June 2012

UK overview

Rainfall anomaly maps for June 2012:

• June rainfall anomaly map

The weather was dominated by low pressure over or close to the UK, with associated weather fronts. These brought rather cool days, some very large rainfall totals and also some strong winds early in the month. There was an almost complete absence of warm, settled spells.

The UK mean temperature was 0.7 °C below the 1981–2010 average and it was the coolest June since 1991. Daily maximum temperatures were well below normal, particularly in many central and eastern areas, with few warm days. Almost all areas were much wetter than normal, especially across much of England and Wales, southern and eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland. It was the wettest June across the UK in the series from 1910 (wetter than June 2007), and also the wettest June in the England and Wales series from 1766. Only the far north-west of Scotland was drier than normal. Almost all areas were duller than usual, and it was the equal-dullest June in the series from 1929. The far north-west of Scotland was the sunnier exception.

A maximum temperature of 28.6 °C was recorded at Gravesend (Kent) on the 28th. A minimum temperature of -3.5 °C was recorded at Loch Glascarnoch (Highland) early on the 5th. In the 24 hours ending at 0900 on the 23rd, 208.4 mm of rain fell at Honister Pass (Cumbria). A wind gust of 82 mph. was recorded at Needles Old Battery (Isle of Wight) during the 8th.

Weather impacts

The unsettled weather of the first few days affected some of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, including the Thames pageant on the 3rd. An unseasonably stormy day across southern England and south Wales on the 7th resulted in difficult driving conditions. Dozens of uprooted trees brought down power cables and engineers worked to restore power to nearly 300 homes across SW England. Road closures, bridge restrictions and cancelled ferries caused some travel problems.

Persistent heavy rainfall across mid-Wales during the 8th and into the 9th resulted in significant flooding in the Aberystwyth area. More than 1000 people were evacuated and 150 rescued, many from caravan parks inundated with flood-waters. A number of roads were closed and dozens of homes were flooded, with one village evacuated due to concerns over the stability of a nearby dam.

Further prolonged heavy rainfall across south-east and central southern England on the 11th resulted in localised flooding of roads and properties and disruption to sports events. There were also reports of flooding in parts of Yorkshire, including Sheffield and Leeds. However, worst affected was West Sussex where the flooding continued into the 12th affecting roads, caravan parks and hundreds of properties in the Chichester and Bognor Regis areas.

A further stormy spell on the 14th and 15th brought some disruption to ferry routes.

Rainfall on the 21st caused waterlogged ground at the Isle of Wight rock music festival and resulted in traffic chaos for motorists arriving on the island, many spending the night 21st/22nd in their cars.

Persistent, and often heavy, rainfall for much of the 22nd caused significant flooding across parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and West Yorkshire with around 500 properties affected by both surface water flooding and where rivers burst their banks. Roads were closed and train services on the West Coast main line were suspended.

On the 27th, torrential rain resulted in more than 700 flood-related call-outs in Belfast and County Antrim. At the height of the flooding, many roads were impassable and about 1,000 homes were left without power.

Perhaps the most widespread and serious flooding occurred following thunderstorms and torrential rain on the 28th. Areas affected included the Midlands, NE England and parts of Northern Ireland and southern Scotland. As well as the flooding of properties and roads, thousands of homes were without power and both rail routes between England and Scotland were cut. Worst affected was NE England, where hundreds of homes were flooded, some 23,000 properties lost power after sub-stations flooded, traffic gridlock occurred in Tyneside as roads flooded and a landslide near Berwick closed the East Coast main railway line. Elsewhere, large hailstones damaged vehicles and greenhouses in Leicestershire and a man drowned in floodwater in Shropshire.

However, the very wet weather continued to improve river, groundwater and reservoir levels. On 14th, Anglian Water, Southern Water and Thames Water announced an end to the water use restrictions that they had introduced in April.

England diary of highlights

With low pressure over or close to the UK for the whole month, it was exceptionally wet with showers or longer periods of rain on most days. There was an almost complete absence of fine, settled spells.

