After the warmest June on record, July has been more autumn like with blustery winds and heavy rain showers. High temperatures are forecast for Friday (July 7), but the good weather is only going to last one day before another cold front brings yet more unsettled weather.
Temperatures in some parts of Wales reached more than 30C degrees on some days in June, and Porthmadog was the hottest place in the UK on several occasion. Find out why here.
But at the start of July, they have struggled to get above 20C, with many pointing out we often find the weather in July goes downhill after good weather in May and June. The Met Office long range forecast to the start of August also says there is "no extreme or prolonged heat is signalled at this stage".
When asked on social media for an explanation, BBC Wales weather presenter Derek Brockway puts it down to the "return of the westerlies".
He said: "It often changes in July after a good spell in May and June. Seen it happen in numerous summers over the years. And the Welsh for July is Gorffennaf which means 'end of summer'. August is the wettest summer month on average in Wales and autumnal."
The presenter referred to an explanation from BBC meteorologist Paul Hudson, who said: "It's at this time of year that climatologist Professor Lamb's work is of interest.He studied 100 years of weather patterns to determine whether any repeated themselves. One of the patterns which Lamb discovered is called the 'return of the westerlies', during the second half of June.
"It describes a resumption of an unsettled and changeable pattern of weather, with areas of low pressure and associated rain-bearing weather fronts spreading eastwards across the UK from the Atlantic. This follows a period through late spring and early summer when westerly winds are at their weakest."
The Met Office forecast for Wales this weekend is changeable after highs of 26°C on Friday.
It says: "Cloud and patchy rain clearing and winds easing through the morning on Friday leaving plenty of sunshine, particularly into the afternoon. Feeling warm in the sun. Maximum temperature 26 °C.
"Feeling warm and remaining unsettled into the weekend with spells of rain and thunderstorms, and strengthening winds. Winds easing on Sunday and turning fresher from the west."
The long-range forecast for the whole of the UK from Monday, July 10, to Wednesday, July 19, is predicting more "unsettled conditions".
It says: "The start of this period is likely to see unsettled conditions established across the country, with showers or longer spells of rain for many, most frequent towards the west. Showers may be heavy and thundery at times. Often breezy, especially in the west.
"Temperatures are expected to be generally near average, perhaps locally above average in any drier and brighter spells, the best of which are likely towards the east. Further into this period, a gradual trend towards more settled weather for a time across the UK from the southwest is signalled, although likely only temporary with more generally unsettled conditions resuming towards the end of the period. Often breezy during unsettled conditions, with daytime temperatures generally around average, perhaps slightly below average for some."
There is some hope towards the end of July and into the start of August, with the long-range forecast saying: "There are signs of a trend from generally less settled conditions towards generally more settled conditions, with higher pressure perhaps more likely to develop close to the northwest of the UK. This would lead to a reduction in rainfall with average or drier than average conditions."
But there is a warning with this that predictability is "fairly low", and rain or showers are still possible.
