Friday was the last of the very warm and dry days under the resident high-pressure this month. A maximum of 21.6C was logged at 15.56 being the second highest this month and 7.4C above my long-term average. The day was also notable for the light breeze, there was a peak gust of 9mph but much of the day was calm. There was also a significant change overnight as thin cloud drifted up from the south that minimised loss of warmth into the atmosphere resulting in a minimum of 3.3C at 02.18 being, just 0.4C below average.
The thin and broken cloud was evident after dawn although by 08.00 the weak sun had lifted the temperature to 9.2C making it the second warmest start to a day at that time this month.
The anticyclone that has dominated our weather all month has moved away, far to the east, and we are now coming under the influence of a depression in the eastern Atlantic. This low pressure will bring weather fronts across the country today and is already throwing up more cloud that will thicken as the day progresses. At the moment there is little indication of any precipitation over the weekend.
It is suggested that the name “Pink Moon” was given by Native Americans to represent the colour of the wild ground phlox.