July 2001 - England and Wales

July 2001 was a near normal month statistically. A hot thundery first week was followed by cool wet unsettled conditions during the middle fortnight, with some heavy thundery downpours later. The last week saw dry, sunny, hot weather almost everywhere for most of the time.

Diary of Highlights:

1st - 7th
It was very warm or hot in many places during this period with Heathrow reaching 30.5ºC on the 5th. Thunderstorms early on 3rd over Wales spread to other parts of England and Wales over succeeding days, with some heavy downpours in places. Cardiff received 67mm in 12 hours ending 09GMT on the 4th. High pressure gave way to low pressure in the SW approaches, which then slowly transferred to the southern part of the North sea by the 7th.

8th - 16th
A cool unsettled spell ensued as low pressure over the North sea moved away and another depression off western Scotland on the 10th moved to the North sea by the 11th, before migrating to Scandinavia. The 9th and 10th were quite wet as associated fronts crossed England and Wales. There were frequent showers some heavy with thunder, but these became more scattered towards the end of the period. Mumbles/S Wales reported a gust of 52kts on the 11th. A shallow low over the SE on the 14th was followed by a weak ridge on the 15th and 16th, with zero Celsius being recorded at Sennybridge/Powys overnight.

17th - 20th
A wet spell especially the 17th/18th with heavy thundery rain in many places as a low moved from the SW approaches to the North sea. As fronts stalled over East Anglia and the Midlands, some high totals were recorded. At Keyworth/Notts 96mms fell in 15 hours ending 09GMT on the 18th causing considerable local flooding. Weybourne/Norfolk received 69mms the same day, 41mms falling in 3 hours that morning.

21st - 24th
After a cool start it became warm with good sunny periods in most places, although NW areas had more cloud and scattered light showers from time to time.

25th - 31st
Hot sunny weather prevailed for much of the time as a weak ridge of high pressure covered the region. Any local mist or fog patches soon cleared away after sunrise. It was very hot at times in the south and on the 28th and 29th temperatures hovered around 32ºC in the London area. From the 29th onwards northern and western areas were affected by occasional outbreaks of light rain or drizzle in association with a weak cold front edging southwards. This has been the wettest July since 1993.

Central England Temperature Series (series began in 1659).	16.7°C mean value - Previously 2000/15.5, 1999/17.7°C.	0.6°C above norm of 16.1°C (near normal category)
England and Wales Rainfall Series (series began in 1766).	67mm Previously 2000/64 1999/26, 1998/57 1997/54mm.	107% of average (near normal category)
England and Wales Sunshine Series (series began in 1909).	mean value 6.50hrs per day Previously 2000/5.33, 1999/7.87, 1998/5.39, hpd	110% ofaverage (near normal category)

(please note, the average figures are taken from the period 1961-1990)