Wednesday 14th October
Tuesday began with the weather front crossing our area that deposited 2.6mm of precipitation. By 09.30 the back edge of the cloud eased away eastwards and the sun began to break through giving us a fine day although variable cloud arrived in the afternoon. The thermometer peaked early at 13.38, with a maximum of 18.3C due to the increase in cloud, which was 3.4C above average.
The sky cleared during the evening, that combined with calm conditions, the anemometer became stationary after 22.00, meant a cold night. The thermometer dropped to a low of 6.3C at 07.21 early Wednesday, which was 1.2C below average.
First light on Wednesday revealed that due to the humidity, following the rain on Tuesday combined with low temperatures, moisture had condensed forming radiation fog in the River Og and River Kennet valleys. The fog had all but dispersed by 08.00 as the sun rose over the horizon and the temperature crept up 0.3C from its minimum. The barometric pressure has been rising since yesterday so a fine, warm, dry and sunny day ahead, as it will be tomorrow.
The flow of very warm air will continue for the next two days, however, it will be all change by Friday. Late Thursday the forecast pressure charts indicate that the high pressure over the Continent will slowly relocate westwards to form an intense anticyclone over the Atlantic. This will result in the air steam flowing around the northern boundary of the high pressure, originating just south of Iceland, which will arrive on a north or northeasterly breeze over the weekend. The daytime temperatures will drop significantly from the highs of this week to be close to the average or perhaps just below.
There is little evidence of much rain until next week and even then it looks as if it will be light and minimal in quantity.
October weather extremes: from late warmth to early winter
Author: Met Office
Tue, 13 Oct 2026
October is a month of transition for the UK, capable of producing conditions that feel like an extension of summer as well as an early taste of winter.
Historical records show just how varied the month can be, with exceptional warmth, sharp frosts, heavy rain, powerful winds and even significant snowfall all featuring among the UK’s October weather extremes.
The figures are based on data from MIDAS. Other records from historical sites, particularly before 1960, may differ.
Temperatures close to 30°C
The UK’s highest October temperature is 29.9°C, recorded at Gravesend in Kent on 1 October 2011. The same spell also produced England’s highest minimum temperature for the month, with temperatures at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire falling no lower than 18.6°C during the 24 hours to 0900 on 1 October.
Elsewhere, Wales reached 28.2°C at Hawarden Airport in Flintshire on 1 October 2011.
Scotland’s October record is 27.4°C at Tillypronie in Aberdeenshire on 3 October 1908, while Northern Ireland reached 24.1°C at Strabane in County Tyrone on 10 October 1969.
Mild nights are also possible, particularly when warm air is accompanied by cloud and wind.
The UK’s highest October daily minimum is 19.4°C, recorded at Aber in Gwynedd on 1 October 1985. On the same date, Aghanloo in County Londonderry recorded Northern Ireland’s highest daily minimum for the month, at 16.6°C.
