Author: Eric Gilbert

The welcome sunshine on Monday lifted the thermometer to 24.3C at 15.42, which was 2.9C above my 40-year average. The past night was very mild and humid with the thermometer not sinking below 15.3C at 07.26 early Tuesday.

Tuesday dawned dark and damp. A cold front is currently crossing the area bringing with it very low cloud that is producing light rain and drizzle that amounted to 1.5mm by 08.00. The high pressure is easing away to the east whilst a depression between Iceland and Scotland is slowly edging our way. The barometric pressure has fallen to 1009.1Mb at 08.00, the lowest pressure since 20th July.

The maximum of 25.3C at 17.29 on Sunday made it the hottest day since the 19th (30.7C) and was 2.5C above my 40-year average. The UV level peaked at 6.5 at 12.51 being at the top end of High. The past night was again cool that saw the thermometer sink to 7.9C at 03.39 early Monday being 5.0C below my average.

Monday arrived with full sunshine and the thermometer recovering to 16.4C by 08.00. The anticyclone is fully in charge, centred just off the coast of Denmark and will give us a few hot, sunny days.

Update at 18.30: maximum of 29.0C logged at 16.42, second highest this month after 30.7C on the 19th.

The temperature by day started to ease upwards on Saturday with a peak of 23.C at 14.50, being 0.2C above the average. The opposite occurred overnight as under clearing skies the warmth dissipated into the atmosphere and the thermometer dropped very low, to a minimum of 7.8C at 05.51, before the sun got to work. This low was 4.1C below my 40-year average and the third coolest night this month.

It was a glorious start to a new day with clear blue skies and strong sunshine that had lifted the temperature to 16.3C by 08.00.

The anticyclone has moved eastwards over the past twenty-four hours and is currently centred over the Uk so a few dry, very warm sunny days ahead. The repositioning of the high pressure has resulted in the wind coming from the south and very light.

The sunshine on Friday almost pushed the thermometer above the average, but not quite, at 22.4C logged at 15.11, it was 0.4C below thanks to the cooler air that arrived behind the cold front. The cooler, drier air also showed in the cooler overnight minimum of 9.8C being 2.1C below my 40-year average.

Yesterday we lost the equivalent of 3.5mm of rainfall through evaporation from ground sources and plant life. The rainfall total for July is 64.2mm, however, the total loss through evaporation now stands at 64.6mm.

Saturday started bright and sunny, however, a warm front is due to cross the area during the day that will bring variable cloud, but it should stay dry.

Thursday was memorable for the very humid air that produced misty conditions all day with frequent light rain and drizzle that amounted to 2.0mm. The monthly rainfall total is now 64.2mm just 4.5mm above my 40-year record. The maximum of 20.6C, early in the afternoon at 14.18, was depressed due to the cloud and rain, which was 2.2C below my 40-year average. The minimum of 12.9C was 1.0C above average and was logged at 03/57 early Friday.

Friday revealed a very different day as there was sunshine as soon the sun rose above the horizon that had lifted the temperature to 16.2C by 08.00.

The high pressure in the Atlantic will be throwing a ridge across the UK as the day progresses whilst the recent depression near Iceland recedes, so a mainly dry and sunny day ahead.