Friday brought variable cloud resulting in variable sunshine that combined with a brisk southeasterly wind dropped the maximum a couple of degrees from the Thursday peak with a maximum of 17.3C at 15.00. However, this peak was 6.6C above average and occurred when the cloud radar showed a large patch of more or less clear skies over southern England between 14.00 and 16.00.
The first rain drops for nine days was noted just before 19.00 with a heavier pulse at 19.35, which totalled 2.9mm, that took the monthly rainfall total to 4.4mm when the 40-year average is 62.9mm.
The cloud overnight meant a mild night with the thermometer not dropping below 8.5C at 03.38 early Saturday.
Saturday revealed a cloudy start to the new day with the thermometer having recovered to 9.3C by 08.00. The two major UK weather forecasters cannot agree whether there will be light rain this afternoon! The humidity at 08.00 was logged at 93.5%, the highest for over a week and was due to the rainfall last evening. Currently, the radar shows a thick area of cloud crossing the Channel from France and heading northwest over southern England as a result there is not much possibility of sunshine today, perhaps a little weak sunshine this afternoon if the cloud thins.
The centre of the depression is just off the western approaches and is forecast to linger over France for the next day or so. This slight relocation will see the wind back from southeast today to north on Sunday. This will be a cooler direction so the peak tomorrow will be depressed from the very warm days of this past week.