Category: Commentary

With the anticyclone over the UK resulting in high pressure on Saturday we enjoyed a day that brought 12.6 hours of sunshine. This boosted the temperature to a maximum of 22.2C, the third warmest day in June after 25.6C and 22.3C on the 1st and 2nd respectively. This peak was exactly 2C above average.

A mild night followed with the thermometer not falling below 11.4C, which was 1.3C above average and only the second occasion in June when both the maximum and minimum were above average. There was a significant variation between the two consecutive nights with a difference of 7C.

Sunday morning dawned with much cloud obscuring the sun as the cloud, in advance of the next weather front, began to edge in front the Atlantic with the recent high pressure sadly moving off into the North Sea. By 08.00 the the thermometer had eased upwards to 13.3C as limited bright periods emerged through the cloud cover with the barometric pressure having fallen by 4mb to 1017.1mb. There is a notable cool breeze, now blowing from the east, making the early morning feel quite fresh.

Summer returned on Friday with 11.3 hours of sunshine and, for only the third day this month, an above average temperature with a maximum of 20.7C (+0.5C).

It was a dry day, only the sixth this month with the UV level of 8.5 rising into the ‘very high’ category.

With clear skies overnight, no cloud blanket, much warmth was radiated into the atmosphere giving the second coldest night this month with a minimum of 4.6C (-5.7C) at 04.58.

Saturday arrived with the sun shining strongly in a blue sky that lifted the temperature to 15.1C at 08.00 giving the promise of a summer’s day ahead, the result of the highest barometric pressure this month at 1021.0mb.

Update on Saturday at 17.05: summer returned with a maximum temperature of 22.2C at 15.37, which was exactly 2C above average. This was the third warmest day in June after 25.6C and 22.3C on the 1st and 2nd respectively. A dry day with the UV level again into the ‘very high’ level, but it is midsummer!

Thursday gave us 9.5 hours sunshine as the anticyclone in the eastern Atlantic began to have an effect on our weather. With pressure rising there were fewer clouds and only one shower of rain amounting to 0.8mm that occurred between 11.28 and 12.03.

It was not the sunniest day in June due to variable cloud, that was on the 1st with 11.5 hours, when we had wall to wall sunshine.

The UV level rose to its highest since 2nd June with a reading of 8.2, which was in the ‘very high’ category.

The westerly breeze, gusting strongest at 16 mph, restricted both the maximum and minimum temperatures that were below average with 18.9C (1.3C) and 7.5 ((-2.6C).

Friday started with strong sunshine as the sun rose that lifted the temperature to 13.9C at 08.00 when the barometric pressure read 1018.5 mb, the highest since 9th June, and continuing to rise steadily as the anticyclone eases in over the UK.

Update on Friday at 16.55: at last the thermometer rises above average peaking at 20.7C (+0.5C), only the third time this month. A dry day and UV reaches ‘very high’ level.

Wednesday was another overcast and cool day with below temperatures by day and night. The maxima was 17.6C (-2.8C) and the minimum was 8.3C (-1.8C).

Thankfully Wednesday was a dry day, the fifth this month. However, the air was very humid measuring 83% for most of the day when in June it is often down to 40% or lower. It was another calm day with the strongest gust late in the day of just 12mph, but then coming from the west, when measurable.

Thursday saw the sun shine from dawn although by 08.00 variable cloud had begun to appear. The barometric pressure has begun to slowly rise indicating an improvement in the weather as a high pressure system edges in from the west.

Update on Thursday at 18.20: temperature eases upwards to a maximum of 18.9C but still 1.3C below average. UV level returns to ‘very high’ category.

There were many occasions on Tuesday when the anemometers were stationery with the maximum movement of air logged at just 9mph. I had to look back to February 24th to find a day with a maximum gust so low, all 9mph.These calm conditions continued overnight as the cloud base fell again to limit visibility at 07.00 on Wednesday to 1,000m.

Although heavy rain warnings were given for the area Tuesday into Wednesday, we experienced just a few very light showers that in the twenty-four hours amounted to only 0.6mm. The rain radar showed the intense rainfall travelling in a north-eastwardly direction from the Channel to the east of this area.

The other notable feature of Tuesday was the very high humidity, only briefly dropping to 75%, rising to 97% during the evening and overnight.

With the thick cloud, although winds were light, the thermometer struggled to reach 17.3C on Tuesday being 2.9C below average. The opposite was true overnight as the blanket of cloud meant little warmth, such as there was, radiated into the atmosphere resulting in a minimum of 13.5C, well above average. The diurnal temperature, therefore, was only 3.8C, the range between day and night – quite unusual for June.

By 08.00 Wednesday the cloud base had lifted a little to increase visibility to 1,800m and the thermometer to read 13.9C.

Update on Wednesday at 16.20: almost still conditions throughout the day, maximum air movement of just 8mph on one occasion. Very humid, 83% all day when normally around 50%, with a maximum of 17.6C, which was 2.6C below average. Only a few spots of rain, not amounting to a shower.