Apart from recording the third equal warmest day in my records, July was an unremarkable month that often disappointed. It certainly could not have been described as a summer month as it was often cool and cloudy, actually quite dull at times and there certainly wasn't any hint of any lasting warm spell.

  Only five days managed to attain the seasonal average of 19.6°c with the mean maximum temperature for the month markedly below average, although there was also some cool nights as well.

  Rainfall came frequently, albeit not heavily. However, whilst the final total fell below my 13 year average, totals across the county were above the 30 year long term average. This poor weather came courtesy of frequent low pressure systems arriving from off the Atlantic with high pressure never managing to become established

  At the end of the month an area of low pressure in the Atlantic drew warm air up from the continent which provided for one very warm day on the 31st.

  MSLP of 1014.0 Mb was -0.4 Mb below the local average for the month and overall a mean minimum of 10.01°c and a mean maximum of 17.89°c saw the temperature 1.12°c below the eleven year average for this site.

  It was the coldest since 2012 and of the twelve now recorded, two have been colder and nine have been warmer - the highest maximum temperature recorded being 29.5°c (31st), the lowest minimum 5.7°c (20th).

  Rainfall of 87.5 mm (Castlehowe Scar 116.8 mm) was 85.5% of average for 2007-19 and made it the driest July since 2018. Of the fourteen now recorded, five have been drier and eight wetter.

  In what was a fairly quiet month, there were no 'Days of' although it has been the windiest July yet recorded here - the wind speed averaged 8.52 mph, with a maximum gust of 42 mph (3rd).

  At the Met' Office site at Newton Rigg a mean temperature of 14.20°c is the coldest since 2017 and in a series back to 1951, (with one year of no data) 24 have been colder, 43 have been warmer, with one year having the same mean temperature.

  The rain gauge broke down at the beginning of the month and awaits repair.

  At Seathwaite Farm it was the wettest since 2010 and its sixth wettest in a record that commenced in 1845.

  Rainfall totals across Cumbria were above average, typically in the range of 120-150% of normal, but at Seathwaite it was as high as 236.5% with an inch or more of rain having fallen on seven days.

  Figures from the Environment Agency’s rainfall sites were, (figure in brackets being the monthly average for 1961-90)   ‘Data kindly provided by the Hydrometry and Telemetry team of the Environment Agency (Penrith)’:

  Kirkby Thore ** mm (42.2 mm)

  Haresceugh Castle (Kirkoswald) 95.77 mm (78.2 mm)

  Brothers Water 213.7 mm (142 mm) and

  Orton (Shallowford) ** mm (97.9 mm [average for 1967-2019])

  482.4 mm at Seathwaite Farm (Borrowdale - 204 mm [average for 1981-2010]).

  ** not available due to faults with the gauge

  General Synoptic Report for the Month

   The month opened with frontal systems over the UK and low pressure (LP) to the fore. Subsequently the days were rather cool and it was breezy at times with spells of rain, although under a cover of cloud, temperatures remained high overnight. Rainfall totals weren't especially high, 9.3 mm on the 5th being the highest in this period, but which at just 14.6°c was chilly.

  High pressure (HP) in the Atlantic tried to ridge in 6-7th and whilst the days were dry, they remained cloudy and the 7th was another decidedly chilly day, in fact the month's coldest day at just 14.0°c.

  LP then returned to southern England 8-9th with Cumbria at its northern edge. Rain arrived at tea-time 8th and stayed overnight, repeated the following day with 10.7 mm of rain (9th).

  Through the 10-16th HP gained a weak foothold on the UK, albeit the 13th saw a frontal system pass over the UK and after which the HP never fully exerted any meaningful control. Whilst rainfall was almost absent it still tended to be somewhat cloudy with temperatures remaining below average. However, the final day of the period, 16th, did see the temperature rise to 20.4°c, the first day of the month to do reach 20°c.

  LP over Iceland dominated the next few days before HP in the Atlantic started to nudge in. Rainfall totals were insignificant despite several fronts passing over and when the HP began to move in it initially brought a NW'ly flow before backing W'ly.

  In spite of a little sunshine, this cool airflow felt very fresh and kept a lid on the temperatures, both the 19-20th were cool overnight, down to 5.8°c and 5.7°c respectively and at just over 16°c during the day it certainly didn't feel anything like summer.

  The HP would collapse come the 21st-22nd as fronts moved in from the west. The 22nd was cool and cloudy, attaining just 15.5°c followed by grey and damp conditions on the 23rd with spells of rain into the late afternoon - then the sun finally managed to pop out and the temperature 'soared' to just above 20°c.

  Separate LP systems would continue the unsettled theme over the next few days. This brought spells of rain, albeit falling overnight 25th and 26th, with both having a few sunny spells later in the day; but then it would be wet on the 27th. Rain overnight into the 27th saw 12.5 mm (credited back to the 26th to make it the month's wettest day), with the rain (9.6 mm - 27th) continuing through to tea-time.

  The pressure gradient then slackened with HP trying to nudge in, but whilst there were sunny spells on the 28-29th, the temperature remained suppressed, just 15.5°c on the 28th.

  After rain overnight and for most of the morning, the 30th quickly improved with sunny spells developing and now the temperature did rise - LP to the west of Eire tracked north and acted to draw up a very warm southerly airflow and at 1000 hrs on the 31st it was already 23.6°c. The day was also vey sunny and saw a maximum of 29.5°c (85.1°c).

  The warmth only lasted a day though as the 1st would see a drop in temperature of 11.4°c!