August was unsettled, dull and rather wet and was in marked contrast to the preceding four months.

The fair, dry weather of late July continued until the 3rd. A cold front moved south-eastwards the following day, accompanied by a short spell of heavy rain with thunder, and thereafter changeable weather continued almost uninterrupted until the 26th. However, with pressure remaining relatively high to the south-east daily rainfall amounts were insignificant until 22nd. Pressure then fell sharply and heavy rain that night caused widespread flooding, which was renewed on the 25th as further heavy rain spread from the south-west. Following a wet night on the 26th the last five days improved as an anticyclone spread from the west although the 29th was cool and showery. It was our wettest August for 13 years while only five Augusts were duller since Bournemouth records began in 1879, the most recent being that of 2008. The mean temperature was slightly below average.

Summary Highest maximum temperature recorded:

25.8C 78F on the 16th

Lowest maximum temperature recorded: 6.9C 44F on the 31st

Mean maximum temperature: 20.7C 69F 9average 21.2C)

Mean minimum temperature: 12.9C 55F (average 12.7C)

Total rainfall: 88.7mm (average 51mm)

Days with measurable rain: 17 (average 9.8)

Greatest 24 hour rainfall: 29.5mm on the 22nd

Total sunshine: 150.4 hours (average 228.4 hrs)

Days without sunshine: 6 (joint record with August 1968)

Days with thunder: 1

Barometric pressure:

Highest – 1025.0 mb on the 31st. Lowest – 999.0 mb on the 23rd

The summer overall (June to August) was fairly average, with the total rainfall and sunshine both close to normal and the mean temperature somewhat above, as summarised below.

Total sunshine: 678.5 hours (average 694.2 hrs)

Total rainfall: 139.2mm (average 140mm)

Days with measurable rain: 34 (average 29.8)

Mean temperature: 16.88C (average 16.2C)