Weather log July 2024
Key:
WW= Willow Warbler
ST = Song Thrush
BB = Blackbird
Cool changeable start to July:
Sat 6th heavy downpours in places overnight, thunder in places such as Coventry (just a rumble or 2). Swyddffynnon (Ceredigion) 29.2mm wettest in Wales, also Pershore College 17.4mm.
Sun 7th scattered showers and isolated thunder today.
Mon 8th warmer day for WW, highest reading of the month to date here at Lwn (max 21.1c, this after very cool July night min 3.2c); other maxima Porthmadog 22.5c, Nottingham 21.4c, Shawbury 20.9c, Trawsgoed 20.6c, Coventry 19.5c, Market Bosworth 19.1c, MH 17.6c.
Tue 9th wet weather overnight, particularly Midlands where over an inch in places, Coventry 24.2mm (24 hours to 0900); MO wettest places (2100) Winterbourne (Brum) 29.2mm, Nottingham 27.8mm, also Cardiff Bute Park 37.2mm.
Mon 15th outbreaks of rain, heavy in places, some torrential locally, over an inch in places; Coventry 21.0mm (0900) while a PWS in the SW of the city (Canley) recorded 36mm (25mm of this in one hour late evening).
First half of July very cool and very dull; rainfall average to very wet.
At Llanwnnen the coolest and dullest start to July for decades, just a third of what we should have had to date sunshine wise, while mean temperature a poor 13.4c to 15th or 2c below average; Coventry has not managed 21c (70f) to date. Some places already exceeded their whole July average rainfall.
Rainfall totals July 1st - 0900 16th:
Mona 52.0mm (very wet)
CC 75.4mm (average)
Trawsgoed 60.6mm (wet)
Llanwnnen 50.5mm (near average)
Pembrey Sands 46.2mm (rather wet))
Nottingham 81.2mm (very wet)
Coventry 61.6mm (very wet having reached the monthly average)
CL 52mm (very wet)
Pershore 49.2mm (very wet)
Sunshine first half:
Llanwnnen est 32 hours (third of average)
Coventry 54 hours (very dull)
Shobdon 42 hours (very dull)
Bit of a warm/ hot spell just after mid month:
Wed 17th max Hereford 24.4c, Sutton Bonington 24.0c, CL & Shawbury 22.6c, Lwn 21.9c, Trawsgoed 21.5c, Aberdaron 17.3c.
Thu 18th warm or very warm and humid, sunny Mids, sunny intervals WW, maxima ROW 27.3c, Pershore 27.1c, Coventry 26.8c, Cardiff Bute Park 26.7c, CL & Hereford 26.0c, Shawbury 24.5c, Lwn 23.8c, Trawsgoed 22.8c, Aberdaron 18.6c.
Fri 19th minima warm locally (over 15c): Pembrey Sands 16.0c, Nottingham 15.4c, Coventry 15.3c, Lwn 11.8c, Hereford 11.4c.WW very warm inland but cooler misty some coasts, Mids though hot and sunny all above 80f maxima: Wellesbourne 29.5c, Coventry &Nott 29.4c, CL 29.1c, Shawbury 27.3c, Trawsgoed 25.1c, Lwn 24.0c, Aberporth 21.1c, Aberdaron 18.5c.
Sat 20th warm night minima: Trawsgoed 16.8c, Pembrey Sands 16.5c, CL 16.3c, Lwn & Pershore 15.7c, CC & Shobdon 14.1c, Mona 14.0c. Still warm Mids but rather cloudy rain later, for WW became rather wet pm; maxima Pershore College 23.6c, Nottingham 23.2c, Market Bosworth 22.2c, CL & Coleshill 22.1c, Hereford 21/3c, Trawsgoed 20.4c, Lwn 19.3c, Aberdaron 16.5c.
21st to 24th: while we were in the Midlands it was mostly dry, warm and humid with sunny spells, west Wales had fared worse with much cloud and some rain or drizzle though rather warm at times. Highest readings while we were away, Coventry 24.7c ((23rd) and Llanwnnen 21.2c same day. Coventry has had 116 hours of sun so far this month(rather dull) but Llanwnnen less than half that with just an estimated 54 hours (very dull).
Tue 23rd surprised about some heavy showers early this morning at LL which were not forecast, just 2 or 3mm in the Rugby area while Warwick Racecourse (EA) caught 13.4mm; warm and humid Mids, maxima Pershore 25.8c (warmest in UK), CITE 25.1c, Coventry 24.7c, CL 24.1c, Lwn 21.2c, Aberporth 16.7c. Wellesbourne 12mm wettest place officially Mids today while Coventry was the sunniest with 8.5 hours.
Warm/ hot end to July:
Sun 28th warm sunny periods widely, maxima Astwood Bank (Worc) 25.8c, Coventry 25.4c, Nott 24.7c, Lwn 23.7c, Shobdon 23.5c, Trawsgoed 22.9c, Aberdaron 18.4c.
