An arc of cloud drifted across the sky mid-morning on Tuesday until around 14.00 with variable cloud that did slightly limit the rise in temperature until after that time. However, over the past five days the maxima have steadily fallen downwards with 21.8C,18.6C,16.8C,16.2C and 15.8C respectively under the cool northeasterly breeze having travelled over the cold North Sea. The same is true with the overnight minima, that under clear skies, I have logged 4.4C, 2.5C, -0.1C, -1.2C and -1.4C respectively. The cooler air has slowly seeped into the ground with the temperature at a depth of 5cm reflecting that trend with 8.7C, 7.6C, 7.3C, 6.9C and 6.3C respectively. We must realise that the maxima were all well above average for early April whilst, excluding the minimum of 4.4C on the 5th, the remaining minima were all well below average.
Wednesday began again with strong sunshine soon after sunrise with another sunny, dry and warm day ahead.
The anticyclone has continued to slowly build and will continue to dominate our weather until the weekend with a consequent air stream from the northeasterly quarter.
The cloud radar over the past few hours has seen variable cloud drifting in from the cold North Sea and approaching Reading up to 08.00, but hopefully, as the sun gains in strength, this will burn back before it reaches our area.
March was an exceptionally dry month and that trend has continued into April with now twelve consecutive dry day, eight of them in April. The warm weather and drying wind has seen over 3mm of equivalent rainfall lost daily through evaporation from the ground and plant life and now totals 24mm for April.
The image is of blossom in Priory Gardens, Marlborough.