Saturday 7th March
Friday was the coldest day since 19th February thanks to a brisk breeze from the north and the total absence of any sunshine under low cloud. The peak of 7.5C was 3.3C below average, the first below average maximum since 19th February. There was little variation overnight as the cloud cover persisted producing a minimum of 5.8C at 06.08 early Saturday, which was 3.2C above average. Light rain began to fall at 14.30, and persisted until 19.00, amounting to 3.0mm thanks to a large area of rain drifting up from France.

Saturday revealed another misty start to the new day with low, thick cloud masking the Marlborough Downs and Savernake Forest. A warm front is responsible that will amble across the country during daylight hours. This will result in a maximum higher than on Friday but about average as the wind has veered into the east and coming from the Continent rather than an element of cooler air from Scandinavia, as yesterday.

The weekend and into Monday will bring little sunshine as the likelihood is for much cloud to persist. However, as the wind will veer further, to come from the southeast, the maximum will rise a little above average for early March. By Tuesday the repositioning of the very large area of high pressure over eastern Europe will result in the wind coming from the southwest with the possibility of a distinct change in the weather pattern of late to bring sunshine and showers.