Figures from the Met Office show that, with a mean temperature of 17°C, July 2013 was the third warmest in the national record going back to 1910, behind 2006 (17.8°C) and 1983 (17.3°C).
This July’s heatwave was more notable for its duration than its intensity, although it is not particularly unusual in a historical context.
The last year in which 30°C was not recorded at any station was in 1993.
However, this July stands out in contrast to the run of unsettled summers from 2007 to 2012, and was the most significant UK heatwave since July 2006.
Through the month high pressure sat over the UK bringing a prolonged period of high temperatures between Saturday 6 July and Thursday 24 July, when a maximum of 28°C was recorded at one or more locations on each of those 19 days.
The last time the UK saw such a long period of hot weather was August 1997 which also had a 19-day run of high temperatures.
The highest temperature for July 2013 was recorded jointly at Heathrow and Northolt on 22 July (33.5°C).
Although this high temperature has already been surpassed in August, with 34.1°C recorded at Heathrow on 1 August.
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