The glorious sunshine on Sunday saw the thermometer rise steadily to reach a maximum of 20.6C at 16.46. This peak was the second highest this month after 21.6C on the 11th and 12th, being a significant 6.5C above my long-term average. The UV level rose into the ‘High’ category from 11.13 to 14.25. The clear sky overnight once again meant a chilly night with a low 3.5C logged at 05.34 early Monday before the sun rose at 05.45 for Marlborough, this being 0.2C below average.
Monday began with strong sunshine after dawn, slightly limited by thin high cloud, that boosted the temperature to reach 11.5C at 08.00, making it the warmest start to a day at that time since 1st December when 11.5C was also logged.
The warmer day on Sunday and not quite so cold past night resulted in a soil temperature of 12.0C at a depth of 5cm, logged at 08.00, the highest all month and only set to rise further this week with higher maxima and minima.
The large area of high pressure is firmly in control of our weather for this week with many more hours of strong sunshine, high UV levels and rising temperatures. The wind will continue light for much of the week, backing from southeast today to east tomorrow until possibly Friday, when it could change to a westerly as the high pressure gives way. The barometric pressure has built a little higher with a reading of 1027.2mb at 08.00, the highest since the 10th (1032.6mb), when we had the last fine, dry and warm period.
Images this week were taken in the extensive bluebell area at West Woods near Marlborough.