Although the maximum of 18.6C on Friday was the highest for five days, it was still 2.0C below average. There was variable sunshine, especially after midday, but the cool westerly breeze was strong at times that limited the temperature rise. The only precipitation was in the early hours of Saturday, that was light, starting just before 03.00 and amounted to just 1.3mm as the heaviest of the forecast rain traveled to the south of our region. Once again, thick cloud cover limited any loss of warmth into the atmosphere with a minimum of 10.2C logged at 04.07 early Saturday, being exactly average for June. The peak UV level was 6.2, which was in the ‘High’ category again, the highest since the 1st.
Saturday began dull with thick cloud cover as weather fronts continue to cross the country under the influence of the nearest depression. The pressure reading at 08.00 was 1006.4mb, up just 3mb since Wednesday.
An anticyclone in the eastern Atlantic is competing against a complex of four low pressure systems to the north and west of the UK with minimal variation in barometric pressure over the last few days. However, there are indications that from Sunday the anticyclone will begin to influence our weather with drier conditions and slowly increasing maximum temperatures so that by Tuesday they are likely to be approaching the June average.
Kennet and Avon Canal: From Bristol to Bath the waterway follows the natural course of the River Avon before the canal links it to the River Kennet at Newbury, and from there to Reading on the River Thames. The image is of the horse drawn barge east of Hungerford