The frequent showers throughout Thursday, and again around sunrise on Friday, were mostly of a light nature but produced a daily rainfall total of 6.9mm that took the monthly total to 16.6mm against the 41-year June average of 52.9mm. The unsettled, cloudy conditions limited the rise in temperature so it was not surprising to find the maximum of 16.7C was significantly below my long-term average at -3.9C that made it the coolest day since the 27th May. The flow of cool air meant a cool night that saw the thermometer slowly fall to reach a minimum of 9.6C, logged at 04.08 early Friday, being 0.6C below average. It was at that time that a fragmented rain band passed our way that produced the additional rainfall, limiting any further drop in temperature.
Friday was initially wet, that ceased just before 07.30, with the cloud beginning to thin that allowed the sky to brighten just a little shortly after 08.15. The wind has made a subtle change in direction and will come from the west today, a cooler direction than south yesterday, and be quite strong until the evening, which will impact the maximum temperature, so another cooler day ahead.
We are still under the influence of the nearest depression, just off the coast of Iceland, with, I counted this morning, four other areas of low pressure surrounding the UK in a large, low pressure complex. These systems are likely to produce a very wet day on Saturday with possible greater quantities of precipitation, in short, a wet day! The barometric pressure at 08.00 on Friday read 1005.9mb. That was a slight improvement on the minimum pressure this month of 1001.1mb that was logged between 15.09 and 1518 on Thursday, so the first beginnings of a very slow recovery that continues on Friday.
The forecast track of the jet stream indicates that after the weekend it will begin to loop to the north of the UK. As a result, by Tuesday the temperatures will begin to return closer to the June average and bring several dry days, the UK then being on the warmer, south side of the jet stream.
Kennet and Avon Canal: The construction of the 78 mile canal began in 1718 and was first used in 1723. It starts in the west at the Bristol Floating Harbour and ends at the River Thames, in Reading to the east.