The 2nd was a soul-destroying day with persistent, torrential rain and North-East winds to match. 47.2 millimetres of rain fell, making it the wettest June day recorded since the 22nd June 1982. The maxima didn't at any time exceed 50F and strong North-East winds made it feel even colder.

The 3rd was another cold and miserable day but the 4th and 5th were an improvement. The winds changed to a South-Easterly direction on the 4th. Sharp showers fell on the evenings of the 6th and 7th. Those days though had more summer-like temperatures, as did the 9th.

After a dull and dry 12th, low pressure dominated between the 13th and the 16th, bringing more cool, overcast and wet weather. 55F wasn't exceeded at any time on the 13th, and the 14th was a dull, wet and miserable day. Late on the 18th though, a high pressure system moved in from the South-West and after a cloudy morning, the 19th was a day which actually resembled summer. 70F was recorded for the first time since the 20th May. 76F was recorded on the longest day of the year, the 21st June, which was also the sunniest day of the month.

For the rest of June, temperatures remained respectable and sunshine totals improved but the weather remained unsettled, though the 28th and 29th were both fine and sunny, but sunshine totals for the month were below average and May was sunnier than June this year.

June 1998 was the fifth wettest June of the 20th Century after 1997, 1982, 1958 and 1980. Daytime temperatures were nearly 2C below average. Still, it wasn't as wet as June 1997. Unlike last year, the best weather of the month came in the second half. Last year the worst weather came from the middle of the month. The last time two cool and wet June's successively followed each other was in 1990 and 1991. Night-values were above average this year bumping up the overall monthly temperatures.

Kevin Phillips - 7.50pm - Monday 6th July 1998.