91Èȱ¬

Temperatures at Hawarden in Flintshire reached 25C this afternoon - the warmest day of the month so far but it's going to turn cooler over the next 24 hours with more rain and showers on the way.

Earlier today it felt very humid and some parts of the country were hit by torrential rain and thunderstorms causing flash flooding in some places.

There have also been reports of strange covering cars and windows.

The dust is actually sand which has come all the way from the Sahara, blown our way by winds high in the atmosphere.

This does happen from time to time - a nuisance but completely harmless.

The humid, muggy air is now moving away and it will turn cooler over the next 24 hours with fresher Atlantic air. Low pressure will bring more rain and strong/ gusty winds too.

The weekend will be mixed and breezy with showers, heavy in places but Sunday should be better; more places dry with more sunshine and the wind easing.

Yesterday Anglesey enjoyed nearly 11 hours of sunshine but it's all change again today with low pressure bringing yet more cloud, rain and drizzle in from the Atlantic.

The weather has been very topsy turvy so far this year...

After the warmest March in Wales for over 50 years, this was followed by one of the wettest Aprils on record.

Meanwhile April 2011 was the hottest since records began in 1910.

At Trawsgoed in Ceredigion over 177mm of rain (7 inches) has fallen making it the wettest June there since records began 58 years ago.

Philip Eden, who writes for the Sunday Telegraph, reckons that the first half of June across the UK was the wettest for 150 years.

While here in Wales, it's likely to be the wettest June since records began in 1910 beating the previous record of 183.1mm of rain in June 1998!

The jet stream (strong winds high in the atmosphere) is to blame for the inclement weather. It is further south than usual for this time of year and the weather pattern is stuck in a rut. Basically, Wales is in the wrong part of the roller coaster!

The jet stream (in blue) should normally be located much further north, between Iceland and Scotland.

You could call it bad luck but it does appear to be happening more and more often. The question is why?

The jet stream does vary naturally but is something else to blame?

This seems to be happening more often and it's well worth reading Paul Hudson's latest blog, my colleague at 91Èȱ¬ Look North in Leeds, to find out possible reasons why. One reason could be warming in the Arctic.

The next couple of days will be humid and the air moist which means plenty of low cloud, mist, hill and coastal fog.

Further rain is likely at times too which may be heavy and thundery on Thursday.

Some dry weather is expected too and where the sun comes out it will feel very warm and muggy with temperatures rising into the low 20's Celsius.

Friday will turn cooler with fresher Atlantic air. It will also be windy with showers or longer spells of rain.

The weekend looks mixed and breezy with sunny spells and showers. Top temperatures only 15 to 18C, 59 to 64F.

I am sure many people will be glad to see the back of June and praying for more sunshine in July.

However, it looks like the changeable weather will continue into the first half of next month with just a few fine and warm days in between the rain.

Derek

Once again, it feels more like autumn than summer with a deep area of low pressure bringing more heavy rain and strong winds to Wales.

The heaviest rain today has been in parts of mid Wales and the north and north-west with some rivers becoming swollen.

At the time of writing there are currently six flood alerts in force for Wales.

Wet weather in June may be disappointing but it's not that unusual. Since records began over 100 years ago, 38 June's in Wales have been wetter than normal.

The average June rainfall is 86.2mm and the wettest June was in 1998 when 183.1mm of rain fell.

I think we've seen the worst of the heavy rain for the time being but there is more heavy rain to come over the weekend.

Most of the rain is expected on Saturday evening; overnight into Sunday otherwise I can promise some dry and bright weather along with a few showers and some sunshine. It will be breezy with top temperatures 14 to 17 Celsius.

Next week, Monday will be largely dry and bright but there is more unsettled weather on the way.

It should, however, become a little warmer and humid. At the moment, the signs are that the changeable weather will continue well into July.

Derek

I've been out walking with Derek Brockway and the team recently, filming for Weatherman Walking, series 6 which will probably be on TV in January 2013.

Luckily we were blessed with some glorious summer weather as we walked a stunning part of the Carmarthenshire coast along the Loughor Estuary as far as the old harbour at Pembrey, just past Burry Port.

We met some truly inspirational people along the way and if you've not walked, cycled or skated this stretch of coast before, then I highly recommend it.

Glassy views over the Loughor Estuary on a calm, sunny day.

It's under an hour from Cardiff by car, just off the M4 and easily accessible by train and bus too.

The is ideal for walkers of all abilities and it's staggering to see what they've achieved there since 2000, when you consider the whole area was once a derelict industrial site - think Port Talbot being transformed into 'Teletubby land' and you get the picture.

Derek with local guide and wheelchair athlete, Ritchie Powell at Burry Port.

The 10 mile section of park is landscaped with rolling green hills, angling lakes and nature reserves such as the National Wetlands Centre and Pwll Lagoon.

The wetlands area and surrounding salt marshes are very important habitats and home to up to 50,000 waders each winter.

