The significant feature on Sunday, weather wise, was the ‘Very High’ UV level with a value of 6.7, the highest since 15th August last year. The very high level occurred in the bursts of strong sunshine, not continuous, until just after 14.00. The maximum of 18.9C was logged at 15.19 being 1.6C above average. The past night was little cooler, although still above average (+2.4C), with a minimum of 9.4C at 05.35 just after sunrise in Marlborough at 05.02. The other significant feature was the strength of the wind with a maximum gust of 24mph, logged at 10.02, the strongest this month.
There was another splash of rain that triggered the automatic rain gauge at 02.39 early this morning amounting to just 0.7mm, another splash that evaporated very quickly after sunrise.
Monday revealed broken cloud and bursts of sunshine that had lifted the thermometer to 12.2C by 08.00. The depression to the north of the UK will continue to feed a predominantly southwesterly unsettled airstream over the UK that as the temperatures rises, will likely trigger some shower activity, but no consistent heavy rain likely.
We are all aware of the very dry months of Spring 2025. Set against my 41-year average, March gave us just 9%, April 20% and May to date is just 15%. This has resulted in a deficit of 154.7mm compared to the average over the three months with just six days left in the season. Although shower activity is forecast in the unsettled weather for the reminder of the month at the moment the only possibility of any substantial rain is likely to be later on Tuesday, but quantities are uncertain. Whilst the rain has been minimal, there has been an equivalent loss of rainfall totalling 223.5mm through evaporation from plant life and the ground due to the many hours of strong sunshine and brisk winds.
Bowood Homes and Gardens: The images this week were taken at Bowood near Calne in Wiltshire, which is a Grade 1 listed Georgian house set in extensive grounds designed by Lancelet “Capability” Brown.