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Llansadwrn (Anglesey)Weather
Diary 2001
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1st: Following the cold and snowy end to December the snow had melted and the grass was back to green; none the worse for 4 days under snow. It had been a mild night with the temperature not going below 9.0C. Low 961mb just SW of Ireland was responsible for the warm S'ly winds. The morning became bright, with some sunshine, and a temperature of 10.6C was reached the highest of the month. The afternoon was windier the S'ly reaching force 7 at times. A minor trough brought a transient temperature drop to 8C, and 2mm rain, from 1700-1900 GMT. The restored temperature gradually declined to 7.3C at 0900 GMT next morning giving the highest minimum of the month. There was another spell of rain giving a further 2mm from 2200 GMT. [Rain 4.6mm; Max 10.6C; Min 3.2C; Grass 2.2C]
2nd: The low had split into a sausage shape with the top 969mb W of Scotland and 972mb off St. David's Head, Pembrokeshire at 0600 GMT. Pressure here was 974mb at 0900 GMT and being near the centre of the low it was calm. There were some small breaks in the cloud sheet. The morning remained very dull with cloud hanging low over the summits of the Snowdonia Mountains where a rapid thaw of snow had also taken place. The remaining snow was very patchy upwards from 1500ft. Had the weather remained colder, with the quantity of snow that fell, some weeks of snow cover could normally have been expected. Temperature at 1300 GMT was 8.5C, with little or no wind of variable direction, and there was soon a period of light rain. At Nefyn on the Lleyn Peninsular a woman was killed, and her husband seriously injured, when 2 landslides pushed several vehicles from a parking area into the sea. The couple survived the first mudslide but could not get out of their car, which was crushed by the second slide. The heavy rain of the last several months has made some waterlogged soils unstable and subject to landslides in the area. At the time of the accident owners of a nearby bungalow were inspecting damage to the property caused previously. The night was partially cloudy with some clear periods when the minimum fell to 2.8C and 0.0C on the grass. [Rain 3.7mm; Max 8.5C; Min 7.3C; Grass 4.9C]
3rd: It was cloudier after dawn; by 0900 GMT there were some spots of rain then showers during the morning. On the mountains, with previous snowfall now very patchy, the temperature was just low enough to bring a light sprinkling of fresh snow to the summit of Carnedd Dafydd. Pressure at midday here was 991mb and falling slowly. The sausage shaped complex low was now off N Scotland, but inclined in a SW-NE direction (974-979mb). Pressure was high over Greenland (1021mb) and complex highs over the continent (highest 1023mb). But Atlantic low 980mb was bringing fronts towards SW Britain. During the afternoon the SW wind veered S'ly and low cloud brought drizzle and light rain. The rain turned heavy between 22-23 GMT before becoming showery. The temperature was at its highest during the evening and night reaching a maximum of 8.4C. [Rain 10.4mm; Max 8.4C; Min 2.8C; Grass 0.0C]
4th: A cloudy and misty start to the day with a temperature at 0900 GMT of 6.4C and 98% relative humidity. The morning remained dull in a light NW'ly wind with the pressure rising slowly. Low 976mb over the Western Isles, with widely spaced isobars and light W'ly winds over the UK. But low 990mb far out in the Atlantic, with stronger winds around it, was being forecast to move towards SW England and the Channel. At 1300 GMT there was some brightness, as the cloud lifted, but not enough to get a good view of the mountain summits. As the day progressed it got cooler and the day's maximum was at 0900 GMT. Towards dusk the sky cleared to give a starlit night. [Rain tr; Max 6.4C; Min 4.1C; Grass 2.4C]
5th: Overnight moisture on the grass had frozen as the temperature dropped to -1.8C. It was cloudier at dawn and the temperature had risen to 1.8C by 0900 GMT. Pressure here was 0984mb; 4 low-pressure areas encircled the British Isles. There was just a drift of chimney smoke from the NNE and the wind remained light and variable all day. The cloud was thin and high giving some bright and occasionally sunny spells and the temperature reached 5.8C by 1300 GMT. There was a shower of rain in the vicinity of the bridges around 14 GMT. A good view of the mountains revealed that any remaining snow was fragmented even on the summits; what remained was patchy and mainly confined to gullies. It was sunnier along the North Wales coast. At Prestatyn 4.2h was the most in the UK in 24-h to 1800 GMT, while Colwyn Bay had 2.5h and Valley only 0.8h. Manchester did quite well with 2.4h while on the East Coast Newcastle had 3.8h and Leeds 4.1h. [Rain tr; Max 6.1C; Min 0.6C; Grass -1.8C]
6th: A cloudy and misty start to the day with only moderate visibility. The minimum 1.8C was at 0900 GMT on the 5th although on the grass it had dropped to -0.2C overnight. It remained mainly cloudy, but dry, all day with only some small breaks appearing now and then particularly in the afternoon. The evening and early part of the night was partially cloudy with a shower at 0230 GMT. After that the sky cleared giving a little frost on the grass at dawn. [Rain 0.4mm; Max 7.0C; Min 1.8C; Grass -0.2C]
7th: With the sky clearing the temperature had fallen to 2.6C but was starting to rise by 0900 GMT (3.0C dewpoint 2.0C RH 93%). There were frozen deposits of water on the grass the result of a slight frost (-0.3C). A low 990mb between Scotland and Norway was resulting in a W'ly airflow across the UK. Pressure here was 1004mb and the morning was bright with good visibility although it was a little misty. It was cloudier by noon but the temperature had risen to 6.0C. The afternoon was bright at first with crepuscular rays over the station. Later it was cloudier with a light rain shower before dusk. [Rain 2.1mm; Max 6.5C; Min 2.6C; Grass -0.3C]
8th: A dull and damp start to the day. Pressure was high over Greenland (1032mb) and Spain (1027mb) with lows (995mb) Norway and (1002mb) west of Ireland. Pressure here was 1012mb as a small ridge from the Spanish high lay to the SW. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 5.0C (94%RH) with a light WNW breeze. The morning became bright and sunny and by the afternoon there were more of less clear skies. There was patchy cloud to the N and well developed cumulus clouds over Snowdonia giving showers that were falling as snow. At 1330 GMT there were both upward and downward slanting crepuscular rays over Bethel (Gwynedd). The evening had some cloud but a good view of the full moon could be seen at 1800 GMT. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 6.4C; Min 3.0C; Grass 0.4C]
