This month’s weather will be...

Kent’s amateur weather man, Lester Gosbee, takes a monthly look at what could be in store for us.

July 1 last year was the UK’s hottest day on record with a temperature of 36.7 c/ 98.62 f at Heathrow. This year, the date will have a temperature 16.7 c/ 30 f, LOWER than last year. July will still have an unsettled start, but with longer fine spells between rain or showers. Winds will be south westerly, so it will be quite breezy on the south coast, but inland temperatures will be around 19 – 22 c/ 66 – 72 f in the most favoured spots in the South. Pressure should rise from 4th with a nice spell until 11th. The only fly in the ointment could be the risk of thunderstorms because it will be humid with temperatures of 23 – 26 c/ 73 – 79 f. There will be the risk of sea fog on eastern coastal parts, and where this occurs, temperatures will drop 5 c/ 9 f. From mid July, it will still be warm, but with more organised spells of rain. Again, there will be the risk of thunder. Temperatures will be at 23 c/ 73 f in the South due to high pressure, which will have been in the Azores for weeks. This spell of weather will last for 10 days, and will be a great start to the school summer holidays for children. It will be the first time that much of the South East will have temperatures rising into the 80 f’s at 29 c/ 84.2 f. Unsettled weather will see the month out with some pretty heavy thundery spells, and there will also be the risk of flash flooding in Central England.. Storms are likely almost anywhere in the areas that I forecast for. It will feel much fresher right at the end of the month. July’s Highest Day Temperature will be: 29 c/ 84 f (Around the Solent, Hampshire. London will be very close. There is a chance that these temperatures could be exceeded). July’s Lowest Day Temperature will be: 16 c/ 61 f (In the sea fog along the East Anglia coastline). July’s Lowest Night Temperature will be: Nowhere will get temperatures any lower than 11 c/ 52 f. There will be some very humid nights where temperatures could remain above 18 c/ 64 f. July rainfall will be very erratic , ranging from close to average at 50mm/ 2 inches to 100mm where the heaviest storms occur. Sunshine: July is now our sunniest month and the average is 193 hours for the month over England and specifically 218 hours over Kent. The average temperature for Kent it is 17.36 c/ 63.25. This July the CET will be 17 c/ 62.60 f, 0.7 c/ 1.26 f above average. In July 2015 the CET was 15.9 c/ 60.62 f.