Although there was variable sunshine on Saturday the cooler air had fully arrived that saw the thermometer rise slowly to reach a maximum of 18.3C in the early afternoon at 13.29 before thicker cloud and an increase in wind strength prevented any further rise. This high was a significant 10C below the peak on Thursday making it the coolest day since 26th April. A slow loss of warmth into the atmosphere overnight, under clear skies, meant the thermometer reached a minimum of 2.8C at 04.17 being 4.2C below my long-term average. Variable cloud then drifting down from the north, saw the thermometer make an about turn to reach 6C just before 06.00 so thankfully no air frost.
Sunday first thing revealed that a bank of cloud continued to drift down from the north obscuring the sun but by 07.15 the cloud had begun to thin and break up that resulted in the temperature rising to 9.2C by 08.00.
The air stream today is originating just to the east of Iceland, travelling around the north side of the anticyclone and then descending down across Scandinavia, hence the considerable reduction in temperature compared to previous days. This will continue again on Monday with the wind coming from a northeasterly quadrant and strengthening after mid-morning on both days, which will make it feel very cool after the heat of last week. By Tuesday the anticyclone is forecast to be closer to the UK hence the reduction in wind strength.
The outlook is for this anticyclone to hang around for a few days, slipping a little further south towards the UK, that will by Tuesday see a slight improvement in temperature but still be subject to the northeasterly breeze.
Following two very dry months there is no indication of substantial rain in the week ahead. I earthed up my potatoes yesterday, in case of a slight frost overnight, and the soil is understandably very dry with little moisture even deep into the ground.
Today and for the next few days I will add a selection of beautiful images of tulips captured at Malmesbury Abbey Gardens a few years ago giving a splash of colour.