9th: After some patchy cloud overnight the sky was clear at dawn and this had led to a ground frost (-1.7). Dew had frozen on the grass. At 0900 GMT the air temperature was 1.6C and there was just a drift of air from the NE. Fresh snow was lying thinly on the mountains down to 2600ft. The morning and afternoon was bright and sunny the thin high cloud from time to time not obscuring the sun. Visibility was very good but there was some smoke in the Menai Straits. There was a good view of the total eclipse of the moon from 1842-2159 GMT. Totality was from 1950-2052 GMT. At 1845 GMT the fuzzy shadow of the earth was just beginning to appear on the bottom left of the moon and later it turned a copper or dark orange colour in the then cloudless sky. With the clear sky the temperature on the grass went down to -1.5C before becoming cloudier and warmer later. [Rain 0.1mm; Max 5.5C; Min 1.5C; Grass -1.7C]
10th: A cloudy start to the day with a little drizzle or light rain. At 0900 GMT the cloud was becoming fragmented but the morning remained rather dull. The temperature was 3.6C and there was a moderate ENE'ly wind. High 1025mb S of Iceland was giving high-pressure across northern Britain (pressure here was 1014mb) but low 994mb Brest (NW France), and associated fronts, was affecting the Southwest. The cloud lifted and cleared during the day and it became quite sunny. There was a cold E'ly wind. [Rain tr; Max 4.9C; Min 0.8C; Grass -1.5C]
11th: More of less clear sky at dawn with a little frost on the grass. High 1032mb was established NW Scotland. Low 997mb was just NW Portugal and associated fronts were bringing cloud and rain to N France, the Channel Islands and SW England. Here with pressure 1022mb there was a fresh ENE'ly wind but it was sunny. Visibility was very good and views to the Lleyn Peninsular, Holyhead Mountain and Mynydd Bodafon were clear all day. The temperature rose to 5.0C but with significant wind-chill it felt much colder. There was a thin covering of snow still on the mountains as low as 2600 feet. There was a spectacular sunset from 1630 GMT. In the 24-h to 18 GMT Valley reported 6.3h sunshine and Tiree 6.8h, the most in the UK. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 5.0C; Min 2.1C; Grass -0.3C]
12th: With the sun still behind the Snowdonia Mountains there was a vivid red sky at 08 GMT. Pressure was high at 1026mb as high 1034mb was slow moving over Scotland. At 0900 GMT in a temperature of 3.6C (78% RH) the cold fresh E'ly wind was drying the soil. The day was bright with sunny spells. On the mountains the thin snow cover, looking deeper in some beds and gullies, was still lying between 2600-2800 feet. The wind dropped late in the day and there was a clear frosty night. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 5.7C; Min 2.4C; Grass -0.2C]
13th: Overnight an airfrost (-1.4C) and moderate ground frost (-6.2C) with some hoarfrost on the grass and vegetation by morning. High pressure was dominating the whole country (1037mb) and stretching well across to Europe. Pressure here was 1030mb and still rising, but the high was moving slowly to the SE with lows Greenland and mid-Atlantic waiting in the wings. A cloudless sky at 0900 GMT with no rainfall showing on the radar anywhere over the UK. Temperature -0.3C (Dewpoint -2.4C). During the afternoon there was little or no wind and there was a cloud of pollution smoke over NW Anglesey. The smoke was coming from the 400-ft stack at the Anglesey Aluminium Reduction Plant. Emissions from the tall stack are (in the normal windy and turbulent conditions) dispersed over a wide area, but in the almost calm inversion-like day the smoke was kept near the ground for several hours. Although pollution control methods are in place to minimise low level emissions the smoke can contain fluorides that deposit on vegetation and the ground. It remained cloudless and sunny all day with a maximum of 8.2C but at Llanbedr (Gwynedd) 10C was reported. Since 13 GMT the humidity has been fairly low; at 17 GMT it was 46%, lowest of the month, and remained below 60% during the night. A clear and frosty night. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 8.2C; Min -1.4C; Grass -6.2C]
14th: The sun rose above the mountains at 0850 GMT. There was slight hoarfrost on the grass and it was calm. Humidity values continued low since yesterday. Overnight it had been as low as 46% at 04 GMT but was rising by 0900 GMT (2.5C dewpoint -3.4C; RH 65%). The day was sunny with a maximum of 7.1C; in the shade it was quite cold with frost remaining on the ground all day. The sun set at 1620 GMT giving maximum possible 7.5h of sunshine. Another cold night with the air temperature falling to -1.4C and -6.0 on the grass. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 7.1C; Min -0.3C; Grass -5.2C]
15th: Another frosty and sunny start to the day. Temperature at 0900 GMT was -0.8C, dewpoint -2.6C. Almost calm with just a drift of air from the NE. Visibility was good but there was smoke at low level in the area of the Menai Strait with the mountaintops clear. During the day it became hazier and there was a maximum of 6.5C; in the shade frost remained all day. Again sunshine all day with a colourful sunset. After dusk it remained clear with beautiful sky colours to the W and N for a long time as the moon had not risen. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 6.5C; Min -1.4C; Grass -6.0C]
16th: A cold night with the grass minimum falling to -8.3C, the lowest of the month, with much hoarfrost. Surface soil has been frozen for the last 4 mornings and the 5cm thermometer indicated freezing -0.3C. At 30cm it is 2.2C and falling. In winter 1962/63 during a long cold spell many water pipes froze, as they were not deep enough in the soil, and properties were without water for weeks. A cloudy start to the day but the cloud soon dispersed during the morning to give another sunny afternoon, but the temperature only reached 4.1C the lowest maximum of the month. Another clear night but at Shrewsbury it was foggy with a temperature of -5C at 20 GMT. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 4.1C; Min -2.5C; Grass -8.3C]
