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Heavy Hail

In July 1808, a damaging hailstorm hit the South WestΜύof England, primarily affecting Dorset, Somerset & Gloucestershire.

The storm first hit areas in the Sherborne/Templecombe area in late afternoon then moved (or developed) to reach Bristol mid-evening.

From reports at the time, the diameter of much of the hail was around 11cm, with much damage being recorded - including injury & death to people in the open.

If these reports are correct, then this 1808 hailstorm produced the largest hail diameters for Britain known.

Soggy Dorchester

On 18 July 1955, Martinstown near Dorchester had 27.9cm (over 11 inches) of rainfall, which is thought to be the highest within a 24 hour period for the UK.

Sunny Weymouth

Weymouth is one of the sunniest spots in the UK averaging between 1,600 and 2,000 hours of bright sunshine a year. In May of 1989 the seaside town had 322.9 hours of sunshine, the most of any month since records began in 1926.

Windy Portland

You often find a marked local increase in the wind flow around headlands (of at least one Beaufort force). Portland Bill is an extreme example of this effect. The highest mean hourly wind recorded there is 65 knots (over 70mph) in October 1967.