Dark clouds hang over the Finnieston Crane in Glasgow
A predominantly cloudy and rather cool month with showers and longer outbreaks of rain at times. The mean temperature was 0.7 °C below the 1971-2000 average, provisionally making it the coolest August since 1993. Rainfall amounts were generally above average, particularly across the eastern half where over twice the average amount fell with almost three times normal in parts of the south-east. However, it was drier than normal in the Western Isles. It was a rather dull month, especially towards the south-east, with about 75% of the average sunshine.
- 1st to 5th
- Mainly cloudy on 1st with scattered showers. Cloudy with heavy rain over central and eastern areas on 2nd, with 25 mm at Inverbervie (Aberdeenshire), but brighter in the west. Dry with some sunshine on 3rd and temperatures widely rising to 21 - 23 °C. Rain, locally heavy, moved northwards during 4th with drier, brighter weather following to the south. The rain cleared the mainland early on 5th but lingered over Shetland, and it was bright with isolated showers elsewhere.
- 6th to 11th
- Bright with a few showers on 6th but rain, occasionally heavy, spread into southern and eastern parts later. 24-hour totals to 0900 on 7th were widely in excess of 25 mm from the Borders to Inverness with 42.2 mm at Lentran (Highland), 46.8 mm at Kindrogan (Perth and Kinross) and 38.4 mm at Leuchars (Fife). Rain for most on 7th, heavy and prolonged, especially across the north and east with 24-hour totals again over 20 mm, including 33.6 mm at Lossiemouth (Moray) and 32.5 mm at Cupar (Fife). The rain became confined to the north-east on 8th, and it was brighter elsewhere with scattered showers. A bright day on 9th before rain spread in overnight becoming heavy and persistent, except in the Northern Isles, on 10th. 24-hour totals to 0900 on 11th were widely in excess of 30 mm across central areas, with 51.0 mm at Leuchars, 58.4 mm at Salsburgh (Lanarkshire) and 65.4 mm at both Benmore and Lochgilphead (Argyll and Bute). It was also very cool, with temperatures below 13 °C and Aviemore (Highland) peaking at just 11.1 °C. Bright in the north on 11th with heavy rain slowly clearing from central and southern parts.
- 12th to 25th
- Mainly cloudy on 12th with rain edging north-eastwards during the afternoon and evening. Rather cloudy with scattered showers on 13th and persistent rain over Shetland, but Lossiemouth reached 22.5 °C. Bright on 14th with scattered showers, some thundery. Scattered showers on 15th with outbreaks of rain moving into the south-west later. This rain, locally heavy, spread north-eastwards on 16th followed by sunny spells and scattered showers on 17th. Rather cloudy on 18th with scattered showers, some heavy during the evening in the east. Dry with sunny spells at first on 19th but light rain spread eastwards later. Frequent showers in the north-west on 20th elsewhere mainly dry with sunny spells, although some rain in the south during the evening. The 21st was bright with sunny spells and scattered showers. It was mostly dry and cloudy on 22nd and 23rd. Shetland was wet on 24th, while the north-east was sunny and scattered thundery showers developed elsewhere. The 25th saw sunny intervals but also scattered showers, some thundery.
- 26th to 29th
- Sunny intervals and heavy slow-moving thunderstorms on 26th, with 30.2 mm recorded at Kinloss (Moray) and 27.2 mm in an hour that afternoon at Threave (Dumfries and Galloway). Rain and strong winds developed in the north later on 27th. Gales and heavy rain on 28th, especially across the north, with 80 mm recorded at Resallach (Highland). Further rain and strong winds across the far north on 29th before becoming more settled.
- 30th to 31st
- The last two days were mostly cloudy with light showers in the north and west.