Mon 29th WW widely very warm inland with sunny periods, hot much of Mids: Maxima Astwood Bank 28.7c, Pershore 28.4c, Coventry 27.8c, Hereford, Llanwnnen & Nottingham 27.4c, Shawbury 26.5c, Trawsgoed 25.8c, Valley 20.2c. Here at Llanwnnen the warmest and sunniest day of the year to date (13 hours sun estimated).
Tue 30th warm or very warm generally, and hot S Mids & SE Wales: maxima Pershore 29.2c, Usk 29.0c, CL 28.3c, CITE 28.2c, Hereford 27.0c, Nottingham 26.4c, Pembrey Sands 24.5c, Shawbury 23.8c, Aberporth just 17.9c with sea breezes.
Nights thus far this spell have been refreshingly cool in the Welsh countryside, minima 28th Lwn 5.1c, 29th Tirabad 4.9c (coolest in UK) and 30th Swyddffynnon 7.4c.
Wed 31st very warm, locally hot WW with sunny periods, Mids hot: Maxima ROW 30.4c, Pershore 29.2c, CITE 29.1c, Hereford 28.9c, Coleshill 28.7c, Lwn & Nottingham 28.2c (Lwn hottest day of the year to date), Shobdon 27.5c, MH, Tirabad & Trawsgoed 25.8c, Aberporth 20.7c (we were at nearby Llangrannog where it felt several degrees warmer), Mona 20.5c. Usk max 29.5c hottest place in Wales.
Nature notes
Tue 2nd Song Thrush singing well dusk have been quiet of late. 2 Swift seen to enter hall silently 2200, first west side towards near end window then one the other side towards second from far end window. That makes just 3 nests evidenced to date (usually 6 or so). Chicks audible in both of these nests of entry.
Wed 3rd Aberystwyth: several Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing by the river at Morrisons. Evening 15 to 20 House Martin and the odd Swift feeding same location. Surveyed the estate opposite the council/ Welsh Government building, counted 16 H Martin nests most in apexes, several doubles, 2 were in the corner of window recesses of top flats. Could be a few more that I missed too.
Thu 4th Lampeter Uni late afternoon: a few Swifts, one entered hole in chapel silently.
Fri 5th screaming Swifts over the church hall evening (half dozen or so).
Llanybydder: quite a few Swifts this evening, about 15 screaming around the warehouse, another 6 or 8 around the old station. Also Blackbird singing nicely which have nt heard these past few weeks.
Aberduar chapel: nice to see a dozen screaming Swift over the graveyard, only one pile of droppings evidenced on the ground however.
Forestry (large clearing southern area) on a very cool evening after dusk: walked the dead end track with views over the clearing to listen for potential Nightjars. One obliged calling 2145 in distance then one churred for several minutes around 2155 in near dark from several hundred metres away the far side of the clear area by the track over there.
Sun 7th about 10 screaming Swifts briefly over the church hall dusk.
Mon 8th around 20 Swift feeding over the village for over an hour this evening, at times right above the garden accompanied by a dozen mixed HM and Swallow. The Swifts broke into mini screaming parties at times, they were mostly at tree top height. One of the highest counts seen here.
Sat 13th Forestry dusk: Nightjar churred briefly 2150 from west slope above main road where cleared regrowth are meets extant mature forestry. Back at car 2245 Grasshopper Warbler reeling continuously field adjacent to main gate where it usually is. Only other bird song a distant Blackbird.
Sun 14th hall evidence of only 4 active nests now these have fresh droppings on the ground beneath, chicks audible from 2 of these nests above. There are 2 nests each side of the hall.
Thu 18th Lampeter Uni saw a Swift enter then 5 minutes later exit its nest hole in the chapel side of the quadrangle. Then 8 or 10 Swift over the building.
Dusk a dozen or so screaming party around the church for almost an hour, also about 10 H Marin and 10 Swallow.
Sat 20th Chiffchaff was still singing well until a week ago but now quiet, garden largely silent now..
Sat 20th to Wed 24th Long Lawford: Swifts seen and heard daily sometimes over the garden:
Sat 20th greeted by a dozen or so screaming Swifts on arrival LL this evening.
Sun 21st LL hundreds of Rooks and Jackdaws along with a few Starling on fields adjacent the bridal path. Plentiful Gatekeeper butterflies. About 25 Swift evening.
Mon 22nd LL 8 screaming Swifts came fairly low over the garden at times this evening, total of 15 to 20 Swifts about today. House Martin nests barely under the steep eaves of houses near the church hall in Chapel Street flying up to nests in spite of the proximity of wide open bedroom windows!
Tue 23rd LL party of 8 screaming Swifts low over the park and adjacent the house on Townsend Lane that has 3 boxes with call devices. Swift seen to enter gable end of house besides the shops on the estate (this was observed here several years ago too). .Red Kite at close quarters on the edge of the estate.
Wed 24th driving back:
Abergavenny: 2 Swift seen from Morrison car park this evening.
