Author: Eric Gilbert

Although earlier in the month gardeners and farmers were hoping for rain, the low pressure system that has been plaguing us for the past six days has outlived its welcome.

Friday saw another 1.4mm of rainfall added to the total, now 59.1mm. However, we have not suffered the extremes of rainfall other parts of the country recently endured as the June rainfall is only 6mm above the 35-year average, but we are only half way through the month.

With the depression circulating above the UK bringing the thick cloud cover and bands of rain it was not surprising to see the maximum on Friday still 2.8C below the average but this was up 4C on the Thursday maximum.

The past night was also below average (-0.6C) with a minimum of 9.5C.

Saturday began with bright sunshine but by 07.30 advance cloud from the next rain band began to obscure she sky.

The depression that has plagued us over the past four days is reluctant to move away so Thursday was another dull day with bursts of rainfall that amounted to 5.0mm and brought the monthly total to 57.mm. This brought the June total 4mm above the 35-year average.

Temperature by day was again depressed due to the thick cloud cover and frequent showers with a maximum of only 13.3C, which was 6.9C below average. The converse was true of the past night as the thick cloud cover meant little warmth, such that there was, escaping into the atmosphere and as a result the minimum of 10.4C was 0.3C above the average.

The diurnal temperature was 2.9C, the difference between day and night time temperatures, that can have a range of up to 25C when a very cool night under clear skies is followed by a hot day.

Friday dawned as previous days with showers of rain from a sky full of heavy cloud but at least the wind still comes from the south west, usually a warmer direction. We live in hope of this miserable low-pressure system moving away – soon!

Update on Friday at 18.00: temperature eases upwards with maximum of 17.4C but still almost 3C below average.

Although no measurable rain fell during daylight hours on Wednesday another 4.8mm fell overnight bringing the June total to 52.0mm when the average is 53.1mm.

The temperature on Wednesday was up 3C on the very cold Tuesday, a maximum of 14.4C was a significant 5.8C below the 35-year average. With the wind much lighter it felt a less cold.

The UV level increased from ‘Low’ on Tuesday to ‘Moderate’ on Wednesday

The thick cloud and rain overnight meant the thermometer only fell about 4C to a minimum of 9.9C, which was just below the average.

Thursday saw the light rain continue until just before 08.00 with just an occasional glimpse of brightness.

Overnight the wind direction has changed from the persistent northeasterly to a current gentle breeze from the south – a much warmer direction.

Tuesday saw a record broken for the lowest June daytime temperature I have recorded with a maximum of only 11.4C, which was 8.8C below the 35-year average. The minimum overnight was also below average with a low of 8.8C(-1.3C).

This extreme low temperature by day was due to the continuing strong north-east wind, gusting to 29 mph, dragging in cold air from around the Arctic regions as the depression slowly rotated anticlockwise from east to west over the UK, moving so very slowly.

Although we had many hours of steady rain on Monday, Tuesday produced just 0.3mm. We are fortunate not to have suffered under the deluge that has overwhelmed some parts of the country to the east and west. The rainfall for June currently stands at 47.2mm when the 35-year average is 53.1mm.

Wednesday morning began dry with the cloud thinner and a lower cloud base also the wind having fallen lighter. With the thermometer reading 9.6C at 08.00 it is the coolest start to the morning at this time of day for almost a month.

The barometric pressure is still low for this time of the year as the depression continues to linger over the UK with no sign that it will quickly move on! Depressions deeper than the current one are not unusual at this time of the year, the problem is its position and thus the resultant wind direction.

Update on Wednesday at 17.46: another dismal day but no measurable rainfall at this time. The wind fell light so feeling a little warmer even though the maximum was just 14.4C, which was 5.8C below average but 3C higher than on Tuesday.

The depression centred over the south east of the UK on Monday, and circulating clockwise, dragged cold air from the north over the country with wind varying between north and north east. The temperature for much of the day was around 11C with the maximum only 12.7C, which was 7.5C below average making it the coldest day for over a month.

The combination of heat across parts of southern and central Europe, combined with low pressure systems approaching the UK from the south, meant initially warm air had absorbed much moisture thus the numerous hours of rain and heavy downpours. The rainfall for the past twenty-four hours amounted to 25.1mm making it the wettest day since 24th May 2018 when 31.9mm was recorded.

The calendar indicates we are in June but during Monday evening and Tuesday morning the wind was so strong it produced a wind chill that dropped the ambient temperature by between 2C and 3C. Thus at 18.00 on Monday evening the thermometer registered 9.7C but the wind chill meant it felt more like 7.1C.

Another cold night was to follow with a minimum of 8.4C with wind chill making it feel more like 6.1C.

The rain stopped just after 07.40 on Tuesday with a hang back of thick cloud and the wind slowly abating after rising since midnight peaking at 28mph at 06.54, Tuesday, as the depression has moved southwards and is now centred over the Chanel Islands.

Update on Tuesday at 16.14: record low June daytime temperature of only 11.4C, which equalled that previously set on 11th June 2012. It was a significant 8.8C below the 35-year average, however, the strong northeasterly wind produced a wind chill, which meant it felt a degree or two colder at times.