Category: Commentary

The effect of the change in wind direction to southwest brought a dramatic change to our weather on Monday. The very moist Atlantic air, having travelled over thousands of miles of sea, raised the humidity level and brought the first rain for a week. The very light drizzle occurred very briefly during mid-morning but set in for several intermittent hours mid-afternoon producing 1.8mm of precipitation. This brought the monthly rainfall to 18.0mm when the 38-year average is 66.9mm.

The persistent low cloud meant minimal brightness and a much cooler day with a maximum of 19.9C being 1.2C below the average. Conversely, the cloud meant a very mild night with the minimum not dropping below the temperature at 08.00 on Monday morning of 15.2C being 3.5C above the average. It was the coolest day since 2nd July (18.2C).

Tuesday arrived initially with total cloud cover but just before 08.00 breaks in the cloud allowed brief sunny intervals that raised the temperature to 17.8C at 08.00. The humidity at 08.00 read 91%.

Although the maximum of 23.8C was above average on Sunday (+2.7C) thanks to variable sunshine the overnight minimum of 9.6C was 2.1C below due to clear skies.

Sunday was another dry day, the 19th this month, in fact we have enjoyed 152 dry days in 2022 so far. However, rain is forecast for Monday morning, will it arrive and how much will the local area receive, I wonder?

Monday brought bright sunshine after dawn but by 07.30 advancing cloud could be seen to the west and by 08.00 the sun had become totally obscured.

During the bursts of strong sunshine on Saturday the thermometer edged upwards again to peak at 25.0C being 3.9C above the average. As a matter of interest no day this month has produced a maximum below the 38-year average.

The breeze from the west for most of the day was again quite brisk with a peak gust of 19mph. It was the eighteenth dry this month with the UV level at the top end of High.

The overnight minimum of 13.0C was also above average (+1.3C). Unlike the above daily average maxima there have been 10 nights this month when the minimum was below the 38-year average.

Although there was minimal brightness first thing on Sunday well before 08.00 the cloud had thickened blotting out any possibility of sunshine.

The breeze on Friday was the strongest this month gusting to 24mph and from the west. This was from a cooler direction than on Friday (south) and meant a cooler day with the thermometer not rising above 22.7C, however, it was 1.6C above the average.

Another dry day and the UV level rated as High. he rainfall for August stands at 16.2mm when the average is 66.9mm.

An above average minimum overnight of 12.8C (+1.1C).

Saturday brought strong sunshine after dawn but by 09.00 variable cloud had drifted across and limited the sunshine.

Thursday saw the warmth return, after the colder day on Wednesday, with a peak of 24.3C being 3.2C above the average. The wind direction had changed ate evening and through Thursday to come from the south, a warm direction than northeast. No rain was recorded in the past 24-hour period with th eUv level rising to 6.4 being rated at the top end of High.

The past night has been even milder than f leat with the thermometer not sinking below 16.3, which was a signify 4.6C above the average.

Friday arrived bright but there was little sunshine before 08.00 due to a predominantly cloudy sky although the temperature at 0800 had risen a degree to read 17.3C. The wind direction has changed again and is to come from the west all day and brisk.