Author: Eric Gilbert

The record for the hottest June day since this weather station was established in 1984, was set on June 30th 1995. But ….. no more!

Monday was a record-breaking day as the thermometer soared steadily from dawn until a peak was reached at 16.05 with a reading of 31.0C. But this was not the end of the extreme heat.

The high of 31.0C was maintained for an hour until just after 5pm when the thermometer inched even higher to a maximum of 31.4C at 17.25 breaking the previous record by 0.5C.

The sunshine was very strong (>100watts/sq.m.) throughout the day, triggering the sun recorder into action from 05.40. The total hours of strong sunshine amounted to 11.47, the second highest total this month after 14.72 hours were logged on the June 17th.

Just before 6pm a few cumulous clouds bubbled up. Cumulus from the Latin for ‘heap’ or ‘pile’. These intermittently dimmed the sunshine allowing the thermometer to slowly fall.

The temperature was reluctant to drop overnight but reached a minimum of 14.7C just after dawn, which is 5C above the June average. This morning there is variable cloud with weak sunshine attempting to break through. At 08.00 the thermometer had risen to 19.6C.

Latest at 20.00: maximum today of 30.8C so the record high of 31.4C yesterday stands.

Yesterday:
Maximum of 30.3C at 14.45 – which was 10.6C above the average and the hottest day since 19th June 2005 and within 0.8C of the record set on 30 June 1995
Maximum wind gust of only 9mph – calmest day for two months
Strong sunshine of 4.99 hours – much less than the previous day (14.72 hours) as although we had many hours of sunshine it was often limited in strength by high cloud

Today:
Minimum of 14.1C at 05.11 – which was 4.4C above the average and the warmest night since 17th May
Temperature at 08.00 was 23.3C – which was the warmest at this time of day since 1st July 2015 as the sun was strong soon after it rose above the horizon in a clear sky
Humidity of 75% at 08.00 – driest air since 30th April 2017
Soil temperature at a depth of 5cm was 23.5C at 08.00

With the intense heat and eight consecutive days without rainfall the evaporation from ground sources and plant life is from 4 to 5cm a day (Maximum 5.25mm on 17th) of equivalent rainfall. The total evaporation this month so far is 61mm being twice the rainfall for the whole month.

Latest at 17.30: 34 year record broken for the hottest June day with a maximum of 31.4C at 17.25.

Yesterday:
Maximum of 28.6C – highest since 19th July 2016 and 9C above June average
Highest solar energy since 8th June 2013
Highest evaporation of 5.25mm since 19th July 2016
UV level of 8.8 again at ‘Very High’.
Strong sunshine of 14.72 hours – highest since 19th July 2016
Today:
Minimum of 12.1C – which was 2.4C above June average.
Warmest morning at 08.00 of 18.9C warmest since 19th July 2016

Although the solar energy was a three year record, very thin high cloud meant that the peak solar radiation was the lowest for three weeks but the wall to wall sunshine gave the very high solar generation total.

The wind was very light yesterday, maximum gust being just 12mph with still conditions since midnight.

This morning started with strong sunshine but thin high cloud drifted across before 7am.

Latest at 16.00: Maximum today, sunday, 30.3C, which is 10c above average for June

Maximum up – 22.5C at 17.38 yesterday, which is 3C above the June average
Minimum up – 11.9C at 05.07 today, which is 2C above the June average
Barometric pressure up – 1027.3mb at 08.00 today, which is the highest pressure this month
Soil temperature at a depth of 5cm up – 20.6C at 08.00 today.
Sunshine down – 7.1 hours due to moderate cloud for several hours before and after midday
Evaporation up – 52mm equivalent rainfall when rainfall this month totals 30.3mm
UV up – 9.9, which is ‘Very High’ and equal highest this month.
Rainfall nil

Latest at 18.00: maximum today of 28.6C, hottest for eleven months.

Yesterday started with strong sunshine but a cold front brought cloud in from the west between approximately 09.30 and 12.00, when the sun then began to break through again as the cloud thinned. There was a little moisture in the air about 11.00, but was not heavy enough to be classed as drizzle.

The cooler, westerly wind replaced the southerly airstream, that became very blustery gusting to 25mph during the afternoon and evening, that meant a cooler day with a minimum 1C above the average giving a maximum 20.7C just before 2pm, down 4C on the previous day’s maximum.

The anticyclone has been increasing in pressure for the last twenty-four hours giving the highest pressure this month of 1023.3mb at 08.00.

Not surprisingly the evaporation from ground sources and plant life has been increasing with the last two days giving daily totals in excess of 4mm. of equivalent rainfall.

This morning dawned with strong sunshine but since 7am thin cloud has obscured the sun. The minimum temperature overnight was 10.3C, just above the June average.