GLOOMY skies and heavy rain made June a wet month in Weymouth and Dorchester.

Latest statistics for the towns show that rainfall was twice the average while the sun stayed hidden.

One deluge in Weymouth on June 14 saw half the average rainfall for the month achieved in around an hour.

After a sunny beginning this set the pattern for a wet second half of the month.

But the cloud did help to keep temperatures slightly above average.

Weymouth weatherman Bob Poots said: "June started as she is supposed to do, 12 sunny and warm days, a welcome change from the last week of May.

"Showers started to upset the bliss on June 13.

"The second half of the month saw showers of rain on most days, and very little sunshine, although most days had either bright or sunny periods."

In total 101.2mm of rain fell in Weymouth in June - compared to the average of 47mm.

Just over 20mm fell on the 13th and 26.1mm fell on the 30th.

When it was not raining, the skies were dark.

Sunshine failed to reach the average of 214 hours, recording 190 hours and 24 minutes.

Thunder was recorded on three occasions and fog on June 30.

There were no gales but there were strong winds. The highest gust was 55mph on the 13th.

The average maximum temperature was slightly above normal at 18.4C.

There was a similar pattern in Dorchester, where maximum temperatures for the first 12 days peaked at 25.2C on the 9th.

But the weather became unsettled on the 13th.

Dorchester weather watcher John Oliver said: "Daytime temperatures dropped back by several degrees but predominantly cloudy skies prevented the mercury falling much at night.

"Thunder was heard around midnight on the 14th and again on the 19th.

"The coolest and wettest conditions were reserved for the last week of the month.

"The maximum temperature on the 24th was just 16C and on the 30th, 29.3mm of rain was recorded."

He said rain fell on 13 days and amounted to 109.4mm.

This is the highest June total since 1991 and the seventh highest in the last 100 years.

Mr Oliver said: "Despite the cool end to the month, it was the fifth consecutive warmer than average June.

"Night temperatures were 2C above the average at 11.7C - the highest since 1976.

"Day temperatures were 0.8C above average at 20C."