Sunday 12th July
Saturday was yet another very hot day with temperatures rising well above the heatwave threshold, however, the maximum of 30.5C was almost 3C down on the Friday peak but still 7.6C above average. The edge was taken off the peak temperature due to the very blustery and gusty wind from a northeasterly quarter that gusted to 20mph overnight at 01.27 early Sunday, with little reduction in the average speed. The low of 15.3C, logged at 05.09, just after sunrise in Marlborough at 05.04, was 3.3C above average. The past three nights have produced almost identical minima with 15.3C, 15.1C and 15.3C respectively.
The rise in heat on Sunday morning was limited due to the variable cloud that had drifted in from the North Sea overnight, which muted the strength of the sun. By 08.00 the temperature had risen to 17.4C, which made it the coolest start to a day at that time since the 4th (16.7C). The gusty wind from a northeasterly direction continues.
The anticyclone now centred off the Scottish north coast is resisting the advances of the low-pressure system just off the Bay of Biscay, the barometric pressure had risen 4mb since Friday at 08.00. Various troughs and a weather front are forecast to develop from the depression as the week progresses, but current thinking is that although the low pressure will edge towards our south coast it will have minimal affect on our weather. The BBC forecast suggests drizzle and light rain might arrive at the end of the week whilst the Met Office disagree at the moment. Although peak temperatures will fall away a little as the week progresses they are likely to still be well above average.
An interesting piece of research related to human response to the heatwave, but not unexpected.
More than half of UK households spent extra money during last month’s heat-wave, with many forced to buy cooling essentials as temperatures soared, new research suggests.
A YouGov survey commissioned by MyVoucherCodes found that 52% of Britons spent more than usual during the June heatwave, while 56% said they now experience “heatwave anxiety”.
The findings suggest many households faced unexpected costs as they bought items such as fans, paddling pools, cold drinks and extra refreshments to cope with the hot weather.
More than one in five (21%) said they spent over £50 during the heatwave.
Around one in five respondents also estimated they spent more than £100 simply to stay cool, highlighting the financial impact periods of unusually hot weather can have on household budgets.