Although there were several hours of sunshine on Monday the very brisk wind, gusting to 22mph, from the north depressed the temperature. The maximum of 15.7C that occurred late in the afternoon at 16.37, was 1.4C below the May average. However, it was a welcome dry day with the UV level reaching into the ‘High; category for the second day.
The clear sky overnight also calm without any wind meant the thermometer dropped steadily away to reach a low of 2.9C at 05.52 before the sun rose. This minimum was 3.9C below the 39-year average and the coldest night since 27th April.
The start to Tuesday was a glorious beginning with blue sky and strong sunshine in calm conditions before 07.00. By 08.00 a light breeze had sprung up, still from a northerly quadrant, but edging today towards a more westerly component. The anticyclone has edged closer to the UK, its centre just off the west coast of Ireland, will mean a more settled day with sunshine but perhaps cloud springing up as the warmth increases due to the strong sunshine. The thermometer had recovered to 10.4C at 08.00.
Because the high pressure has edged towards the UK the barometric pressure reading at 08.00 was the highest this month with a pressure of 1026.8mb.
After the rain on Sunday night the sunshine and drying wind have meant that the evaporation rate has increased. The last two days have seen the equivalent loss of 3mm or more of rainfall from ground sources and plant life.