Category: Commentary

The gentle air flow from the southeast and many wall to wall of very warm sunshine saw the thermometer rise to 18.9C on Wednesday. This was the warmest day since 7th October and a significant 8.4C above the 38-year average.

No surprises to see the thermometer drop below zero overnight, with a minimum of -0.4C at 05.21 on Thursday. Due to clear skies any residual warmth from Wednesday radiated into the atmosphere without a duvet of cloud.

Thursday saw string sunshine as the sun rose above the horizon that lifted the temperature to 0C at 06.4 and 4.7C at 08.00

The thermometer soared to a peak of 17.8C on Tuesday at 14.31 being a significant 7.3C above the 38-year average. This made it the warmest day since 19th October.

We have now had six consecutive dry days. The warm air and many hours of sunshine yesterday meant an equivalent loss of rainfall of 2.29mm due to evaporation from ground sources and plant life, the greatest daily loss since 8th September.

The UV level of 2.9 was at the top end of ‘Low’ being the highest since 7th October.

With clearing skies overnight it was not surprising to see the thermometer steadily dropping during the evening reaching a minimum of -0.1 at 05.45 on Wednesday producing a ground frost and a brief air frost.

Wednesday arrived with glorious sunshine again that lifted the temperature to 5.9C at 08.00.

A large area of high pressure, centred over eastern Europe, is maintaining the dry and fine weather with the breeze continuing to come from the southeast.

Monday saw the thermometer recover and rise to 16.1C, which was a significant 5.6C above the 38-year average and the warmest day since 21st October.

It was another dry day, the 14th this month with the monthly rainfall 72% of the average and more dry days in the forecast.

The past night has been mild with a minimum of 5.1C at 04.47 before rising to 8.8C at 08.00 on Tuesday that started with cloudy conditions but just after 08.00 the sunshine became more continuous.

The thermometer rose to just 11.6C on Sunday, which was 4C down on the peak of Saturday but still 1.1C above the 38-year average.

The cool air stream from the east continued but less strong with a maximum gust of 18mph, down on the 31mph on Saturday.

Clear skies initially overnight meant the thermometer dropped below freezing at 22.35 Sunday evening to reach a minimum of -2,2C at 01.58 early Monday. However, cloud then drifted in so the temperature began to rise again, above freezing just before 06.30 Monday and 2.0C at 08.00.

Monday saw much cloud at the start of the day with occasional very brief glimpses of sunshine. The barometric pressure remains high 1028.4mb at 08.00, so the fine dry weather will continue today, if cloudier.

Saturday saw the thermometer soar to 15.6C, which was the warmest day since 25th October and a significant 5.1C above the 38-year average.

The wind continued from the east, gusting to a. peak of 31mph, that meant outside it felt cool in the wind.

Clear skies overnight saw the thermometer drop to 2.9C, just above average.

Sunday started as Saturday with glorious sunshine that lifted the temperature to 5.9C at 08.00. The breeze continues from the east, but less strong.

The air is getting drier as the land dries out from the deluge last week under a less humid, brisk air from the east and the strong, lengthy sunshine. The humidity registered 77% at 08.00, the lowest since 20th July at that time.