Diary of Highlights

1st to 6th
A weak ridge of high pressure built across Wales and southwest England for the first week of the month, keeping these areas mostly dry. Weak fronts pushed down the North Sea to give some light rain at times over eastern counties of England.

7th to 16th
By the 7th, the high pressure had drifted into central Europe allowing warm air to spill in from the continent, as well as allowing a few thunderstorms to develop. The hottest day occurred on the 8th when several places in southern and eastern England reported over 30°C, the highest being Cambridge with 31.5°C.

During the evening scattered thunderstorms occurred, with Leconfield recording 12.6mm of rain. The high pressure maintained its influence until the 16th keeping many places dry and warm but scattered showers did occur in places. Temperatures reached 29°C in Bournemouth on the 15th and 27°C in Leicester on the 16th.

17th to 21st
On the 17th, a cold front crossed the area bringing a change to much fresher weather with blustery west to north-westerly winds. On the 18th, Scarborough and Leeds saw maximum temperatures of only 10°C, and a frost was recorded at Shap Fell overnight as temperatures fell to -0.2°C. The cool north to north-westerly airflow continued until the 21st.

22nd to 24th
The main event of the month occurred on the 22nd and 23rd as a major depression swept across Wales and northern England. The central pressure at 0600 on the 23rd was 982 hPa, making it one of the deepest depressions recorded in June over England and Wales.

Many parts of Cornwall, Wales and Cumbria received over 25mm of rain, Dunkeswell recording 34mm of which 22.1mm fell in just 2 hours.

On the 23rd, gale force winds along the English Channel coast gave gusts in excess of 50 knots, Dover reporting 58 knots. The low pushed out over the North Sea on the 24th but not before giving 47mm of rain at Loftus and gusts of 40 to 50 knots over eastern England.

25th to 27th
The next depression on the 26th gave 22.8mm of rain at Plymouth and as it cleared on the 27th, heavy showers and thunderstorms broke out in its wake.

28th to 30th
Southern areas stayed mainly fine and dry but showers affected the north and west. Some heavy showers occurred over northern England on the 30th with totals of 7mm in one hour at Manchester and Preston