Diary of Highlights

1st to 6th
There were showers in many parts on the 1st but especially in the south. Manston (Kent) had 24mm between 0500 and 0700 GMT and there were reports of funnel clouds at Shoreham Airport (West Sussex). Some rain spread from the northwest on the 2nd clearing the southeast early on the 3rd.

There were showers on the 3rd and rain in western and central parts later. This cleared Kent early in the afternoon of the 4th.There was a spell of more persistent rain and drizzle in on the 5th. South-western areas had some rain on the 6th and there were a few showers in the east.

7th to 9th
This period was dominated by high pressure with warmer temperatures despite some chilly nights. Shap Fell (Cumbria) recorded 1.4C on the morning of the 7th. Western and southern parts had the best of the sunshine with 10 to 12 hours of sunshine per day typically.

There were a few showers in the east on the 8th. A band of rain edged into northern England through the afternoon of the 9th.

10th to 14th
This was an unsettled period of weather with showers or longer spells of rain at times. The 10th brought some showers and thunder to eastern counties. Another band of rain moved into Northern England on the 11th and became heavy and thundery especially over hills. Warcop Range (Cumbria) recorded 53.4 mm in 5 hours up to 2100 GMT, with 24.8mm in one hour. Northolt (Greater London) recorded 27.1C on the 11th.

The south coast and south Wales had sunny periods on the 12th, but there was a persistent band of rain from the Pennines to East Anglia for much of the day, only weakening in the evening. Fylingdales (North Yorkshire) had a maximum of just 14.5C. There were a few showers on the 14th in central and eastern parts, where there was a fresh to strong northerly wind

15th to 17th
Pressure was relatively high through this period giving fine weather and temperatures started to rise. Charlwood (Surrey) recorded 27.6C on the 17th. There were some overnight fog patches.

18th to 23rd
A cold front moved east on the 18th and 19th.There was some heavy thundery rain overnight and into the 19th through from Hampshire to northeast England and this only edged slowly east. Sutton Bonnington (Nottinghamshire) had 32.2 mm in the 24 hours to 1800 GMT.

Many parts were fine on the 20th but heavy rain spread to Wales and the West Country in the evening of the 21st and this extended east the following day. Saunton Sands (Devon) had 29 mm 2100-0900 GMT on the 21st.

24th to 27th
An unseasonably deep low pressure centre passed to the north of the UK on the 24th and this brought heavy rain and strong winds to all parts at some stage during the day. A gust of 56 knots was reported at Valley. At Shap Fell (Cumbria) 49.4 mm of rain was recorded. Over the next few days there were showery westerly winds.

On 25th there were widespread showers and thunderstorms and 20mm diameter hail was recorded in Crowthorne and 15mm diameter in Reading, both in Berkshire.

28th to 31st
The 28th was a breezy day. Northern parts were cloudy but the south had a sunny day. A cold front stalled over the Midlands and southern Wales on the 29th but the south stayed sunny.

South to southeast winds on the 30th and 31st brought high temperatures and it was very hot on the 31st over central, southeast and eastern England. In Central London a maximum temperature of 32.2C was recorded, the highest temperature for the month.