The mean temperature was 0.6 °C below the 1981–2010 average, making it the coolest June since 1991. It was very wet across almost all areas, especially in Cumbria, Northumberland and counties in central southern England and the south-west Midlands where over 250% of the normal amount was recorded. It was the wettest June on record, just wetter than June 2007. The number of days with rain was the third highest for June in the last 50 years. Sunshine amounts were well below normal and it was the equal-dullest June on record.

1st to 4th:

After a dry, warm start to the month, slow-moving fronts lay across the south producing rain or drizzle. On 3rd, persistent rain across the Midlands and south-east gave totals of more than 15 mm, with 26 mm at Hampstead (Greater London), and temperatures from the Midlands northwards struggled to rise above 11 °C.

5th to 9th:

After a chilly start to 5th in the north and east, with temperatures as low as 2 °C in parts of East Anglia, rain moved north-eastwards bringing more than 15 mm across southernmost counties; 23.6 mm was recorded at Shanklin (Isle of Wight). There was a very wet and windy spell from 7th to 9th with southern and south-western parts bearing the brunt of the weather from the Atlantic. More than 20 mm of rainfall was recorded in much of the west and north on 7th; 36.7 mm at Buxton (Derbyshire) and 40.8 mm at Liscombe (Somerset). Gusts of 62 mph. were recorded at Plymouth (Devon) on 7th and of 82 mph. at the Needles (Isle of Wight) in the early hours of 8th. As rain cleared north-eastwards on 9th conditions turned more showery.

10th to 13th:

A shallow but active depression ran across southern areas on 10th and 11th with over 15 mm rainfall recorded widely each day; 57.2 mm fell at Shoreham (West Sussex) on 10th and 47.2 mm was recorded at Otterbourne (Hampshire) on 11th. Further north it was more showery and the rain in the south-east eased on 12th. After a chilly start on 13th when Santon Downham (Suffolk) dipped to 0.4 °C, many places saw showers that turned heavy and thundery in the west.

14th to 17th:

Another wet and windy period with rain spreading north-eastwards on 14th, clearing the north during 16th. In the south the rain turned more showery with thunderstorms in eastern areas producing hourly totals of 10 mm locally. Strong winds began to ease on 17th, when the temperature at Gravesend (Kent) reached 21.6 °C.

18th to 20th:

A warmer spell, with temperatures widely reaching 20 °C on 20th and 23.3 °C at Northolt (Greater London).

21st to 24th:

Unsettled, as a low pressure area moved north-eastwards. Heavy rain on 21st was followed by bands of showers circulating around the low, becoming thundery across the south and with winds gusting above 40 mph. On 22nd, heavy persistent rainfall across the north-west resulted in totals of over 50 mm widely with 208.4 mm at Honister Pass (Cumbria).

25th to 28th:

Warm, humid air moving northwards brought rather cloudy, muggy conditions. Hill and coastal fog became a feature over western areas as sporadic rain spread to all parts with some heavy showery bursts on 27th. Thunderstorms developed in the south-west early on 28th, and a series of thunderstorms later across the Midlands and parts of northern England brought torrential downpours, frequent lightning and large hail. Rainfall totals of 20 to 30 mm in an hour were reported widely. In contrast south-eastern parts were largely dry, with 28.6 °C recorded at Gravesend (Kent).

29th to 30th:

A fresher feel, but unsettled conditions continued with showers tending to form bands and some turning heavy and thundery. Eastern and south-eastern parts were driest.

Wales diary of highlights

With low pressure over or close to the UK for the whole month, it was exceptionally wet with showers or longer periods of rain on most days. There was an almost complete absence of fine, settled spells.

The mean temperature was 0.4 °C below the 1981–2010 average. It was much wetter than normal, particularly across mid-Wales and Gwent where over 250% of the normal amount fell. It was the wettest June in the series back to 1910, and the number of days with rain was the second highest in the last 50 years. Sunshine amounts were about 30% below average, making it the third dullest June on record.

1st to 4th:

The month started with sunshine and scattered showers, although western coasts were mostly dry. On 2nd, cloud and rain spread slowly north-eastwards, becoming persistent during the evening in the north-east. On 3rd, the cloud and rain persisted, and it was a cold day for early June. The 4th became more settled with some sunshine but still feeling cool; early in the day the temperature had fallen to 4.4 °C at Lake Vyrnwy (Powys).

