Saturday 9th May
The welcome, variable sunshine during Friday morning limited the rise in temperature, however, more consistent sunshine in the early afternoon saw the thermometer rise to a peak of 18.8C at 16.02, that have a very warm and pleasant period. The light breeze coming from the southeast, meant the airflow was from a slightly warmer area, the Continent. The high made it the warmest day since the 2nd being 1.5C above average. There was a steady falling off in temperature overnight resulting in a low of 2.9C at 05.25, which was exactly the time of sunrise in Marlborough, the low being 4.1C below average.
I observed yesterday, from the rain radar, that a rash of heavy showers moved north, but once again just to the west of Marlborough, just ten miles away, so no rain again here. Over the years I have noted that shower activity, not weather fronts containing more persistent rain, shy away from the Marlborough area. I have watched clouds thin on the approach and sometimes disperse as they cross our area.
After a very cool start to the new day on Saturday the sun quickly got to work that resulted in the temperature rising to 11.6C by 08.00, This was the second warmest start to a new day at that time this month. The higher barometric pressure will keep any weather fronts away today that should result in a fine sunny day.
The forecast surface charts indicate a quite complex situation again today, with still two depressions and two anticyclones moving around the UK. The high pressure has for the time being pushed back across the UK, from the Azores region, that will result in the breeze coming from the northeast today and again tomorrow. On Sunday the temperature will drop away again as a cold front crosses the UK from the north, bringing more cloud in the afternoon after a sunny morning.
The arrival of the cold front will result in a very cold night, Sunday into early Monday, that is likely to produce a ground frost and possible air frost, so gardeners beware!