manchester

tourist guide

geography & weather

Sunshine and rain

Manchester lies 35 miles from the sea, on a flat plain within an armpit of the Pennines.  The land rises gently from around 40m at Manchester Town Hall to over 600m, 15 miles from the city centre on the hilltops. The principal river of Manchester is the Irwell, which springs from the West Pennines above Bacup, and joins the Mersey at Irlam, 8 miles from the city.  The Pennine hills form a wall to the east of the city.  They are largely formed of millstone grit forming plateaux terminating in a scarp and outcrop.  This is a sedimentary rock from the Upper Carboniferous period created under the sea.  The absence of dissolved lime in these rocks ensures that water stored in reservoirs is 'soft' which, good for bleaching, proved of use in the processes of the early textile industry, as did the fast flowing streams for providing power.  By contrast, the Lancashire and Cheshire plains are gentler.  The plain sits on its north side upon coal measure - 2000m deep split by seams of coal, abundant around Wigan and Leigh.  Under Manchester itself are Triassic sandstones.  The original building material of the city was the easily eroded pinkish red Collyhurst sandstone.

The average rainfall is 809mm a year, less than Glasgow and many other places int he UK.  Snow is very rare in the city proper.

Spring: 4.7 - 12C, rainfall 173mm, sun 425 hrs.

Summer: 11.4 - 19C, rainfall 210mm, sun 513 hrs.

Autumn: 7 - 13.2C, rainfall 229mm, sun 281 hrs.

Winter: 1.5 - 6.7C, rainfall 197mm, sun 160 hrs.

Sunset over the Imperial War Museum, from a painting by Liam Spencer.

Manchester sky seldom stays leaden for long, nor is it likely to be flawlessly blue.  Frequently the sky is on manoeuvre with patterns of clouds charging between towers and spires.  Dawns and sunsets can be spectacular.  In particular the looking glass quality of the Lowry and Imperial War Museum North seems designed to catch the light.  One of the best times for sky viewing is when the tide changes 35 miles west in late afternoon.  Expect then a light whispering breeze or a great stillness to descend: right at the moment of sunset clouds will lift in the West and shafts of light will shower through.  If you are an early riser the dawns can be stunning. 

I arrived in a show'r, in the wet now set off,
 Eight days in the place I remain'd;
Seven days seven nights and a quarter, I vow,
 By Jove! It incessantly rain'd,
What then? not a day not an hour was I dull:
 The Lancashire Lads play'd their parts:
I found every friend of politeness brim full,
 And myself in the midst of the Arts.
May Manchester flourish! and if once again
 By chance I should ere be brought hither,
I hope that from weeping the clouds may refrain,
 And grant me a peek at fine weather.