Thursday 30th July
Wednesday was the second day when the heat built intensely as the day progressed, resulting in the temperature once again rising above the heatwave threshold, eventually peaking at 31.6C at 15.30, being a significant 8.6C above average. It was the fifth day this month when maximum temperatures exceeded 30C. The past night was mild that saw the thermometer drop now lower that 14.7C at 04.15, which was 2.7C above average.
The start to the new day on Thursday revealed the weather had changed significantly, as there was much variable cloud cover with the sun burning through the gaps occasionally, just before 08.00, that had lifted the temperature to 18.5C by that time. To the northwest could be observed much heavier cloud advancing towards our area with a small area of lower cloud producing a little, very brief drizzle at 07.45, however, it was transient and not measurable.
A cold front is traversing the country today, the projected surface charts indicate that it will probably pass overhead around midday that will herald a major change in our weather. As its name suggests, it will usher in behind it a cooler airstream, no longer will we struggle with excessive heat as the next few days will see maxima rise to about or just above average. The weather front is fragmenting considerably and thought not to have any precipitation for our area.
The wind will make a subtle change in direction later today, as the weather systems tussle with each other, veer a few degrees and have a more northerly component, that combined with much less sunshine will result in the reduced maximum temperatures.
The forecast charts indicate that a low pressure system might try and elbow its way towards the country come Monday, but how effective its forward movement will actually be against the large areas of high pressure to the east and north is debatable.
The Met Office defines drought as a lack of water, specifically a period with abnormally low rainfall for an extended period.
In the United Kingdom an absolute drought is currently defined “as a period of at least 15 consecutive days when there is less than 0.2 mm (0.008 inches) of rainfall”, although before the 1990s a drought was defined as “15 consecutive days with less than 0.25mm”. With no measurable rainfall since the 1st, when just 0.2mm of precipitation was recorded, we are obviously well and truly experiencing a drought.