July 2008

A windy June just past

After a promising start with some very warm summery weather June became more like Autumn in the second half with some very unseasonal wind with driving rain during the second half. Maximum wind speed were 44.9mph at Cwmparc weather station on 22nd and 39.1mph on 26th. In total 7 days recorded wind speeds in excess of 30mph.

The first half of the month showed promise with little in the way of rain - although this were soon put right in a month that produced 18 days with rain that produced a total monthly fall of 179.8mm. A little over 7 inches. The 18th produced a real soaking with 44.9mm - accompanied by a strong wind and the lowest maximum temperature of the month of just 13.9C - making this a day more akin to Autumn. The warmest day were on the 9th with a maximum temperature of 27C in a month that produced an overall average of just 14.1C. Lowest night time temperature were just 5.7C on the 17th.

There were 5 days with no sun and another 8 days that produced less than an hour of strong sunlight making for some dull days in a month that produced a total of 69 hours. It has to be remembered that Cwmparc weather station is in a valley surrounded by mountains to the south, West, and North and that as a result evening sunshine does not shine down into the valley so elsewhere in less hilly areas these figures would be increased.

Looking to the Southern Hemisphere where at present it is mid winter I can report that New Zealand has had a cool to cold time of it this last few weeks with the ski slopes opening a week early with record snows. Snow has also been recorded to sea level on the Southern Island. Sea ice in Antarctica is higher than last year. and above the seasonal no