17th: A cold night with the minimum falling to -2.6C just before midnight, the lowest of the month. The temperature then rose to 1C before dawn before falling again to -0.8C (dewpoint -4.0C) at 0900 GMT. It was almost cloudless as the sun rose above the Carneddau Mountains at 0850 GMT. Soil temperatures continue to fall with the 10cm 0.3C. Temperatures are much lower in other parts of the UK with particularly from some Scottish glens (Altnahara -12C air temperature). The lysimeter has been frozen since the 13th, no water has percolated through, and none has been added. I am still getting readings from the Piche evaporimeter. I use 2 special plastic tubes; they do not break if frozen but they cease operating. They only work when water can reach the paper circle. So far at least 1 tube has functioned properly each day; readings have been between 0.3-0.9mls per day. The surface of bare soil that receives sunshine looks dry but is frozen; leaf litter in the wood is dry at the surface but where blackbirds have turned it over it is still moist. A sunny day with little or no wind. Clear at first at night but cloudy later. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 5.5C; Min -2.6C; Grass -6.6C]
18th: Pressure was still relatively high (1019mb) but the centre has drifted over Scandinavia and Russia (1032-1037mb). A dull and grey start to the day with the temperature just above freezing (0.7C). With a very light SE'ly about noon the sky cleared to give a spell of sunshine; it remained cloudy over NW Anglesey. The temperature reached 6.5C and frost in the shade melted for the first time for days. By afternoon it was cloudy again and became dark by 1650 GMT whereas in past days, with clear skies and colourful sunsets, it has been light much later. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 6.5C; Min -2.6C; Grass -6.6C]
19th: A sunny start to the day but with thick haze and some pollution smoke over Liverpool Bay and in the Menai Strait. Calm or variable very light airs just making chimney smoke drift off the vertical from time to time. Clear sky overhead at first but cloud encroached from the S and W then retreated to give a sunny afternoon. The rainfall radar was showing precipitation but none fell here. Sunniest was the North Wales coast from here to Prestatyn that had 7.1h in the 24-h to 18 GMT. Frosty again overnight with a moderate to heavy deposition of hoarfrost. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 4.3C; Min -1.7C; Grass -6.0C]
20th: Partly cloudy at dawn but by sunrise (about 0845 GMT) the sky was clearing rapidly. Pressure (1025mb) had risen slightly in the ridge from the Scandinavian high (1034mb). Low 1020mb was stationed in the S North Sea and Atlantic low 984mb was pushing active fronts into SW Ireland. These fronts were forecast to bring snowfall over high ground. At 0900 GMT the temperature was -0.4C (dewpoint -1.6) and RH 92%. A sunny day with little or no wind with a maximum of 5.6C. At Aberffraw the sea temperature was 6C and with no wind was 5C on the beach. There were hundreds of herring gulls and kittiwakes on the beach and similar large numbers of starlings on nearby fields and lanes. At low tide the river estuary also had several waders along its shore. Fields on the west of Anglesey also had groups up to 50's of lapwings, curlews and redwings. A cold clear night at first but the air temperature bottomed at 1C and -4.2C on the grass between 19-21 GMT . When cloud encroached from the W it became warmer by 02 GMT when there was drizzle and light rain from 1330-05 GMT during passage of an occluded front. [Rain 0.8mm; Max 5.6C; Min -1.6C; Grass -5.9C]
21st: Overnight rain had fallen as snow on the mountains. There were further snow showers occurring at 0900 GMT with snow lying at 1500ft below Ysgolion Duon (Black Ladders) with the summits obscured. Pressure (1008mb) was falling slowly; temperature was 4.5C and there was soon a spell of light rain with moderate to poor visibility. During the afternoon it became foggy; there was thick fog (code 1) from 1330 GMT for over an hour before it slowly dispersed. At dusk there was shallow mist across the fields but the sky was clearing and soon was clear. Overnight minimum was 2C with -1.7C on the grass. About 04 GMT the temperature began to rise rapidly and reached 9.5C by 06 GMT, the maximum credited to the last 24-h. [Rain 1.0mm; Max 9.5C; Min -0.4C; Grass -4.2C]
22nd: Overcast and grey with low cloud over the mountains. Pressure was 0991mb as deep Atlantic-low 954 mb 150 miles W of Ireland was moving NE. Associated frontal rain and increasing winds were already into western parts of the UK and Ireland. During the morning there was a little light rain and drizzle. Surface soil temperatures were beginning to rise. The 5cm was 2.0C but lower in the profile the warmth had yet to have much affect. Grassed areas are still frozen although the top cm is wet and soft. There was a little percolate from the lysimeter this morning; the first significant amount since January 12th. In the afternoon there was intermittent light rain at first becoming drier later. By 2200 GMT the sky had cleared. [Rain 2.5mm; Max 9.6C; Min 0.9C; Grass -1.7C]
23rd: It was becoming cloudy by dawn and by 0900 GMT there were showers in sight with low cloud and mist over the mountains. A heavy shower at Llanbedrgoch in the morning partially flooded the road leading to the Post Office. With the soils still at water capacity, there having been little evaporation, any rain leads to runoff. With more rain expected 70 river flood alerts were in operation throughout the UK. At Aberffraw the dune slacks have been flooded since the Autumn. Dune slacks normally can have water on them during the winter but this year, following the wettest year since records began, the flooding is both more extensive and deeper than usual. The Atlantic low was deepening (945mb) but moving N or NW; in the afternoon there was a period of rain accompanied by force 6-7 SW'ly wind. The barometer reached it lowest (0969mb) between 18-22 GMT. It was windy at night but the sky had cleared by morning. [Rain 6.3mm; Max 9.9C; Min 6.2C; Grass 4.3C]
24th: Air temperature was at it's lowest for 48-h at 0900 GMT (4.4C) but surface soil temperatures (5-20cm) were between 3.5-4.7C . At 30cm it was 4.2C and at 100cm 5.0C. Pressure was rising (0982mb) and the sky was clear except for a bank of cumulus topped clouds over Snowdonia. With the sun rising behind there was a short display of upward crepuscular rays. Some snowdrops have opened on the lawns. A few appeared in mid-December but were held back until now by the cold and snow. It became cloudier by noon and the afternoon was showery. By 1600 GMT there was a sprinkling of fresh snow on the mountaintops above 3000ft. The sky cleared at dusk and was still clear at 2200 GMT. Later in the night a band of showers, including a slight to moderate fall of 5mm hail at 0355 GMT. [Rain 3.0mm; Max 7.0C; Min 4.4C; Grass 2.0C]
