The beginning of a cooler air flow on Friday meant the maximum of 23.7C was almost 5C below the heat of Thursday but still 6.4C above the long-term average. The variable cloud limited the rise in UV to just a Moderate level after several days when it peaked at High. Variable cloud overnight meant an above average minimum of 8.8 (+1.7C) early on Saturday.
Saturday began with total cloud cover but just before 07.45 the thick cloud that had been drifting down from the north began to clear and break up allowing the sun to break through and raise the temperature to 11.9C by 08.00. The area of thunderstorms and heavy rain that is currently over the Isles of Scilly and Britanny is edging slowly northwards across the channel approaching the south coast.
For the next three or four days our weather will be dominated by an anticyclone, currently centred just south of Iceland, which is feeding a much cooler air stream down from the north, originating over Scandinavia. This high pressure system is forecast to slowly drift southwards that for the weekend will maintain the cooler but mainly dry weather. By Monday onwards the anticyclone will be much closer to the UK, as a result the wind will have a more easterly component, so a little less cool but maintaining the trend of dry days and becoming a little more breezy.
This will be the last images of bluebells from West Woods near Marlborough. Starting tomorrow will be a walk through the Malmesbury Abbey Gardens enjoying the beautiful tulip displays.