The anti-cyclone at the end of July held at the start of August and so did the hot weather. The first days of the month were hot and humid. 89F was recorded on the 1st and 88F on the 2nd. These were the highest temperatures recorded in August for nine years, since coincidentally, the 2nd and 3rd August 1990 but humidity was also high on the 1st and the 2nd August this year, where as it was low during the 1990 heatwave. A thunderstorm broke out at 6pm on the 1st but the warm weather persisted until the 7th when a ridge of low pressure arrived. As a result the weather remained generally unsettled until the 19th of the month.

Both the 9th and 10th were cold and wet, but at 10.10am, on the 11th, a dry day, a once in a lifetime event occurred in the UK. I don't expect to be alive when the next one occurs on Saturday 23rd September 2090, as I will then be 114 years old! The best place to see that also will also be Cornwall. Those who travelled down to Cornwall in 1999 largely didn't see it due to overcast and wet weather. Here, the sky turned darker, like it was dusk. People normally go on holiday to see the Sun. In 1999, they went to see it go in!

Another thunderstorm broke at 6.30pm on the 13th with 15 millimetres of rain falling. The 14th saw sharp showers but the 15th was a dry and sunny day. On the early afternoon of the 16th another severe thunderstorm broke though. The 17th started fine and sunny but heavy rain fell that afternoon. There was drizzle on the morning and afternoon of the 19th but that was when the unsettled and wet spell ended. The 20th was cool and overcast but dry. There was fine and sunny weather for the 21st and 22nd. Showers fell on the afternoon of the 25th but an anti-cyclone from the 27th brought fine weather for the rest of the month.

The temperature didn't exceed 70F once between the 7th and the 24th. Sunshine digits didn't reach double figures between the 7th and 20th. Consequently it was the dullest August recorded since 1993. Rainfall was also above average, but it wasn't as wet a month as August 1997. Daytime temperatures were slightly below average and night-time values were around average.

Kevin Phillips - 4.30pm - Sunday 5th September 1999.