25th: Complex lows Greenland, S Iceland and Malin 0969mb keeping fresh to strong S-SW'ly winds over the UK. Pressure here was 0988mb. Troughs brought further showers that included sleet at 0900 GMT when the temperature was 3.3C (dewpoint 1.8C). Fresh snow was lying thinly at 1500 ft on the Snowdonia Mountains and was as low as 1000ft at the top of the Nant Ffrancon Pass at Ogwen Cottage. Further blustery showers through the day included a heavy squall at 1450 GMT when the wind rose to force 7 (gusting force 8) for about 15 minutes with some ice pellets and then sleet. There were a few more showers of rain in the night. [Rain 4.2mm; Max 7.0C; Min 2.7C; Grass 0.9C]
26th: With the sky clearing the minimum temperature had fallen to 3.1C (0.3C above grass). With a gentle breeze (force 3) from the WSW the morning became bright and sunny. By 1300 GMT the temperature had risen to 7.3C soon going on to 7.5C, the day's maximum. The afternoon was sunny; a clear view of the mountain summits showed that there was thin snow lying upwards from 1800 ft. The North Wales coast did well for sunshine with Colwyn Bay reporting 7.0h (highest in UK), Prestatyn 6.8h and Valley 6.2h. A low sneaked into SE England from the Bay of Biscay via France with rain turning unexpectedly to snow by evening. Here it was a clear starlit night with a moderate to heavy deposition of hoarfrost on bare soil, vegetation and concrete by morning. [Rain tr (frost); Max 7.7C; Min 3.1C; Grass 0.3C]
27th: A clear sky at dawn but some patchy cloud later with active looking cumulus clouds over the mountains and to the SW. Complex low still between Iceland and Scotland (997mb) and an occluded front crossing the Western Isles. The SE England low (989mb) was over Thames. Pressure here was 996mb with a W'ly airflow and a temperature of 2.5C (dewpoint 1.5C) at 0900 GMT. The morning was bright with sunny spells with the temperature reaching 8.2C There was some cloud at first in the afternoon but towards dusk the sky cleared. The night remained clear and with hardly any light pollution, and no street lamps to spoil the view, the stars were brilliant. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 8.2C; Min 1.2C; Grass -3.2C]
28th: Heavy hoarfrost on the ground with the soil frozen on the surface once again. Temperature 1.1C (dewpoint 0.8C) at 0900 GMT. Pressure was rising slowly (1005mb) as the UK was becoming sandwiched between a ridge of an Atlantic-high (1032mb) and continental-high (1009mb) N Italy and Siberia (1036mb). There was a low in the Bay of Biscay that shows up well on today's satellite picture. Almost sky early with cumulus around in Liverpool Bay and E Snowdonia. But thin high was encroaching from the west and it became overcast by 1130 GMT. Without sunshine the day's maximum was only 5.4C. There was no wind during the day and the air was humid; lowest 87%. As a result with the sky clearing near dusk there was heavy hoarfrost. The night remained clear with just a little cloud at times. Local people have commented about the 'sea freezing'. On the shore where streams and rivers enter the sea there have been large patches of ice at low tide. Even small pools have been iced over. This is happening on the beach at Pentraeth at the moment. On a rising-tide less-dense water from the streams is held back by the denser salt water and when fairly calm only partial mixing occurs. This water can then freeze giving the impression that the 'sea has frozen'. This was most spectacular in the 1962/63 cold spell where large ice-flows were seen floating up and down the Menai Strait. The ice-flows came from such places as the river Cadnant inlet where large amounts of ice were formed by the process described. At high water the ice was lifted off the shoreline and became melting ice-flows! [Rain 0.0mm; Max 5.4C; Min 0.3C; Grass -4.6C]
29th: Heavy overnight hoarfrost on the grass, vegetation and concrete paths by morning. There had been a touch of airfrost (-0.2C). A sunny start to the day but it was misty looking towards the mountains. Pressure here was rising (1019mb) and the temperature at 0900 GMT was 0.5C with 98% relative humidity. Low 982mb was SW of Iceland with an occluded front approaching W Ireland. During the afternoon it was cloudier; there were snow showers over the summits of the Carneddau and Glyder Mountains, Snowdon was obscured in cloud. By dusk frontal cloud and rain was pushing in from the W; there was rain from 2330-0300 GMT amounting to 3.2mm. Although rainfall this month has been below average the soil is still very wet and cannot be worked. I can only see 1 local field that was ploughed and sown late last year. It is now too late to plant winter seed and it is possible that extra seed for spring sowing may in short supply or unavailable. This means that many crops will be absent this year and the ground cannot be sown until next autumn. I cannot remember this happening in recent years. [Rain 3.2mm; Max 7.9C; Min -0.2C; Grass -4.9C]
30th: A dull start to the day but it was mild with a temperature of 6.7C at 0900 GMT. The slow moving occluded front was now positioned NW-SE across the UK. There was drizzle by mid-morning and by 1300 GMT there was moderate fog (code 3) and within an hour fog (code 2). It remained foggy into the night with fine drizzle at times. [Rain 1.5mm; Max 7.6C; Min 0.5C; Grass -2.5C]
31st: During the night the fog thickened (code 1) but was thinning by dawn. At 0900 GMT visibility was very poor with fine drizzle and it was calm. The occluded front had not moved since yesterday mid-day. By 1300 GMT the cloud was thinner, as the front moved away and cold fronts approached W Ireland, but breaks did not appear until about 18 GMT. By 2200 GMT the sky had cleared and this led to temperatures dipping to a minimum of 0.5C, with moisture freezing on the grass (-2.8C), before becoming overcast again before dawn. [Rain 0.2mm; Max 6.5C; Min 5.6C; Grass 5.4C]
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1st: An overcast and dull start to the month. At first the cloud was high enough for the Carneddau Mountains to be clear but Snowdon was obscured in cloud. Low 963mb was S of Greenland with a warm front lying N-S over the west. Pressure here was still high (1026mb) but starting to fall. By mid-morning cloud had thickened and there was drizzle and light rain with a further spell later in the afternoon. It remained murky into the night. [Rain 3.9mm; Max 6.8C; Min 0.5C; Grass -2.8C]
