? I’d love to know what the chatter was like locally when folks stepped out to find snow in June. A lot of folks confuse the memory of snow in June 1975 as being in the hot summer of 1976. They weren’t the same year.
Comparing to Recent Junes
In contrast to 1975, recent Junes in Durham have generally been warmer and wetter. For instance, June 2019 was notably wet, with significant rainfall events until mid-month. The mean air temperature was just above average, and sunshine hours were below average, making it one of the duller Junes on record. This comparison highlights the variability in Durham’s June weather over the decades.
Exploring Further
For a comprehensive analysis of Durham’s weather patterns, the book Durham Weather and Climate since 1841 by Stephen Burt and Tim Burt offers an in-depth look at the city’s climatic history. It includes detailed accounts of significant weather events and trends observed over nearly two centuries. This resource is invaluable for anyone interested in the long-term weather patterns of Durham.