UK: latest weather

UK last month

August 2010

With areas of low pressure over or near to the UK for most of the month, August was characterised by cloudy and rather cool weather with showers or longer spells of rain at times. As a consequence, it was the coolest August since 1993 even though mean temperatures were only somewhat below the 1971–2000 average. There were very few warm days, and over England and Wales the mean daytime maxima were about 1 °C below normal. Rainfall was well above normal over much of the south and east of England and south-east Wales. Over twice the normal amount fell over East Anglia, east Kent and parts of the east Midlands and in East Anglia it was the equal third wettest August on record. In contrast, the month was drier than average over Northern Ireland, parts of northern England and the west of Scotland and Wales. Most areas were duller than normal, particularly south-east and central southern England where it was the fourth-dullest August on record. The sunnier exceptions were in Northern Ireland and south-west Scotland.

A maximum temperature of 26.7 °C was recorded at Lowestoft (Suffolk) on 20th and at Weybourne (Norfolk) on 21st. A minimum temperature of –1.3 °C was recorded at Altnaharra (Highland) early on 26th. In the 24 hours ending at 0900 on 26th, 64 mm of rainfall was recorded at Mumbles Head (Swansea). A wind gust of 70 mph was recorded at South Uist (Western Isles) on 20th.

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