July 2018 Commentary

Following the driest month on record, July continued to be hot and dry until there was some respite with a good downpour on the 16th. However the hot and dry conditions prevailed for ten more days before proper relief came with a spell of low pressure bringing some heavy rainfall over the Saturday night and Sunday of the 28th/29th. The temperatures also briefly dipped during this period but by the 31st, air pressure and temperatures were rising again.

The average temperature for July of 21.3C was probably the highest for this century, narrowly above the July figure in 2006. The average for July over the last decade has been 18.6C.

The rain at the end of the month produced a July total of 63.4mm comparing with a monthly average of 88.2mm over the last ten years.

In the village, we were spared most of the threatened thunder and lightning storms and the heavy rain didn't appear to cause problems in the way of run-off and flash-floods. However it will probably take some prolonged rain to close up the wide cracks on the cricket outfield.

Philip Spray