June 2025 Commentary

For the first fortnight of June, the days were reasonably warm, the nights were mild and there was a useful amount of rain most days considering that we were following on from a relatively dry few months. However, the temperatures increased towards the middle of the month and the last day which experienced a decent amount of rainfall was the 13^th. The second half of June was basically very warm and dry with the temperature within the village reaching above 30C on the 21^st and the 30^th.

There was a build-up of humidity in the final week, threatening stormy downpours each day but there were very few measurable amounts of rainfall and there were numerous beautiful evenings following on some rather uncomfortable days.

The average temperature for June was 19.5C which is well above the average figure of 18.0C over the last ten years though the one higher June average for Cerne Abbas this century was the 2023 figure of 20.4C.

The total rainfall for June was 55.7mm (just over 2 inches) just below the average for the last decade, though the month is regularly one of our driest but this year the past four months have all been below average while 2025 did start with a wetter than usual first two months.

The regular rain during the first fortnight encouraged the rapid growth of grass, crops and flowers of both garden and wild varieties while the nettles and brambles have made some footpaths relatively hazardous.

Philip Spray