Editing Reading, Berkshire (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Broad Street, Reading - geograph.org.uk - 2864164.jpg|thumb|right|Broad Street]]
Reading is {{convert|42|mi|km}} north of the English south coast. The centre of Reading is on a low ridge between the [[River Thames]] and [[River Kennet]], close to their [[confluence]], reflecting the town's history as a river port. Just above the confluence, the Kennet cuts through a narrow steep-sided gap in the hills forming the southern flank of the Thames [[flood plain]]. The Kennet, which naturally divided into multiple shallow streams through the centre of Reading, was embanked as part of the construction of the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]] in the 18th century, allowing the development of [[Wharf|wharves]]. The floodplains adjoining Reading's two rivers are subject to occasional flooding.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Floods photos|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/EmergencyPlanning/Flooding/2007-floods/|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521211047/http://www.reading.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/EmergencyPlanning/Flooding/2007-floods/|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=July 2007 Flooding|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/adviceandemergencies/Emergency-Planning/July_2007_flooding_report_Cabinet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927181208/http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/adviceandemergencies/Emergency-Planning/July_2007_flooding_report_Cabinet.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=live|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=13 June 2011|date=29 October 2007}}</ref>
{{Location map+|United Kingdom Reading|float=right|width=335|caption=Location of suburbs of Reading|places=
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.454167|long=-0.973056|label=Town centre|label_size=75|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.439770|long=-1.044614|label=[[Beansheaf Farm]]|label_size=75|position=top|mark=Arrows 12x12 s.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.441297|long=-1.049565|label=[[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]]|label_size=75|position=left |mark=Arrows 12x12 e.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.467573|long=-0.974639|label=[[Caversham, Reading|Caversham]]|label_size=75|position=top|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.476999|long=-0.988426|label=[[Caversham Heights]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.482933|long=-0.951262|label=[[Caversham Park Village]]|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.449423|long=-0.978607|label=[[Coley, Reading|Coley]]|label_size=75|position=below|mark=Arrows 12x12 w.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.442452|long=-0.992803|label=[[Coley Park]]|label_size=75|position=bottom |mark=Arrows 12x12 n.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.449246|long=-0.952978|label=[[East Reading]]|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.484857|long=-0.968513|label=[[Emmer Green]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.440473|long=-1.025119|label=[[Fords Farm]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|mark=Arrows 12x12 n.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.424444|long=-0.991389|label=[[Green Park, Reading|Green Park]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.437102|long=-1.036834|label=[[Holybrook]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|mark=Arrows 12x12 n.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.448123|long=-1.025762|label=[[Horncastle, Berkshire|Horncastle]]|label_size=75|position=top |mark=Arrows 12x12 s.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.444967|long=-0.969028|label=[[Katesgrove]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.429500|long=-0.974450|label={{nowrap|Kennet Island}}|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.465772|long=-1.053657|label=[[Little Heath, Berkshire|Little Heath]]|label_size=75|position=top|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.464916|long=-0.959587|label={{nowrap|[[Lower Caversham]]}}|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.424152|long=-0.921821|label=[[Lower Earley]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.437798|long=-0.913152|label=[[Maiden Erlegh]]|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.455504|long=-0.948686|label=[[Newtown, Reading|Newtown]]|label_size=75|position=right|mark=Arrows 12x12 w.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.459782|long=-1.026942|label=[[Norcot]]|label_size=75|position=top|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.478496|long=-1.045932|label=[[Purley on Thames|Purley]]|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.408000|long=-0.947000|label=[[Shinfield]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6|outside = 1 <!--Suppress warning category-->}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.441329|long=-1.005506|label=[[Southcote, Reading|Southcote]]|label_size=75|position=top|mark=Arrows 12x12 s.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.456333|long=-1.046662|label=[[Tilehurst]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.453330|long=-0.994870|label=[[West Reading, Berkshire|West Reading]]|label_size=75|position=top|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.428000|long=-0.961450|label=[[Whitley, Reading|Whitley]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.416320|long=-0.961710|label=[[Whitley Wood]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
}}
As Reading has grown, its suburbs have spread: to the west between the two rivers into the foothills of the [[Berkshire Downs]] as far as [[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]], [[Tilehurst]] and [[Purley on Thames|Purley]]; to the south and south-east on the south side of the [[River Kennet]] as far as [[Whitley Wood]] and [[Lower Earley]] and as far north of the [[Thames]] into the [[Chiltern Hills]] as far as [[Caversham Heights]], [[Emmer Green]] and [[Caversham Park Village]]. Outside the central area, the floors of the valleys containing the two rivers remain largely unimproved [[floodplain]]. Apart from the [[M4 motorway|M4]] curving to the south there is only one road across the Kennet flood plain. All other routes between the three built-up areas are in the central area.<ref name=oslr159>{{cite map | title = Map of Reading, Wokingham & Pangbourne | publisher = [[Ordnance Survey]] | isbn = 9780319237304 | date = 12 May 2011 | scale = 1:25000}}</ref>

===Climate===
Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Reading has a [[maritime climate]], with limited seasonal temperature ranges and generally moderate rainfall throughout the year. The nearest official [[Met Office]] weather station is located at the [[Reading University]] Atmospheric Observatory on the [[Whiteknights Park|Whiteknights Campus]], which has recorded atmospheric measurements and meteorological observations since 1970.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading University Atmospheric Observatory|url=http://www.met.reading.ac.uk/Data/fieldsite/docs/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914075939/http://www.met.reading.ac.uk/Data/fieldsite/docs/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2012|publisher=[[University of Reading]]|access-date=18 June 2011}}</ref> The local absolute maximum temperature of {{convert|37.6|C|F}} was recorded on 19 July 2022 and the local absolute minimum temperature of {{convert|-14.5|C|F}} was recorded in January 1982.