2nd: A mild night with little variation in temperature (5C). The morning was still murky with very poor visibility. The wind was a light W'ly. The low was now SW of Iceland (959mb) with several slow moving fronts across the UK and more to follow. By afternoon the cloud was thinning a little but did not clear. There was a band of rain associated with occluded fronts from 21-01 GMT giving 12.2mm. The maximum temperature of 7.8C was just after 04 GMT then there was a fall to the minimum of 5.0C just before 09 GMT on the 3rd. [Rain 12.2mm; Max 7.8C; Min 4.4C; Grass 3.2C]
3rd: Another dull start to the day with hints of some break up in the clouds. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 5.0C and 97% RH with a light NW'ly. Visibility was poor with the mountains obscured. Pressure here was 1004mb and falling slowly with the low (986mb) SW of Iceland. A high (1044mb) over N Norway was bringing in cold air from the continent and blizzards to the Northern Isles and parts of Scotland. Another low (991mb) W of Biscay was tracking NE towards the SW Approaches. In the NW'ly wind cloud persisted over this part of the island as the moist air off the Irish Sea confronted the Snowdonia Mountains. To the NW it was much brighter and Valley reported 4.3h sunshine in the 24-h to 18 GMT, the highest in the UK. There were some breaks in the cloud after dark but the sky did not clear. With the passage of an occluded front there was continuous light to moderate rain from 0130 GMT accumulating 9.3mm by 0900 GMT the next day. [Rain 9.3mm; Max 8.5C; Min 5.0C; Grass 1.5C]
4th: It was still raining at 0900 GMT but eased soon afterwards. Pressure here 992mb was falling as yesterday's Biscay-low had deepened (986mb) and was approaching SW Ireland. During the morning it brightened and became briefly sunny when the temperature rose from 4.0C at 09 GMT to 9.5C by 1300 GMT. There was light snow over NE Snowdonia as low as 1000ft on Foel-fras and Drum, and in the Nant Ffrancon Pass at Cwm Idwal (other summits were obscured). Light snow at 650 ft was reported at Mold (Flintshire). Snow was also falling in parts of N England including Newcastle, where a football match was postponed 2h before the kick-off, as well as Scotland. Further S it was warm enough for the precipitation to be falling as rain. During the afternoon there were cumulus clouds to the S displaying crepuscular rays, before another front brought a band of moderate rain (6.2mm) from 1500-1700 GMT followed by showers. [Rain 8.1mm; Max 9.5C; Min 3.2C; Grass 1.2C]
5th: With the Biscay-low now in the S North Sea (958mb) and its fronts cleared away N a complex Atlantic-low (962-979mb) W of Ireland with another set of fronts was beginning to affect the SW. At 0900 GMT it was humid (98%) and showery with a temperature of 5.2C. The wind was a light S'ly. Rain or drizzle in the morning then dry in the afternoon. There was a spell of rain from 23-01 GMT. In Scotland heavy snow and deep drifts brought closed roads and schools. Power lines were brought down and 5000 homes were without electricity. Passengers on a ferry from Shetland bound for Aberdeen were still aboard during the night as it was unable to dock in the high winds. In England rain was the problem and, with soils still saturated with water, was once again causing flooding. A motorist lost his life as he attempted to cross a ford on the Hampshire-Wiltshire border. [Rain 5.2mm; Max 9.8C; Min 3.9C; Grass 3.3C]
6th: At 0600 GMT the low (956mb) was over Shannon (W Ireland); the satellite image shows the swirl of the low and the frontal cloud bringing snow across N Scotland . Winds began to pick up here from 08 GMT and were S'ly force 7 by 0900 GMT. Pressure here was 979mb with a temperature of 8.5C. Later in the morning the wind had reached gale force 8. At Beaumaris it was difficult to walk against the wind; spray was being blown off the crests of waves near the shore at high tide. Several ferry sailings out of Holyhead were cancelled or delayed because of the strong winds on the Irish Sea. During the afternoon Valley was reporting gusts of 60 mph and Capel Curig 69 mph but Mumbles (nr. Swansea) reported a gust of 74 mph . On the A55 Expressway 2 lorries were overturned near Conwy and at Caernarfon some structural damage was reported. High-sided vehicles were diverted from the Britannia Bridge to the Menai Suspension Bridge for a while. Several trees have been blown down in the area. The winds, however, were not as strong as the 'up to 100 mph' that had been forecast at one stage. In Scotland snow was still causing problems with heavy falls, blizzards in the N. A train was derailed when hit by a falling tree, and 40 passengers had to be rescued. Many roads in the Highlands and N were still impassable, power lines down and schools remained closed but further S the snow was beginning to turn to rain. It continued windy at night with frequent squally showers. [Rain 5.4mm; Max 9.6C; Min 5.2C; Grass 4.6C]
7th: Yesterday's low (973mb) was lying between Scotland and S Norway maintaining a SW'ly airflow across the UK. Pressure here 987mb was rising slowly and the temperature at 0900 GMT was 7.5C (dewpoint 6.4C). The morning was showery with poor to moderate visibility and less windy. There was standing water around the garden and on some of the nearby fields. During the afternoon a frontal system on a secondary low in the Irish Sea gave a lot of rain to North Wales. It was very dark with thick cloud and moderate to heavy rain. In the 24-h to 1800 GMT the rainfall here was 19.2mm. Capel Curig reported the largest fall in the UK of 32.5mm while Colwyn Bay had 26.2mm. The rain ceased around dusk as the wind turned N'ly and the sky cleared by morning. In Scotland the snow blizzards continued to cause problems. Passengers on a train from Inverness to Wick were stranded after their train met a 10ft snowdrift at Kinbrace in Sutherland. The heating broke down and the buffet ran out of food. A farmer using a 35-year old ex-army snowcat eventually rescued them after six hours. [Rain 15.6mm; Max 7.5C; Min 6.7C; Grass 6.1C]
8th: A slight ground frost overnight sufficient to freeze water deposits on the grass. A bright start to the day with a cold NE'ly breeze. The day was mostly sunny but the temperature reached only 4.0C. There was a dusting of snow as low as 2000ft on the Snowdonia Mountains. There was more snow on the NE mountains, particularly from Foel-fras to Drum that still had a moderate covering. There was a colourful sky after sunset with airfrost setting in by 19 GMT. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 4.0C; Min 1.2C; Grass -0.3C]
