The predominantly cloudy day on Saturday limited the rise in temperature from any sunshine but the much warmer breeze from the west did allow the thermometer to rise to a maximum of 18.5C at 13.29 before cloud thickened, being 1.2C above my long-term average. The past night was mild, thanks to the passage of two weather fronts and their associated cloud that meant the thermometer did not drop below 12.3C, logged at 03.58, being a significant 5.3C above average. The cold then warm weather fronts did not produce much precipitation, a miserable 1.3mm, disappointing for gardeners.
The rainfall total for May now stands at just 8.1mm against the 41-year average of 60.4mm. Although the forecast is for unsettled weather this coming week there is not much optimism for any substantial rainfall at the moment, light rain on Monday and Tuesday is likely.
Sunday after dawn revealed total cloud cover from the hang-back of cloud associated with the weather fronts. However, on the strike of 8 o’clock, the sun broke through and as the cloud thins thi morning, we should have a mainly sunny and warm day.
The low point of the barometric pressure was reached in the early hours with a minimum pressure of 1006.8mb, logged at 05.45, being the lowest pressure all month. There is now a battle between the depression just to the north of Scotland and an anticyclone to the southwest with the winds being hustled from the west between the two due to the considerable pressure gradient, the wind strength will increase this afternoon. The pressure has already begun to rise as the anticyclone begins to assert itself with the battle continuing tomorrow.
The images for the next week or so were taken at the extensive gardens of Bowood near Calne, with the rhododendrons in full bloom.