Although the maximum of 18.4C on Sunday, logged at 15.52, was above average (+1.1C) the overnight low of 6.2C, logged at 02.58, was below average (-0.8C). These statistics follow the pattern for recent days with the high just above average and the low just below average due to the sunny days and clearer skies initially overnight before the cool air and cloud arrives in the early hours. The low matched the arrival of the cloud when I looked at the cloud radar from just after midnight.

Once again the cool, cloudy air arrived around 03.00 early Monday having drifted in from the cool North Sea, picking up moisture on its travels. The forecast is for the cloud to take longer to clear today with brighter, sunnier weather towards midday although the temperature had recovered to 10.4C by 08.00.

The high pressure is still very much in charge although as the week progresses we will see more cloud, less sunshine and possible isolated showers by Wednesday as the barometric pressure slowly ebbs away. The pressure at 08.00 was very similar to yesterday at 1021.3mb. The Jet Steam shows signs of fragmenting and by Saturday arriving from the west rather looping north around the UK, which is likely to herald the arrival of weather systems from the Atlantic.

Abbotsbury Swannery: The swannery claims to be the only remaining managed colony of mute swans in the world and is privately owned. The Fleet lagoon is 8 miles long with the Swannery at its western end. The nests are constructed by the swineherd from the nearby reed beds.