Author: Eric Gilbert

At last we had a warm day on Tuesday as the wind from the east was light, a slightly warmer direction than from the north east, and we received 8.1 hours of sunshine. As a result the thermometer rose to a maximum of 18.4C, which was 4.3C above average and the warmest day since 22nd September.

After ten consecutive nights with air frost the thermometer did not fall below zero during the past night. However the minimum of 1.6C was still 2.5C below average.

We have now endured ten consecutive nights with air frosts. I have so far recorded 14 nights in April when an air frost occurred. This is exceptional as the average over the past 37 years is 5.2.

Wednesday saw weak sunshine after dawn as the advance thin, high cloud from an advancing weather front drifted down from the north.

As a result of a light wind from a southerly quarter on Monday, combined with 10.5 hours of sunshine, the thermometer rose to a maximum of 17.3C. This was 3C above the 37-year average and the warmest day since 29th September.

The sun is getting stronger as the UV level on Monday rose to a peak of 5.1 taking it into the ‘High’ classification and not seen since 10th September.

The equivalent rainfall of over 3mm is now being lost to the atmosphere daily due to evaporation from ground sources and plant life. The total lost this month is 37mm against rainfall of just 7.4mm.

Yet another air frost occurred overnight, with a minimum of -1.0C, which was 5.1C below average. The hours of sub-zero temperature were limited to just 3 hours last night as against previous nights when between 6 and 7 hours were logged and much more severe air frosts.

On Sunday we enjoyed 9.7 hours of sunshine that thanks to a light breeze, maximum gust of 13mph, saw the thermometer climb to 15.5C. This was only the second above average maximum this month (+1.3C).

We have now had 15 days without measurable rainfall with the monthly total still standing at 7.4mm when the 37-year average is 58.5mm. No rain is in the immediate forecast.

Under clear skies overnight another hard air frost set in with the thermometer sinking to -2.6C at 06.19 on Monday.

Monday arrived with sunshine after sunrise and the thermometer recovering more quickly than on Sunday with a temperature of 4.1C at 08.00, the warmest at that time since the 9th.

Saturday brought us wall to wall sunshine totalling 10.6 hours that in the less brisk northeast cool airstream, lifted the thermometer to a maximum of 13.7C. This peak was 3C up on the Friday high but still 0.6C below average.

We have now had enjoyed 14 days without rain. However, after two below average rainfall months of February and April the ground is looking a little dry. Evaporation from ground sources and plant life on Saturday reached 3.1mm with the total loss of equivalent rainfall for April now 31.2mm against the limited rainfall of just 7.4mm. Currently there is no rain I. the forecast for the week ahead.

Overnight the thermometer fell away to a minimum of -1.7C, which was 2C less severe than previous nights but still 5.8C below the 37-year average.

Sunday started sunny but a band of cloud obscured the sun just before 07.30 that limited the temperature recovery to a reading of 1.1C at 08.00. However just after 08.00 the cloud bank eased away and as the sun rose higher, it became stronger again.

After a sunny start cloud drifted across the sky on Friday obscuring the sun that became sunny intervals in the afternoon. As a result of fewer hours of sunshine, 5.1 hours, and the wind still from the north east if not so strong, the thermometer rose slowly to a maximum of 10.6C. This was 3.7C below average and follows the succession of 11 continuous below average maxima.

There followed another very cold night with a minimum of -3.5C that produced a hard frost again.

It is interesting to see how the warmth is easing away over the past three days with maxima of 12.8C, 11.2C and 10.6C respectively with minima of -2.9C, -3,1C and -3.5C. Not surprisingly the soil temperature at a depth of 5cm recording 3.4C, 3.3C and 2.8C today, all read at 08.00. T

Saturday arrived with string sunshine from dawn that lifted the thermometer above freezing at 07.11 and 2.3C at 08.00.