Category: Commentary

Throughout Monday we were under the influence of a wide and meandering weather front that blanketed the area in thick, low cloud that produced mainly drizzle amounting to 0.7mm.

The thermometer very slowly eased upwards all day and evening to a maximum of 12.2C, falling slightly to a minimum of 11.8C.

Tuesday arrived with fog limiting the visibility to 100m and producing the highest humidity, of 98%, since June 11th. The most significant factor this morning is that the air is now coming from the south, instead of north east, although we are in still conditions at the moment.

The rainfall to 08.00 on Sunday was 12.7mm that continued for much of the daylight hours with another 13.9mm by 08.00 this morning. This brings the total for October to 38.9mm with the 34- year average being 84.8mm. We escaped lightly from the very slow and wandering weather front associated with recent storms when in the West Country they had over 100mm and parts of Wales had in excess of 200mm.

The low, thick cloud meant Sunday was very cool with the thermometer not getting above 11.8C, which was almost 3C below average and 10C below the Saturday maximum. The low temperature was also affected in that the wind veered into the nor-nor east, a much cooler direction.

The weather front still plagued us overnight that meant thick cloud cover acting as a blanket kept the temperature up giving a relatively mild night. The minimum temperature was 7.8C, being 0.4C above average.

Monday dawned with the thick cloud low over the Marlborough Downs and light rain.

Saturday saw the last of the very mild days as the thermometer again rose above average (+6.6C) at 13.18. We also enjoyed more sunshine than on the two previous days with 5.2 hours.

All was to change overnight with storm Callum easing away to the north east of the UK as Post Tropical Storm Leslie approached towards Spain and Portugal. The wind, having been from the south for most of five days, swung into the north west just before 3am. At the same time a wide and meandering weather front arrived overnight bringing much rain. The rainfall for the past twenty-four hours amounted to 12.7mm, the wettest day since 26th August. However, this modest total is minute compared to the 200mm+ that has fallen over parts of Wales.

Sunday arrived with the rain, heavy at times, from low, thick cloud although the wind has moderated considerably from previous days.

Although the wind on Friday was very strong, with a maximum gust of 40mph at 15.41, there were frequent gusts in excess of 30mph.

There were showers, the first heavy at noon, and frequent drizzle. The rainfall total was just 4.3mm, a mere fraction of what has fallen over Wales. This daily total brings the rainfall for October to 12.3mm when the 34-year average is 84.8mm.

There were a couple flashes of sunshine that in total amounted to just 2 minutes due to the thick cloud and precipitation that continued overnight.

It has been a remarkable night as the minimum of 16.5C, recorded at 05.24 this morning, was 8.4C above the average minimum (7.4C) for October and 1.8C above the average maximum (14.7C) for October. These exceptionally high October temperatures are thanks to the drift of warm, moist air continuing to be drawn up from mid-Atlantic.

Saturday arrived with the continuation of thick cloud and the wind still gusting into the high 20s mph. The thermometer at 8.00, when readings were taken, had risen to 17.2C making it the warmest morning since 20th August.

Update on Saturday at 19.40: temperature soared to peak of 21.3C at 13.18, which was 6.6C above average. Wind still gusting during daylight hours with a maximum gust of 38mph.

Although we have been on the periphery of storm Callum the effects were felt and seen as Thursday gave us much more cloud with little sunshine, just 0.53 hours and a breezy, dry day.

The warmth was reduced from the peak on Wednesday, a drop of 4.5C, although a maximum of 17.9C was still 3.2C above the average.

Thick cloud overnight and the southerly warm air flow meant another mild night. Interestingly, the thermometer fell to its lowest point at 00.23 this morning with a minimum of 12.1C, being 4.1C above average. Thereafter the temperature slowly rose again to reach 14.4C at 08.00 when readings were taken.

Another feature of our closeness to the storm was that since just after midnight the wind strength has been increasing with a maximum gust of 33mph at 06.49 this morning.

Light rain showers commenced just before 5am with little quantity so that by 08.00 only 0.7mm had fallen.

Update on Friday at 17.50: Storm Callum felt as winds blow strongly all day with a peak gust of 40mph at 15.41. The air, still coming from mid-Atlantic, raised temperatures to a maximum of 18.1C late in the afternoon at 16.36, which was 3.4C above average.