June 2005
June 2005
Temperatures
(all temperatures in degrees Celsius; all averages 1961 – 1990)
Mean daily maximum: 18.4
Difference from average: +0.9
Mean daily minimum: 10.0
Difference from average: +1.4
Mean air temperature: 14.2
Difference from average: +1.2
Absolute maximum: 26.7 (20th)
Absolute minimum: 1.4 (7th)
Mean grass minimum: 9.7
Absolute grass minimum: 2.0 (7th)
Number of ground frosts: 0
Number of air frosts: 0
Mean soil temperature at 30cm depth: 15.4
Mean soil temperature at 100cm depth: 13.3
Rainfall
(all totals in millimetres; all averages 1961 – 1990)
Total for the month: 38.0
Difference from average: -13.8
Percentage of the average: 73%
Wettest day: 22.4 (19th)
Number of rain days (>0.25mm): 8
Number of wet days (=> 1mm): 5
3-month total rainfall to 30th June: 124.2
Difference from average: -27.6
6-month rainfall total to 30th June: 236.4
Difference from average: -46.1
12-month rainfall total to 30th June: 620
Difference from average: -29
Humidity
(Averages for 09:00 hours GMT)
Relative Humidity: 73.1%
Sunshine
(all averages 1961 – 1990)
Total for the month: 152.8 hours
Difference from average: -10.9
Percentage of the average: 93.3%
Mean daily sunshine: 5.1 hours
Difference from average: -0.4
Sunniest day: 14.1 hours (23rd)
Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 3
Cumulative total sunshine since 1st January: 643.9 hours
Difference from average: -46.2
Wind
The mean wind speed: 10.1km/h [5.5kt]
Difference from average: -1.3km/hr
The highest gust: 57.4km/h [31kt] from 187° at 16:04 GMT on 16th
ISSN1350-483
Comments on June 2005
June started in a very disappointing manner, with some very cool days, including a maximum on the 6th of only 12.4°C. and a maximum of 12.8°C on the 7th. However, the second half of the month was notably warm and so, overall, the month ended up above average, more so because of mean minimum than mean maximum temperatures. The Maximum of 26.7°C on the 20th was very welcome indeed. It was only the coolest June since 2002, however, so memories of a below par June are short!
Perhaps the most notable event was the downpouron the early evening of Sunday 19th. Though less dramatic than elsewhere in the region, it was nevertheless exceptional, with 21mm falling in an hour (18:00 – 19:00 BST), and most of that in about 40 minutes, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
June was less sunny than May, and just below average. In total, the cumulative sunshine for the year is now well behind the average, though not quite as far behind as this time last year.
Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University