UK - Hottest July Since Record-Keeping Began In 1659 - Times

[hatrack]

IT PROBABLY comes as no great surprise — this month is about to become the hottest July since records began in Central England in 1659, the longest-running weather archives in the world. Average temperatures for the month will probably come out at 19.8C (67.6F).

Temperatures would have to plunge to unforeseen wintry depths today to rob this July of the record set in July 1983 with 19.5C (67.1F). They will not, but the country will still be entering a brief cooler spell as the record is broken.

A Met Office spokesman said last night: “It’s going to be less hot than during the past few days with sunshine and, especially on Monday, showers. In the east of the country we will even see temperatures drop below average but as we head into the weekend it’s going to be warming up again and by Sunday it looks as though it will be warm or very warm again.”

It is touch and go whether the combined temperatures for June and July will beat the 17.85C record set in 1976. July 2006 would need 19.9C to beat that.

EDIT

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2292834,00.html