SUNNIEST AUGUST FOR 16 YEARS, WARMEST FOR 6 YEARS AND WETTEST FOR 5 YEARS. SUMMER 2019 WAS THE WETTEST FOR 7 YEARS, WARMER THAN AVERAGE AND WITH ABOUT AVERAGE SUNSHINE.
Armagh Observatory, 10th September 2019:
Armagh Observatory reports that August 2019 was sunnier, warmer and wetter than average, the sunniest August at Armagh for 16 years; the warmest for six years and the wettest for five years. The meteorological summer this year, namely the three months June, July and August, was the wettest for seven years, rather warmer than average and with about average sunshine.
With 166.3 hours of strong sunshine, approximately 20% more than average, this was the sunniest August at Armagh since August 2003. The sunniest day was the 17th, with 12.3 hours of strong sunshine, followed by the 26th with 11.9 hours.
The mean temperature was 16.12 degrees Celsius (61.0 Fahrenheit), approximately 1.5 C warmer than the long-term (1796-2010) average August temperature at Armagh and 0.7 C warmer than the most recent (1981-2010) 30-year August average. Despite relatively high rainfall this was the warmest August at Armagh for six years, the temperatures being boosted by the larger than average number of hours of strong sunshine.
The warmest day (highest maximum air temperature) was 24.2 C (75.6 F), which occurred on the 24th, and the coldest day (lowest maximum air temperature) was 15.4 C on the 21st, just three days earlier. The warmest night (highest minimum air temperature) was 15.7 C, on the 4th. The coldest night (lowest minimum air temperature) was 7.5 C on the 12th and there were no ground frosts.
Total August precipitation was 124.55 mm (4.90 inches), including 3 trace values (i.e. 124.4 mm if trace values are ignored). This is approximately 52% more than the long-term (1838-2010) average August precipitation at Armagh and 63% more than the most recent (1981-2010) 30-year August average at Armagh. This was the wettest August at Armagh for five years. The wettest day was the 8th with 30.3 mm (1.19 inches) of rainfall, followed by the 30th with 14.2 mm.
Thunder was heard on three days, namely the 6th, 10th and 12th, and rainbows were seen on the 12th and 28th. It is interesting to note that the thunder and lightning recorded on the afternoon of the 6th was presaged a few minutes earlier by a flock of noisy seagulls passing over the Observatory.
Taking the three months June, July and August together, this summer was the wettest for seven years, also warmer than average and with about average sunshine. Total summer precipitation was 284.8 mm including 10 trace values, which is approximately 30% more than the long-term (1838-2010) average summer rainfall at Armagh and roughly 44% more than the most recent (1981-2010) 30-year average summer rainfall. The mean summer temperature was 15.57 C, which is nearly 1.4C warmer than the long-term (1796-2010) average summer temperature at Armagh and nearly 0.6 C warmer than the most recent (1981-2010) 30-year average summer temperature at Armagh. Total summer sunshine was about average.
These data refer to observations at Armagh Observatory, which has been recording the weather at Armagh since 1795. For further information, please contact: Professor Mark E. Bailey, Emeritus Director of Armagh Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG, Tel: 028-3752-2928, E-mail: mark.bailey@armagh.ac.uk
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