July 2026 was the 2nd warmest month on record and the driest on record. The night time minimum was a new record at 14.3C 0.4C higher than previous record set in 1983, 2006 and 2021. The day time high was the 2nd warmest on record while the hottest day in July was the 4th hottest July day on record. Rainfall wise it was the joint 3rd driest on record for any calendar month behind April 1957 with 1.8mm and September 1959 which had only 1.0mm. How long will the new record last.
Although July kicked off with a normal warm spell for July temperatures suddenly rose by 6 degrees on the 8th when 30.7C was the high. This was followed by 33.1C as we headed off towards July 2022 style weather. The 10th was the hottest day with 34.2C this being the fourth hottest day on record. Thankfully temperatures fell back on the 11th but the heatwave continued until the 17th. A total of 9 days. The highest night time temperature was on the 10th as well when 18.2C was the low. Luckily the nights weren't too warm unlike July 2022 coupled with a nighttime breeze meant sleeping was possible. Temperatures continued in the low to mid twenties but it became hot again on the 28th but this only lasted two days therefore not another heatwave. The month finished with perfect summer weather with temperatures in the in low twenties. The only cool day an average 19.6C on the 2nd was the high and the only cool night was on the 20th when 9.9C was the low. North sea cloud prevented prevented higher temperatures being recorded from the 11th to the 18th. If the cloud hadn't occurred we'd be looking at the hottest month on record.
July was the driest on record with only 2.3mm being recorded. There was no measurable rain after the 1st which saw a huge 1.4mm fall until the 25th when another huge 0.9mm fell. After that there was a run off 23 days without any measurable rain. This matching 23 days in July 2018. The dry running Four days with trace condition one of which were due to north sea cloud and another to unforecast showers on the 4th. More drizzle showers on the 26th and 27th brought no measurable rain and just another trace condition. In total there were 29 days without any measurable rainfall. Rainfall overall was mostly a dash in the recording column.
July had a windy start when 40 mph was reached on the 1st followed 33mph the next day. Winds hit 30mph again on the 25th a d 26th. On most days there was a breeze which was nice when the temperatures hit the hot category.
The month didn't feature any thundery weather which is norm these days as storms continue to decline.
August carries the dry weather over from July for a few days. After that signs are that there looks to brief spell of wet weather with the first proper rainfall since May 2nd. From the 7th though the dry weather looks set to dominate again perhaps some rain mid month but again amounts small. Temperatures for the the first half of the month look to be just above average to warm at times with possible heatwave developing again by mid month. The heatwave doesn't look to last two long and we should see a change to more mobile Atlantic weather for the 2nd half of the month with rain at times and some sunny spells. More windy than it has been. Overall temperatures look to be above normal not record breaking though with below average rainfall again
| July's Averages, Highs and Lows | ||
|---|---|---|
| Average Temp 16.8C | Last Months Average 19.7C | Difference from average 2.9C |
| Average Max Temp 21.6C | Last Months Average 25.1C | Difference from average 3.5C |
| Average Min Temp 12.1C | Last Months Average 14.3C | Difference From Average 2.3C |
| High Max 34.2C on the 10th | Low Max 19.6C on the 2nd | Highest Daily Range 17.0C on the 20th |
| High Min 18.2C on the 10th | Low Min 9.9C on the 20th | Lowest Daily Range 3.8C on the 26th |
| Number of Air Frosts 0 | Days of Thunder 0 | Days of Snow 0 |
| Days of Measurable Rain 2 Days | Days of Rain with trace 8 Days | Days with Gusts ≥ 50 mph 0 days |
| Average Rainfall 63.9mm | This Months Average 2.3mm | Percentage of Average Rainfall 3.6% |