The first day of Spring on Thursday gave us the warmest day all month also since 19th September (22.3C), which was a significant 9.1C above my long-term average. We have just enjoyed the warmest night this month when the thermometer did not sink below 8.8C, logged at 06.29 early Friday, being 6.1C above the long-term average. It follows that it has been the warmest start a day at 08.00 this month with the thermometer having edged back upwards to 9.5C.
The other feature to record yesterday the highest all month was the loss of equivalent rainfall through evaporation from the ground and plant life that gave a daily total of 2.5mm. The loss for the month is now a significant 30.7mm set against the minimal rainfall of 1.5mm.
There is a significant change in our weather for Friday. The recent high pressure, that dominated our weather for well over a week, has given in and allowed the depression, that has lingered around Iberia for four days, to take charge of our weather today. The barometric pressure dropped 12mb over the last twenty-four hours, reading 1008.1mb at 08.00, the lowest since the 13th. The cloud built up yesterday and overnight and today will minimise any sunshine, if any, that is likely to be weak. A weather front and its associated rain band will make progress over the UK later this afternoon and evening, the rain radar indicates that this could be the wettest day for almost a month with a significant fall. Rain is currently over Cornwall and the radar shows minor outbreaks coming in from the south coast, currently heading toward Basingstoke, on a brisk southeasterly. As the depression edges closer, the pressure gradient will increase with a consequent strengthening of the wind as the day progresses.