9th: It was cold overnight with a minimum of -1.6C and -5.2C above the grass. There was hoarfrost on vegetation but it was fast disappearing in the sunshine by 0900 GMT. The morning was sunny the 5 oktas cloud cover diminishing to 2 oktas by 1300 GMT. The temperature had risen to 7.6C in the light variable (NW'ly) wind; later the wind turned S-SE'ly. A spectacular complex halo display was observed at several locations including N England (Manchester and Sheffield) and the Midlands during the morning. These are produced by the sun shining through differently shaped ice crystals in high clouds. While halos are frequently seen the complex sort seen today are quite rare in the UK. Unfortunately I did not see it but you can see what we missed here (Courtesy of Atmospheric Optics). The afternoon continued mainly sunny and after dark it became cold with a minimum of 0.6C (-3.5C on the grass) by 1930 GMT. Later the temperature went down to -1.6C, the lowest minimum of the month. The wind was SE'ly and the relative humidity was 62%. Later it gradually became warmer. [Rain tr; Max 8.0C; Min -1.6C; Grass -5.2C]
10th: With Atlantic-low 970mb SW of Iceland associated fronts were poised to cross the UK. With the S'ly winds the temperature at 0900 GMT was 8.0C, the maximum for the past 24-h. Pressure 1014mb was falling slowly. The wind was a force 5-6 S'ly and there were a few spots of rain. By 1100 GMT it was raining with a strengthening wind but it was mild with the maximum reaching 10.6C by noon. Much of the thin covering of snow on the mountains had melted overnight; there were only patches visible below 3000ft the tops being obscured. There was a period of rain from near midnight to 07 GMT. [Rain 14.0mm; Max 10.6C; Min 0.6C; Grass -3.5C]
11th: There was a complex of lows (977mb) to the N with high-pressure (1044mb) Spain to Germany. This was giving a S'ly airflow with slow moving fronts across S Ireland - Wales - N England and S Wales - Midlands. There was a spell around 0900 GMT when it was not raining before a further spell lasting 18.2h gave 26.5mm before morning, the largest 24-h fall of the month. This brought the February rainfall to 100mm (135% of average). [Rain 26.5mm; Max 8.5C; Min 7.5C; Grass 7.0C]
12th: A dull and misty start to the day with low cloud (1000ft) over the mountains. The cloud soon started to lift and by 11 GMT the sky was clearing with good spells of sunshine in a light NE'ly breeze. After the rain falling temperatures allowed some later showers to fall as snow on Y Wyddfa (Snowdon), Crib-goch and Foel-fras and Carnedd Llywelyn. An intensifying area of high pressure (1024mb) just to the SW was moving NE to cover the UK. A sunny afternoon and a clear frosty night. Snowdrops are in full bloom and there are a few crocus appearing. Bluebell leaves in the wood are 2-4 cm tall. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 8.9C; Min 4.5C; Grass 4.2C]
13th: The high now 1038mb was settled across the UK giving fine but frosty weather. Frozen dew and hoarfrost covered the grass with -3.2C recorded with the grass minimum thermometer. It was a sunny and calm day with a maximum of 10.6C. After sunset about 18 GMT the sky above the horizon was a beautiful peach colour. Another clear and frosty night with bright stars. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 10.6C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.2C]
14th: A calm and cloudless dawn led to a sunny morning with very good visibility. Again frozen dew and heavy hoarfrost on the grass with a minimum of -5.2C; the frost melted rapidly in the sunshine but remained longer in the shade. It remained sunny all day with a maximum temperature of 10.8C (highest of the month) and relative humidity of 47% in the afternoon (lowest of the month). The afternoon sunshine melted much of the remaining snow on the north-facing slopes of the Snowdonia Mountains. Clear skies at first at night with a ground frost. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 10.8C; Min 0.6C; Grass -5.4C]
15th: It was becoming cloudy at dawn and there was a pink sky as the sun rose. By 0900 GMT it was overcast and the temperature had risen from a minimum of 1.8C to 4.5C. There was a little brightness at mid-morning but this was short-lived. Pressure 1032mb was still relatively high but a weak cold front moved in from the NW bringing thickened cloud, mist and drizzle in the afternoon. Reports from NASA say that the sun's magnetic field has flipped. This is not unusual and occurs at regular intervals (the next is expected in 2012) and usually when sunspot activity is high; activity is near its highest at the moment. Earth also can flip it magnetic field but has not done so for 740,000 years. Earth flips can occur anywhere between 5000 and 50 million years. It was Galileo, and others, in 1611 who first documented sunspots. It was not until 1843, however, that S.H. Schwabe identified the solar cycle of sunspot maxima every 11 years on average. There have been many attempts over the centuries to correlate sunspot activity with the weather but none have been very convincing. This is possibly because sunspots have very little effect on the light and heat output of the sun. Sunspot numbers are associated with solar flares that affect the earth's magnetic field and can result in spectacular Aurora particularly near the poles, unfortunately not very often here. [Rain 1.5mm; Max 8.6C; Min 1.8C; Grass -3.3C]
16th: The frontal cloud and drizzle cleared away during the night. By morning the clear sky allowed the temperature on the ground to fall to -2.2C freezing water droplets on the grass. Water also froze on some untreated roads in the area making them very icy. Pressure had risen to 1035mb as a high (1037mb) over Ireland persisted. It was a sunny, calm (later light NNE'ly) and almost cloudless morning. A little fresh snow was seen high on the tops of the Carneddau Mountains and more on Crib-goch (Snowdon). There was a little thin cloud in the afternoon, which was mainly sunny. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 7.8C; Min 1.5C; Grass -2.2C]
17th: A cold night with slight airfrost and harder ground frost with a moderate to heavy deposition of hoarfrost. Pressure here at 0900 GMT was 1044mb. The partially cloudy morning was sunny leading to another sunny afternoon. In the morning there was still some snow and ice on the mountaintops mainly above 3200ft with patches below in parts above 2800ft. The night was clear with bright stars. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 8.5C; Min -1.0C; Grass -5.5C]