5th to 9th:

Cloud and rain spread north-eastwards on 5th, soon becoming persistent and heavy. The 6th was a day of sunshine and showers, the showers becoming increasingly widespread and heavy with thunderstorms. Cloud and rain returned on 7th, when it was also quite windy, and the rain continued on 8th, being especially prolonged across mid-Wales. The 48–hour rainfall total up to 0900 on 9th at Trawsgoed (Ceredigion) was 102.0 mm.

10th to 13th:

Some welcome sunshine on 10th and 11th, but on 11th there were some very heavy and thundery showers in the west. The 12th was also largely dry with some sunshine, but a few showers did develop. On 13th there was some sunshine, but with scattered showers developing, heaviest in the north.

14th to 20th:

On 14th, cloud and rain spread across all areas, and a very strong wind developed by the afternoon and evening. The rain turned showery during 15th, but heavy rain persisted that night, followed by showers during the day on 16th; 31.2 mm was recorded at Capel Curig (Conwy). The brisk winds continued through 16th, with gusts of 50 mph. in the west. On 17th there were a few showers during the night, then mostly dry with some warm sunny spells, but a few showers did develop. An area of rain affected the south-east during the early hours of 18th, clearing to sunny spells and a few showers during the day. The 19th was again a day of sunshine and showers, then 20th was a rare dry day with plenty of sunshine.

21st to 30th:

Cloud and heavy rain moved north-eastwards during 21st, turning showery later. On 22nd there was further heavy rain, persisting in the north and west, and it was also windy with gusts of 30 to 40 mph. quite widely. There were showers on 23rd and 24th. A temporary respite from the rain came on 25th when it was cloudy but generally dry, though this did not last as 26th and 27th were cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Thunderstorms developed across southern areas on 28th with gusty winds and lightning. There was a mixture of sunshine and showers on 29th with a brisk and gusty wind and the month ended with outbreaks of rain or showers.

Scotland diary of highlights

With low pressure over or close to the UK for the whole month, the weather was generally cool and unsettled with showers or longer periods of rain making it exceptionally wet in the south and east. However, there were plenty of dry, fine days in the far north-west.

The mean temperature was 0.9 °C below the 1981–2010 average, making it the coolest June since 1998. It was much wetter than normal across much of southern and eastern Scotland, especially in the Borders, Lothians and Fife where 250% to 300% of the normal amount fell. Across southern and eastern Scotland, it was the wettest June on record. In marked contrast, it was drier than average in Shetland and parts of the north-west and the Western Isles. It was a relatively dull month in many areas, especially in the south and east, where it was among the dullest on record. However, sunshine totals were somewhat above normal in Shetland, the Western Isles and along the north-west coast.

1st to 14th:

The 1st and 2nd were dry and bright but rather cool in a northerly breeze. Although 3rd remained bright, scattered showers broke out in northern and north-eastern areas. These continued into 4th with other areas remaining generally dry. The 5th started bright but rain reached southern areas during the late afternoon, spreading northwards on 6th with some heavy bursts for the central Highlands. The 7th started dry and bright but rain and strengthening winds reached the south-west during the afternoon. This rain remained over areas south of the Central Belt for much of 8th with some heavy bursts for the Borders (Carterhouse recorded 38.4 mm), whilst northern areas were dry with bright spells. The 9th and 10th saw a band of heavy showers develop through the day affecting mainly Argyll, parts of the Central Belt and the Borders. These became very scattered on 11th with only Galloway and the north-west Highlands being affected but some patchy rain in the morning for central areas. The 12th and 13th saw a scattering of mainly light showers and it remained cool. The 14th was generally bright with sunny spells.

15th to 22nd:

The 15th saw wind and rain spread from the south-west with over 20 mm recorded in southern areas, especially Dumfries and Galloway where Threave recorded 52.6 mm, although northern areas were drier. The unseasonal weather continued into 16th with showers or longer spells of rain for most areas, Charterhall (Borders) recording 32.2 mm, and a strong easterly wind keeping temperatures well below average for the time of year. The rain was slow to clear from eastern areas on 17th, western areas faring best with some sunny spells. The 18th was a much better day with more sunshine and only a scattering of showers for north-eastern areas. Showers here again on 19th whilst remaining areas were generally dry with sunny spells. A pleasant day on 20th although some scattered showers broke out on the Moray coast in the afternoon. The improvement was short-lived as rain spread from the south on 21st to reach all areas by the evening, with over 20 mm widely in the east and south, Durris (Aberdeenshire) recording 54.3 mm. The 22nd saw rain and a brisk easterly wind, the worst of the rainfall in the south-west with West Freugh (Dumfries and Galloway) recording 45.0 mm.

