Wednesday 4th March
Tuesday gave us a gloomy day with continuous cloud cover that restricted any significant rise in temperature, however, a maximum of 12.8C at 15.49 was 1.9C above average. The temperature very slowly drifted downwards during the evening and overnight with a minimum of 4.1C at 06.06, being 1.5C above average.
Wednesday at first light revealed a foggy outlook that limited visibility to around 200m and is proving slow to clear. Looking at the back track of the radar it appears that the fog drifted in from the east between 03.00 and 04.00. When the fog eventually lifts we should enjoy some welcome sunshine by late morning.
The high pressure has eased away to the east, over the Continent, that has seen the air stream veer a few degrees from yesterday, coming from the southeast today.
The barometric pressure is still high that will keep weather fronts at bay on Thursday allowing sunshine to arrive in the morning, resulting in a warm day. Friday will probably see the effect of the high pressure temporarily ebb away allowing more cloud to drift in from the west.
More details have now been given on the Saharan Dust that did not materialise earlier this week.
A remarkable display is expected in the skies over the UK later this week as a vast plume of Saharan dust drifts north over much the country.
The dust, made up of fine sand and mineral particles lifted from the deserts of North Africa, will have travelled thousands of miles on warm southerly air currents.
As it moves across the UK, it is expected to transform ordinary sunrises and sunsets into striking displays of deep gold, amber, and burnt orange.
However, the downside of Saharan dust is that when it mixes with rain, it can leave dirty deposits on surfaces, particularly cars and windows, a phenomenon commonly known as blood rain.
The brightest colours are expected on Thursday and continuing into Friday, especially when skies are clear at sunrise and sunset.
The most noticeable displays are likely to occur in England and Wales as clearer and cooler conditions arrive from the west by the end of the week.