Category: Commentary

Wednesday arrived with the mild air still in evidence in the morning producing a maximum of 11.7C at 11.14, which was 3.7C above the 36-year average. However, from that time the thermometer edged downwards as the wind slowly began to change direction into the southeast and east but an abrupt change, logged at 21.00, saw the wind back into the north. The wind then gained in strength resulting in windchill that meant it felt at least 2C colder with a maximum gist of 30mph. The thermometer then fell more rapidly producing a minimum of 2.0C at 07.56 on Friday as the warm, moist air was replaced by drier and colder air.

Rain fell on several occasions but quite heavy for a time at 20.35 producing another 8.6mm of rainfall, which took the monthly total to 88.5mm, just 3.3mm below the 36-year average. Fortunately we were just to the south of the intense rain band that slowly circuited to the north and west of this area.

What a welcome sight at dawn to see blue sky and just a small band of cloud on the eastern horizon. The wind from the north was still brisk, gusting to 15mph, that meant the thermometer reading of 2.0C at 08.00 felt more like -0.3C due to wind chill. The drier and colder air is now firmly in control for the next day or two.

Tuesday brought another gloomy day with rain and drizzle. The cloud base dropped in the afternoon that limited visibility to 1,200m at times with fog draping the tops of the Marlborough Downs. The wind from a southerly direction was variable later in the day then coming from the east but very light with a maximum gust of just 11mph.

The thermometer was steady at around 8.3C for much of the day but late afternoon and evening rose to peak at 11.0C, which was 3C above average. Likewise, the minimum of 8.3C logged at 16.45 on Tuesday was 6 above average.

Another 2.5mm of rain was added to the monthly total that now stands at 79.9mm being 11.9mm below the 36-year average. Including Wednesday, we will have endured two weeks of consecutive wet days. Tomorrow should be different.

Wednesday brought the darkest start to a day this month with the cloud base very low, again draping the Marlborough Downs, and rain returning at 05.10 and more persistently at 07.40.

The south to southwest breeze, that was strong with a maximum gust of 37mph, continued to bring the mild moist air on Monday. The light rain and drizzle persisted all day adding another 7.4mm to the monthly total that now stands at 77.4mm (average is 91.8mm).

The thermometer climbed to a maximum of 12.9C at 13.35, which was 4.9C above the 36-year average, and stayed around the figure until just after midnight when it slowly dropped to 9.1C at 07.55 on Tuesday. The minimum temperature was 6.8C above the average.

Tuesday dawned with total cloud cover but much higher and lighter than on Monday but thankfully dry. The anemometers were completely still for several hours until midmorning when there was an occasional movement, but only just.

Sunday gave us a sunny morning with 3.7 hours but after a chilly start the thermometer rose to a maximum of 9.7C, which was the lowest for several days but still 1.7C above the average.

Rain overnight amounted to 3.9mm that brought the monthly total to 70.0mm, still 21.8mm below the 36-year average.

The heavy rain in the early hours had mostly drifted off to the east on Monday morning, just leaving heavy drizzle moved on in the southwesterly breeze.

Saturday brought us almost 2 hours of sunshine but the rain returned midday with another 2.6mm of precipitation as in the rainfall was small hail.

The temerature rose to a maximum of 10.5C, another above average day (+2.5C) as was the minimum overnight (+2.7C) when the thermometer dropped to 5.0C at 07.13 on Sunday morning.

Sunday after dawn saw minimal cloud and much blue sky thanks to the barometric pressure having been rising for the past twenty-four hours.