23rd to 30th:

The 23rd was a day of showers or longer spells of rain for most areas. The showers generally eased on 24th and were restricted to eastern areas. The 25th was an improvement with plenty of sunny spells for most areas and although 26th started bright a band of rain reached western areas during the afternoon and spread eastwards during the evening. The rain continued to affect most areas on 27th although it eased from southern areas later. The 28th was a very unsettled day with bands of rain or showers spreading from the west. There were some particularly heavy showers and thunderstorms for the Central Highlands and the south-east. The showers continued for all areas on 29th although the heaviest ones with thunder mainly affected far northern areas, and the same theme continued on 30th with a scattering of showers, some heavy, for all areas.

Northern Ireland diary of highlights

With low pressure over or close to the UK for the whole month, it was exceptionally wet with showers or longer periods of rain on most days. There was an almost complete absence of fine, settled spells.

The mean temperature was 0.8 °C below the 1981–2010 average. It was very wet across all areas, particularly in Counties Armagh and Down where about three times the normal amount was recorded. It was the wettest June in a series back to 1910. The number of days with rain was the third highest for June in the last 50 years. Sunshine amounts were about 40% below normal, making it the dullest June on record.

1st to 14th:

The 1st and 2nd were dry with long sunny spells. Light rain affected southern areas on 3rd, clearing during the late afternoon to leave a dry and bright day on 4th. The dry spell ended with a wet day for all areas on 5th although the rain cleared overnight to leave plenty of heavy showers on 6th with thunder for some western areas. The 7th was very unseasonable as rain and wind swept across the country with over 30 mm of rainfall recorded in many places; 35.0 mm fell at Castlederg (County Tyrone). The 8th was similar with the rain continuing and cool north-westerly winds. The rain ceased overnight to leave an improvement on 9th and 10th with brighter days and only a few scattered showers, although the showers increased in frequency and intensity on 11th and 12th with many areas having some sharp downpours. The showers were lighter and less frequent on 13th and mainly confined to southern areas. Although there were a few scattered showers on the morning of 14th, strong winds and rain spread from the south during the late afternoon with over 20 mm in places and Katesbridge (County Down) recording 40.0 mm.

15th to 23rd:

The 15th was another day with rain and strong winds, Orlock Head (County Antrim) recording a gust of 54 mph, and 16th saw showers or longer spells of rain with Glenanne (County Down) recording 21 mm. The 17th was generally a much better day with sunny spells and only some light, scattered showers although on 18th the showers became heavier and more widespread once again with thunderstorms for Armagh, Tyrone and Down during the afternoon and early evening. The 19th again saw showers, but these were generally lighter and more scattered. The 20th started bright with sunny spells but showers broke out in western areas in the afternoon. The 21st saw rain for most of the country, with the heaviest bursts in northern areas; Ballypatrick Forest (County Antrim) recorded 28.6 mm. The rain continued through into 22nd with eastern areas this time bearing the brunt; Castlereagh and Stormont (County Down) and Altnahinch (County Antrim) all recorded almost 50 mm. The rain cleared overnight to leave frequent and heavy showers for all areas on 23rd.

24th to 30th:

The 24th was a drier and brighter day with only a few light, scattered showers. The 25th was a dry but cloudy day although the showers returned on 26th with a band spreading north-eastwards during the day and whilst 27th started bright some heavy showers broke out during the afternoon with thunderstorms affecting eastern areas; Castlereagh recorded 58.1 mm. The 28th saw a band of heavy showers and thunderstorms spreading from the west during the late morning, clearing eastwards during the evening. On 29th another band of rain spread from the south-west during the morning, clearing during the afternoon to leave a scattering of mainly light showers. The 30th once again saw a band of rain spread from the west during the morning which cleared from eastern areas during the late afternoon.