A wet but unusually warm weekend for Caithness
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In spite of extensive cloud, and periods of rain, temperatures nevertheless responded well in any spells of sunshine. On Saturday, Wick experienced a high of 20.0C (68F), before the onset of the rain. Sunday was even warmer with the mercury peaking in the town at a sultry and oppressive 21.9C (71.4F) in the sunshine and a gentle south-south-west breeze shortly after midday. The average daytime maximum for Wick in July is 16C (60.8F).
However, an inescapable, and for many a very unpleasant and unwanted feature of the weekend period, was the stifling heat during the night, with temperatures holding up at between 15C-17C (59-63F). The average overnight minimum for July is a modest and much more tolerable 10C (50F).
The bouts of rain that plagued the weekend and blighted the sunshine craved by many were nevertheless much welcomed by fishermen and farmers. Wick received its first significant rainfall for weeks between lunchtime Saturday and the end of Sunday evening. The total by the end of Sunday stood at 19mm (0.75 of an inch).
A broad, moist southerly airflow created between an area of high pressure cented over the southern North Sea and north Germany coupled with the remnants of ex-hurricane Chris located south-west of Iceland were responsible for the unusually warm but also wet conditions experienced in the far north over the weekend.
