June’s weather

The beginning of June was largely unsettled, bringing significant amounts of rainfall to most areas. England and Wales became more settled after the 10th, although rain-bearing fronts continued to steer round the northern edge of the high pressure with western Scotland remaining wet at times.

Very warm air was drawn up from the south from the 16th onwards and from the 17th to the 21st somewhere in the UK exceeded 30 °C – the first time this has happened in June since 1995. The highest value recorded during this spell was 34.5 °C at Heathrow Airport on the 21st; the UK’S highest temperature reading in June since 1976.

Fresher air moved in over the whole of the UK within the following two days and low pressure became established for the last four days of the month bringing plenty of rain in many areas.

The provisional UK mean temperature was 14.5 °C, which is 1.5 °C above the 1981 to 2010 long-term average, making it the equal fifth warmest June in a series from 1910. Temperatures were highest relative to normal in eastern counties of England. However, rainfall was well above normal over large parts of the country, with up to three times the average amount in parts of southern and eastern Scotland. The UK overall had provisionally its sixth wettest June in a series since 1910 and for Scotland it was the wettest June in that period. Sunshine was above average in south east England, but below average in northern and western areas of the UK.

The UK monthly extremes were as follows: a maximum temperature of 34.5 °C was recorded at Heathrow, Greater London, on the 21st; a minimum temperature of -2.3 °C was recorded at Altnaharr, Sutherland, on the 8th; in the 24 hours ending at 9 am on the 7th, 112.4 mm of rain fell at Torwinny, Moray; and a wind gust of 60 knots (69 mph) was recorded at Inverbervie, Kincardineshire on the 7th.