Author: Eric Gilbert

Saturday saw a dramatic change in recent weather with the first rain of the month measuring 7.3mm and in fact the first wet day since 23rd September. Not surprisingly the temperature dropped considerably over previous highs with a maximum of just 9.3C, some 9.5C down on the Friday peak being 5.4C below average.

The wide weather front that brought the rain brought the first sunless day since 22nd September.

As the weather front eased away to the east late afternoon the skies began to clear causing the thermometer to drop to a minimum of 2.3C at 07.10.

Sunday dawned with sunshine again.

Saturday again brought us much sunshine, 10.7 hours, that lifted the temperature a little to a maximum of 16.9C, although this was 1.7C below the average.

Clear skies for much of the night meant another chilly night with the minimum of 0.9C at 06.15 as broken cloud then arrived from the north ahead of a weak weather front.

Rainfall so far is 48.2mm, (average 61.9mm) with the equivalent rainfall lost through evaporation of 57mm.

Friday gave us another 7 hours of sunshine that brings the total for September to 146 hours. However, the wind, being fresh and from the northeast, meant a much cooler day than of late with a minimum of only 15.4C, which was 3.2C below at the average.

A clear sky overnight produced a ground frost and an air frost for half an hour around dawn with the thermometer falling to -0.3C, which was 9.6C below the 34-year average.

Rainfall for September is 48.2mm whereas the equivalent moisture lost through evaporation is now 55mm.

Saturday update at 18.55: temperature eases up again to 16.9C maximum but still 1.7C below average after very chilly start with a minimum of -0.3C. Wind very light, speed in single figures all day and variable in direction.

Thursday saw the thermometer rise further again to a maximum of 21.9C at 15.42 as a result of 11.38 hours of strong sunshine and a gentle breeze from the southwest for much of the day. This was 3.3C above the 34-year September average and 1.1C above the August average.

We have now enjoyed 139 hours of strong sunshine in September.

The sky was initially clear overnight but cloud drifted in during the early hours of this morning that reversed the drop in temperature from 6.1C at 03.31 to 10.3C at 08.00.

Friday arrived with thick cloud and the wind beginning to pick up having changed from the southwest into the northeast under the influence of high pressure edging in from the Atlantic, which will mean a much cooler day.

Update on Friday at 17.45: northeasterly wind limited temperature to a peak of 15.4C at 11.07 as cloud cover started to break up mid morning and skies began to clear. Another 7 hours of sunshine during afternoon.

The 11.28 hours of sunshine on Wednesday made it the sunniest day since 6th August, which with light southerly breezes lifted the temperature to a maximum of 21.5C being 4.5C up on the Tuesday maximum. The peak of 21.5C was almost 3C above the September average and nearly 1C above the August average.

Under clear skies, another cold night followed with a minimum of 3.1C at 07.31, which was 6.1C below the 34-year September average.

Thursday saw the sun shining brightly as it rose above the horizon.

With the high pressure easing away to the east, today is likely to be the last day with almost wall to wall sunshine.

Thursday update at 17.50: warmth built again to reach 21.9C at 15.42. This is the second consecutive day with an above maximum (+3.3C). Light winds were from the southwest with a peak gust of 12mph. Another day with greater than 11 hours of strong sunshine.