July 2001

The averaging period used for the following assessment was 1961-1990.

UK overview

An average month throughout the whole of the UK, with near normal rainfall and temperature. Despite close to average sunshine totals across much of the UK, many stations in Scotland had their dullest July for 10 years.

Cardiff reported 67 mm in 12 hours, due to thunderstorms on the 3rd/4th, with approximately 50 mm of this falling in just 3 hours. Keyworth (Nottinghamshire) reported 96 mm in just 15 hours on the 14/15th of the month.

England and Wales diary of highlights

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.

1st to 7th It was very warm or hot in many places during this period with Heathrow reaching 30.5 °C 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 67 mm in 12 hours ending 09 GMT on the 4th. High pressure gave way to low pressure in the south-west approaches, which then slowly transferred to the southern part of the North sea by the 7th.
8th to 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 (south Wales) reported a gust of 52 knots on the 11th. A shallow low over the south-east on the 14th was followed by a weak ridge on the 15th and 16th, with zero Celsius being recorded at Sennybridge (Powys) overnight.
17th to 20th A wet spell especially the 17th/18th with heavy thundery rain in many places as a low moved from the south-west approaches to the North sea. As fronts stalled over East Anglia and the Midlands, some high totals were recorded. At Keyworth (Notts) 96 mm fell in 15 hours ending 09 GMT on the 18th causing considerable local flooding. Weybourne (Norfolk) received 69 mm the same day, 41 mm falling in 3 hours that morning.
21st to 24th After a cool start it became warm with good sunny periods in most places, although noth-west areas had more cloud and scattered light showers from time to time.
25th to 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 32 °C 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.

Scotland diary of highlights

Unsettled and dull.

July was a very dull month across Scotland, a result of a combination of factors. These included a disturbed and cyclonic spell, a period of relatively high pressure with slow moving fronts, and stagnant weather situations with lots of low cloud.

July started with a warm and humid southwesterly airmass covering Scotland, giving drizzle in the northwest and bright conditions in the east. On the 2nd, the temperature at Aberdeen rose from 16 °C to 27 °C.

On the 3rd winds fell light and thunderstorms broke out in the southwest, with 30 mm recorded at Saughall in Ayrshire. The generally cloudy but warm weather continued on the 4th.

During the 5th and 6th the weather became more settled and the low cloud broke up inland to give some warm sunshine.

Low pressure moving north up the North Sea brought a bleak couple of days on the 7th and 8th, with overcast weather accompanied by outbreaks of rain. Saughall recorded 45 mm on the 7th.

After a brief respite on the 9th, a spell of cool and overcast weather with outbreaks of rain began on the 10th as a depression crossed Scotland and moved into the Norwegian Sea. Skye experienced 37 mm of rain on the 10th and outbreaks of light rain continued in the south until the 14th.
A ridge of high pressure gave sunny periods for a couple of days on the 15th and 16th. Mainly dry conditions prevailed from the 17th to the 20th as a low pressure centre moved across the south of England, causing winds in Scotland to blow from the east for a while.

Low pressure to the northwest of Scotland turned winds into the southwest between the 21st and 24th, and there was rain or showers in places. However, the 24th was a fine day.

High pressure in the North Sea prevailed from the 25th to 28th, but areas of cloud and light rain waffled across the country.

A westerly airstream brought sunshine to many parts on the 29th, but a wave depression brought further rain to central and southern districts on the 30th. A following ridge of high pressure gave a sunny last day of the month to the south.

Northern Ireland diary of highlights

This was a fairly average July month with rainfall, sunshine and temperature values being very close to normal.

1st to 8th Warm and dry at first turning dull and cooler by 6th.

9th to 11th Unsettled with conditions particularly wet on the 9th and 10th.

12th to 19th Cooler, bright and showery but largely dry for the period 15th to 19th. The 18th was a particularly sunny day.

20th to 24th Unsettled with wettest conditions on the 21st.

25th to 31st Warm, bright and largely dry with only occasional showers. More unsettled on the 30th.