Category: Commentary

After a slow start on Thursday the sun came out strongly for 7.9 hours with the UV level back up to Very High for a couple of midday hours. As a result of the sunshine the thermometer rose to a peak of 21.2C, however this was 1.4C below average thanks to the brisk southwesterly breeze gusting to 22mph.

Just after 16.00 the wind began to fall lightly as it backed from the southwest into the south.

Light rain first triggered the automatic gauge just after 01.30 on Friday morning with a heavier burst just after 03.00. However, the total rainfall was only 1.4mm, which brought the monthly total 49.1mm when we have lost 85mm of equivalent rainfall to the atmosphere through evaporation.

Friday saw the effect of Storm Evert as at dawn the cloud was thick and the wind beginning to rise after 01.00. The wind direction was still from the south but due to veer into the west and northwest later in the morning as the centre of the depression, currently just to the north of us, relocates eastwards.

Update at 14.00: The centre of Storm Evert produced a low of 996.1mb when it was almost overhead at 10.51. Currently pressure now rising with showers more intermittent and brief, if heavy, and sunny intervals breaking out. Just 2mm of rainfall since 08.00 as intense area of rain is to the north. Wind still gusting strongly with peak gust of 28mph at 13.47 having veered into the west but not yet abating.

Wednesday was another day of sunshine and showers but the showers were more frequent and heavier, if brief, than on previous days. Sunshine hours were down with 5.8 logged and the lowest maximum of 19.2C since 11th July being 5C down on the Tuesday peak.

Total daily rainfall was 4.0mm bringing the monthly total to 47.7mm, still short of the 37-year average of 59.6mm.

It was much cooler night than of late with the thermometer dropping away to 11.4C. This was the coolest night since 16th July (8.9C) and 0.4C below the average for July.

As one depression departed, now over the North Sea, another has been brewing in the Atlantic, currently off the southwest approaches, and forecast to bring stormy conditions to the south of us.

Thursday arrived with glorious sunshine after dawn in a temporary lull before more cloud arrives this afternoon and rain in the evening.

The rain radar on Tuesday showed a proliferation of showers across the country as if a large celestial pepperpot filled with shower symbols had sprinkled them over the country, all moving steadily from the southwest, although the lower air stream came from the south with a maximum gust of 16mph. The reduces sunshine of 6.8 hours allowed the UV level to return to Very High and the thermometer to get just above average (+0.3C) with a maximum of 23.0C.

The showers seemed intent to avoid our area. However there were a couple of sprinkles of rain in the afternoon but at 2040 a longer, heavier shower arrived that gave a daily rainfall total of 4.4mm.

Another mild night followed with a low of 14.7C (+2.9C).

There were a few raindrops after dawn on Wednesday, not measurable, from the thick cloud. However, just after 08.00 there were brief periods when it became a little brighter.

During the 9.7 hours of strong sunshine on Monday the temperature rose high with a maximum of 26.6C being 4C above average. The morning was very ‘sticky’ with the heat and high humidity of 71% making it feel very uncomfortable. The wind from the west was very light. After a calm night I discovered that the high anemometer had been tied up with a spider’s gossamer thread that had drifted in the air, which I need to break with a 7 metre fibre glass telescopic pole when I made my 08.00 observations.

A very mild night followed with a minimum of 16.1C, which was 4.3C above the average making it the warmest night this month.

Tuesday saw a little brightness first thing with a few scattered spots of rain but not measurable.

Sunday mid-morning, under cloudy skies, brought very light drizzle but not measurable. Due to minimal sunshine, just 0.8 hours and the breeze from the north the peak temperature was down again with a maximum of 20.C being 1.8C below average.

The UV level of 3.3, classed as moderate, was the lowest since 21st June due to the persistent cloud cover. Evaporation having been the daily loss over 4mm of equivalent rainfall for eight days dropped to under 1mm.

The past night was the coolest for a week with a minimum of 12.5C but it was 0.7C above average.

Monday arrived with misty conditions but just after 08.00 the sun began to break through and the temperature to rise to 15.1C at 08.00.