{{Weather box
|location = [[Reading University]], elevation: {{convert|62|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present
| collapsed = 
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| Jan record high C = 15.5
| Feb record high C = 19.6
| Mar record high C = 22.8
| Apr record high C = 26.9
| May record high C = 28.5
| Jun record high C = 34.0
| Jul record high C = 37.6
| Aug record high C = 36.4
| Sep record high C = 29.6
| Oct record high C = 27.8
| Nov record high C = 18.1
| Dec record high C = 15.8
| Jan high C = 8.0
| Feb high C = 8.5
| Mar high C = 11.2
| Apr high C = 14.2
| May high C = 17.4
| Jun high C = 20.4
| Jul high C = 22.7
| Aug high C = 22.3
| Sep high C = 19.3
| Oct high C = 15.1
| Nov high C = 11.0
| Dec high C = 8.4
| year high C = 14.9
| Jan mean C = 5.1
| Feb mean C = 5.4
| Mar mean C = 7.4
| Apr mean C = 9.7
| May mean C = 12.7
| Jun mean C = 15.6
| Jul mean C = 17.8
| Aug mean C = 17.5
| Sep mean C = 14.8
| Oct mean C = 11.5
| Nov mean C = 7.8
| Dec mean C = 5.4
| year mean C = 10.9
| Jan low C = 2.1
| Feb low C = 2.2
| Mar low C = 3.5
| Apr low C = 5.1
| May low C = 8.0
| Jun low C = 10.8
| Jul low C = 12.9
| Aug low C = 12.7
| Sep low C = 10.4
| Oct low C = 7.9
| Nov low C = 4.7
| Dec low C = 2.5
| year low C = 6.9
| Jan record low C = -14.5
| Feb record low C = -11.6
| Mar record low C = -7.2
| Apr record low C = -3.5
| May record low C = -2.0
| Jun record low C = 1.5
| Jul record low C = 4.9
| Aug record low C = 3.4
| Sep record low C = 0.6
| Oct record low C = -4.4
| Nov record low C = -8.3
| Dec record low C = -13.4
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 65.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 45.6
| Mar precipitation mm = 40.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 48.7
| May precipitation mm = 43.5
| Jun precipitation mm = 47.2
| Jul precipitation mm = 48.9
| Aug precipitation mm = 56.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 49.7
| Oct precipitation mm = 73.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 73.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 65.4
| year precipitation mm = 658.2
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 11.8
| Feb precipitation days = 9.7
| Mar precipitation days = 8.6
| Apr precipitation days = 9.3
| May precipitation days = 8.1
| Jun precipitation days = 7.7
| Jul precipitation days = 8.1
| Aug precipitation days = 8.5
| Sep precipitation days = 8.2
| Oct precipitation days = 10.6
| Nov precipitation days = 11.8
| Dec precipitation days = 11.5
| year precipitation days = 113.9
| Jan sun = 55.6
| Feb sun = 76.5
| Mar sun = 119.7
| Apr sun = 170.2
| May sun = 199.9
| Jun sun = 199.0
| Jul sun = 205.5
| Aug sun = 190.5
| Sep sun = 145.3
| Oct sun = 106.6
| Nov sun = 60.2
| Dec sun = 48.5
| year sun = 1577.5
| Jan uv = 2
| Feb uv = 2
| Mar uv = 3
| Apr uv = 3
| May uv = 4
| Jun uv = 4
| Jul uv = 5
| Aug uv = 4
| Sep uv = 4
| Oct uv = 3
| Nov uv = 2
| Dec uv = 2
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="Met Averages">{{cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcpkdssgk|title=Reading 1981–2010 averages|access-date=15 October 2021|publisher=Met Office|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174812/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcpkdssgk|url-status=live}}</ref> WeatherAtlas<ref name="Weather-Atlas">{{cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/united-kingdom/reading-climate#uv_index|title=Monthly weather forecast and Climate – Reading, United Kingdom|access-date=15 October 2021|publisher=Weather Atlas|archive-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122184813/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/united-kingdom/reading-climate#uv_index|url-status=live}}</ref>
| source 2 = Starlings Roost<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php|title=Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature|access-date=1 February 2023|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather|archive-date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173843/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmin_map.php|title=Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature|access-date=1 February 2023|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather|archive-date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173844/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmin_map.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
{{climate chart
| Reading
| 1.9 | 7.7 | 61.0
| 1.7 | 8.0 | 41.2
| 3.4 | 10.8 | 44.5
| 4.7 | 13.5 | 48.0
| 7.7 | 17.0 | 46.4
| 10.6 | 20.0 | 44.6
| 12.7 | 22.4 | 46.0
| 12.5 | 22.1 | 52.3
| 10.3 | 19.0 | 50.3
| 7.6 | 14.9 | 71.8
| 4.4 | 10.7 | 66.3
| 2.2 | 7.9 | 62.9
|float=right
}}