Diary of Highlights

1st to 7th
The first week of June was very unsettled due to the close proximity of low pressure. This meant a changeable mix of sunshine and showers, with the warmth of the sunshine leading to some heavy and thundery downpours in various places.

25-40 mm of rain fell across much of central and southern England on the 3rd, with 47 mm being recorded at Benson (Oxfordshire) over 24 hours. Feeling reasonably warm by day in light winds, though disappointingly cool during the wetter spells of weather. A chilly night on the 6th/7th, with a minimum temperature of 4.8 °C being recorded at Shawbury (Shropshire).

8th to 11th
A ridge of high pressure extended north-eastwards to give mainly warm and settled weather. Essentially dry and fine across much of England, albeit cloudier at times in the north with the odd light shower.

Pleasantly warm by day during the 8th and 9th, especially in the south, where 26.9 °C was reached at London St James Park on the 9th. During the evening and night of the 11th, a spell of rain brought an end to the good weather.

12th to 15th
A brisk north to north-westerly air flow brought cool and showery weather. The showers were locally heavy during the afternoons, especially on the 15th where thunderstorms cropped up locally across in the south-west and the north-east. Funnel clouds were reported near the Humber estuary on the 15th.

Despite a fair amount of sunshine between the showers, temperatures were below the seasonal average, with a brisk breeze making it feel cooler. Unseasonably chilly at night, with rural ground frost occurring in places across central and northern areas, with Shap (Cumbria) recording a minimum temperature of -0.1 °C overnight on the 15th/16th.

16th to 20th
After a brief settled spell across northern and western England on the 16th, it then turned unsettled again with showers or longer spells of rain and a rather stiff south-westerly wind. The rain was particularly heavy across upland parts of northwest England on the 17th.

Central areas faired best during the 19th and 20th as showers became confined to the north and south, though it was still unusually chilly at night, with a minimum temperature of 3.3 °C at Woodford (Manchester) overnight on the 20th/21st.

21st and 22nd
A deep depression tracked steadily north-eastwards across Ireland and Scotland, to bring wet and windy weather to northern and western areas on the 21st, and very windy weather with scattered showers on the 22nd.

Unusually for this time of year, the westerly wind widely reached gale force on the 22nd, especially towards the north where gusts as high as 65 mph were recorded.

23rd and 24th
Mainly dry, warm and fine under the influence of a ridge of high pressure, before further rain spread from the west during the evening and night of the 24th.

25th to 29th
A south-westerly air flow brought spells of wet and quite windy weather to northern and western areas. The rain was particularly heavy and prolonged across northern England on the 26th.

Towards the southeast, in was generally warmer, drier and brighter. The temperature reached 24.1°C at Manston (Kent) on the 28th. On the 29th, very blustery winds were reported in the Sheffield/Manchester area in association with some heavy showers.

30th
The month ended on a fine note, as high pressure extended northwards. Pleasantly warm in the south and east, with Heathrow (London) recording a temperature of 23 °C.