On a clear day you get stunning views over to north Gower and Whiteford Burrows lighthouse which is visible along the walk.

Burry Port was where Amelia Earhart's plane, Friendship was towed to, after landing in the estuary making her the first woman to fly across the Atlantic on June 17,1928.

Our second walk was closer to home as we visited Cardiff Bay to do a circular walk with TV presenter Frances Donovan - complete with Nordic walking sticks!

Frances Cottey tries to teach Derek Brockway the basics of Nordic walking

We began at Custom House in Penarth Marina and walked around the barrage visiting local iconic landmarks - The Senedd, The Pierhead Building, Whitewater Rafting Centre etc.

The new Doctor Experience opens in mid-July and occupies the strangely shaped large blue hangar over towards the Norwegian Church.

Rounding the St David's Spa Hotel we spent some time at the Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve - somewhere I'd never visited before.

It's not that big but packs a lot in to a small space - a green oasis surrounded by freshwater and the urban jumble of Cardiff Bay.

The warden mentioned that they have a large number of unusual species visiting the reserve which are not always easy to spot but rare bearded tits and water voles have been seen recently.

Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve

Warblers are out in force currently including Cett's, sedge and reed warbler as well as reed buntings and wildfowl including nesting great crested grebes.

When the sun comes out the dragonflies and butterflies arrive and it's well worth a walk if you're ever visiting Cardiff Bay.

From here we crossed over the busy road bridge back to Penarth, stopping off at the Whitewater Rafting Centre to film kayakers contorting their paddles, before making our way over the Pont y Werin footbridge to Penarth Marina and Custom House where we began.

If you're a keen walker then runs from 22 June to 1 July and is a ticketed event.

The guided walks cover a wide variety of terrains and topics taking in the local flora and fauna as well as hillforts, castles and plenty of stunning scenery - some of which we walked last year. Visit the website for more details.

We enjoyed some lovely weather today with temperatures in Cardiff rising to 22 Celsius, 72 Fahrenheit in Cardiff making it the warmest day of the month so far.

Today was also the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, with the sun overhead the Tropic of Cancer at 23:09 GMT.

Astronomically this signifies the start of summer in the northern hemisphere but it won't feel very summery over the next few days as the weather is about to change.

Pressure is falling and there's more heavy rain and showers on the way with strong winds and thunder possible too.

The Met Office has issued a couple of for heavy rain. Yellow means be aware.

On Friday the north, north west and Ceredigion are at risk from heavy, persistent rain which could lead to localised flooding and some rivers are likely become swollen again.

The wind will also be an issue on Friday (fresh to strong) with gusts reaching 45- 50mph on exposed coasts and hills.

You can keep up to date with any flood alerts or warnings that are issued on the .

The inclement weather (with below average temperatures) looks set to continue over the weekend with further showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times, but hopefully it will dry and brighten-up on Sunday afternoon with some sunshine.

It looks like the changeable/unsettled weather is set to continue into the start of July.

There is still no sign yet of any prolonged, settled weather on the horizon. Just the odd day or two of fine weather maybe three in a row if we're really lucky.

Derek

We enjoyed some lovely weather yesterday with temperatures in Cardiff rising to 22 Celsius, 72 Fahrenheit in Cardiff making it the warmest day of the month so far.

Yesterday was also the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, with the sun overhead the Tropic of Cancer at 23:09 GMT.

Astronomically this signifies the start of summer in the northern hemisphere but it won’t feel very summery over the next few days as the weather is about to change.

Pressure is falling and there's more heavy rain and showers on the way with strong winds and thunder possible too.

The Met Office has issued a couple of for heavy rain. Yellow means be aware.

On Friday the north, north west and Ceredigion are at risk from heavy, persistent rain which could lead to localised flooding and some rivers are likely become swollen again.

The wind will also be an issue on Friday (fresh to strong) with gusts reaching 45 - 50mph on exposed coasts and hills.

You can keep up to date with any flood alerts or warnings that are issued on the .

The inclement weather (with below average temperatures) looks set to continue over the weekend with further showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times, but hopefully it will dry and brighten-up on Sunday afternoon with some sunshine.

It looks like the changeable/unsettled weather is set to continue into the start of July.

There is still no sign yet of any prolonged, settled weather on the horizon. Just the odd day or two of fine weather maybe three in a row if we’re really lucky.

Derek

I think it's fair to say that summer hasn't got off to a great start this year with plenty of rain, strong winds and some flooding too. The first half of June has been cooler and wetter than average.

In Trawsgoed, Ceredigion over 171mm (6.7 inches) of rain has fallen so far this month which is more than double the June average of 78.5mm.

Thankfully, the next few days are looking more summery with a mixture of broken cloud and sunny spells. Wednesdayis likely to be the warmest day of the week with top temperatures 19 to 21 Celsius.

