The brisk westerly on Sunday allowed some sunshine in the cloud breaks, but it was a much cooler day than previously. The maximum of 13.3C was 0.8C below my 40-year average. The low of 6.8C was above average at +3.1C, and occurred just after midnight at 01.03. This was the turning point in the wind strength as after that time it began to increase in strength and stir up the atmosphere thus minimising the heat loss. The maximum gust of wind until around 04.00 was just 14mph but reached a peak of 25mph at 07.35 and forecast to increase further.
The distinct change in our weather is due to the depression, that has been centred around Iceland recently, moving down across the country today. The barometric pressure as a result is falling rapidly, down 19mb since Sunday and reading 1006.3mb at 08.00, a drop of 23mb since Friday. The relocation of the depression will also mean that the wind will veer from the west into the west-northwest or even northwest briefly today.
Monday dawned with intermittent spits and spots of rain observed at 06.00 and later. The rain radar indicates that the main rain band will arrive nearer 08.40.
The recent three dry days has seen the rate of evaporation from the ground and plant life exceed 2mm a day as the sun and breeze got to work with no rain.
