Diary of Highlights

1st to 4th
An area of low pressure drifted across the north of the United Kingdom, giving cyclonic conditions to many parts of England and Wales. This translated to a period of sunshine and showers.

Some showers were heavy and thundery with 42.4mm recorded at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire on the 2nd. Another area of low pressure affected southern England on the 4th giving further showery rain, locally heavy and thundery.

5th and 6th
High pressure built in from the west to give most places long sunny periods. A few showers affected more eastern parts of England, some thundery. In the sunshine, Central London recorded a temperature of 25 Celsius on the 6th.

7th to 11th
A deepening area of low pressure spread from northwest France into England and Wales, giving some unseasonably wet, windy and sometimes thundery weather. This was followed by a showery north-westerly air stream.

Wittering (near Peterborough) recorded 108.0mm in the 24 hours period to 5pm on the 8th, an exceptional amount. Gusts in exposed parts of southwest England and South Wales exceeded 60mph Some very cool temperatures were recorded in the rain, Sennybridge in Powys recorded just 9.6 Celsius on the 8th.

12th to 18th
A ridge of high pressure developed across the south giving quieter conditions. As warmer and more humid air became established coastal fog became a feature. A frontal wave developed on the northern flank of the high on the 14th, giving rather cloudy and sometimes wet conditions, especially across Wales.

The front and its associated waves then spread east on the 17th to give East Anglia and southeast England some heavy and thundery rain. Marble-sized hail was reported in Essex where the most violent thunderstorms were. Holbeach (Lincolnshire) recorded 25.2mm in one hour in a heavy shower on the 18th.

19th to 23rd
A fairly flabby pressure pattern then became established giving some warm sunny spells, but also a scattering of showers, some heavy and thundery. Scampton in Lincolnshire recorded 28.6mm in just one hour on the 22nd. A high of 27.6 Celsius was reached in central London and Charlwood on the 22nd.

24th to 31st
The last week of the month saw high pressure building across all parts of England and Wales. Weakening weather fronts drifted into the high from the north at first, giving cloudier and occasionally wet conditions, especially further north.

Later in the period the high began to drift eastwards drawing up some very warm and humid air from the Continent. 30.1 Celsius was achieved in central London on the 29th, the warmest day of the month. A weakening cold front spread in from the west on the 29th to give some wet weather in northern England. Misty low cloud affected eastern coasts at the very end of the month.