Tuesday 10th November
Monday produced little brightness as the misty conditions persisted all day that limited the rise in temperature to a peak of 7.8C, which was 2.5C below the November average, this was a rise in temperature of just 2C all day. The past night saw little variation as the temperature edged downwards to a low of 5.9C being 1.8C above average.
The diurnal image yesterday, the difference between maximum and minimum, was minimal, just 1.8C, due the calm, static air that has persisted over the UK under the dome of high pressure for the past few days.
First light on Tuesday revealed the misty conditions were still masking the higher ground but the wind was brisk and from the east. Changes in our weather are under way today as the recent high pressure has given way a little more allowing weather fronts to slowly edge across the country that will produce several hours of variable rainfall starting probably early afternoon. At 08.00, the rain band covered Cornwall and Devon and was just edging into Dorset. The barometric pressure at 08.00 read 1009.9mb, the lowest pressure for two weeks, and was still falling slowly.
Wednesday will see the continuance of the brisk wind, but backing to come from the northeast, with another weather front crossing the country with possible light, showery activity. The forecast surface pressure charts indicate that the next two weather fronts will be cold fronts heralding the significant change to a colder air stream that will see Arctic air flood down across the country resulting depressed temperatures and the distinct possibility of a frost Thursday night and Friday night, which will be the first this autumn.
This change will be the result of the depression receding westwards, to centre around Iberia, whilst a new high pressure system edges towards the country, centred over Ireland, that will produce the colder air around its northern then eastern flank. The air will be squeezed between the high pressure to the west and a depression developing over Scandinavia to the east.
Looking further ahead the forecast charts indicate that by Sunday there will be a southerly element in the direction of the wind with temperatures recovering to near normal for November.
National Memorial Arboretum.
Planting began on reclaimed gravel workings, gifted to the charity by Lafarge in 1997. Initial planting took place thanks to grants from the Forestry Commission and the National Forest.