Dry and Hot, then Changeable
Temperatures
The average maximum temperature during August 2020 in Shoreham was 24.1 Celsius (75F), and that was around 2 Celsius (3.5F) above normal for the time of year. The average minimum temperature was 16.2 Celsius (61F), and that was also about 2 Celsius (3.5F) above the August normal. Overall, it was the warmest August for 25 years.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 35.4 Celsius (96F) on the 9th. Using long-standing records for Worthing as a comparison, it would appear that the 9th was the hottest day in the area for at least 140 years. Several other hot days occurred, and of the 5 other days with maxima above 30 Celsius (86F), there were 2 with highs exceeding 33 Celsius (91F). On the 8th a temperature of 33.5 Celsius (92F) was recorded, with 33.7 Celsius (92F) measured on the 11th. On most days (19) the highest temperatures were between 20 and 25 Celsius (68-77F), but some cooler days occurred after mid month, and on 4 days the temperature remained below 20 Celsius (68F). The 19th and 27th were 2 of these cooler days, but the lowest maxima were on the 29th and 30th with highs of 17.7 Celsius (64F) and 18.7 Celsius (66F) respectively.
Many warm nights occurred during August, and on 4 nights, the 8th, 10th, 11th and 13th, minimum temperatures were above 20 Celsius (68F). The 8th was the warmest night with a low of 21.8 Celsius (71F). This was the highest August minimum temperature in Shoreham since 1995. A further 18 nights had minimum temperatures above 15 Celsius (59F), including 6 nights when values stayed above 18 Celsius (64F). No particularly cold nights occurred, but during the first and last weeks of August there were 4 nights with minima below 12 Celsius (54F). Of the 2 during the first week, the 4th was coolest with a low of 10.7 Celsius (51F), and in the last week the 31st was coolest with a minimum of 9.3 Celsius (49F).
The sea temperature was around 18 or 19 Celsius (64-66F) at the beginning and end of August, but during the second, third and fourth weeks the sea temperature was as high as 20 or 21 Celsius (68-70F).
Frost
No frost occurred during August. The lowest grass temperature was 6.1 Celsius (43F) on the 31st.
Rain
Rainfall in August amounted to 74.0 millimetres (2.9 ins.). This was slightly above monthly average. There were 13 days of measurable rain, and that was 1 day below average. No measurable rain fell during the first 10 days of August, and the first 15 days of the month only yielded 2.2 millimetres (0.09 ins.). However, on the 16th a total of 19.9 millimetres (0.8 ins.) were recorded, and apart from the last 2 days of the month, only 2 completely dry days occurred after the 16th. Much of the rain was light, but there were several heavier bursts giving quite substantial totals, including 6.1 millimetres (0.25 ins.) on the 17th, 9.8 millimetres (0.4 ins.) on the 19th, 14.2 millimetres (0.55 ins.) on the 24th, and 12.1 millimetres (0.5 ins.) on the 27th.
Hail
No hail was observed in this part of Shoreham during August.
Thunder
There were 2 days with thunder in Shoreham during August. For almost 4 hours thunder and lightning occurred on the evening of the 12th. However, almost all the activity was to the east and southeast of Shoreham apart from during the last 30 minutes of the storm when some thunder and lightning was observed to the north and northwest. Overall, the storms only produced 0.4 millimetres (0.02 ins.) of rain. On the afternoon of the 16th lightning and thunder occurred, with local ground strikes at the harbour arm, near Lancing College, and at the appropriately named Thundersbarrow Hill, on the Downs behind Shoreham.
Snow
No sleet or snow fell during August.
Wind
August was another ‘westerly’ month with winds from the southwest, west or northwest recorded on around two thirds of the days. During the second week of the month winds were mostly from between southeast and northeast and this coincided with the hot weather. There were some onshore sea breezes, but on the hottest day, the 9th, although a light southerly sea breeze affected Shoreham Airport and lowered the temperature from 33 Celsius (91F) to 30 Celsius (86F) for a while in the afternoon, the breeze failed to reach this part of central Shoreham and the temperature continued to rise to a stifling 35.4 Celsius (96F). Generally, winds were light during the first half of August, but were fresh, occasionally strong, after mid month. On the 25th winds were exceptionally strong for August with southwesterly gales during the afternoon and evening. At Shoreham Airport, there were no gusts above 30 knots (34 mph) during the first 20 days of the month, but southwesterly winds increased in the early hours of the 21st, peaking at 36 knots (41 mph) around mid morning. It stayed windy through the rest of the day, but it was a gentle breeze compared with the storm that appeared on the 25th. For much of the day, and well into the night gusts exceeded 30 knots (34 mph) and on several occasions 40 knots (46 mph) were recorded. The top gust was 51 knots (58 mph) and this was the highest August gust in Shoreham for 28 years. Southwesterly gusts reached 32 knots (37 mph) on the afternoon of the 26th, with 34 knots (39 mph) occurring in the evening on the 27th. Finally, a northerly wind produced a gust of 31 knots (34 mph) late on the morning of the 30th.
Fog
There was no fog observed in this part of Shoreham during August, although both the 14th and 15th were quite misty, especially during the mornings.
Statistics for August 2020
| Reporting Station | Highest Temp | Lowest Temp | Rain Total (mm) | Wettest | Rain days |
| Shoreham Airport | 33.2 | 8.9 | 47 | 13 | 12 |
| Thorney Island | 33.1 | 9.4 | 72 | 22 | 16 |
| Farnborough | 35.2 | 5.3 | 85 | 35 | 13 |
| Herstmonceux | 34.5 | 8.8 | 47 | 12 | 13 |
| Bournemouth (Hurn) | 32.9 | 6.4 | 102 | 30 | 13 |
| Middle Wallop | 33.9 | 8.8 | 103 | 23 | 16 |
| Dieppe | 32.1 | 11.5 | 43 | 17 | 14 |