Contrasting conditions in July, with some cooler than average temperatures, rain, cloud and even a heatwave, combined to make July 2024’s weather statistics close to average for the UK.
Cooler than average temperatures
Provisional Met Office statistics show that July was cooler than average in the UK and across all four countries. The average mean UK temperature was 14.8°C. This is 0.5°C below the latest 1991-2020 long-term meteorological average for the month.
Temperatures were persistently below average across the UK for the first two weeks and by the 15th of July, the mean temperature was 2.0°C below average in what was provisionally the coldest start to July since 2004. The monthly mean temperature is calculated from daily maximum and minimum temperatures obtained from a network of observational stations across the UK.
Temperatures increased in the third week briefly, before low pressure brought more unsettled weather. The last week of the month saw high pressure in charge, with the highest temperature of the year so far recorded on 30th of July with 32°C at Kew Gardens and Heathrow.
This will be the third spell in which we have reached over 30°C this year, with the other occasions being in late June and mid-July. However, all spells of summer warmth so far have tended to be brief.
Interestingly, July 2024’s average mean temperature of 14.8°C is considered warmer than average when compared to the 1961-1990 meteorological averaging period for July. The long-term average July mean temperature for that period was 14.4°C, compared to the 1991-2020 long-term average of 15.3°C, which demonstrates the warming trend the UK is experiencing as a result of human induced climate change.
This graph shows the daily mean temperature for July 2024, plotted against the long-term meteorological average (1991-2020).
Below average sunshine for many
Sunshine hours for the UK were below average, with 153.7 hours of sunshine (11% less than the long-term meteorological average). Neither England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales reached their average monthly sunshine this month.
Average rainfall for the UK but wet for some
While there was much regional variation, the UK provisionally experienced around average rainfall.
The UK recorded 82.4mm which is the long-term meteorological average. England, however, saw 19% more rainfall than its average, recording 79.0mm. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were all slightly drier than average.
Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle explained: “The start of July continued June’s theme of cooler than average weather, but with the addition of more wet conditions.
“Low pressure across the UK led to unsettled weather at the beginning of the month and several frontal systems brought bands of rain. Areas of southwest, southeast and northeast England had already received more than the average July rainfall by the 15th.”
Summer so far
Meteorological summer in the UK so far (June and July) has recorded below average mean temperatures, rainfall and around average sunshine hours.
Statistics can change quite quickly in a UK summer and there’s still plenty of time for shifts in the figures.
A comprehensive review of the UK climate and significant weather events through 2023 was published last week. Read the State of the UK Climate report here.
| Provisional July 2024 | Mean temp (°C) | Sunshine (hours) | Rainfall (mm) | |||
| Actual | Diff from avg (°C) | Actual | % of avg | Actual | % of avg | |
| UK | 14.8 | -0.5 | 153.7 | 89 | 82.4 | 100 |
| England | 16.0 | -0.4 | 179.7 | 92 | 79.0 | 119 |
| Wales | 14.6 | -0.7 | 150.8 | 85 | 88.7 | 90 |
| Scotland | 12.8 | -0.6 | 119.2 | 85 | 87.3 | 84 |
| N Ireland | 14.0 | -0.6 | 105.9 | 78 | 77.0 | 86 |