18th: Cold again overnight (-6.0C above the grass) with a heavy deposition of hoarfrost. The temperature at 0900 GMT was still only 0.0C having been as low as -1.1C. The high-pressure (1043mb) is still centred over the UK with a little (variable) or no wind. In central parts including Cheshire (including Manchester Airport) and Birmingham there were patches of freezing fog until the afternoon. Here it was clear and sunny although there was some inversion mist and smoke in the Menai Strait at first. The mountaintops (above 1500ft) were clear. The afternoon was sunny with just a little S'ly wind at times. Most snow on the mountains melted in the afternoon sunshine of the last 2 days. Alder trees in the area now have a profusion of catkins. A clear night at first with a ground frost (-6.0C lowest of the month) the cloud encroached later bringing higher temperatures. [Rain 0.7mm; Max 7.6C; Min -1.1C; Grass -6.0C]
19th: Pressure was still high (1040mb) but slipping to the S allowing fronts, associated with low (981mb) between N Greenland and Norway, to move in from the NW. There was drizzle and light rain from 0800 GMT and it became misty with light drizzle by mid-morning. The afternoon was bright for a time but the cloud did not clear and was starting to become misty again by dusk. Later in the evening there was thick fog (<100m) which continued until well after midnight. [Rain 0.9mm; Max 7.6C; Min 0.0C; Grass -3.9C]
20th: The fog began to clear by dawn and visibility had improved to poor by 0900 GMT with the temperature at 4.4C. The morning was occasionally bright but again there was no clearance of the cloud. Yesterday's slow-moving front was still nearby to the SW of here with the high (1042mb) 200 miles away in the Atlantic. Later in the afternoon the mist returned and thickened in the night with visibility less than 100m. Temperature range during the 24-h was only 2.6C. [Rain 0.3mm; Max 7.0C; Min 1.2C; Grass -0.5C]
21st: Overnight thick fog was clearing slowly just after dawn but visibility was still very poor at 0900 GMT. Pressure (1032mb) continued to fall slowly along with the declining Atlantic-high (1038mb). The very long slow moving front stretched from the low, now Finland, to mid-Atlantic. The morning was misty with drizzle at times while the afternoon remained dull but mainly dry. Later the mist returned and after midnight fog and light rain until 05 GMT. [Rain 2.0mm; Max 8.3C; Min 4.4C; Grass 4.4C]
22nd: After the rain there was shallow fog across the fields at 07 GMT and some breaks in the cloud that allowed the temperature on the grass to fall to 1.3C. At 0900 GMT the shallow fog had cleared but visibility was still only poor to moderate. The rest of the day remained overcast, with low cloud obscuring the mountains, as the front pivoting over the UK seemed not to have moved during the past 24-h. Colder weather was affecting N Scotland during the day as, with the high (1032mb) now W of Ireland, low (995mb) between Iceland and Norway was bringing cold air from the N. Deposits of light-orange Saharan dust were seen dried on my parked car. [Rain 1.2mm; Max 8.1C; Min 5.2C; Grass 1.3C]
23rd: It became gradually colder overnight as the cold air from the N made its way S. At 0805 GMT there was a slight fall of ice pellets as the air temperature reached 1.8C the lowest of the past 24-h. Around 09 GMT there was a shower of sleet, at a temperature of 2.6C, and this fell as snow on the Snowdonia Mountains. There was light lying snow as low as 500 ft in places. I could see snow on the Carneddau (Black Ladders) and in the Nant Ffrancon Pass at Ogwen Cottage. There was a slight shower of ice pellets at 1019 GMT then the morning was mainly sunny. A small low (Polar Low) in the North Sea off Scotland made its way down the E Coast giving snow in N England during the day. In the afternoon there were cumulus clouds to the S with weak crepuscular rays before clearing again to mainly sunny. The thin snow cover on the mountains had melted up to 1500 ft later in the afternoon. A slight deposition of light-orange dust was again noticed during the 24-h to 09 GMT on the 24th. Deposits were seen on clean-edges, my hail-pad and the screen roof. A look at the synoptic charts suggests that the dust would have made a long circuitous route out to mid-Atlantic from N Africa to get here with a NW'ly airflow. [Rain tr; Max 8.4C; Min 1.8C; Grass -0.2C]
24th: A bright start to the day after a cold night. Pressure 1018mb was rising as a weak ridge from an Iceland-high (1026mb) was affecting the W with the (Polar) low (1006mb) now over Belgium with a front over SE England. Snow was reported from London, Kent and Sussex in the latter part of the day. Isobars all around the UK were slack resulting in light winds. The wind here was a light cool NE'ly. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 1.2C (dewpoint -0.8). The air the last 24-h has been fairly dry, with humidity values in the range 75-67-87% (09-09GMT), which has begun to dry the soil and leaf litter on the ground. Snow on the mountains was lying very thinly at 1600 ft. Sunny at times with active cumulus clouds around noon. Shower of snow (large flakes 3-4cm) at 1723 GMT with further frequent showers of snow pellets, ice pellets and flurries of snow that died out before midnight. [Rain 1.5mm; Max 5.6C; Min 0.2C; Grass -2.4C]
25th: Slight shower of snow pellets around 0530 GMT. These were still on the ground in places together with yesterday's partially melted and refrozen ice pellets at 0900 GMT. There was light snow/ice cover on the mountains as low as 500ft near Snowdon and Llanberis, somewhat higher 800ft under the Carneddau Mountains. The morning was overcast with a light N-NE'ly breeze. Pressure here is steady at 1017mb, as there is still high pressure to the W (1024mb). With lows to the E this situation continues to bring cold air from the N with further wintry showers likely during the day on higher ground. A deepening low S of Iceland later moved SE to towards Malin. [Rain 1.7mm; Max 6.6C; Min 0.5C; Grass -2.7C]
26th: A band of rain, on a cold front from the W, from 05-08 GMT (1.7mm) had given way to light showers by 0900 GMT. Pressure here 995mb had fallen as a low deepening low over Malin moved SE. Wet snow had fallen on the Mountains of Snowdonia at about 1000ft and thin lying snow was seen at 1600ft. The Crimea Pass was blocked in both directions by snow. Heavy snow fell over N and E Scotland and further S later. Movement of the snow was slow leading to large accumulations. Power lines were brought down and many homes were without electricity. There was little precipitation here during the 24-h with only light rain or drizzle at times. [Rain 1.5mm; Max 5.0C; Min 2.7C; Grass 1.0C]
