The second wettest June on record… and also the coldest.
That is the verdict of Marlborough’s own weather station, set up by Eric Gilbert in 1984.
In a report for Marlborough News Online, he revealed: “The disappointing summer continued into June with frequent depressions sweeping across the country. The mean temperature was 0.5°C below the long-term average with very few warm days – and the coldest June since 1994.
“The maximum temperature occurred on the June 28 when the peak temperature registered was 26.7°C. In contrast, on June 11 the thermometer struggled to a maximum of only 11.5°C when the average is 20.3°C.
“There were no air frosts during the month, although on two nights the temperature dipped close to 4°C.”
And he added: “The most significant feature was the amount of rain that fell. With a total of 127.9mm it was the second wettest June I have recorded, which was 232 per cent of the long-term average.
“The record was set way back in June 1998 with 143.2mm. The wettest day was the June 11 with 23.4mm and there were five additional days when totals ran into double figures. Not surprisingly there were only eight dry days.”
Mr Gilbert warned: “If such intense storms as occurred recently in parts of the country struck in the local area, no great head of water would build up as we are close to the source of both the Rivers Kennet and Og.
“However, as the extent of Marlborough housing continues to expand, so the ground is being covered in larger areas of impermeable materials that would slow the rate at which surface water soaks into the soil and I think could put some of the lower lying parts of the town at risk.”
He also pointed out: “It was a very windy month providing a record for the average wind speed over the month. On two days, June 7 and 16, I recorded maximum gusts of 40mph and six other days with maxima in excess of 30mph.
“The solar energy was 74 per cent of the average and bright sunshine also low with 88 per cent of the average.”
