Cwmystwyth
The Ordnance Survey calculates Cwmystwyth to be the centre point of Wales (52°19′48.791″N 3°45′59.072″W / 52.33021972°N 3.76640889°W; grid reference SN7972871704).
History
Discovery of small, oval-shaped stone tools in the area points to the fact that it has been mined for lead since the time of ancient Britons and during Roman occupation. Documentation of mining activities occurred during the reign of Elizabeth I. She engaged the services of two German miners, then went on to sub-let to Hugh Myddleton.
The only significant flat area of the cwm is found before the river reaches maturity near Trawsgoed some 6 miles (9.7 km) further west. Above the village to the east steep slopes rise to the Elenydd moors, above the cwm of the Nant Milwyn, at the head of the hill of Domen Milwyn.
Community Archive Wales Project
Cofnodion Cwmystwyth is a recently established local history group based in Cwmystwyth. The group has 14 regular members of various ages drawn from the Communities First area of Tregaron Uplands, all with a passion for the history of the area. As well as including images, the archive includes transcriptions of census data, baptismal registers and log books as a means of interpreting the history of the village. In the long-term, it is hoped that the project will act as a springboard for establishment of a Cwmystwyth History Society which would produce materials relating to the area and eventually to the creation of a heritage centre to showcase the history of the village. Cofnodion Cwmystwyth joined the Community Archives Wales project in 2007.
Climate
Cwmystwyth experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) similar to almost all of Wales and the United Kingdom. This translates to a narrow range of temperatures, rainfall in all seasons and low sunshine levels, particularly at upland locations such as inland Wales.
The MetOffice maintains a weather station in the village, with online climate records dating back to 1959. Temperatures range from an absolute high of 32.3 °C (90.1 °F) recorded during July 2006, down to an absolute low of −16.7 °C (1.9 °F), recorded during January 1963. During an 'average' year, the warmest day will likely reach 26.1 °C (79.0 °F) and the coldest night fall to −8.0 °C (17.6 °F). In total just over 3 days should record a temperature of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above, and 59.3 nights should report an air frost.
Rainfall, as one might expect for an elevated place in Wales, is high, at nearly 2,000 millimetres (79 in) a year. At least 1 millimetre (0.039 in) will be observed on over 189 days of the year, on average. All averages refer to the period 1971–2000.
| Climate data for Cwmystwyth: 301 m (988 ft) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000–2020 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) |
16.5 (61.7) |
18.9 (66.0) |
23.8 (74.8) |
25.0 (77.0) |
28.2 (82.8) |
32.3 (90.1) |
30.4 (86.7) |
25.0 (77.0) |
20.3 (68.5) |
16.8 (62.2) |
12.5 (54.5) |
32.3 (90.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
14.6 (58.3) |
17.0 (62.6) |
18.4 (65.1) |
18.1 (64.6) |
16.2 (61.2) |
12.7 (54.9) |
9.3 (48.7) |
7.2 (45.0) |
12.3 (54.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.9 (39.0) |
4.0 (39.2) |
5.4 (41.7) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.3 (50.5) |
12.8 (55.0) |
14.6 (58.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
12.4 (54.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
6.5 (43.7) |
4.5 (40.1) |
8.8 (47.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.2 (34.2) |
1.2 (34.2) |
2.1 (35.8) |
3.5 (38.3) |
6.0 (42.8) |
8.7 (47.7) |
10.8 (51.4) |
10.5 (50.9) |
8.7 (47.7) |
6.5 (43.7) |
3.7 (38.7) |
1.8 (35.2) |
5.4 (41.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.2 (13.6) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
−9.0 (15.8) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
2.8 (37.0) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−10.7 (12.7) |
−11.5 (11.3) |
−11.5 (11.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 188.8 (7.43) |
155.0 (6.10) |
134.2 (5.28) |
103.6 (4.08) |
106.4 (4.19) |
120.0 (4.72) |
136.5 (5.37) |
135.1 (5.32) |
146.7 (5.78) |
192.0 (7.56) |
211.9 (8.34) |
215.5 (8.48) |
1,845.6 (72.66) |
| Average precipitation days | 18.8 | 16.1 | 15.5 | 14.2 | 13.6 | 13.6 | 15.7 | 16.3 | 15.0 | 17.6 | 19.8 | 19.8 | 196 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 34.2 | 59.2 | 94.3 | 141.4 | 173.6 | 154.6 | 147.7 | 136.1 | 115.0 | 83.1 | 45.0 | 28.8 | 1,213.1 |
| Source 1: Met Office | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Météo Climat | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Cwmystwyth, elevation 301m, 1971-2000, extremes 1959- | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.1 (59.2) |
16.5 (61.7) |
20.6 (69.1) |
23.8 (74.8) |
24.5 (76.1) |
29.6 (85.3) |
32.3 (90.1) |
30.4 (86.7) |
27.8 (82.0) |
23.8 (74.8) |
18.7 (65.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
32.3 (90.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 5.8 (42.4) |
5.9 (42.6) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.1 (50.2) |
13.7 (56.7) |
15.8 (60.4) |
18.0 (64.4) |
17.9 (64.2) |
15.4 (59.7) |
12.2 (54.0) |
8.6 (47.5) |
6.8 (44.2) |
11.5 (52.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.9 (33.6) |
0.6 (33.1) |
1.7 (35.1) |
2.6 (36.7) |
5.3 (41.5) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.2 (50.4) |
10.1 (50.2) |
8.1 (46.6) |
5.9 (42.6) |
3.1 (37.6) |
1.7 (35.1) |
4.9 (40.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −16.7 (1.9) |
−13.3 (8.1) |
−13.9 (7.0) |
−6.6 (20.1) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
0.6 (33.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 192.66 (7.59) |
139.31 (5.48) |
158.19 (6.23) |
108.73 (4.28) |
96.95 (3.82) |
115.9 (4.56) |
115.69 (4.55) |
134.64 (5.30) |
150.98 (5.94) |
187.66 (7.39) |
205.77 (8.10) |
213.49 (8.41) |
1,819.97 (71.65) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 31.9 | 53.4 | 74.3 | 126.4 | 165.5 | 138.9 | 153.6 | 142.6 | 109.7 | 81.5 | 44.4 | 25.4 | 1,147.6 |
| Source 1: Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: MetOffice | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ "Saving the centre of Wales". BBC. 24 October 2002. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ Jenkinson, Henry Irwin (1878). Jenkinson's Practical Guide to North Wales. Oxford University.
- ^ "2006 Maximum". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "1963 Minimum". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "1971-2000 average warmest day". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "average coldest night". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "1971-2000 >25c days". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "1971-2000 frosts". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "1971-2000 wetdays". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Cwmystwyth Climate". Met Office. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Weather Extremes for Cwmystwyth". Météo Climat. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Climate Normals 1971–2000". KNMI. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Long Term Data". Metoffice. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
External links
- Jenkinson's Practical Guide to North Wales
- www.geograph.co.uk : Photos of Cwm Ystwyth and surrounding area
- Community Archives Wales
