Category: Commentary

The air stream on Saturday came predominantly from the north, a cool direction, so no surprises that the maximum of 6.5C was below my 40-year average (-0.6C). Although there was a little sunshine around midday the sun is weak at this time of the year so had minimal influence on the temperature. The UV level was 0.5, bottom of the ‘Low’ category. Late evening the thermometer hovered around 2C to 3C but in the early hours fell away to a low at 08.00 of 1.4C just 0.1C above my 40-year average.

Sunday revealed a sky with broken cloud, varying, but perhaps six eighths.

The high pressure system extending from the Arctic to Portugal and into the east as far as Russia, has become well established with a pressure reading of 1027.9mb at 08.00, the highest since 18th December, and an increase of 11mb since Saturday. As result the wind will come mainly from the nor-nor east, rather than north as on Saturday, and be brisk resulting in a minor windchill. The air temperature at 08.00 was 1.4C but outside it felt more like -1C.

The soil temperature at a depth of 5cm had dropped to 2.4C at 08.00, the highest this month was 8.9C on the 2nd.

The River Kennet broke its banks on Friday just after 10.00 and resulted in a large area around the river, including The Parade and Town Mill Meadows being inundated. The residents of Town Mill were evacuated as a precaution.

The last of the rain fell in very brief showers late evening amounting to just 0.6mm as the two depressions eased away from the UK. The wind on Friday came from the northwest, a cool direction, was brisk and meant reduced warmth than of late with a peak temperature of 7.4C being just 0.2C above the average. The temperature hovered around 5C for much of the night but in the early hours began to fall away with a minimum of 2.6C at 07.58. After three days this month when no UV light was recorded, a level of 0.5 was logged today, obviously at the bottom of the ‘Low’ category, we are in Winter.

Saturday revealed some small areas of blue sky but predominantly cloudy. The wind will predominantly come from the north-northwest or north today.

A large elongated area of high pressure, reaching from Iceland to North Africa, is edging closer to the UK maintaining the northwest flow of cool air. The barometric pressure has risen a significant 14mb since 08.00 Friday, currently 1016.5mb and rising, due to the influence of the anticyclone and departure of the depressions.

The rogue depression that crept up the English Channel on Thursday brought increasing cloud in the morning and the first rain drops at 13.30 with heavy and continuous rain shortly afterwards. Just after 22.30 the rain stopped having deposited 29.3mm making it the wettest since 20th September when 29.9mm was recorded. That additional rainfall took the monthly total to 59.8mm being 67% on my 40-year average after th first four days in the month.

The wind did swing anticlockwise from southwest to north during the day with strong gusts, a peak of 25mph was logged.

Friday initially brought a little brightness, but mostly cloudy, with the wind now coming from the west and much calmer but likely to veer a few degrees into the north west as the day progresses. This is due to the two depressions, one off the east coast loosening its grip whilst the remains of Storm Henk, off north Scotland, also moves away. The first signs of higher pressure building in the eastern Atlantic are showing on the synoptic chart.

I apologise that the 2024 Data sheet page is not yet available for me to enter data for January. I am old and not IT capable so rely on a webmaster to keep the site running and a technician to keep the computer running. I just fill in the boxes!

Wednesday saw the first of the cooler days when the thermometer only reached 9.7C but this was still 2.6C above my 39-year average. Clearing skies overnight meant a cooler night with a low of 4.6C, the lowest for a week but again above average +3.3C.

Another 6.0mm of precipitation was recorded that took the monthly total after three days to 30.5mm being 34% of my 39-year average.

Thursday arrived with some brightness that will not last long. Not only are we under the influence of the recent depression to the north of Scotland but a rogue depression, is forming at this time, south of Cornwall and will run along the English Channel today. This will result in the wind rising after midday but more importantly considerable rainfall starting an hour or two after midday. During the twenty-four hours the wind will make a 270* anticlockwise turn from southwest to northwest.

Year 2023 Weather Facts

Maximum day temperature: 29.8C on 10th June
Minimum day temperature: 0.7C on 1st December

Maximum night temperature: 17.2C on 11th August
Minimum night temperature: 8.0C on 24th June

Mean temperature: 10.42C

Last air frost in Spring: -1.7C on 22nd April
First air frost in Autumn: -1.3C on 16th October

Max Barometric Pressure: 1048.1mb on 5th February
Min Barometric Pressure: 957.1mb on 2nd November

Maximum Global Sunshine: 13.8 hours
Days with no Global Sunshine: 25

Maximum UV light: 9.5 on 24th June
Days no UV light: 25

Max Daily Evaporation: 5.18mm on 13th June

Total Rainfall: 1150mm
Maximum Daily Rainfall: 49.7mm on 17th September
Driest period: 26 days from15th May – 9th June
Longest consecutive wet period: 14 days – 23rd October – 5th November
Wettest month: 163.3mm – March
Driest month: 12.2mm – February

Days with snow: 4
Days with Thunder: 3
Days with Small Hail: 4
Days with fog: 19

Maximum Wind Gust: 48mph on 13th March

Thanks to Storm Henk on Tuesday we saw another 8.5mm of precipitation and very strong winds in the afternoon with a peak gust of 49mph at 15.39. The thermometer rose to 12.6C, being 5.5C above average with an overnight low of 7.9C, which was 6.6C above my 39-year average.

Wednesday initially saw a little brightness but cloud soon covered the sky. The depressions are still very close with the barometric pressure reading at 08.00 of 989.4mb.

Year 2023 Weather Facts

Maximum day temperature: 29.8C on 10th June
Minimum day temperature: 0.7C on 1st December

Maximum night temperature: 17.2C on 11th August
Minimum night temperature: 8.0C on 24th June

Mean temperature: 10.42C

Last air frost in Spring: -1.7C on 22nd April
First air frost in Autumn: -1.3C on 16th October

Max Barometric Pressure: 1048.1mb on 5th February
Min Barometric Pressure: 957.1mb on 2nd November

Maximum Global Sunshine: 13.8 hours
Days with no Global Sunshine: 25

Maximum UV light: 9.5 on 24th June
Days no UV light: 25

Max Daily Evaporation: 5.18mm on 13th June

Total Rainfall: 1150mm
Maximum Daily Rainfall: 49.7mm on 17th September
Driest period: 26 days from15th May – 9th June
Longest consecutive wet period: 14 days – 23rd October – 5th November
Wettest month: 163.3mm – March
Driest month: 12.2mm – February

Days with snow: 4
Days with Thunder: 3
Days with Small Hail: 4
Days with fog: 19

Maximum Wind Gust: 48mph on 13th March