Can anyone tell me where the Gulf Stream lay during the 1950 & 60s?

The Gulf Stream has shut down previously.

12,000 years ago it shut down in a period of only a few decades and led to a 5 C – 10 C drop in temperatures in Europe. There may also have been a slowing or cooling of the Gulf Stream during the “Little Ice Age” which lasted sporadically from 1300 – 1850. During this time the Thames froze regularly in winter. Scientists however don’t believe that there is an imminent chance of the Gulf Stream shutting down…..but there is always the possibility that life may imitate art.

:)

http://www.irishweatheronline.com/2010/12/gulf-str...

As written above, after the last ice age that ended about 12,000 years ago, the Gulf Stream has remained pretty much the same. From recorded human history, we know for example that it has kept the coast of Norway, all the way to latitude 71 north, to the Russian harbour of Murmansk, ice free for all that time.

What does vary, though, is the so-called North Atlantic Oscillation, which is the difference of pressure between the so-called Azores high pressure and Icelandic low pressures. A strong NAO means mild but moist weather and vice-versa.

Our present weather (I live in south Norway) can't be blamed on the Gulf Stream nor the global warming. It is a simple coincidence as the polar front curls along what is called the Rossby wave, presently bringing the polar front much more south than what it is usually at this time of the year. At the same time, a persistant high pressure over Greenland has pushed the low pressure more south, over the British islands and the rest of north Europe. Perhaps unusual but not a sign of a climatic change.

I'm not sure who you mean by "we".

I remember the 50s and 60s in England and my recollection is that summer weather was warmer then, thought there was always rain too. I also remember the last of the great smogs. That's something that's definitely improved!

I do remember the terrible winter of 1963 and walking to school for months through the snow. But I remember that as an exception.

I think people started going abroad for holidays more because of the falling costs of package tours.

During the last couple hundred years, the Gulf Stream has been located in the same place as it is now.

I hope this is helpful.