Wet, Cool and Windy
Temperatures
The average maximum temperature during July 2023 in Shoreham was 21.2 Celsius (70F), and that was more than 2 Celsius (4F) below normal for the time of year. The average minimum temperature was 14.4 Celsius (58F), which was less than 0.5 Celsius (<1F) below average for July. Overall, it was the coolest July for 11 years.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 28.9 Celsius (84F) on the 7th, but the next warmest day was the 8th, with a high of 24.7 Celsius (76F), followed by the 1st and 10th, with these days both having highs of 23.3 Celsius (74F). Only 2 more days had maxima above 22 Celsius (72F), with the vast majority of days having highs ranging from 19 to 22 Celsius (66-72F). There were 3 exceptions, these all occurring during the last week of the month. On the 27th, a maximum of 18.3 Celsius (65F) occurred, with 18.5 Celsius (65F) and 18.4 Celsius (65F), on the 30th and 31st respectively.
There were no especially warm nights during July, although the temperature on the 8th only fell to 19.8 Celsius (68F), and for much of that night the temperature stayed between 22 and 24 Celsius (72-75F). The next warmest night was on the 28th with a low of 17.4 Celsius (63F), but there were a further 13 nights with minimum temperatures above 15 Celsius (59F). The remainder of the nights had minima between 11 and 15 Celsius (52-59F) but 4 exceptions occurred. The 5th, 7th and 18th each had minima between 10 and 11 Celsius (50-52F), but the 26th had a low of 9.4 Celsius (49F), making it the coolest night of the month.
The sea temperature was 18 or 19 Celsius (64-66F) throughout the month.
Frost
There were no air or grass frosts during July. The lowest grass temperature was 6.1 Celsius (43F) on the 26th.
Rain
Rainfall in July amounted to 88.4 millimetres (3.5 ins.), which was around double the monthly average. It was the wettest July in the area since 2012. Measurable rain fell on 14 days, which was 5 days above the average, and wet days (when 1 millimetre (0.04 ins.), or more, of rain falls) numbered 8, which was 1 day above the average. The first 2 days of the month were dry, but light showers on the 3rd gave 0.2 millimetres (0.01 ins.), followed by heavier showers and some more prolonged rain on the 4th which yielded 8.4 millimetres (0.3 ins.). Showery bursts of rain gave 4.6 millimetres (0.2 ins.) on the 8th, and heavier rain on the 14th produced 11.4 millimetres (0.45 ins.) No significant rain fell during the following week, but heavy rain and drizzle occurred at times on the 22nd to give a total of 20.0 millimetres (0.79 ins.). Although some dry weather occurred, the remainder of the month was changeable and, at times, wet. On the 24th, rainfall amounted to 6.4 millimetres (0.25 ins.) , and another 28 millimetres (1.1 ins.) were measured on the 26th. Further, mostly light, rain fell during the rest of the month. On the 30th 5.4 millimetres (0.2 ins.) were measured, with 3 millimetres (0.12 ins.) on the last day of July.
Hail
No hail was observed in this part of Shoreham.
Thunder
Thunder occurred from around mid morning until early afternoon on the 8th, although amounts of rain associated with the storm cells were mainly small.
Snow
There was no sleet or snow observed in this part of Shoreham.
Wind
Apart from 2 days during the first week, winds during July blew from between southwest and northwest, and southwesterly winds outnumbered the northwesterlies by a ratio of 2 to 1. Winds were unusually strong for the time of year, and even on fine days, fresh or strong sea breezes occurred on many afternoons. At Shoreham Airport, southwesterly winds gusted to 37 knots (42 mph) in the afternoon on the 3rd, with gusts to 31 knots (35 mph) from a similar direction on the afternoon of the 5th. Although, breezy on most afternoons, the next gusts above 30 knots (34 mph) did not occur until the 12th, when 32 knots (36 mph) were recorded during the afternoon. A gust of 33 knots (38 mph) occurred on the evening of the 14th, with 43 knots (49 mph) on the following evening, again from the southwest. The strong winds continued into the 16th with 36 knots (41 mph) occurring in the early hours. Southwesterly winds gusted above 30 knots (34 mph) during the afternoon and evening on the 22nd, peaking at 36 knots (41 mph) at midnight. It remained breezy, but gusts stayed below 30 knots (34 mph) until the 27th, when overnight gusts reached 32 knots (37 mph). The 29th was mostly sunny, but the southwesterly sea breeze spoiled the day, with gusts in the afternoon reaching 31 knots (35 mph). The windy theme continued until the end of the month with gusts reaching 34 knots (39 mph) in the evening of the 30th, and 35 knots (40 mph) in the early hours of the 31st.
Fog
It was often misty with low cloud covering hill tops in association with the drizzly spells.
Statistics for July 2023
| Reporting Site | Highest Temp | Lowest Temp | Rain Total (mm) | Wettest | Rain days |
| Shoreham A/P | 27.1 | 8.6 | 94 | 32 | 18 |
| Thorney Island | 26.6 | 9.4 | 99 | 31 | 18 |
| Gatwick A/P | 29.8 | 7.1 | 102 | 27 | 21 |
| Herstmonceux | 29.8 | 8.7 | 117 | 32 | 17 |
| Bournemouth (Hurn) | 26.4 | 6.7 | 127 | 24 | 19 |
| Middle Wallop | 27.4 | 8.5 | 131 | 24 | 20 |
| Dieppe | 30.2 | 11.1 | 110 | 22 | 22 |
- Rainfall totals unreliable for all stations