To be fair it wasn’t that much drier in the north in absolute terms in May just drier compared with the long term average. Here’s the rainfall data: 
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/anomacts/2024/5/2024_5_Rainfall_Actual.gif 

And the sunshine values: 
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/anomacts/2024/5/2024_5_Sunshine_Actual.gif 

Originally Posted by: doctormog 

Yes that backs up how it was as from the maps you can see that the Assynt area was one of the driest and sunniest. There is so much regional  variation in that area. Certainly the rivers entering the Kyle of Sutherland were at extremely low levels for most of the month.

Originally Posted by: bledur 

Can anyone view this image? above

Originally Posted by: tallyho_83 

Can anyone view this image? above

Originally Posted by: tallyho_83 

Initially no.

But can do when I'm replying to this.

??:(

It's odd as it shows up as a text saying "External Image" when posted but when editing I can see the image I took! Strange! Anyway, thanks for sharing Doc interesting stats there!

Originally Posted by: ozone_aurora 

According to David Braine of BBC Spotlight Weather:
Summer 2024 has been the coldest since 2015.
I don't know about coldest but definitely a lot cloudier than average for sure!

Originally Posted by: tallyho_83 

Given below are the final summer statistics for Edinburgh Gogarbank from all of the data which I have available which are:

Temperature (°C)

Lowest Minimum:                                                               3.00 (on 12/6/24)
Highest Minimum:                                                             15.60 (on 18/7/24)
Mean Minimum:                                                                10.62
Minimum Anomaly:                                                           +0.17

Lowest Maximum:                                                              13.30 (on 5/6/24)
Highest Maximum:                                                             24.70 (on 5/8/24)
Mean Maximum:                                                                18.85
Maximum Anomaly:                                                           +0.17

Lowest Average:                                                                 9.55 (on 5/6/24)
Highest Average:                                                               19.02 (on 28/7/24)
Average Temperature:                                                       14.73
Average Anomaly:                                                             +0.17

Lowest Diurnal Temperature Range:                                   2.67 (on 21/8/24)
Highest Diurnal Temperature Range:                                  15.71 (on 30/7/24)
Average Diurnal Temperature Range:                                 8.16

Other Temperature Statistics

Single Figures Minimum Temperatures:                              34
Double Figures Maximum Temperatures:                            59
Double Figures Minimum Temperatures:                             58
Maximum Temperatures Above 20°C:                                  33
Tropical Nights:                                                                     0
Maximum Temperatures Above 30°C:                                  0

Number of Frosts

Ground Frosts:                                                                       1

Rainfall (mm)

Total for summer:                                                                   151.0 (70.1% of 1991-2020 summer average)
Wettest Day:                                                                           16.2 (on 22/8/24)
Highest Hourly Total:                                                              4.8 (on 25/7/24 at 20:00)
Highest Ten Minute Total:                                                       2.8 (on 14/6/24 at 12:10)
Rain Days: 34                                                                           (100.9% of 1991-2020 summer average)
Dry Days:                                                                                 37

Longest Dry Spell                                                                     3 days (22/6 to 24/6, 28/7 to 30/7, 29/8 to 31/8)
Longest Non-Dry Spell                                                             6 days (1/7 to 6/7)
Most Consecutive Rain Days                                                    5 days (19/8 to 23/8)
Longest Period Without a Rain Day:                                        9 days (1/6 to 9/6)

Month with lowest rainfall total:                                              June 2024: 34.0 (49.4% of 1991-2020 June average)
Month with highest rainfall total:                                             August 2024: 68.2 (91.3% of 1991-2020 August average)

Month with fewest rain days:                                                   June 2024: 9 (80.8% of 1991-2020 June average)
Month with most rain days:                                                      August 2024: 15 (134.3% of 1991-2020 August average)

Wind Speed (mph)

Average Mean Wind Speed:                                                     9.1 (114.8% of 1991-2020 summer average)
Highest Mean Wind Speed:                                                      26.6 (on 4/7/24)
Highest Wind Gust:                                                                   46.3 (on 27/6/24)
Most Common Wind Direction                                                 WSW

Pressure (mb)

Lowest Pressure:                                                                        987.6 (on 22/8/24)
Average Pressure:                                                                      1010.1
Highest Pressure:                                                                       1029.4 (on 1/6/24)

Sunshine Total (hrs)

Total for summer:                                                                      258.1 (55.4% of 1991-2020 summer average)
Sunniest Day:                                                                            13.0 (on 31/7/24)
Sunless Days:                                                                             4
Most Consecutive Sunless Days:                                               2 days (10/7 and 11/7)

Month with lowest sunshine total:                                            June 2024: 2.5 (1.5% of 1991-2020 June average)
Month with highest sunshine total:                                           August 2024: 162.5 (111.5% of 1991-2020 August average)

Month with fewest sunless days: June 2024:                             0
Month with most sunless days: July 2024:                                 3

Conclusion

As far as the temperatures are concerned, it was a very much average summer but it was our coolest summer for some time and there were very few occasions when I actually felt all that hot. In addition to that, not a single temperature of 25°C or above was recorded at Edinburgh Gogarbank during the entire summer which is very disappointing even for here.

