Warm, Dry July

Armagh Observatory reports that July 2014 was warmer and drier than the average July at Armagh, although there were only a few days with no precipitation at all. The number of hours of strong sunshine, 148.7 hours, was about average.

The mean monthly temperature was 16.7 degrees Celsius, approximately 1.0 degree Celsius warmer than the most recent (1981тАУ2010) 30-year average for July. The warmest day (highest maximum air temperature) was 28.3 degrees C on the 24th, and the coolest night (lowest minimum air temperature) was 6.2 degrees C on the 1st. The warmest night (highest minimum air temperature) occurred on the 22nd, with a temperature of 16.5 C.

The warmest day, with a maximum temperature of 28.3 degrees Celsius, (approximately 83 degrees Fahrenheit) was centred on three very warm days each with a maximum temperature greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Overall, with an average temperature of 16.7 C, July 2014 was the 14th warmest on record at Armagh, i.e. since the ObservatoryтАЩs temperature readings began in 1795, although this warm average temperature was rather less than the record average July temperature at Armagh that occurred in 1989 and again in 2013, namely 18.2 C. There were 2 nights with ground frost.

Total precipitation, namely 48.65 mm, was approximately 78% of the most recent (1981тАУ2010) 30-year average July rainfall at Armagh, making this the driest July at Armagh for three years. The wettest day was the 27th, with 12.1 mm of rainfall.

There was a total of 148.7 hours of strong sunshine, approximately 8% more than the most recent (1981тАУ2010) 30-year average for July, and close to the long-term (1881тАУ2010) July average. The sunniest day was the 23rd, with a total of 14.6 hours of strong sunshine.

These data refer to observations at Armagh Observatory, which has been recording the weather at Armagh since 1795.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Mark Bailey at the Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG. Tel.: 028-3752-2928; FAX: 028-3752-7174; mebarm.ac.uk; URL: climate.arm.ac.uk.

Last Revised: 2014 August 4th