Coastal areas will enjoy the best for sunshine but it's not all plain sailing with a few scattered showers likely. One or two of these may be on the heavy side but they will be hit and miss with a lot of places staying dry.

Later in the week the weather looks like turning unsettled again with low pressure moving in from the Atlantic bringing yet more rain, heavy showers and strong winds.

The rest of the month looks changeable with the jet stream coming and going with low pressure alternating with high pressure.

Some days will be better than others but at the moment there is no sign of a repeat of the very warm and sunny weather we enjoyed in March and in late May.

What a day it's been today. More like autumn than summer. It's the worst storm to hit Wales in June since 2004!

Andrew Morgan sent to me on Twitter showing rough sea and waves at Bracelet Bay on Gower.

Shelley Page : waves crashing over the harbour wall in Porthcawl.

Elise Jenkins captured this fallen tree on the Taff Trail in Cardiff.

Fallen tree. Photo: Elise Jenkins

The strongest winds and gales have been in the south and west, especially on the coast. Mumbles Head in Swansea recorded a gust of 67mph. 50 to 75mm of rain (2 to 3 inches) has also fallen in places in the last day or so. So many rivers are swollen. At the time of writing, there is .

And we're not out of the woods yet. There is still a Met Office warning in force for both heavy rain and strong winds until midnight on Friday. Stormy weather at this time of year is not welcome but it does happen from time to time. You may remember the .

By 7am tomorrow morning the low pressure responsible for the inclement conditions will be over the North Sea so tomorrow the weather will gradually improve. Mid Wales and the north will start off cloudy with some rain but during the day, the rain will turn lighter and clear so the whole country will turn drier and brighter during the afternoon with some sunshine. The wind will continue to ease as well so feeling warmer than today. Top temperatures 14 to 17 Celsius.

I will be in Rhossili tomorrow to open the . After the weather we've had today, tomorrow will be lovely in comparison!

Tomorrow night I wouldn't rule out a shower in the south and west otherwise it should be dry. Some mist forming and quite cool as well. At the moment, I'm not 100% sure about how Sunday will turn out. There is a risk of some rain, especially in Mid Wales and the south but it may miss us. So keep an eye on the forecast over the weekend.

Next week looks mixed. Sunny spells and showers. Heavy downpours likely in places with thunder. But there is a hint of better weather later in the month so don't put the deckchair away just yet and enjoy the sunshine tomorrow.

So much for flaming June; flaming awful more like! If you think today is bad enough, there is worse to come. Wales is in the firing line for some stormy weather in the next 24 to 36 hours with a deep area of low pressure moving across the UK bringing heavy rain and , very unusual for this time of year.

Met Office weather chart for Friday 8 June 2012

The south and west will bear the brunt of the gales, especially on the coast and on high ground with gusts around 60mph or more in exposed locations. The wind could bring even down a few trees given they are in full leaf. Poor travelling conditions are likely too with a lot of surface water and spray on the roads and motorways.

50 to 100mm of rain (two to four inches) are possible on high ground in the south and west and parts of Mid Wales by the end of tomorrow. Rivers will become swollen and there is also a risk of some flooding on the Bristol Channel coast due to the combination of , and strong onshore winds.

Over the weekend, the weather will improve. Turning drier and brighter with some sunshine and lighter winds. Perhaps a few showers on Sunday.

The changeable/unsettled weather looks set to continue for at least the next 10 days with a mixture of sunshine, showers and longer spells of rain at times. Heavy downpours are likely in places with a risk of thunder. There is no sign yet of any prolonged settled weather on the horizon but some days will be better than others.

In the meantime, take care if you are travelling in the next 24 or 36 hours, we are in for a dose of rough weather! If you take any good pictures please send them in either by email to dereksdiary@bbc.co.uk or on . You never know, they may end up on the telly!

This is my first blog for a while. I've been away on holiday in Corsica. Actually, it was hotter in Wales while I was there. Porthmadog in Gwynedd was the hottest place in the UK on Sunday 27 May with a top temperature of 28 Celsius, 82 Fahrenheit.>

So after a very disappointing start, May turned out lovely with a heatwave. Infact it was the sunniest May in Wales since 2000! 77.4mm of rain fell, which is close to the monthly average of 80.7mm. The mean temperature was 10.9 Celsius slightly above the .

From a meteorological point of view, we are now into summer but it's going to feel more like autumn tomorrow and on Friday.

A deep area of low pressure is heading our way bringing plenty of wind and rain. On Friday strong to gale force winds are expected in the south and west which could bring down a few trees!

Pressure chart for Friday 8 June 2012

Into the weekend, the weather should improve on Saturday at least for a while but there is more wind and rain on the way. The unsettled weather looks set to continue until at least the middle of June but hopefully there will be an improvement later in the month although still not completely settled according to the Met Office.

In the meantime, keep the waterproofs and umbrella handy if you're heading to the near Caernarfon.