ANOTHER warm, sunny and dry month kept up the trend that has so far made this year's weather such a delight.

Well, it was dry up until the very last day, which turned out to be easily the wettest since the end of last year. Up until the 27th, many places had received less than a quarter of the expected rainfall. On the 30th, a few spots had almost the month's quota. Generally, totals were nudged slightly above normal.

Temperatures were even more amazing than in other recent months. After the warmest spring in my 20 years of data at Carlton, near Stokesley, it was the hottest June by far. Incredibly, it was about 1.5C (2.5F) milder than the former record-holder, June 1992 - and warmer than most Julys and Augusts. Countrywide, it was the hottest June since the celebrated summer of 1976.

Daily temperatures were never exceptional in our region, with the highest I measured being well below my record for June of nearly 30C (86F) on the 20th in 1989. It was only a decimal point above the peak in May this year and failed by a fraction to reach the highest achieved in mid-April.

It was the sustained warmth that was astounding. Only on the last day did maximum temperatures fail to exceed the long-term average. The maximum on the 30th, 15C (59F), was 3C (5.5F) cooler than the previous lowest during the month. In every June before this, there have been appreciably colder days. On the 3rd in 1991, the mercury struggled to a meagre 9C (48F). The month was changeable but, as during the last week of May, high pressure was usually close by. Anticyclones were regularly situated over the near continent so depressions were largely steered to the west or north of the British Isles. Consequently, winds were mainly south-westerlies, tending to the south or south-east at times, hence the warmth. The absence of northerlies was notable once more, as in all other months this year.

Frontal systems crossing the country were mostly weak, though with the high temperatures, one or two sprung into life to give a brief downpour. A few showers developed on some days, one or two heavy, with hail and thunder. Also, areas of thundery rain often formed over France, and these occasionally moved north. Only a couple reached our area, notably early on Sunday the 8th when there was local flash flooding.

At the close of the month, a depression developed to the south-west of Britain and headed north-east across the Midlands giving the cool, wet day. Was this the resumption of "normal service" anticipated in a typical English summer?

With high temperatures during the past month, sea-breezes were almost a daily feature towards the coast. These are at their most frequent at the height of summer. They form when the sun heats up the land, warming the air above, which then rises. Something must take its place, and cold air is drawn in from over the sea. A cycle of the air is therefore set up: rising over the land to a few thousand feet, moving out to sea, descending as it cools and returning back to the land.

As the land heats up more during the day, the sea breeze front pushes further inland. Towards evening, as the ground begins to cool, the front retreats back towards the coast. If and when the sea-breeze develops, and how far and quickly it progresses inland, depend on several factors: the intensity of the sun (ie the time of year), the amount of cloud present (ie how much of the sun's rays reach the ground), temperature contrasts between the air over the land, aloft and over the sea, and the direction and strength of the prevailing wind.

The arrival of the front from the coast is marked by a calmer interlude, followed by a change in wind direction and a sudden drop in temperature. It gives an added boost to rising thermals that produce showers, as happened a few times.

JUNE TEMPERATURES & RAINFALL at CARLTON-in-CLEVELAND:

Mean max. 20.9C, 69.5F, (+3.3C, +6F)

Mean min. 11.3C, 52.5F, (+2.0C, +3.5F)

Highest max. 24.8C, 76.5F, 22nd.

Lowest min. 6.8C, 44F, 3rd & 29th.

Total rainfall. 63mm, 2.5ins, (+2mm, +0.1ins)

Wettest day 27.0mm, 1.05ins, 30th.

No of rain days with 0.2mm (0.01ins) or more: 15 (+1).

Figures in brackets show the difference from the 20-year mean, 1984-2003.