Category: Commentary

Wednesday was a dry day thanks to the high pressure over Scandinavia blocking the advance of any Atlantic depressions. The UV level of 1.9 was the highest since 20th October and at the top and of the ‘Low” rating. The maximum of 12.4C was the first above average this month (+1.8C) and very welcome in the numerous of variable sunshine. The past night was the least cold this month with the thermometer dropping to 2.7C (+0.2C) at 23.15 before recovering to 4.8C at 08.00 Thursday.

Thursday revealed a brighter start to a new day after dawn but with total, although variable, cloud. The centre of the anticyclone is currently over Norway that will direct the wind from the east today and be moderate in strength.The barometric pressure remains high with a pressure reading of 1022.1mb at 08.00, the highest since 20th February. The easterly breeze will drag in cloud from the North Sea so limiting sunshine.

A maximum of 10.1C on Tuesday was the highest this month but still below average, -0.5C, thanks to the cool air on a southeasterly light breeze that saw a maximum gust of just 11mph. Overnight was calm just the odd movement of 2 or 3mph, which is why, with a clear sky, the temperature fell below freezing with a low of -1.9C at 06.05 on Wednesday producing a hard air frost.

Wednesday at first light revealed fog in evidence again, the morning it was varying between 200m and 500m with a short burst of sun just before 08.00 that was soon eclipsed by the moving fog bank. The thermometer just lifted to 0C at 08.00.

A ridge of high pressure centred over Scandinavia, gave a reading of 1020.8b at 08.00, which will mean a dry and mostly sunny day after the sun disperses the fog. The anticyclone is not forecast to move much for a couple of days.

Sunshine and later brightness Monday morning lifted the temperature to a peak of 9.4C but the southeasterly breeze meant this was depressed and 1.2C below my 40-year average. Cloud slowly built up after midday with thickening cloud that brought rain starting at 15.50, which eventually amounted to 2.3mm in total. The cloud cover minimised loss of warmth into the atmosphere overnight acting as a duvet so the minimum of 4.6C at 06.36 on Tuesday was 2.1C abject my 40-year average so no frost, air or ground.

First light on Tuesday revealed another foggy start to a new day with visibility reduced to 200m initially but by 07.30 that had increased to 300m and by 08.00 had thinned considerably so that distant features could be observed at 500m.

A high pressure over Scandinavia is termed a blocking high as it is resting the forward movement of depressions trying to move in from the Atlantic. In fact the low pressure area from yesterday, recently over the West Country, is slowly filling this morning.

Sunday was the warmest day in five days, however, it was still 0.9C below my 40-year average. It was dry day thanks to the almost wall to wall sunshine but the light north-westerly breeze , maximum movement of just 10mph, that set in before midday depressed the temperature. Clear skies overnight saw the thermometer drop below freezing (-0.1C) at 21.05 Sunday evening and reach a minimum of -1.7C at 01.59 early Monday morning. Thereafter the temperate gradually rose.

Monday after dawn revealed a hard frost but also that fog had formed limiting visibility to 200m. By 08.00 some brightness was evident that resulted in the thermometer reading 1.8C having risen above freezing at 07.05.

There are five depressions currently surrounding the UK with the next one bringing cloud later on Monday on a southeasterly breeze, light in the morning, with possible rainfall late afternoon. A low is forming between Ireland and the southwest approaches that will also bring stronger winds late afternoon.

With a maximum of just 5.9C on Saturday it was a chilly day thanks to the cool airstream originating in the Arctic region and brought on an easterly breeze. This peak was a significant 5.6C below my 40-year average. It was a cloudy day with light roan and drizzle in the wrong not amount to much, just 0.2mm.
It has been a cold night as the thermometer fell below freezing just before midnight and reached a minimum of -2.5C at 7.02 early onSunday being 5.0C below my 40-year average.

Sunday after dawn revealed foggy conditions with variable visibility as the fog moved around with a minimum visibility of 300m. However, by 07.30 the fog had thinned considerably, just leaving misty conditions for a short while. It was a delight to see sunshine that broke through in Marlborough at 07.35 that lifted the temperature to -1.4C at 08.00.

The depression that plagued our area on Saturday is now to the north of Scotland so a bright, dry day is ahead with less sunshine after midday. The barometric pressure had recovered to 1001.3mb at 08.00, up a significant 13mb since that time on Sunday, and rising fast.