Author: Eric Gilbert

The cloudy start to Sunday meant a cooler day with the maximum of 14.9C occurring shortly after midday at 13.29 being exactly average for late October. There was some brightness in the afternoon that did not add to the warmth. Overnight a warm front brought more cloud hence the minimum of 10.2C occurred at 00.01 following which cloud rolled in again from a warm weather front that meant the thermometer reversed and rose slowly to reach 11.4C at 08.00 Monday.

Monday brought variable sunshine shortly after sunrise through brief gaps in the cloud. Two more weather fronts will cross the country on Monday on a southwesterly breeze, which will mean a predominantly cloudy day with the possibility of light showers.In fact a showery band was shown on the rain radar at 08.00 passing over Bath reaching diagonally over Swindon and heading our way, but doesn’t look too threatening.

A high pressure is developing in mid-Atlantic that is forecast to spread eastwards over the UK mid-week. This is likely to bring cloudy, moist air but relatively calm conditions with possible fog or mist in the very light breeze.

The stream of warm air continued on Saturday that saw the thermometer rise to 16.6C at 15.24 being 1.7C above average. However, clearer skies initially overnight saw the temperature drop away to a minimum of 5.7C early on Sunday at 02.53 being 1.7C below average. That was followed by a weather front with associated cloud crossing the area after that time that allowed the temperature to recover to 8.2C at 08.00.

Sunday after dawn revealed that radiation fog had formed in the River Og valley due to the lower temperatures, which had almost cleared by 08.00 as the sun rose above back edge of the cloud from the weather front.

A ridge of high pressure is edging in from the west that will give a fine day and a few quiet days ahead. The barometric pressure has risen to 1022.6mb at 08.00, the highest for four days.

Friday continued the run of warm, moist air arriving on a southeasterly breeze that raised the temperature to a peak of 16.3C at 12.22, which was 1.4C above my 40-year average. The cloudy skies meant that the temperature for much of the afternoon hovered around that level. During the late afternoon and early evening the cloud began to thin and clear that allowed the temperature to drop steadily downwards reaching a minimum of 6.7C at 23.58 being 0.7C below average. Thereafter, the thermometer began to recover with a reading of 9.8C at 08.00 0n Saturday.

Saturday arrived with overcast skies again and very light breeze from a southeasterly direction, which will veer into the southwest during the afternoon.

The barometric pressure has been rising again as the depression slides away southwards across France and the Bay of Biscay to be replaced, temporarily, by a ridge of high pressure easing in that will give a dry day and a fine, mainly sunny day on Sunday.

The diurnal range of temperatures, the difference between day and night, was minimal over the past twenty four hours with a variation of just 3.0C. The maximum of 16.6C, logged at 14.27 was 1.8C above my 40-year average and the minimum of 13.6C was logged at 06.23 early on Friday. The low was a significant 6.2C above the long-term average and the warmest night since 23rd September.

Thursday was dry and bright but mainly overcast, however, the breeze from the southeast picked up compared to previous calm days with a maximum gust of 20mph.

Friday dawned very slowly under overcast skies with the cloud base low. Just after 07.30 a few spots of rain were observed but not measurable, a heavier shower is likely mid-morning from a rain band arriving from the south.

A depression has been developing in the eastern Atlantic that has begun to influence our weather throwing the cloud and showery outbreaks across the country today, better tomorrow. The barometric pressure has fallen away another 9mb with a reading of 1011.1mb at 08.00, a significant drop of 21mb over the past two days.

The mild days and nights have lifted the ground temperature with a reading of 13.3C at a depth of 5cm read at 08.00, the second highest this month after 14.7C on the 16th.

Wednesday was another quiet day, as will today, with little wind movement but dry if predominantly cloudy. The thermometer eventually reached a maximum of 15.9C at 15.29 being 1.0C above my 40-year average in the short bursts of sunshine mid-afternoon. The maximum wind movement was 12mph, couldn’t call it a gust. The clearer skies overnight, as before, saw the thermometer drop away steadily to reach a low of 8.9C at exactly 08.00 on Thursday.

Thursday brought us a glorious start to the new day under mainly clear skies and welcome sunshine. The high pressure is still easing away eastwards with a major drop in pressure of 12mb over the last twenty-four hours but still high enough to produce another fine, dry day with the breeze remaining light having backed into the southeast. The air stream will continue to be mild coming from Spain and the Bay of Biscay.The barometric pressure read 1020.6mb at 08.00.