Monday saw the thermometer creep nearer the average with a maximum of 12.0C, but still 2C below the 35-year average in almost still wind conditions, after the fog lifted.
The night was milder with a minimum of 7.2C but the fog returned by daybreak with visibility down to 200m at 08.00 although a slight breeze had sprung up as light rain showers occurred amounting to 3.4mm. The barometric pressure had started to rise over the past twenty-four hours indicating a change in the weather pattern.
Although the thermometer rose slightly higher on Sunday than Saturday the maximum temperature was still below average with a peak of 11.4C (-2.6C) due to the light northeasterly air flow.
Overnight, as on Saturday night, the thick cloud meant an above average minimum of 6.4C (+2.1C).
Monday arrived with thick cloud shrouding the Marlborough Downs producing a dense fog with visibility down to 150m and light drizzle. The air is calm with no perceivable movement at 08.00 so this situation will not help to thin the fog.
With a brisk wind, maximum of 20mph, now coming from the north east the daytime temperature was below average with a peak of 11.1C (-2.9C). However, with the wind dropping lighter overnight and persistent cloud cover a minimum of 5.9C (+1.8C) was recorded.
Saturday also saw the UV level rose to the highest since mid-September with a reading of 4.5.
Sunday has arrived with thick cloud and misty conditions, a temperature of 6.4C at 08.00 and still the cool northeasterly wind.
March Summary
March was very simply a month of two halves as rain fell every day from the first to the 18th followed by 13 dry days. The rainfall total was 69.8mm being 10.3mm above the 35-year average. The wettest day occurred on the 5th with a total 13.8mm.
It was a warm month with the mean temperature 1.6C above the 35-year average and unusually both maximum and minimum mean were similar, +1.7C and +1.5C respectively. This was due to the cloudy nights providing insulation that meant the radiation from the ground into the atmosphere was limited. An example being that we only had two air frosts, -2.1C and -0.8C on the 26th and 30th respectively when the average for March is eight air frosts.
There were several warm days in March with the thermometer above average on every day from the 19th to the end of the month and a peak of 17.1C (+6.8C) on the 30th.
As well as the rain, wind was a major factor during the first 17 days with peak gusts of 46mph and 47mph on the 12th and 16th respectively.
During the last week, under high barometric pressure, the UV level rose to the ‘moderate’ level every day reaching 4.3 on the 26th.
Saturday saw the thermometer rise to 17.1C, the warmest day in March and 6.8C above the average.
Cloud began to build late afternoon into the evening and night that stopped the thermometer falling below 6.3C, being 4.1C above the average.
Sunday saw misty conditions at dawn with the wind having strengthened during the early hours and veered into the Northeast giving modest wind chill.