Friday 17th July
There was a slow but steady increase in temperature during Thursday that eventually resulted in a maximum of 29.2C at 16.00 exactly, being 6.3C above average. It was the fifteenth consecutive dry day with the UV as expected again reaching the High level at its peak. The past night was much cooler than of late that saw the temperature drop to 10.9C at 05.32 early Friday. This was the first below average minimum since the 2nd and only the second this month.
The sunshine was muted an hour or so after sunrise in Marlborough at 05.10, due to thin, high cloud, however by around the 07.00 the heat began to build that resulted in the thermometer reaching 19.4C by 08.00.
The last slight movement of air overnight was logged at 00.12 this morning, since when both high and low anemometers have been, and continue stationary.
The high pressure that has dominated our weather for the whole month will continue to be resident to the west of the UK well into next week that will maintain the very warm, dry conditions. The barometric pressure has dropped 6mb since yesterday as the centre of the high moves a little further away. At the moment there is little likelihood of any precipitation for parched gardens and fields during next week. However, a slight relocation of the anticyclone will mean the air will have more of a northerly element that will see maximum temperatures drop several degrees but still well above the July average, thus bringing to an end the recent heatwave.
We are now halfway through July and the statistics show that the average maximum temperature is currently 28.5C, being 5.6C above my long-term July average. The average minimum temperature of 13.6C is currently 1.6C above average.
My record for the driest July was in 1999 when just 10.1mm was recorded. The recent year of 2022 was not a lot wetter with just 14.1mm. With just 0.2mm recorded this month so far, and with little precipitation indicated during next week, I wonder if 2026 will break my 43-year record.
Pollen forecast: Elevated levels remain over the next 5 days
Author: Met Office
Thu, 16 Jul 2026
Pollen levels are set to remain elevated across large parts of the UK over the next five days, with grass and weed pollen continuing to affect many regions, although the grass season is coming towards its end in south and eastern areas.
The highest levels are expected across western and southern areas, while parts of northern Scotland are likely to experience lower pollen counts.
Northern Ireland begins the period with very high grass pollen levels on Thursday, alongside high weed pollen, before easing slightly through the weekend. Even so, pollen levels are expected to remain moderate to high across the five-day period.
Wales and southwest England are also expected to see challenging conditions for hay fever sufferers, with very high pollen levels forecast on Friday before remaining high through the rest of the period. This is now mainly due to weed pollen, although Moderate to High levels of grass pollen are still around, particularly over Wales and higher ground in southwest England.
Many parts of Scotland, northern England and the Midlands are expected to experience consistently high pollen levels. Areas including central Scotland, Tayside, Fife, Dumfries and Galloway are forecast to remain at high levels throughout the five-day outlook.
High pollen counts are also expected for much of the period across Yorkshire and H and northwest England due to both weed and grass pollen. The west Midlands, London and southeast England are now experiencing lower levels of grass pollen, but still have high pollen levels from weeds.