August warmer than norm – Met office

August was one of the warmest months of the year, with maximum, minimum and sea temperatures rising above the norm.

The Meteorological Office said temperatures, which peaked at 36°C on August 21, were almost one degree above the ­climatic norm but significantly below the 43.8°C record of August 9, 1999.

The average minimum temperature of 22.8°C was also one degree higher than the norm, with the lowest, 19.6°C, being registered on August 8.

Similarly, an average sea surface temperature of 26.1°C was 0.6°C above the mean.

On the other hand, the aver-age relative humidity of 65 per cent was less than the climatic norm.

Wind speed, averaging 6.5 knots, was also 0.4 knots less than expected for last month and for 83 per cent of the time it was in the light speed bracket (1-10 knots). Northwest by West was the most frequent direction. The maximum registered was 36 knots on August 31.

Last month, no rain was recor­ded, placing August seven millimetres below the climatic norm.

August had an average of 11 hours and 30 minutes of sunshine a day, which is slightly more than the climate norm.