Sunny June creates feel good factor

LERWICK was the second sunniest place in the whole of the UK in June.

The town basked in 226.2 hours of sun during the month, with the isles as a whole experiencing the largest percentage increase on average sunshine in the entire country.

The isles’ capital was only bettered by the Valley region in northwest Wales, which had just 4.6 hours more sun.

It was also Lerwick’s sunniest June since 2009, when it recorded 269 hours of sunshine.

The average sunshine for Shetland in June is 143.9 hours.

There was less cloud in northern regions of the UK due to a flow, which brought in clearer air from the arctic, letting Shetland bask in swathes of sun.

“During June the flow to the UK was often coming from the south east,” the Met Office’s Alexander Burkill said.

“This brought warm and humid air with heavy thundery downpours for much of England and Wales. As air travels over land it can lose some of its moisture and as such the further ‘down stream’ you are the less cloud you are likely to see.

“This is why northern parts, and north western parts in particular, saw the best of the sunshine.”

One person who in particular benefited from the sun was Gary Williams, who runs the ice cream van Mr Stripey.

He hailed the “feel good factor” the weather brought to the isles as people cooled off with frozen snacks.

“It was one of the best summers for me so far,” Williams said. “The cruise ships were pretty good as well.

“I think people were glad to see me parked in town during the day.”

The weather in Shetland this summer has been a stark contrast to last year, when high levels of rainfall and a cold climate caused headaches for local crofters and farmers.