Author: Eric Gilbert

With a maximum of 21.1C on Thursday this was the second warmest day in July after the 1st with 21.3C. However, a warmer airstream on Friday will see that beaten. The UV level was still Very High.

The overnight minimum of 9.7C was still below average -2.2C.

Friday revealed a sunny start to the day with continuous sunshine that lifted the thermometer to 17.4C at 08.00, This was the warmest start to day at that time since 26th June. The wind has backed into the southeast and will feed in the much warmer air all day from the near continent fed between two depressions in the eastern Atlantic and a high pressure over Russia.

Wednesday was the warmest day since the 1st but still 2.2C below average with a maximum of 20.7C, thanks to the air stream from the northwest and brisk with a peak gust if 23mph. It was a dry day with the UV level just peaking at the Very High level.

The equivalent loss of rainfall through evaporation rose to over 3mm on Wednesday, only 0.8mm during the wet Tuesday.

The overnight minimum of 9.2C at 03.17 was also below average, -2.7C

Thursday dawned dull with total cloud cover but by 07.45 a little brightness began to appear although no sunshine. By 08.00 the temperature had recovered to 13.7C. A modest ridge of high pressure has moved over the UK with a pressure reading of 1016.4mb at 08.00, which is the highest since the end of June. It should ensure a mostly dry day, can’t rule out the odd shower and the temperature continuing to recover.

Tuesday was memorable, compared to the past month or so, for being a cloudy and wet day. The morning was damp with light rain that increased after 13.00 and really set in at 16.00 lasting until 22.30. The daily rainfall total was 18.4mm making it the wettest day since 19th June and was very welcome for the gardens.

A small depression developed along the south coast that was not forecast twenty-four hours previously. The low pressure system slowly ambled along southern England with the most intense rain just to the south and east of our area.

Not surprisingly, the thermometer only reached 15.9C. This maximum was a significant 7.0C below the 39-year average and the coolest day since 6th June. The UV level was naturally restricted only reaching a Moderate level. It was also a very cool night with a low of 8.7C, which was 3.2C below the 39-year average.

Wednesday revealed a cloudy start to the day with light rain at 07.45 but thereafter there were bright periods with occasional bursts of sunshine as the cloud began to thin.

The thermometer struggled to reach 19.6C on Monday, some 3.0C below the July average. It felt very cool in the strong westerly wind that gusted to 28mph at its peak, the windiest day since 12th April. There was a light shower during the afternoon. A low pf 12.2C was just above average due to the increase in cloud during the late evening.

Tuesday dawned dull with total cloud cover and moisture in the air. Just before 08.00 light drizzle was observed with light rainfall by 08.30.

Sunday although mainly cloudy until late afternoon was dry. However, the very brisk breeze from the west and northwest meant a cool day with the thermometer not rising above 20.2C, which was 2.7C below the average. The wind peaked at 26mph, which was the strongest gust since 30th May.

Monday revealed a bright start to the day with varying glimpses of strong sunshine after 08.00 by which time the minimum of 10.7C, which was 1.2C below average, recovered to 14.4C.