Llandovery dusk 25 to 30 screaming Swift over the town, decided to check out the college as the gate was open, much of it being private, Swifts were around the front hall building which had suitable gaps beneath the eaves, then saw one enter a hole with a few other flying up to where the gaps were. Suspect this may be a substantial colony. We were only there 10 minutes and unsure whether we would get locked in or not!
Fri 26th village: evening farm start of Neuadd lane seems to have quite a few HM nests also saw a Swallow go up by the Sat dish in an apex and so nesting on the bracket? Dusk 6 to 8 screaming Swift church one seen to enter nest towards far west end window, chicks audible from this one, others seemingly quiet and so may have fledged.
Sat 27th Forestry (S) evening many Foxgloves still have top section in bloom.
Sun 28th 8 screaming Swifts dusk around church.
Mon 29th Carmarthen on a very warm sunny day for a change: quite a few Swifts screaming over the St Peters car park, decided to have a look at the former Grammar school (now council offices) which is a Victorian building, as approached lots of House Martins and a dozen screaming Swifts. Looked up and all around there were House Martin nests (perhaps 20 in total) some with young being fed, also many gaps suitable for Swifts and so must be a joint Martin/ Swift colony thriving here! Amazingly a bird of prey appeared as I was walking back along the driveway amongst the Martins and Swifts, it was not a Hobby, Peregrine or Sparrowhawk and smaller than a Kite/ Buzzard and had an obvious white rump and longish tail and I thought Harrier just as a man then came long saying 'are you looking at the Harrier?' It was a female Hen Harrier! This building Grade 2 listed.
Still Martins feeding at some of the 4 or 5 nests in Merlin's Walk.
Wed 31st Cwrtnewydd driving through half dozen screaming Swifts this afternoon, usual place by houses on right just past chapel.
Wed 31st Llangrannog afternoon walked a mile or so south along the coast path and back: plentiful Gatekeeper butterflies (as there were in the Midlands last week). Don't think ever seen a Swift around Llangrannog the hall (meeting house) by the church has what look like suitable gaps under the eaves but not even Sparrows inhabiting it.
Month end quite a few Butterfly during the good weather to end the month, especially Whites, a few Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Tortoiseshells.
Summary July 2024
Rather cool/ average; rainfall varying from rather dry to wet; generally dull, near average E Mids
After the remarkable wet spell up to Spring Llanwnnen has just had its third drier than average month on the trot. It was though another very dull July (not as dull as 2023 with 91 hours estimated). At Coventry it was a very average July overall, the dull, cool and wet first half made up for by the very dry, quite sunny and warm second.
Rainfall totals July 2024
Mona, Anglesey 77.4mm (rather wet)
Capel Curig, Snowdonia 105.4mm (rather dry)
Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular 85.4mm (wet)
Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 81.6mm (average)
Aberporth, near Llangrannog 70.4mm (average)
Llanwnnen, Ceredigion 64.5mm (70%)
Pembrey Sands, Carms 60.2mm (rather dry)
Milford Haven, Pembs 67.8mm (average)
Nottingham (Watnall) 83.0mm (wet)
Shawbury, Salop 62.4mm (average)
Coleshill 56.6mm (average)
Coventry, Bablake School 66.4mm (slightly above average)
CL, Warks 55.8mm (slightly below average)
Pershore, Worc 61.4mm (rather wet)
Hereford 44mm (rather dry)
King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 54.6mm
National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges
Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 87.4mm (rather wet)
Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 116.6mm (wet)
Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 146.8mm (rather dry)
Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 53.6mm (average)
Corris (near Machynlleth) 100.4mm (dry)
Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 73.4mm (average)
Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 75.8mm (average)
Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 97.8mm (rather wet)
Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 77.4mm (average)
Pencader (Carms) 60.4mm (dry)
Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 86.8mm (average)
Rhydargaeau (Carms) 77.6mm (rather dry)
Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 66.8mm (rather dry)
Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 78.6mm (average)
Ferwig (near Cardigan) 74.6mm (rather wet)
Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 127.8mm (rather wet)
Tenby (Pembs) 73.0mm (average)
Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 61.0mm (average)
COL stations rainfall July 2024
Llansadwrn, Anglesey 102.4mm (132%)
Ludlow, Salop 47.4mm (73%)
Alvechurch, Worc 78.1mm (113%)
Warstock, Brum 81.2mm (121%)
Cosby, Leic 57.5mm (92%)
Towcester, Northants 70.6mm (130%)
Sunshine totals July 2024
Valley 165 hours (rather dull)
Aberdaron 161 hrs (rather dull)
Aberporth 137.4mm (dull)
Llanwnnen estimated 103 hrs (57%)
Nottingham 171.7 hrs (near average)
Shawbury 140.6 hrs (dull)
Coventry, Bablake School 180.8 hrs (92%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 149.5 hrs (dull)
COL stations sun Jul 2024
Ludlow 129.1 hours
Alvechurch 134.1 hrs
Cosby 181.5 hrs
Towcester 191.5 hrs
