Summer of '76
Post categories: derek brockway,Ìýweekend weather
| 14:48 UK time, Friday, 2 July 2010
The last six months in Wales have been the driest since 1976 so last night's rain was very welcome for farmers and gardeners alike.
Capel Curig in Snowdonia was one of the wettest places with 26mm of rainÌý-Ìýjust over an inch.
As for the weekend, Saturday looks the best day...
Some sunshine with most of the country dry but I wouldn't out a shower in places. It will feel pleasantly warm though with top temperatures around 19 to 22 Celsius with a west to south-westerly breeze.
Sunday isn't lookingÌýso good as rain will spread from the north west during the day and a south-westerly wind will strengthen with gales for a time in the Irish Sea.
It should however turn drier and brighter by Sunday evening. Highest temperatures 17 to 21 Celsius but it will feel cooler in the wind.
Long spells of dry weather in Spring and early summer, like we've had this year, are not unusual.
Sometimes, they can continue through the rest of the summer like they did in 1976 but this is more the exception than the rule.
More often than not the weather pattern changes in early July and it often continues in the same vein through the rest of the summer.
My gut feeling this year is that the rest of July and August will be mixed. The reason for this is the jet stream.
It has been fairly weak recently but is now strengthening and this will steer low pressure systems towards Britain bringing spells of rain and stronger winds from the Atlantic
So, I think we may have seen the best of the summer weather for the time being.
It's looking more changeable next week but it's not all doom and gloom asÌýthere will be some fine days as well.
We just have to make the most of them when they come along!
Derek
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