Author: Eric Gilbert

Tuesday proved a cloudy and dull day with drizzle on and off, especially during the afternoon, that by late afternoon turned to very brief, light rain amounting to 0.3mm. That additional precipitation took the monthly rainfall to 65.4mm, average is 65.6mm, but evaporation of 64.7mm now close to actual rainfall. Due to the overcast conditions the UV high of just 2,3 was in the Low category, the lowest since 6th May.

Although the airstream was predominantly from the southwest on Tuesday the temperatures by day and night were depressed, overnight due to a clearing sky with a maximum of 18.3C (-4.3C) and minimum of 7.8C (-.0C).

Wednesday brought us variable sunshine to start the day. With the centre of the depression now over the northern North Sea the breeze is likely to come from the northwest or west northwest.

The sunshine was limited on Monday due to the cool breeze coming between westnorthwest and northwest that restricted the warmth to a maximum of 19.3C, which was 3.3C below the 39-year average. But it was dry.

The past night was the warmest for five days with the thermometer not dropping below 12.8C, which was 1C above the average.

The rainfall total for August is 65.1mm, just 0.4mm below average. However, there has been an equivalent loss of rainfall through evaporation from ground sources and plant life of 62.8mm, just in excess of the rainfall.

Tuesday arrived with total cloud cover due the near presence of a depression to the north of the UK. As a result there will be minimal sunshine today and a breeze from the southwest or west.

Sunday, although we had intermittent sunshine, was another cooler day. The air behind the recent cool front has seen temperatures by day drop steadily, 25.0C, 19.8C, 19.1C respectively with 18.6C on Sunday, which was 4.1C below the average. However, in the sunshine the UV level was at the top end of High and it was dry.

Overnight was another cool night with a minimum of 9.6C. This was 2.2C below the avenge but 2.2C above the very cool start to Sunday morning.

Monday revealed a cloudy start to the day but just before 07.00 the cloud began to thin and clear with strong sunshine from 07.25 lifting the temperature to 14.7C at 08.00 thanks to a temporary ridge of high pressure, which has risen 7mb since Saturday morning. However, shortly after 08.00 cloud could be seen easing towards us from the north that by 08.25 had totally obscured the sun.

The monthly rainfall total is 65.1mm, just 0.4mm below the 39-year average.

Th temperatures on Saturday began to slide downwards under the cooler airstream with a maximum of only 19.1C, which was 3.5C below average and the second coolest day this month. The clear skies overnight saw the thermometer drop to a low of 7.4C. This minimum was a significant 4.4C below the 39-year average and the coldest night since 21st July (6.1C), a touch of early autumn perhaps?

Welcome sunshine was seen as soon as the sun rose above the horizon on Sunday that lifted the temperature to 12.6C by 08.00. The soil temperature at a depth of 5cm at 08.00 read 13.3C, the coolest since 3rd June, not good for the runner beans and dahlias. The wind is forecast to veer a few degrees into the westnorthwest as Sunday progress, an even cooler direction.

The six consecutive days without rain were the longest dry period since the beginning of June. Sadly, low pressure systems have now taken over our weather with a low just off the east coast of Scotland that in the last day has produced three short showers amounting to 1.2mm.

A cold front passed over the UK early on Friday, hence the depressed temperatures in the cooler air. The maximum of 19.8C was the coolest day since the 6th and 2.8C below the average. Likewise the minimum of 10.8C was below average (-1.0C).

Saturday revealed a cloudy start to the day after a light shower occurred at 05.00.