The flow of moist, warm air from far south continued on Wednesday that saw the thermometer rise to 17.1C at 14.05 before dropping back slightly. This maximum was 2.2C above my 40-year average and the warmest day since 26th September.
It was a dry day but overcast and misty. The next rain band arrived at 17.20 producing 12.6mm of precipitation taking the monthly total to 82.0mm, just 9mm below my 40-year October average.
The overnight minimum of 10.8C was logged at 07.27 early Thursday being 3.4C above the long-term average, so another mild night.
The start to Thursday revealed that the dull, dreary beginning to recent days had passed and variable light and high cloud allowed a bright start to the new day. Overnight radiation fog had formed in the River Og valley that had all but dispersed by 07.30. The wind direction has changed from southeast on Wednesday to southwest overnight as the next weather system edges closer.
The Atlantic synoptic charts show a very large low pressure system developing just south of Iceland that is deepening rapidly and slowly heading our way. The forecast pressure at its centre will be an extremely low pressure of 962mb by midnight. However, the extreme wind and rain is likely to have greatest effect over Scotland and Northern England although it will breezy and wet here on Sunday. The wind gusts are forecast to reach 40mph over high,exposed ground locally.
