An historical perspective on the climate statistics

for Coventry during June 2009



Temperature

Although the monthly mean temperature for June 2009 (14.4C) looks
quite respectable at 0.6C above the 30-year average for Coventry, we
had been heading for our coolest June for ten years right up until the
last weekend of the month. Only the late June heatwave rescued us from
this, as much of the month was decidedly chilly.

For example, we recorded our first June ground frost on the 4th of
June 2009 for 18 years, with an overnight grass minimum temperature
of
-1.0C. Two days later on the 6th, the maximum temperature only reached
12.6C in the city, making that the coldest June day since 1997
(10.5C).

To redress this balance however, we enjoyed the warmest June day since
2006 (28.1C) in Coventry on the 29th of June, with a maximum
temperature of 27.7C.

Even so, June 2009 still became the fifth month is succession in our
region to record a higher than average monthly mean temperature.


Rainfall

Not only has 2009 been warmer than average since February, June also
became the fifth month in a row with less rainfall than normal, with a
rainfall deficit of 27% so far this year.

With 51.6mm of rain, it was wetter than last year (37.2mm), but a lot
drier than the record breaking June in 2007 (175.0mm).

Sunshine

As we have seen, 2009 has been a relatively warm, dry year so far. Not
only this, but every month of 2009 so far has recorded more sunshine
than normal in Coventry, with 27% more sunshine in the first 6 months
than the 30-year city averages suggest we should have.

We enjoyed 194.1 hours of sunshine during June 2009, compared to 219.2
hours last year, and 177.9 hours in 2007.


Steve Jackson
Bablake Weather Station
Coventry UK
www.bablakeweather.co.uk