Shetland may lie nearly 1,000 miles north of Cornwall but last month the Scottish archipelago enjoyed more sunshine than the south-west holiday hotspot, according to the national weather service.

Shetland had 192.9 hours of sunshine in July, while Cornwall had 153.5 hours, only the eighth time the North Sea islands have outshone the English county, the Met Office said.

The forecaster said all regions in the UK have been close to the average for sunshine hours, although only Scotland and Northern Ireland received above the average.



The cleanup operation after flooding in the village of Coverack in Cornwall. Photograph: LPhot Dan Rosenbaum/MoD/Crown Co/PA

“It is uncommon for Shetland to experience more sunshine hours than Cornwall at this time of year,” Mike Kendon, a Met Office climate scientist, said. “The presence of low-pressure systems moving slowly over the UK at times have also influenced the temperatures and amount of sunshine hours.”

The overall picture across the UK showed July was a wet month, receiving 22% more than the July average rainfall. Northern Ireland experienced the most rainfall with 113.1mm, 39% above its monthly average.

Hampshire received 118% more than its average rainfall for the month.

This summer’s changeable weather looks likely to last into the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain mixed with drier weather and some sunshine, the Met Office said.

Next week high pressure is likely to build from the south and should bring more settled, drier weather, although there may still be some showers at times, particularly for northern parts of the UK.

