Category: Commentary

Wednesday gave us 5.15 hours of sunshine, the sunniest day this month, and a maximum of 10.0C, almost equal to the March average.

The ground is slowly warming up so that at 08.00 today the temperature at a depth of 5cm has recovered to 3.8C, the highest reading since 20th February.

There were showers overnight amounting to 1.2mm but as the associated cloud thinned before dawn, the thermometer dropped to 2.3C.

The day has started with variable cloud and bursts of strong sunshine and a temperature of 3.9C at 08.00.

Thursday update at 10.30: strong winds return with gusts to 34mph at 10.22.

Thursday update at 20.00: temperature falling steadily away, from maximum of 9.2C at 13.53, to currently 5.7C as barometric pressure rises close to highest this month

There was limited sunshine on Tuesday, just 1.3 hours, but in the sunny intervals the UV level rose to 2.2, the highest since 25th October. However, the temperature was still below average with a maximum of 9.8C, being 0.7C below average but the warmest day for a fortnight.

No rain fell yesterday so the monthly total still stands at 28.4mm, almost 50% of the February average.

The thermometer on Wednesday afternoon initially fell slowly but much quicker late evening to reach a low of 1.8C at 07.23 this morning.

Wednesday has arrived with a mainly cloudy sky and occasional short bursts of sunshine that has allowed the thermometer to rise to 2.3C at 08.00.

Wednesday 21.30: temperature dropped to 3.7C before beginning to rise again as cloud, in advance of possible rain, arrived.

With almost 1.6 hours of sunshine, Monday it was the sunniest day this month although the wind with an easterly element kept the maximum of 8.6C just 2C below the average.

The next weather front made its presence felt just after 14.25 on Monday afternoon but by 15.00 the rain had become heavy and lasting for almost an hour before becoming much lighter. The total rainfall yesterday was 3.9mm.

Cloud overnight and the absence of snow on the ground meant a minimum of 4.0C, the warmest night since 20th February. As a result the ground temperature at a depth of 5cm has recovered to 3.6C at 08.00 from its lowest point of -1.7C on 27th February.

Tuesday has arrived with a mostly cloudy sky although there have been a few sunny breaks around 08.00.

Tuesday update at 16.00: a very still day with a maximum gust of just 11mph and a peak temperature of 9.2C at 15.20,up on Monday but still below average.

Tuesday 22.30: wind dropped out for over four hours and temperature, having fallen steadily to 4.9C, now dropping more quickly to 3.7C. Cool night ahead.

The thaw gained impetus on Sunday as the temperature rose steadily to a maximum of 9.2C at 13.15, being just 1.3C below the average. Much of the snow melted away except the numerous drifted ares that shrank during the day but have not totally disappeared on Monday morning. It was the warmest day since 19th February.

Due to the drifting snow in the strong winds of recent days, little snow fell into the rain gauge. On such occasions the ‘core’ method of estimating precipitation was used. The rain gauge is inverted and inserted into three areas of snow that have not drifted nor where the wind has left the surface virtually bare. The snow core is then captured in the gauge by putting a slim flat surface under the gauge but at ground level. The snow that is collected in the gauge is placed in a receptacle that is gently melted in a bowl of warm water with the total precipitation divide by three to get an average reading.

There were a few rain bands traversing the area in the past twenty-four hours, the longest and heaviest between 15.00 and 1615, with a daily total of 3.9mm.

The temperature dipped away during the afternoon and evening to a minimum of 2.6C at 04.13 this morning, being just above the early March average.

The new day has dawned with a mainly cloudy sky although a few breaks are allowing early sunshine to brighten the morning.

Monday update at 15.00: temperature fallen from maximum of 8.6C at 13.00 to 6.9C as cloud and rain arrives 14.25, heavy from 15.00.

With the temperature on Saturday rising above freezing a gradual thaw began.

Overnight the wind fell out for several hours, before and after midnight, but just after 2.30am the breeze picked up and backed from the persistent northeast to southeast. The air now is coming from around the Bay of Biscay and much warmer than the Siberian air mass of last week.

Gentle rain starting just after 5pm on Saturday that gave 2.0mm of precipitation. This brings the total for March to 20.6mm.

Due to the drifting snow in the strong winds, little snow fell into the rain gauge. On such occasions the ‘core’ method of estimating precipitation was used. The rain gauge is inverted and inserted into three areas of snow that have not drifted nor where the wind has left the surface virtually bare. The snow core is then captured in the gauge by putting a slim flat surface under the gauge but at ground level. The snow that is collected is placed in a receptacle that is gently melted in a bowl of warm water with the total precipitation divide by three to get an average reading.

Sunday has dawned cloudy and much milder with the thermometer at 08.00 reading 5.1C, the warmest morning for a fortnight. The sky is cloudy with a gentle breeze.

Sunday update at 16.00: maximum of 9.2C, warmest day for two weeks

Sunday evening at 20.00: temperature sinks to 4.1C before next rain band arrives at 19.55.