Author: Eric Gilbert

The weather forecasters describe the recent weather pattern as changeable. Thursday was an example of this type of weather as six bands of showery rain traversed this area with modest amounts of rain from each shower.

The six showers produced 2.6mm of precipitation bringing the July total to 77.9mm, which is almost 20mm above the 33-year average.

Interspersed with these showers were welcome bursts of strong sunshine that amounted to 3.93 hours that pushed the maximum to 19.3C, which was 3C below the July average, just after 13.34. This early peak in the day was due to the increasing bands of cloud bringing the showers.

The minimum of 12.1C, just above average, was also recorded earlier in the morning than usual at this time of the year as the thermometer then rose steadily to 14.5C at 08.00.

This morning started with thick cloud but at the time readings were taken there were intermittent bursts of sunshine.

Back to frequent showers and little sunshine on wednesday. Therefore it is not surprising to find the maximum temperature depressed with a peak of 19.8C, some 2.5C below the July average. There was a very brief sunny interlude around lunchtime that produced two minutes of string sunshine and a peak UV of 8.8, which was in the ‘Very High’ level.

Frequent showers during the daytime and again early this morning gave 6.7mm of precipitation bringing the the total for July to 75.3mm, which is 126% of the 33-year average.

As on many previous nights the thick cloud produced another mild night with the thermometer sinking to 12.7C at 04.45, this was 1C above the 33-year average.

This morning has dawned with the continuation of the thick cloud with no sign of any sunshine.

What a difference a day makes! After so many days with heavy showers it was great to enjoy 8.76 hours of strong sunshine on Tuesday. This was the third highest sunshine total for this month.

As a consequence of the strong sunshine the thermometer rose to a maximum of 24.9C just after 4pm, but the reduction in cloud and consequent continuos sunshine into the late afternoon meant that the peak of 25.8C was reached later than usual at 17.44.

The thermometer fell away to a minimum of 13.1C at 03.02 this morning making it a very warm night. At this time the cloud from the approaching weather front meant the temperature started to rise so that at 08.00 the reading was 15.7C.

The precipitation from this weather front was initially marked by low cloud and drizzle with steady rain beginning to fall just after 7am.

After six consecutive days with rainfall yesterday was a dry day. After a cloudy morning there were 4.6 hours of strong sunshine as the afternoon progressed that made it the warmest day since 18th July with a maximum of 21.1C, still below average (1C) for July.

We enjoyed a glorious evening with much strong sunshine but the clear skies overnight meant another very cool night. The thermometer fell to a low of 8.9C just after 5am, being 3C below the July average.

There was limited sunshine after dawn but by 7am the cloud rolled in obscuring the sun. However, the temperature had recovered to 13.1C at 08.00.

The changeable weather of recent days has been caused by the Jet Stream being rather too far south thus directing depressions and their associated winds and rain over the UK.

Sunday was similar to Saturday and Friday with intermittent heavy showers and sunny intervals between.

It is not surprising that with restricted sunshine, 3.8 hours, that again the temperature was depressed with a maximum of only 17.3C, which was 5C below the average.

The frequent showers produced a total of 4.5mm of rainfall bringing the July total to 68.6mm, which is 115% of the long-term average.

After a brief clearance late last evening the cloud rolled in again overnight so a warmer night than the previous one giving a minimum of 13.6C, which was 2C above the 33-year average.

This morning is dominated by thick cloud and a light breeze that just after 4am, as the barometric pressure began to rise, veered from the southwest into the northwest.