The beginning of the summer was particularly cool with even a ground frost being recorded on one occasion.

However, it was a substantially drier than average summer overall in terms of the actual rainfall amounts with June being a particularly dry month but in spite of that, the number of official rain days was actually very slightly above average during the summer.

In addition to that, it was also a substantially duller than average summer overall with August being its only sunnier than average month.

In all in, a very disappointing summer overall and for that reason, I can't give it any more than 3/10 in my books.

Originally Posted by: johncs2016 

Warmest day of the year on Arran according to Stav Danaos. The nearest to a temp on Arran itself that I could find was 24C, but Galloway appears to have recorded 27C, Must remember to look at the MetO site to check tomorrow.

Originally Posted by: DEW 

I suppose it was the turn of the South Coast to have a miserable day but the contrast between Wiggonholt RSPB max 15.8C and Cambridge NIAB  not that far to its north at 28.0C is remarkable. All that and an inch or so of rain for Sussex.

Scotland had its own contrast, but E-W; Lossiemouth max 13.8C but Achnagart (on the mainland near Skye) 27.0C

Originally Posted by: DEW 

I was caught in between those two extremes. A few hours of sun late morning into the afternoon pushed the temperature up to 23.3C. 

I tuned into a few minutes of the Scotland v Australia cricket match in Edinburgh on BBC Sport. Dull, misty and 14C. Those Aussies must have wondered what they were doing up there! 

Originally Posted by: GezM 

Sometimes wonder what I'm doing up there too 😂

Meanwhile it's my 10th day in the Algarve, sunny throughout and 25 - 30 C. A wonderful climate down here if you like sunshine!

Originally Posted by: Crepuscular Ray 

There no sun and some places in the south had just over 0hrs of sunshine so very dull start and here also very dull only 6hrs yesterday while around 1hr rest of the first opening days.  Can't wait for a northerly blast that will bring more sunnier weather, feel warmer factor and not under HP zone.  This HP is very bad one with man made front created over the south to ensure to spread clouds to rest of UK while rest of Europe around us sunny.   Had to postpone trip to Epsom today due to adverse wet and severe dull weather.  Next attempt to go there 5th October.

Yesterday  spent time making indoors warmer yesterday to store up warmth for next few days until the northerly arrive with full sun and warm up indoors again.  I hope this strong northerly is a final time to kill those phantom warm cloudy spells that ruined this year summer, good for Darren to get some cooler nights to sleep in and lower DP.

Originally Posted by: Jiries 

You're not the only one having to postpone things - I was meant to be going to the wolves today, but I'd had a week of crud sleep culminating in tossing and turning last night, and got some eyelashes in my dodgy eye, which was very painful! It's still sore now.

Words can't express how much I'm looking forward to getting rid of this putrid humid airmass. We've lost the heat down here but the very high dewpoints remain - 18.3, dew 17.0 as I'm writing this. GFS shows dewpoints of just 2 or 3 during the day midweek next week, and while I doubt it'll be that low, I'll happily take 10 or lower. It'll feel very, very different within just a few days!

Originally Posted by: Retron 

You're not the only one having to postpone things - I was meant to be going to the wolves today, but I'd had a week of crud sleep culminating in tossing and turning last night, and got some eyelashes in my dodgy eye, which was very painful! It's still sore now.

Words can't express how much I'm looking forward to getting rid of this putrid humid airmass. We've lost the heat down here but the very high dewpoints remain - 18.3, dew 17.0 as I'm writing this. GFS shows dewpoints of just 2 or 3 during the day midweek next week, and while I doubt it'll be that low, I'll happily take 10 or lower. It'll feel very, very different within just a few days!

Originally Posted by: Retron 

certainly not a glorious summer here in London this year with one or two shortlived exceptions. It will be interesting to see what autumn and winter will throw at us this year. Mild ,grey, and sunless and above average rainfall will sum it up, however we shall see.....

Originally Posted by: cultman1