Category: Commentary

After two sunny and dry days the unsettled weather returned on Saturday with 0.4mm of rainfall and just 10 minutes of sunshine.

However, the last of the warmer air pushed the thermometer to a maximum of 14.7C, the warmest day since 28th October.

The cloud persisted overnight, becoming thicker and much lower, giving very misty conditions on Sunday morning. As a result of the blanket of cloud stopping warmth radiating into the atmosphere the minimum temperature was 8.1C in the early hours, which was 4.5C above the average minimum for April, rising to 8.5C at 08.00. Currently we are experiencing almost still conditions.

Friday gave us another Spring like day with the thermometer edging slowly to an average temperature for April with a maximum of 14.2C in the late afternoon at 17.02.

The very sunny day, with 7.58 hours of strong sunshine, was the second dry this month after the very wet March.

Friday contrasted markedly with Thursday due to the very gusty wind all day, with a peak of 28mph, although it fell very light overnight.

The thermometer fell gradually away overnight, the fall limited by a blanket of cloud, to a minimum of 4.5C at 04.20, just above average for April. By the time readings were taken at 08.00 this morning the thermometer had risen to 7.9C.

Saturday has dawned with medium level cloud but ominous darker clouds to the south and west with the threat of rain later this morning with the wind edging from the southeast into the east.

Saturday update at 15.30: temperature up a little on Friday with a maximum of 14.7C, which was 0.7C above average, the first this month.

Thursday gave us almost 10 hours of strong sunshine that lasted from when the sun got up over the horizon to late afternoon when the high cloud dimmed the intensity of the sun. It was the sunniest day since August 28th last year.

The thermometer slowly rose to its highest at 15.41 with a peak temperature of 11.1C, although this was still 3C below the 34-year April average.

After 10 successive wet days it was a treat to have a dry day with little wind, which made it a very pleasant Spring day.

Overnight the thin cloud allowed the thermometer to gradually fall away to a minimum of 3.7C (average for April) just before dawn that arrived with thin cloud allowing weak sunshine after 08.00.

Friday update at 14.00: current temperature of 13.8C makes this the warmest day since 1st November. Wind gusting to 28mph is taking the edge off the temperature with wind chill making it feel more like 12.1C.

Wednesday was a miserable day with the showers coming thick and fast producing almost continuous rain or drizzle until late afternoon when there was a break allowing 50 minutes of sunshine to lift the temperature to a maximum of 10.3C at 17.23, being 3.5C below the April average.

Rainfall amount was 6.1mm bringing the total for April to 29.7mm, which occurring in the first four days of the month was over half the 34-year average.

With the depression easing eastwards as the day progressed the cloud thinned early evening to allow the thermometer to drop slowly overnight to a minimum of 3.2C at dawn, just below the April average.

Glorious sunshine appeared as soon as the sun rose above the horizon and with blue skies under the ridge of high pressure, we are promised a sunny day.

Thursday update at 14.00: 7 hours of continuous strong sunshine to 14.00, with much more to come from the temporary ridge of high pressure. Temperature is currently 10.4C and edging higher that with light winds make it a pleasant spring day.

Thursday update at 19.00. 10 hours of sunshine today, the sunniest day since 28th August.

Tuesday gave us 1.66 hours of sunshine, which lifted the temperature to a maximum of 12.1C, the highest for nearly three weeks but this was still almost 2C below the 34-year April average.

There was intermittent drizzle during Tuesday and more rain overnight totalling 1.7mm.

The mild southerly winds, gusting to 26mph, and cloud meant a warm night with the lowest temperature of 6.5C.

Wednesday morning is predominantly cloudy with passing light showers that are obscuring the sun as another depression is making its way across the country. The temperature at 08.00 had risen to 8.2C.

Wednesday update at 13.00: wind recently gusting to 28mph and frequent showers amounting to 3mm so far today.

Wednesday update at 15.30: first sunshine of day just broken through after showers until now had merged to give almost continuous rain or drizzle.

Wednesday update at 18.30: 50 minutes of late sunshine lifted the temperature to a high of 10.3C but still 4C below average. Frequent showers have produced another 6mm of rainfall today.