August was unsettled, but climatically it was close to average, despite being seen as a poor month. Unusually, it was no warmer than June, which was warm this year. Temperatures were close to average in northern Britain but below average in the south. There were few hot days. As in July, various parts of the country suffered from unusually heavy rain. This is in contrast to last summer when a wet June was followed by a dry July and August. This confirms the slight tendency for the weather anomalies of July to persist through August.

Temperatures



The average Central England temperature for the month was 15.8°C, 0.6C below average. The equivalent figures for Scotland were 13.5°C, 0.4C above average. The highest temperature was 28.9°C at Jersey on the 28th. There were several cool days. In Kent, the temperature exceeded 27°C on the 29th but reached only 13°C the following day as rain and northerly winds arrived. Even in London, temperatures remained below 15°C on 30 August, making it one of the coolest of the last half-century. The lowest temperature was 1.9°C at Kinbrace, Sutherland on the 6th.

Rainfall



Rainfall was variable in August. The average rainfall for England and Wales was 75mm, 102% of average. Scotland was also close to average at 101% but Northern Ireland was very wet, with 130%. Parts of the Midlands, Norfolk and parts of North East England were quite dry, helped by relatively infrequent rain here in the last ten days of the month. On the 9th a slow moving low pressure system gave over 40mm just south of London. Severe thunderstorms on the night of the 22nd gave 72mm at South Uist in the Western Isles. These storms also brought severe flooding to Northern Ireland, where some areas had nearly twice the average rainfall for the month.

Sunshine



England and Wales averaged 187 hours of sunshine in August, 105% of average. The equivalent figures in Scotland were only 137 hours and 85%. Northern Ireland was also relatively dull. For the second month running, Shetland was sunnier than average. Several places in north-west of the United Kingdom had barely 100 hours of sunshine through the month, less than half the amount observed on the Essex coast.

Winds



There were few strong winds in August but the very exposed site at Needles, Isle of Wight, recorded gusts of 63mph on the 3rd and 66mph on the 18th as depressions crossed the UK.