Author: Eric Gilbert

As Storm Erik eased away into the North Sea on Saturday we were left with sunshine and showers combined with blustery winds in localised squalls.

The 6.18 hours of sunshine, predominantly in the morning, allowed the thermometer to rise almost 2C above average with a maximum of 9.0C at 14.10. The peak gust was measured at 26mph.

There was a brief shower around 11pm last night with a rain band passing through just after 3am that in total gave us another 4.6mm of precipitation.

Just after 03.15 this morning the wind abruptly veered from the south west into the west and the thermometer fell a couple of degrees following a relatively warm night.

Sunday dawned dull with low cloud masking the Marlborough Downs from which much drizzle and light rain emanated. The minimum temperature was also above average with a low of 4.1C at 08.00.

Update on Sunday at 16.50: brisk westerly winds moderate temperature to a maximum of 6.9C, which was just below average, the first in a week.

Friday saw Storm Erik approaching the north of the UK with its associated wet and windy weather. The warm Atlantic air raised the temperature to a maximum of 10.8C being 3.6C above average and the warmest day since 25th January.

Rain showers were plentiful during daylight hours, with an intense burst between 1535 and 1545. Overnight there were fewer showers with the rainfall for the past twenty-four hours amounting to 9.6mm, which brings the February total to 50.3mm.

It was a windy period with frequent bursts above 30 mph and a peak gust of 41mph at 13.33.

There followed a mild night with a minimum of 5.0C, which was 3.7C above average and the warmest night since 16th January.

Saturday morning began with much cloud cover, dry and the wind slowly abating as Storm Erik moves away into the North Sea with barometric pressure rising since 15.35 yesterday.

Thursday saw the weather return to the wet and wind pattern with strong winds and intermittent showers. The maximum was 8.3C, being 1.2C above average.

During yesterday evening the warmer air arrived with a consequent rise in temperature so that by 8.00 today, Friday morning, it had reached 9.1C, making it the warmest morning since 23rd December. The strongest gust of wind measured 32mph.

Rainfall over the last twenty-four hours amounted to 6.7mm making the February total 40.7mm when the average is 64.9mm.

Friday arrived with thick, low cloud and drizzle in the air ahead of the forecast numerous rain showers and strong winds as Storm Eric barrels in from the west.

Update on Friday at 15.15: peak gust of 41mph at 13.33 with maximum temperature of 10.8C occurring at 14.00. This was 3.7C above average. Barometric pressure falling rapidly all day as Storm Eric approaches the UK, currently 991.4mb.

Wednesday brought us welcome sunshine totalling 5.09 hours that, combined with the southerly flow of air, raised the maximum to 9.5C, being 2.4C above average.

Overnight a depression passed close by that saw rain totalling 3.4mm and the wind gaining in strength with a maximum gust of 38 mph at 03.24.

Thursday arrived with broken sky and some brightness at 08.00 with the thermometer reading 4.9C.

Tuesday saw the arrival of the major change in our weather from the northern regions to the milder, moist air from the Atlantic. The thermometer was depressed during daylight hours due to the ground being still quite cold and pockets of snow remaining with a daytime temperature of around 5C but during the evening a weather front arrived that lifted the temperature to a maximum of 9.8C (2.6C above average) at 01.03 today,Tuesday. It has since dropped back to 6.5C at 08.00.

The rain was heavy between 22.15 and 22.45 last night with the daily total reading 9.7mm.

Wednesday arrived with 8/8 cloud coverage and a low cloud base hovering over the Marlborough Downs and initially some fog in the River Og valley, since dissipated.