Author: Eric Gilbert

The thermometer rose to 13.9C at 11.54 during Wednesday to fall back a little in the afternoon to 11.9C. This peak was 5.9C above the 37-year average but not a record as in December 2015 a maximum of 14.4C was recorded on two days, 18th and 19th. This warmth is being brought from the Azores in mid-atlantic on a strong southwesterly breeze.

During the late evening the temperature began to climb again to reach 13.2C and stay there all night, which was an exceptional 10.9C above the average.

Another 2.9mm of rainfall was recorded that brought the monthly total 65.1mm, which is still 27mm below the average.

Thursday arrived with more thick cloud and the wind continuing to blow from the southwest with a peak gust of 33mph.

The ground temperature at a depth of 5cm has recovered from a low of 1.3C on the 9th to 11.6C today.

Although the maximum of 10.6C on Tuesday was almost a degree below the Monday peak it was 2.6C abbe the 37-year average. Broken sunshine occurred late morning and early afternoon that was boo welcome after the day of monotonous thick, low cloud.

The thermometer dipped to 7.1C at 22.40 before slowly climbing again t0 read 8.8C at 08.00 on Wednesday.

Rain commenced again just after 04.15 on Wednesday that measured 6.5mm and brought the monthly total to 62.2mm, still 30mm below the December average.

Wednesday dawned with the familiar low, thick cloud dominating the sky and rain returned just before 08.00.

The southerly breeze brought even more warmth on Monday that saw the thermometer rise to 11.2C being 3.2C above the average and the warmest day since the 15th. More rain, principally overnight, amounted to 9.8mm, the second wettest day this month and brought the monthly total to 56.7mm, being 35mm below the 37-year average.

The thermometer dud not fall below 8.1C overnight due to the persistent thick cloud, which was 6.9C above the average.

The centre of the depression has relocated to the southern North Sea, as a result the wind has backed from the south to the west and increased in strength with a gust of 29mph at 08.10 on Tuesday morning that dawned with much higher cloud and increased visibility over previous days.

After a cloudy morning on Boxing Day weak, very welcome, sunshine broke through just after 14.00 with glimpses of blue sky. The thermometer rose above average (+1.7C) peaking at 9.7C in the predominantly southwesterly air movement in the afternoon.

The thermometer fell slowly in the evening to reach a minimum of 2.9C at 20.05 before making a slow recovery.

Monday arrived, didn’t dawn, with thick, low cloud and rain that began falling at 07.45 as a warm front approached and crossed the area. The centre of the low pressure at 08.00 was off the south coast of Ireland and as it approaches the UK we are seeing a fall in pressure. At 08.00 the barometric pressure was 992.2mb, the lowest since the 7th. The wind direction on Monday will be predominantly from the south, a warm direction, that already has resulted in the thermometer recovering to 8.1C at 08.00.

During the past twenty-four hours another 10.1mm of precipitation has been recorded that brought the monthly total to 46.6mm when the 37-year average is 92.2mm.

There was little variation in the temperatures by day and night with a maximum of 8.5C on Christmas Day and early on Boxing Day a minimum of 6.1C. The small diurnal range (2.4C) has been due to the continuing thick cloud that precluded any sunshine to boost the temperature but by night provided a duvet to keep any warmth in.

Boxing Day arrived as many previous days with thick, low cloud and fog that has been limiting visibility to 400m. The very light breeze has veered from the southeast on Saturday to the southwest on Sunday.