Summer 2009

The following represents a provisional assessment of the weather experienced across the UK during summer 2009 (June, July and August) and how it compares with the averages for 1971 to 2000 (the period used for the seasonal forecast).

The UK mean temperature for summer was 14.7 °C, which is 0.6 °C above the 1971-2000 average. Mean temperatures were 1.0 °C above average during June, 0.3 °C above during July and 0.6 °C above in August. The frequent cloudy conditions in July and August meant that temperatures tended to be lower, relative to normal, by day than by night.

The UK summer rainfall was above normal, but the three months had contrasting patterns. June was drier than normal in most areas, with less than 30% of average in Cornwall and parts of south-east England. July was much wetter than normal, with over 200% of average widely; for England and Wales it was the wettest July on record in a series back to 1914. In August the wettest weather was focussed on Northern Ireland, western Scotland and Cumbria. Summer overall was wetter than normal in most areas, particularly the Scottish Borders and parts of northern England, with the drier exceptions being in East Anglia and south-east England.

There were 42 days with rain over the UK during the summer, very similar to the rain-days in summers 2008 and 2007. In a series from 1961, the highest number is 49 days in summer 1985. In terms of UK rainfall amount, the summers 2007 to 2009 combined are the wettest consecutive three in a series from 1914 with 997 mm, more than the summers 1956 to 1958 (978 mm).

Sunshine totals for the summer were within +/- 10% of the 1971-2000 average generally across the UK, but were well above average across northern Scotland. June was the sunniest month, with 125% of normal for the UK, and it was particularly sunny over Northern Ireland, northern and western Scotland (150%). Provisionally, it was the second sunniest June over northern Scotland and the fourth sunniest over Northern Ireland in series that begin in 1929.

UK statistical summary

Mean temperature	Rainfall	Sunshine
The provisional mean value is 14.7 °C, which is 0.6 °C above the 1971-2000 average.	The provisional total is 319 mm, which is 140% of the 1971-2000 average.	The provisional total is 542 hours, which is 106% of the 1971-2000 average.

 

Provisional graph of UK daily mean temperature for Summer 2009 (June, July and August)

 

Provisional mean temperature anomaly (difference from average) map for Summer 2009 (June, July and August)

 

Provisional rainfall percent of average map for Summer 2009 (June, July and August)