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graphs      CLIMATE-UK.COM'S  REVIEW  OF  THE  BRITISH  METEOROLOGICAL  SCENE
     MONTHLY  SUMMARY
     No. 570       For     JUNE    2003
          WARMEST SINCE 1976.  MOST AREAS QUITE SUNNY, BUT WITH VARIABLE RAINFALL
Text Box: Mean sea-level pressure was 13 mbar below normal over the Atlantic at 53°N 35°W - an unprecedentedly large negative anomaly for June in this region. The anomalous flow over the British Isles was therefore markedly southerly with a cyclonic bias, resulting in a very warm but rather changeable month. A sluggish southerly flow during the opening days of June gave way to a more vigorous southwesterly type between the 4th and 11th. Fronts crossed the country at frequent intervals although they were sometimes weak in the east. The 1st was very warm in eastern Britain with 26.1°C recorded at Lossiemouth (Morayshire) but thunderstorms broke out in many places especially the following night, with 50-60mm in the Hastings area leading to short-lived flooding there. From the 2nd to the 10th rain fell almost daily and was heavy at times in western and northern regions, but amounts in the east were generally small. Sunshine was variable rather than plentiful although Leuchars (Fife) recorded 15.1hr on the 11th, and most days were rather warm, especially in eastern, central and southern districts. High pressure lay over the British Isles from the 12th to the 16th, bringing warm and sunny weather to much of the UK, and it became hot on the 15th and 16th with highs of 26-29°C in eastern England. Thunderstorms on the 17th were particularly severe in east and northeast England, and Coningsby (Lincs) collected 34mm of rain. After a short spell of cloudier westerlies, high pressure returned between the 20th Text Box: and 22nd, renewing the very warm weather with 30.5°C recorded on the latter date at Shepshed (Leics), but thundery rain spread eastwards during the day. After a brief interruption, fine and warm weather resumed between the 24th and 26th. In northern Scotland it stayed dry and very warm until the month's end with 25°C exceeded locally, but the rest of the UK became less settled although it remained quite warm - indeed on the 29th Jersey airport logged 28.1°C. On the 30th a vigorous depression tracked northeast across England bringing widespread heavy rain and some thunder; Penistone (S.Yorks) recorded 68mm in 24 hours. The provisional Central England Temperature ranked June 2003 as the fifth warmest of the last 100 years; after 1940, 1950, 1970 and 1976, but the mean maximum temperature was second only to that of 1976. The month was remarkable for consistent warmth rather than for any spell of exceptional heat: at Heathrow only one day failed to reach 21°C and none passed 28°C. Monthly rainfall, averaged nationally, was above the long-term mean, but in eastern, central and southern districts most of the rain fell in a few heavy downpours (notably on the 30th) and the perceived character of the month was dry. Aberdeen airport recorded just 17mm - only June 1982 was drier in a 60-year long record there - but Marham (Norfolk) collected 125mm, roughly three times the local average. Sunshine was up to 30 per cent below normal in some western and northern regions, but around 25 per cent above in parts of the Midlands and eastern England.
                                                                                                                                         
                       TEMPERATURE                                SUNSHINE                             RAINFALL        
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
                                          Highest and lowest totals                     Highest and lowest totals        
                                              on record for month    
Maximum fall in 24 hrs (beginning 09 h)
                    on record for month    
Days with snow or sleet
 
Days with fog (Vis <220 yards at 09 h)