Category: Commentary

Saturday proved another grey and dull day. It was the second day this month with no sunshine and the lowest UV level, at 1.4, since 16th March.

Another day with no rainfall and the total standing at 6.2mm, just 7% of the 33-year average.

It has been the second driest first half to October since 2003, which by the 15th had exactly 6.0mm.The last four Octobers have had reducing rainfall totals from 135.1mm in 2013 to the driest October in 2016 with only 31.5mm, which was 36% of the long-term average.

Both maximum and minimum for the the last twenty-four hours were above average with 17.8C (+3.2C) and 13.3C (+6C), all due to the flow of southerly air from way down in the Azores.

This morning is again dull with thick cloud and minimal wind, averaging 3mph.

The flow of southerly winds bringing sub-tropical air from the Azores has produced the warmest day since 28th September and the warmest night since 23rd August.

The peak temperature on friday was 18.4C, almost 4C above the 33-year average and the minimum overnight of 14.9C at 05.55, was a considerable 7.4C above the October average.

No rain fell in the past twenty-four hours.

The soil temperature at a depth of 5cm has recovered to 14.5C, the warmest since 25th September.

Thursday brought a sunnier day with 2.77 hours of strong sunshine and just 0.1mm of rain overnight. It was another mild day with a maximum of 15.6C, which was 1C above the 33-year average.

The south-westerly breezes are bring very mild air as the lowest temperature overnight was just before midnight with a low of 10.8C, some 3.5C above the October average, rising to 15.1C at 08.00. This is the warmest morning since 5th September.

Although we have had splashes of rain over the past twelve days the total for October, when we are nearly half way through the month, stands at just 6.2mm, when the average is 86.4mm.

Wednesday produced a very disturbed day with much cloud but the main feature was the increasing strength of the wind over the morning peaking at 33mph in the afternoon, the windiest day since 12th September.

A heavy but brief squall produced 2.8mm of rain late afternoon.

Both maximum and minimum were above average with 16.6C (+2C) and 9.6C (+2.3C) respectively.

The sun returned on sunday with 3.99 hours of strong sunshine. This, combined with light winds, maximum gust of 10 mph, pushed the thermometer to 17.0C, which was 2.4C above the 33-year average and the warmest day since 28th September.

No rain fell in the past twenty-four hours so the total this month still stands at 3.3mm.

The temperature gradually rose overnight from a low of 9.2C just after 10pm to 11.6C at 08.00.

Variable cloud this morning is allowing occasional weak sunshine to percolate through the gaps.