Record Heat by Helen McKenzie
As temperatures begin to climb once again across the UK, after a respite in the heatwave, the figures for July have arrived.
The statistics show that July was the hottest month since records began in 1914. The average daily temperature across the UK was 17.8 C (64 F), breaking the previous record of 17.5 C (63.5 F) set jointly in July 1983 and August 1995.
A number of other records were shattered during the month. 50.9 mm (2 inches) of rain fell across the UK, just 73% of the normal monthly figure, and sunshine was 50% above the July average, with 263 hours.
As well as UK wide, many local and regional records were broken. England saw its sunniest month on record, with 300.1 hours of sunshine. Scotland experienced its hottest month on record, with an average temperature of 15.6 C (60 F) and Wisley in Surrey broke the highest July temperature record for anywhere in the UK, with 36.5 C (98 F).
The heat wasn’t just confined to the UK. Germany had its hottest ever month since records began in 1901, and Denmark had its hottest ever July. Further afield, the USA has been in the grips of a heatwave, which has just reached the east coast. New York city was sweltering on Wednesday, as the mercury soared to 39 C (103 F), beating the previous record of 38 C (100 F) set in 1955.
Para los que no sepan inglés:
Media del mes de julio en el Reino Unido: 17,8ºC ¡¡¡El más alto desde que se tienen mediciones!!! (Ya nos gustaría aquí esa temperatura).
Media de precipitaciones en julio en el Reino Unido: 50,9 mm (73% del valor medio).
Número de horas de sol en julio en el Reino Unido: 300 (la cifra más alta desde que se tienen mediciones)
Media del mes de julio en Escocia: 15,6º, la más alta desde que se tienen mediciones.
También comentan que New York batió el record histórico de julio al alcanzar los 39ºC.