|
|
|
June 2004 monthly assessment
issued 2 July 2004
|
|
Monthly summaries available for: England
and Wales | Scotland | Northern
Ireland
Homogenous time series based upon selected station data:
CET | England and Wales
rainfall
|
|
|
| Fairly settled and warm for the first two weeks, but turning much cooler with spells of wet and windy weather from the 17th onwards. |
|
Diary of highlights
|
1st to 6th A weak ridge of high pressure built across Wales and south-west England for the first week of the month, keeping these areas mostly dry, but 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 thunderstorm occurred, with Leconfield recording 12.6 mm 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 25 mm of rain, Dunkeswell recording 34 mm of which 22.1 mm fell in just 2 hours. On the 23rd gales 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 47 mm of rain at Loftus and gusts of 40 to 50 knots over eastern England.
25th to 27th The next depression on the 26th gave 22.8 mm 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 7 mm in one hour at Manchester and Preston.
|
| Statistical details (using best
available data/estimates): Updated November 2004 |
|
England & Wales Mean Temperature Series (series
began in 1961).
The final value for the month was 15.0 °C, which
is 1.5 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well above
average category.
England & Wales Rainfall Series (series began
in 1961).
The final total for the month was 58.5 mm, which is 92 % of the
1961-1990 average, which is in the close to average category.
England & Wales Sunshine Series (series began
in 1929).
The final total for the month was 198.3 hours, which is 107 %
of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close to average
category.
|
|
|
| Dull and wet. |
| Diary of Highlights
|
|
Unsettled conditions prevailed throughout June, leading to a dull and wet month in most places. At Kinloss some heavy showers made it the wettest June since records began in 1951. A northerly spell in the second half of the month failed to prevent the temperature from being above average.
The first four days were changeable westerly and characterised the month as a whole. Rain from fronts on the 1st was followed by a ridge giving a fine day on the 2nd. The 3rd and 4th were rather cloudy with some sun and a few showers.
High pressure near the English Channel directed a warm and humid air mass across Scotland on the 5th, with the cloud breaking in Grampian region but producing drizzle in the north-west Highlands. During the next couple of days a cold front introduced cooler and less humid air, giving dry weather with sunny intervals in most places.
Low pressure in mid-Atlantic moved slowly towards Shetland from the 8th to the 11th, giving unsettled and showery conditions. There was 33 mm of rain at Dalmally on the 10th and 38 mm at Tain the next day.
High pressure developed to the south of Ireland on the 12th and gave a fine day over most of Scotland. On the 13th and 14th a warm and humid westerly airstream blew across Scotland, bringing cloud to most places. There was drizzle in the north-west Highlands but the cloud broke in the east and on the 14th the temperature at Aberdeen rose from 17 °C to 26 °C.
A spell of northerly winds with cool and showery weather lasted from the 15th to the 22nd. There was more general rain on the 16th and 19th and on the latter day the maximum temperature was 9 °C at Aviemore and a few other stations. On the 22nd there were only a few showers and the temperature fell to 2 °C at Dalmally and Tulloch Bridge.
On the 23rd a major depression moved north-east across England and its fronts gave a thoroughly wet day over most of Scotland with 47 mm of rain at Glenlivet. It was windy in the central belt with gusts of 52 knots at Shotts. The rain cleared slowly to the east on the 24th but another frontal system brought more rain and wind on the 26th. At South Uist gusts reached 60 m.p.h.. Between these weather systems a ridge of high pressure gave a sunny day on the 25th.
Low pressure in mid-Atlantic gave south-westerly winds over Scotland from the 27th. The weather was mostly showery with 42 mm of rain at Kinloss on the 27th.
|
|
Statistical details (using
best available data/estimates): Updated November 2004
|
|
Scotland Mean Temperature Series
(series began in 1961).
The final value for the month was
12.1 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which
is in the above average category.
Scotland Rainfall Series (series began in 1961).
The final total for the month was 130.9 mm, which is 152 % of the
1961-1990 average, which is in the well above average category. 3rd wettest in series, wettest 2002 with 136.8 mm.
Scotland Sunshine Series (series began in 1929).
The final total for the month was 119.1 hours, which is 75 % of
the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well below average category. Dullest since 1993 when 112.4 hours was recorded.
|
|
|
| Very warm and dry during the first three weeks, then cool and very wet. |
|
Diary of Highlights
|
|
1st to 16th Generally warm and dry, although local heavy downpours on 10th. Rather cloudy though from the 4th to 8th, and a dull and cool day on the 15th.
17th to 21st Continuing dry but noticeably cooler.
22nd to 24th Very wet with persistent and often heavy rain from later on 22nd until early afternoon of 24th. Some areas recorded up to 75 mm (3 inches) within a 42-hour period.
25th to 30th Cool with frequent showers. Showers locally heavy with hail and thunder recorded somewhere on most days.
|
|
Statistical details (using
best available data/estimates): Updated November 2004
|
|
Northern Ireland Mean Temperature Series (series
began in 1961).
The final value for the month was
13.9 °C, which is 1.5 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which
is in the well above average category. Warmest since 1992, when 14.2 °C was recorded.
Northern Ireland Rainfall Series (series began
in 1961).
The final total for the month was 108.9 mm, which is 149 %
of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the well above average category.
Northern Ireland Sunshine Series (series began
in 1929).
The final total for the month was 132.4 hours, which is 83 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the below average category.
|
| Homogeneous
series based upon selected station data: |
|
|
Central England Temperature (series begins in
1659).
CET
Index
England and Wales Rainfall (series begins in 1766).
EWP
Index
|
| Note: Diary values are provisional based
on data available at the time. |
