Dull, but with below average rainfall and average temperature. That sums up the weather for the month which is often the warmest of the year. North-West winds, settled weather and fairly high pressure covered the UK during the first seven days of the month. The anti-cyclone responsible for such conditions was centred to the south of Iceland and sank southwards slowly and July 6th was a fine day. The weather remained dry and settled, with sunny spells until the 12th, when heavy showers fell, but no rain fell between the 13th and the 16th. The 18th was the first day with double digit figures of sunshine but as to punish us, or so it seemed, a low pressure system from the west brought a wet day for the 19th. The wind switched to the south for the 20th and the temperature reached 77F here, making it the warmest day of the month.
A ridge of high pressure brought good sunshine totals for the 24th and the 25th. The latter was the sunniest day of the month. After the 26th the weather deteriorated, becoming unsettled with sunshine and showers. The wettest day was on the 30th, and heavy rain also fell on the 31st.
Despite the fact that sunshine was below average, only two days had no sun at all, and rainfall totals were below normal. Indeed, if not for the heavy falls on the 12th, 19th, 30th and 31st July, it would have been a very dry July.
It was the coolest July recorded since 1993, though that reflects on a run of very warm July's in the last 10 years or so, such as 1990, 1994 and 1995 and there have been colder July's in the 20th Century. It was the dullest July recorded since 1993 as well. 80F hasn't been reached once this year so far.
Kevin Phillips. 4.10pm. Sunday 2nd August 1998.
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