by Alex Hargraves

Created on: February 02, 2009   Last Updated: February 11, 2009

I have been to Manchester on three occasions myself, and have Australian friends who have lived in the city for a year, and every time I go to visit them, or speak with them on the phone, it's raining there. I once asked a local man at a bar if this was always the case. He turned to me with a bleak expression and said yes. He told me it rains more in Manchester than anywhere else in the UK. Now, I'm not sure how much he'd had to drink, but his expert opinion was enough proof for me.

It does seem to be drizzling every time I'm there; not raining hard, not blowing a gale, no impressive displays of lightning splitting the sky. Just drizzle. Of course, this isn't something entirely unique for Manchester (pick any town in the UK really), but the city does seem to get more than its fair share, particularly in winter. And for that matter, summer.

Excusing the odd hot summer day, the temperature in the warmer month(s) averages around 20-25 degrees Celsius. In the colder, wetter months the temperature drops to around 8 degrees. However, when the sun does appear, the people of Manchester take full advantage of it. In an instant, the blanket of oppressive clouds part and the moral of the city improves; people smile at each other, sports are played in the parks and beer gardens are full of happy students taking in the sun. When it comes to a nice sunny day, the one thing you can't call the locals is complacent. It's just that there aren't many days like this.

The climate in Manchester tends to drive you indoors, seeking shelter, which may at first sound like a bad thing. However, one look at Manchester's contribution to art and music, and you can see how truly beneficial this climate is. Think Oasis, the Smiths, Joy Division, and the "Madchester" rave scene. You simply couldn't come up with music like that if the sun was shining everyday. The music, its attitude and emotion, and culture that goes with it are a direct result of the climate.

The one thing the climate doesn't explain is why Manchester has such a good football team...perhaps it also has something to do with the music and culture of the city.

So there you have it. Manchester; weather-wise you're never ever going to get a tan (unless it's bright orange and out of a bottle) and it's hardly the next hot summer destination, but for music and culture of a strictly indoor variety, its climate is well suited.

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