Category: Commentary

Friday produced 8.6 hours of strong sunshine with a UV level again in the ‘Very High’ category that raised the peak temperature to 19.9C. This was 1C down on Thursday but average for June.

The rainfall to date totals just 2.6mm but the evaporation from ground sources and plant life is the equivalent of 46mm of rainfall. No wonder our gardens are beginning to show signs of stress from lack of moisture at the hottest parts of the day. There appears to be little significant rainfall in the forecast. The driest June was in 1995 with just 12.5mm in total.

Cloud overnight meant anther mild night with the minimum of 11.3C being 3.3C above average. At 06.15 there were a few large raindrops that amounted to 0.1mm.

Saturday has dawned with intermittent sunshine from broken cloud that raised the temperature to 13.7C at 08.00.

Thursday started with very light drizzle amount to 0.2mm but as the weak weather front exited to the east the cloud thinned and intermittent sunshine broke out amount to 5.4 hours.

During the spells of strong sunshine the UV level rose into the ‘Very High’ category again with a reading of 8.6, last recorded at this level on 4th August 2017.

It was another warm day with the temperature rising 1C above the June average to a maximum of 20.9C, down 1C on the Wednesday peak.

With relatively clear skies a cool night followed with the thermometer falling to 7.0C at 05.31 this morning.

Friday has dawned with much sunshine and occasional thin cloud temporarily obscuring the sun, that lifted the temperature at 0800 to 13.8C.

Wednesday saw a change in direction of the wind. After 10 days of persistent northeasterly winds, they now came predominantly from the south. It brought a milder and less dry atmosphere.

The sunshine yesterday, amounting to 3.7 hours, raised the temperature above the average reaching a peak of 21.9C, being 2C above the 34-year average.

However, from early afternoon, the fall in barometric pressure as storm Hector approached the UK, meant that the next weather front showed its hand as variable cloud began to filter across the sky and reduce sunshine.

It was a mild night with the minimum temperature of 13.0C, which was 3C above the average for June.

Thursday arrived with light drizzle beginning to fall at 06.40 amounting to 0.3mm by the time readings were taken at 0800. The wind strength has been increasing for the past four hours with a peak gust of 26mph at 07.10.

Tuesday morning was initially overcast with occasional light drizzle, not measurable, but brightened towards late morning with just 1.3 hours of sunshine in the afternoon.

As a result the temperature was down almost 6C on the very warm Monday with a maximum 1C below average rising to 18.7C.

The sky cleared in the evening giving a pleasant end to the day but the clear skies gave us the coldest night since 21st May with a minimum of 5.7C at 04.51 this morning.

Wednesday arrived with intermittent sunshine that lifted the temperature to 13.0C at the time readings were taken at 08.00.

Update at 12.00: at last the wind this morning has changed from the persistent north east direction now varying between south and west and light in strength.

Monday gave us 14.28 hours of glorious, strong sunshine that boosted the temperature to a maximum of 24.3C, which was 4.3C above the June average.

Peak UV level again reached the ‘Very High’ level.

Overnight, the same story as on many previous occasions this month, as cloud drifted in from the nornoreast so that it gave another mild night with the thermometer falling no lower than 10.9C.

Tuesday at dawn arrived with brief brightness but thick cloud soon dominated the sky. The wind today has backed a few degrees and is coming from a more northerly direction.