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News release


Weather records tumble
 

1 August 2006

July 2006 was the warmest month on record across the UK, the Met Office has declared today. With the final figures now available, the UK mean daily temperature for the month was 17.8 °C, breaking the previous record of 17.3 °C set jointly in July 1983 and August 1995. The UK series dates back to 1914.

UK figures for July 2006

  • Mean daily temperature: 17.8 °C (warmest month on record)
  • Mean daily maximum temperature: 23.1 °C
  • Monthly rainfall total: 50.9 mm (73% of the normal monthly figure)
  • Monthly sunshine total: 263 hours (over 50% above the July average)

Many areas saw local and regional temperature records broken in July.

Notable regional figures for July 2006

  • July 2006 Central England Temperature (CET) at 19.7 °C, is the warmest monthly figure in this series which goes back to 1659
  • England experienced its hottest month on record with a mean temperature of 19.3 °C
  • England experienced its sunniest month on record with 301.5 hours, beating the previous record of 284 hours in June 1957
  • Scotland experienced its hottest month on record with a mean temperature of 15.6 °C
  • Wisley in Surrey recorded the highest July figure anywhere in the UK at 36.5 °C
  • A new Welsh record for July became established, as 34.2 °C was measured at Penhow near Newport, Wales

Other European countries are also reporting a record-breaking July. Notably, Germany has had its hottest ever month, (records date back to 1901) and Denmark has recorded its hottest ever July.

Met Office Hadley Centre scientists are analysing this data to assess the risk of future very hot summers as a result of climate change.

More about UK climate averages

Notes:

  • Long-term average figures relate to the 30-year period 1971-2000
  • Daily mean and maximum temperatures are for the 24-hour period 0900-0900 GMT
For further information:
Met Office Press Office  +44 (0)1392 886655
E-mail: pressoffice@metoffice.gov.uk
 
Met Office Customer Centre  0870 900 0100
If you're outside the UK  +44 (0)1392 885680