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| August 2001 monthly assessment issued
3/9/2001 |
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Monthly summaries available for: England
and Wales | Scotland | Northern
Ireland
Homogenous time series based upon selected station data:
CET | England and Wales
rainfall
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| A near normal month statistically.
Hot days alternated with cooler unsettled conditions when hail
and thunderstorms affected many places. Mostly wet in
south-east England and East Anglia. |
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Diary of highlights
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1st - 9th After a very warm start it
became unsettled and cooler as low pressure passed just
to the north or directly over the region. Associated fronts
brought frequent outbreaks of thundery rain and hail especially
to East Anglia and the Midlands on the 6th, northern areas
on the 7th, and again to south-east England and East Anglia
on the 9th. Many funnel clouds were seen on the 9th with
one touching down at Gosport overturning some caravans,
while a waterspout was sighted off the Suffolk coast. Northolt
(north-west London) received 56 mm of rain in 12 hours
and another gauge collected 71 mm at Worsham (Oxon).
10th -
14th Changeable with some occasional light rain and
cool temperatures at first, however with drier
conditions and good sunny periods it became very warm or
hot over southern areas during the 13th and 14th.
15th - 19th After a hot start, (Wainfleet / Lincs
reached 31.9 °C on the 15th) another unsettled period
ensued with thundery outbreaks in many places, in particular
south-east England and East Anglia on the 16th and on the
19th. Overnight 17th/18th the Isles of Scilly received 48
mm of rain.
20th - 23rd
With pressure higher than of late, mostly dry, quiet
conditions prevailed and with good sunny spells in most
areas, temperatures rose into the warm category
generally.
24th - 26th Light southerly winds
brought hot humid conditions to most places on the 24th
and 25th, when London approached 32 °C, exceeding the
August bank holiday Saturday record of 31 °C set in
1943. However a weak cold front already astride western
areas moved hesitantly eastwards producing thunderstorms
later on the 25th and during the 26th, mostly over the
Midlands, south-east England and East Anglia.
27th - 29th An anticyclonic interlude brought
mainly sunny dry and warm weather to the bulk of the
region.
30th - 31st As low pressure
transferred to the south North Sea, NW winds brought
cooler showery conditions, some of the showers were
heavy and accompanied by hail and
thunder.
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| Statistical details (using best available
data/estimates): updated 2003 |
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England & Wales Mean Temperature Series (series
began in 1961).
The final value for the month was 16.4 °C, which
is 1.2 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is
in the above average category.
England & Wales Rainfall Series (series began
in 1961).
The final total for the month was 86.1 mm, which is
112 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close
to average category.
England & Wales Sunshine Series (series began
in 1961).
The final total for the month was 177.8 hours, which is
103 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close
to average category.
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| Scotland |
| Uneventful and close to
average. |
| Diary of Highlights |
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The weather of August was fairly close to
average, which meant that it was rather better than June
or July. There were no heatwaves, with the highest temperature
of the month a modest 22 °C. There was a longish wet
spell from the 11th to the 15th, but the remainder of the
month provided some reasonable summer weather.
Warm
and humid southwest winds and fronts brought outbreaks
of rain to Scotland on the first two days of the month.
This was followed by a cool and showery westerly airflow
for four days, with relatively few showers on the 3rd
and 6th.
On the 7th and 8th a depression crossing
Northern England brought some rain to the south of
Scotland. North-westerly winds in the rear of the low
brought a return of sunny periods and showers to the
whole of Scotland on the 9th and 10th.
From the 11th to the 15th warm and humid air accompanied
by slow moving fronts brought a period of dull weather with
plenty of rain to many places. There were 42 mm at
Dalmally on the 12th and 35 mm at Lanark the next day.
Brighter conditions spread from the west on the 16th and
lasted until the 18th as the next weather system moved into
Biscay. However, this low subsequently moved north, bringing
a wet day to most places on the 19th, with Rackwick (Orkney)
receiving 43 mm of rain.
After a fine day on the 20th, renewed cloud,
rain and wind spread from the west on the 21st. A
quieter spell of weather then followed for four days,
with light winds, sunny periods, and just a few
showers.
From the 26th to the 28th an anticyclone
developed to the west of Ireland and moved east across
England, giving generally fine weather. However, this
was succeeded by a trough of low pressure crossing
Scotland on the 29th and 30th, and giving some
rain.
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Statistical details (using
best available data/estimates): updated 2003
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Scotland Mean Temperature Series (series
began in 1961).
The final value for the month was 13.1 °C, which
is 0.6 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is
in the above average category.
Scotland Rainfall Series (series began in 1961).
The final total for the month was 114.9 mm, which is
98 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close
to average category.
Scotland Sunshine Series (series began in 1961).
The final total for the month was 128.9 hours, which is
95 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close
to average category.
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| Northern
Ireland |
| Warm but Wet. |
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Diary of Highlights
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1st to 6th Warm, dull and wet at first.
Turning brighter on the 3rd and 4th and cooler by
6th.
7th to 10th Mild with some rain and
showers confined mainly to some central and western
areas.
11th to 14th Cloudier conditions gave
rise to warm, wet weather with little or no sunshine.
Some of the wettest days of the month occurred during
this period.
15th to 21st Rather unsettled
conditions with rain and showers mainly on the 16th,18th
and 19th. The 20th was a particularly sunny
day.
22nd to 28th A warm and dry period
throughout the Province with more prolonged spells of
sunshine.
29th to 30th Milder with cloudier
conditions. Widespread rain and showers effected most
areas.
31st Summer ended very pleasantly with
warm, dry and sunny conditions prevailing.
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Statistical details (using
best available data/estimates): updated 2003
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Northern Ireland Mean Temperature Series (series
began in 1961).
The final value for the month was 14.3 °C, which
is 0.6 °C above the 1961-1990 average, which is
in the above average category.
Northern Ireland Rainfall Series (series began in
1961).
The final total for the month was 109.6 mm, which is
115 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close
to average category.
Northern Ireland Sunshine Series (series began in
1961).
The final total for the month was 147.7 hours, which is
109 % of the 1961-1990 average, which is in the close
to average category.
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Homogeneous series based upon selected station data: updated
2003 |
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Central England Temperature (series begins in 1659).
The mean value for the month was 16.8 °C which is 1.0 °C
above the 1961-90 normal of 15.8 °C and is in the above
average category.
Others: 2000/16.6, 1999/16.1, 1998/15.9, 1997/18.9 °C.
England and Wales Rainfall (series begins in 1766).
The total for the month was 86.3 mm, which is 112 %
of the 1961-90 average and is in the close to average category.
Others: 2000/65.9, 1999/116.6, 1998/48.7, 1997/98.9 mm.
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| Note: Diary values are provisional based
on data available at the time. |
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