Thursday 31st July
Wednesday was an improvement on Tuesday as regards temperatures, both by day and night, as the maximum of 24.9C returned to be above average (+2.2C) logged at 16.51, thanks to several hours of strong sunshine, particularly in the afternoon. The past night was mild as the thick cloud returned, associated with another weather front. The fall in temperature was halted in the very early hours at 02.19, with a minimum of 14.7C being 2.9C above average, before the radar showed a large bank of cloud easing in from the west. The first rain drops from a large shower area were observed at 06.40 when rain fell for well over an hour that had amounted to 3.7mm by 08.00.
The dawn was slow to arrive on Thursday under the thick cloud cover with its associated precipitation. The main rain ceased by 08.00 leaving very light drizzle and misty conditions that draped the Marlborough Downs and Savernake Forest limiting visibility. Although we are still under the ridge of high pressure from the Azores High, we are at the far end of that ridge that is allowing the weather fronts to travel around its northern periphery before arriving on a cool northwesterly breeze. The thermometer began to rise again at 03.25 to reach 17.2C by 08.00.
There are indications that high pressure will reassert itself tomorrow with the return of sunshine and higher temperatures.
It was announced yesterday that BBC is to reunite with the Met Office for its weather forecast and climate updates, eight years after the relationship between the two organisations ended. Since 2017 the weather on the BBC had been supplied by the Dutch MeteoGroup. The previous partnership with the Met Office lasted for 90 years. This new partnership is aimed at delivering “the most trusted and accurate weather service to everyone on the UK”.
The Rock and Water Garden at Compton Acres is “perhaps then largest rock garden in private ownership in England”.