Author: Eric Gilbert

Throughout Friday the low-pressure system over the Bay of Biscay continued to generate showers and strong winds as it circulated anticlockwise, veering late afternoon from east into southeast. There was useful rainfall for gardeners of 4.1mm bringing the monthly total 14.8mm when the average is 53.6mm. It was another day of strong winds with a peak gust of 30mph.

The strong, easterly wind meant that temperatures were depressed by day with another below average maximum (-1.0C), this time 19.2C, which was up 3C on the cool Thursday peak.

The milder air, coming from nearer the Continent, meant a milder night as the thermometer dud not fall belwo 11.5C, which as 1.5C above average.

Saturday brought bright intervals at the start of the day in misty conditions and variable cloud, brought on the south easterly wind, a direction that has not been evident for almost a month.

As the depression moved sluggishly southwards on Thursday the wind moved into the north east and was very strong all day with a peak gust of 30mph at 18.28. There were a few short showers in the afternoon amounting to 4.3mm, a useful refreshment for the garden but more is still needed to percolate down further to provide a good drink for plants.

The rainfall this month now totals 10.7mm with the average at 53.6mm. However, the sunshine at the beginning of the month and strong drying winds have meant that evaporation far exceeds rainfall with currently 33mm of equivalent rainfall lost into the atmosphere.

The temperature by day was again below average (-4.0C) with a peak of 16.1C. Overnight was quite different being very mild as the temperature only dropped to 11.8C at 01.48 on Friday morning being 1.8C above average.

The wind moderated overnight but freshened considerably around 08.00 on Friday as the sun began to break through the cloud cover raising the temperature to 14.6C at 08.00.

During the course of Wednesday morning steady, light rain fell for a period generating 3.9mm of welcome rainfall, which made it the wettest twenty-four hour period since 1st May. Due to the lingering thick cloud and lack of sunshine, just 1.9 hours, the thermometer struggled to reach 14.4C making it the coolest day in June, 5.7C below average and identical to that reached on the 4th and 6th.

Although a large area of heavy rain moved ever closer late evening it eventually got no closer than 10 miles west of this area before moving back westwards so no additional, much needed rain. Although we are in mid June the UV level only rated ‘Moderate’ at its highest.

The overnight temperature was close to the average with a minimum 10.2C.

In addition to the overcast sky with thick cloud to greet Thursday, the wind had once again changed direction to come from the cool north east and quite brisk. The current rain radar (08.10) indicates two clumps of rain bearing cloud advancing from the south east so hopefully we might get some more precipitation to refresh the very dry gardens.

Due to the recent cool days and nights also reduced sunshine during the past two days the temperature of the ground at a depth of 5cm has dropped to its lowest since 16th May with a current reading of 13.2C.

Although the wind strength was much lower on Tuesday with a maximum gust of 14mph and the wind coming from the south east, a much warmer direction, the thermometer resolutely refused to rise above the June average. The maximum of 19.6C occurred early afternoon at 13.44 and was 0.5C below the 36-year June average.

It was another dry day with the UV at midday rising into the ‘Very High’ category briefly in the sunshine that amounted to 4.9 hours.

The second mildest night this month followed with the thermometer not falling below 11.1C that was registered at 03.45 Wednesday, which was 1.1C above average.

Wednesday dawned with complete cloud cover. A few spots of rain, not measurable, thus recorded as a trace, were observed at 07.45.

Monday returned to being a dry day again after the very brief rain showers on the two previous days. However, the wind having veered into the north east, and quite brisk in the morning, depressed the temperatures so that the thermometer only reached 17.9C, being 2.2C below the June average.

Cloud overnight limited the loss of warmth into the atmosphere, however, the minimum of 8.6C was still 1.4C below the June average. We have only experienced one night this month when the minimum was above average, namely the 3rd.

Tuesday saw complete cloud cover, but bright, with the wind very light having veered further now coming from the east.