Thursday 20th August
The early morning drizzle was all the precipitation we received all day on Wednesday whilst watching heavy rain fall to the south. In fact the UV level rose again reaching up to the High category during the strong sunny periods, especially around midday and early afternoon, that boosted the temperature to reach a maximum of 23.9C at 14.54, being 2.3C above average. The breeze picked up during the afternoon that produced a strong gust of 24mph at 15.07.
The minimum of 13.5C on Thursday was logged at 05.34, just before sunrise in Marlborough at 06.00. Cloud drifted in from the west during the night that limited the loss of warmth into the atmosphere that produced light rain, which triggered the automatic rain gauge at 03.42 and further rain, a little heavier, at 06.05, producing a total of 2.6mm.
The cloud that was observed Thursday morning began to thin, with minimal breaks, after 07.30 as the sun rose above the shower cloud as it drifted eastwards. However, as I finish this report the cloud is already beginning to thicken, obscuring the sun. Will they shun Marlborough, as they often in they often do in these conditions, and pass to the south or north?
We have this month not seen a maximum that was below average, today that might change.
We are in an unsettled period today due to the depression now over Scotland, that will slowly drift across to Scandinavia and fill. The low pressure contains much cloud that will drift across our area today and forecast to contain three weather fronts from which numerous showers could develop. As the temperature eases upwards the unstable air is likely to trigger the showers that are already showing as a rash across the west country heading our way on a predominantly southwesterly breeze.
The total precipitation this month has totalled 4.8mm set against my 43-year record of rainfall for August of 64.7mm. The equivalent loss of rainfall due to evaporation from the ground and plant life has been averaging around 4mm per day and now totals 77.9mm.
I mentioned yesterday, as the low moves away, a high pressure will push across the country that will result in the breeze coming from the north this evening and for tomorrow, originating near Iceland but modified as it started in mid-Atlantic, cool but not cold. By Saturday the anticyclone will have arrived over the country that is likely to give us a fine weekend.