How the cool Bank Holiday weekend could dampen hopes of a record-breaking summer

Before the Bank Holiday weekend, East Anglia was on course to have its hottest summer on record but cooler temperatures may change that.

But the largely fine, dry and hot weather over June, July and August has given the tourist industry in the East of England a big boost.

Average temperatures since the start of June until Sunday 26 August 2018 were the highest on record beating the top three warmest summers in the region of 2003, 1976 and 2006.

However, with the cool weekend and temperatures forecast to be about around normal for the rest of August it is possible that 2018 will slide from its top spot in heatwave records.

It will still remain one of the hottest, driest and sunniest summers ever seen in the East of England.

July 2018 was the sunniest month on record in East Anglia.

The hottest day of summer in the Anglia region was 27 July when the thermometer hit 34.7°C (95°F) at Tibenham airfield in south Norfolk.

July was the sunniest on record in East Anglia will an average of 9½ hours of bright sunshine per day.

  • Watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Matthew Hudson on the impact of summer 2018 on the region's tourist industry

It was the driest June and July in East Anglia since 1921 with just 28 mm of rain during the two months which amounted to under a third of the normal rainfall.

It led to livestock and crops being hit by water shortages and fears about the rising price of food.

  • Watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Kate Prout on the impact of summer 2018 on the East coast tourist industry