Author: Eric Gilbert

Although sunshine was reduced on Monday the south-southeasterly airflow meant the thermometer climbed to 11.4C at 14.57, which was 3.4C above the average and the warmest day since 5th January. The overnight minimum of 4.8C occurred at 00.12 in the early hours of Tuesday, which was 3.2C above the average.

The lower temperature overnight allowed fog to form that as dawn lifted revealed reduced visibility to 200m. However, ust after 07.30 it was observed the fog was beginning to thin that by 08.00 had raised visibility to 500m.

Tuesday also arrived with calm conditions due to the continuing influence of the high pressure, which is slowly migrating eastwards over Europe that will maintain the airflow from the southeast quadrant.

Ww have now had 13 continuous dry days in February with evaporation from ground sources and plant life minimal at this time of year, due to low temperatures and minimal wind, but already has produced a deficit of 7mm of equivalent lost rainfall.

Sunday was a repeat of Saturday and` Friday with continuous thick cloud.The significant difference was the change in wind direction to SE, although it continued calm with a maximum air movement of just 14mph but often periods of total calm.

There was nit a lot of variation between day and night extreme with a maximum of 9.1C and minimum of 5.4C.

Monday began as the two previous days, calm and cloudy. The blocking high pressure is still keeping weather fronts, and any rain, at bay as we have now had seventeen continuously dry days.

The cloud cover was total for all of Saturday with no sunshine although the temperature did rise to a maximum of 9.9C been 2C above the 39-year average and the warmest day since the 3rd.

The temperature very slowly dropped away continuously after the peak at 13.30 to reach a low f 5.8C at 07.50 on Sunday, which was 4.2C above the average.

Sunday was a repeat start of the day with thick, low cloud. The high pressure is still in control so another calm day with a mild, moist air stream.

The air movement on Friday was from the southwest and west, a mild, moist air stream. As a result, the daytime maximum of 8.7C, after the sever frost, was 0.7C above the average whilst due to thick cloud cover, the minimum of 6.3C at 01.09 early Saturday was also above average (+4.7C). The was the first frost free night for a week.

Friday was another dry day and the UV level of 1.8, still classed as ‘Low’, was the strongest since 25th October.

Saturday dawned dull and gloomy due to the thick cloud cover with the thermometer having recovered to 7.4C.

The sun arrived after midday on Thursday that helped the thermometer rise to 9.5C being 1.5C above the 39-year average. Another dry day under the extensive high pressure.

Early evening the temperature began to fall steadily passing 0C at 21.15 and reaching a minimum of -4.5C at 05.27 on Friday.

Friday brought sunshine after the sun got up. However, it will become slowly cloudier as the morning wears on as a warm front passes over the area from the northwest. At the same time the high pressure is slowly sinking south that will mean change in wind direction. The air movement will come from the southwest or west-southwest bringing slightly warmer air and probably no overnight frost tonight also due to cloud cover.