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Climate update for July

7 August 2010

One of a series of Climate Updates from WWF Scotland based on data from the Met Office


JULY 2010
TOP LINE:  July 2010 was the 3rd wettest July ever recorded but was warmer than average
                  More than twice the normal rain fell in the Borders, eastern Scotland and in Shetland
                  Globally 2010 has had the warmest first six months ever recorded

Measure             July 2010           Comparison           * Rating            Records start
Temperature      13.2°C                 0.2°C                     ~                      1910
Rainfall               173.9mm             +89%                    +++                  1910
Sunshine            121.7hrs             -17%                     -                      1929
*compared to 1971-2000 averages, +++ exceptionally above average; ++ well above average; + above average; ~ close to average; - below average; -- well below average

COMMENT:
Dr Sam Gardner, Climate Policy Officer for WWF Scotland, said:

“After a very dry June, the downpours in July were quite a shock, with very heavy rain in many parts including Perth and Dumfries and Galloway, which saw almost two and half times the usual rainfall. Globally 2010 has seen the hottest first six months ever recorded and this year is very likely to be the hottest year ever.

“A year after the Scottish Climate Change Act became law, Scotland’s political parties continue to debate how tough our climate targets should be for the next few years. We look forward to these being set in the very near future. These targets will need to be accompanied by a credible plan of action that will translate Scotland's ambitions into the much needed action we must see if we are to cut our emissions.”

THE YEAR SO FAR
July was the 3rd wettest ever, with more than twice the normal rainfall in several parts of Scotland. June 2010 was more than a degree and half warmer than average, two degrees warmer in the west, making it the 9th warmest June ever. It was also the 9th driest June and 2010 had the 5th driest first six months in the last century, with only 452mm of rain failing since the turn of the year. Despite a very warm spell May was close to average temperatures overall. Weather stations in Fife and the Borders recorded their highest ever May temperatures (on the 22nd Leuchars 26.2 °C and Charterhall, Borders 25.7 °C). April was nearly a degree warmer than the average and quite sunny. March saw a return to average temperature but with heavy snow in the north and coastal flooding in the east. February was the 12th coldest ever recorded and the winter was the second coldest ever. January was very cold but was also the 4th sunniest January in Scotland according to the records which began in 1929. It was particularly sunny in the west.

Notes to Editor

[1] Data from the Met Office http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/datasets/index.html
with further analysis by WWF Scotland.

[2] The five warmest years since records began are 2006, 2003, 2007, 2004, 2005 (warmest first).

[3] WWF's Earth Hour took place on Saturday 27 March 2010. In Scotland 29 local authorities signed up, hundreds of schools and over a hundred businesses and organisations joined hundreds of millions around the world by switching their lights off for one hour in a graphic demonstration of support for determined international action on climate change.

WWF’s Earth Hour will take place again at 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011 For more information about WWF’s Earth Hour http://www.wwfscotland.org.uk/earthhour

[4] WWF Scotland is part of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, an alliance of development, environment and civil society groups aiming for tougher action to reduce emissions http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/scotland

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