Month: December 2023

The thermometer on Saturday eased upwards, under a cloudy sky that produced bands of drizzle, to 10.9C being 3C above average. However, the deep depression just to the west of Ireland on Saturday arrived with a vengeance during the evening. An intense and narrow rain band produced the first measurable rainfall at 20.20 but at 21.30 was extremely heavy falling at a rate of 110mm/hour, briefly. The temperature began to fall after 20.30 with a low of 4.8C (+2.5C) at 06.37 on Sunday. The strong gusts of wind peaked at 35mph during the rainstorm.

The daily rainfall total was 24.3mm, which was the wettest day since 1st November (28.7mm). The additional rainfall took the monthly rainfall total to 130.6mm, which is 141% of the 39-year average and the wettest December since 2013 (157mm) – at the moment with one day to go.

Sunday revealed brief breaks in the cloud initially but the rain radar indicated much showery activity approaching our area as the day progresses.

The depression that has been to the west of Ireland will progress eastwards to be over the Irish Sea by noon this will see the wind increase and the showery activity also increase. The central pressure was an extremely low pressure yesterday of 967mb. The barometric pressure here at 08.00 was 986.6mb with a low of 985.5mb just before dawn.

Friday was the coolest day for two weeks as the thermometer only climbed to 9.3C but still 1.3C abhor the average. Overnight the thermometer dipped too 4.6C at 02.36 but again still above average (+2.3C). The mild, moist air stream contoured but little rainfall, just 0.7mm.

There have only been six days in December with a maximum below the 39-year average also only seven nights that dropped below the average.

No change at the start of a new day on Saturday, dark, dull and damp as a new depression approaches from the Atlantic. At the moment there are warnings for strong winds later today with more rain but the Meteorological Office had decided it is not sufficiently strong to give the depression a storm name.

Warning: The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation issued a severe weather forecast on Saturday 30th at 4am for a 240-mile stretch of the UK including our area during the Saturday night. The organisation predicted severe thunderstorms that could cause one or more tornadoes, waterspouts, hail and wind gusts. There could be occasional lightning strikes as well as wind gusts of up to 70mph and hail with a diameter of 2cm.

There was a little brightness late morning on Thursday that cheered the day up, if only briefly. As a result the thermometer edged upwards to a maximum of 11.4C being 3.4C above the 39-year average. Once again overnight cloud acted as a duvet limiting loss of warmth from the ground so a mild night with a low of 8.0C being 5.7C above the average. A little rain fell in the early hours amounting to 1.1mm. That took the monthly rainfall total to 105.6mm, which is 114% of the long-term average.

Another dull and dim start to a day on Friday with the rain radar indicating shower activity not far away. There are six mini depressions surrounding the UK so we are in for a further unsettled period although the wind today will be less strong than the previous two days, that is until tomorrow! The wind veered a few degrees in the early hours with more of a westerly component than yesterday. The 08.00 pressure reading was 1006.7mb, within l mb of that recorded yesterday.

Although the centre of Storm Gerrit was over the north of Scotland it did produce a very windy day on Wednesday with consistent winds above 30mph and a peak gust of 39mph from a southerly direction. Persistent rainfall and drizzle added another 8.6mm to the total, now standing at 104.5mm, which is 11.8mm above the 39-year average.

A maximum of 11.7C was still well above average (+3.7C) followed by another mild night with a low of 7.9C (+5.6C).

Thursday began with a dry start from a much brighter sky thanks to broken cloud after the previous miserable, dark and damp days.The day started with a temperature of 9.9C at 08.00 and the wind less strong but still very gusty and having veered into the southwest.

After a relatively mild day on Tuesday with a maximum of 10.6C, being 2.6C above average, the thermometer began to fall away during the late afternoon and evening to reach a low of 4.3C at 20.05. At that time the advance cloud of the next rain band began to halt the fall and return upwards again so that by 08.00 on Wednesday the thermometer read 10.7C giving us a mild night when it looked as if it was going to be chilly during the previous evening. A further 2.6mm of rainfall took the monthly total to 95.9mm being 103% of the 39-year average.

Yet another deep depression is approaching the UK, named Storm Gerrit by the Meteorological Office yesterday. The current centre pressure at 08.00 is just 970mb and it is heading just north of Scotland. We will see more rain with the wind already brisk and building.

The new day on Wednesday was so dark with virtually no daylight under the very thick, low cloud of the depression. Another wet and windy day is in store with no UV light let alone any brief sunshine.