27th: There were showers of light rain and sleet in the night and about 11 GMT in the morning. The slow S'ly moving low (983mb) was centred over the SW English Channel with pressure here of 987mb rising to 991mb during the morning. Snow was lying at 1000ft on the mountains, where driving was difficult, but at lower levels to the E. The A55 Expressway near Holywell was partially closed during the morning. In Northern Ireland there was 18cm of lying snow. A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease in 3000 sheep at an abattoir in Gaerwen was confirmed causing great concern. A 16km radius 'infected' zone, including the 2 bridges and part of Gwynedd, has been set up by MAFF officials. Footpaths across farmland have been closed so has access to the Snowdonia National Park. In the episode of 1967/68, in North Wales, Cheshire and northern England, the island of Anglesey kept clear of infection. [Rain 1.8mm; Max 4.8C; Min 0.8C; Grass -2.2C]
28th: As the low 989mb moved further S to be over Brittany by 0600 GMT it allowed the front, that gave snow to the N yesterday, to affect North Wales. There was snow from before dawn that was lying 2cm by 0900 GMT. Pressure here was 1001mb with a temperature of -0.4C (dewpoint -1.6C) and a force 5 NE'ly. There was wet snow as low as 100ft on SE Anglesey and, at higher ground in the high wind there was near blizzard conditions for a while. Roads in the Menai Bridge, Bethel and Bangor area were difficult between 0830-1030 GMT when there were several minor accidents and tailbacks of traffic. The A55 Expressway was reduced to one lane and the A487 between Caernarfon and Porthmadog was just passable. In addition, vehicle disinfectant treatment points to combat foot-and-mouth disease were being set up on the Menai Suspension and Britannia Bridges. Earlier placed mats had been destroyed by heavy traffic and these fared no better and later were also abandoned. Another 2 cases have been confirmed in Powys making the total 26 in the UK. The virus is not killed by cold weather but can be preserved by it. It can also be dispersed many miles by the wind. It is killed by a range of disinfectants; warm weather and plenty of sunshine (UV) can destroy it also. Birds were once thought to be responsible for the spread of the disease; there was much talk about the involvment of starlings. Despite the fears of farmers there is, however, no evidence for transmission by birds. Preparations are being made at Gaerwen to destroy the animals by burning. On the mountains there was some drifting of heavy snow; about half of the schools in Gwynedd (64) were closed. The snow became showery later in the morning and by 1430 GMT there was a little sunshine and less wind as the front cleared away. It was a cold day with the maximum reaching only 3.0C, the coldest of the month. There was a moderate shower of snow pellets at 18 GMT that almost covered the ground. All were beautiful conical-shapes, some were minute 1-2mm, most 6-7mm but about 15% were larger measuring up to 9mm wide by 6.5mm high. Their shape reminded me of the Apollo Spacecraft re-entry capsule. It was a cold night and the snow pellets were still on the ground in the morning. [Rain 0.6mm; Max 3.0C; Min -0.7C; Grass -0.7C]
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1st: A cold clear night so that the snow pellets were still lying on the ground in the morning. There was just a little cloud and a light NE'ly breeze. The morning was sunny and in very good visibility there were spectacular views of the snow-covered Snowdonia Mountains and Lleyn. The afternoon also was sunny but the temperature struggled to reach 3.8C the lowest maximum of the month; the air was reasonably dry with a relative humidity of 58%. The night was again clear and cold. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 3.8C; Min -0.9C; Grass -3.4C]
2nd: It was cold overnight with a minimum of -4.1C, the 3rd coldest night in March on 23y record. A moderate hoarfrost; above the grass the minimum was -8.7C, the coldest on 17y record. Pressure 1001mb has not varied much here over the past 48-h. With high (1034mb) Greenland and low-pressure (993mb) Belgium isobars were slack across the UK with a front over SE England. A clear sky at first with a very light NNE'ly that veered ESE'ly later. It was sunny morning and afternoon (maximum 5.5C) with just a little cumulus cloud from mid-morning. Sunshine at Valley for the 24-h to 18 GMT was 9.0h. Another 4 suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been identified today on Anglesey. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 5.4C; Min -4.1C; Grass -8.7C]
3rd: Another cold night with a minimum of -4.5C, now the 3rd coldest on record. There was hoarfrost and the grass minimum reached -9.0C equalling my 1986 record low. My pen froze noting the 0900 GMT obs. (-2.5C dewpoint -5.6) being not used to these low temperatures! It was not as cold, however, as places in Scotland with Altnaharra reporting a minimum of -21C. A sunny start to the day with a very light SE'ly wind. There was complex high-pressure (1001mb) across the UK stretching from Valencia to Norway. But the barometer at 997mb had begun to fall slowly as low-pressure was pushing in to Northern Ireland. Isobars remain far apart indicating little wind. There is still a little snow and snow pellets in shady areas around the garden; the snowline on the mountains (650') has also changed very little in the last few days. The day was almost cloudless with a maximum of 5.7C and a low relative humidity of 44% (lowest of the month). At 18 GMT a pall of black smoke, in the direction of Gaerwen, indicated that the burning of up to 8000 sheep affected by foot-and-mouth disease had begun. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 5.7C; Min -4.5C; Grass -9.0C]
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4th: A clear and very cold night, calm or with cold air off the mountains in a light E'ly wind, a moderate hoarfrost and minimum of -5.0C (lowest of the month) and -10.2C (lowest of the month and record low for March) above the grass. A cloudless sky but there was dark smoke haze to the west in the direction of Gaerwen. The temperature at 0900 GMT was -3.0C (dewpoint -5.4C. 83% RH). A cloudless sunny day with a maximum of 6.5C, a range of 11.5C. Valley reported 10.1h sunshine in the 24-h to 18 GMT (most in UK). It would have been perfect, with the sunshine and crystal white snow on the mountains, except that the burning of 7000 sheep carcasses at Gaerwen has continued. The process involves a fire 1km long and using 300-600 tonnes of coal and other materials. Most of the day the black smoke has blown SW'wards towards the Lleyn Peninsular. Later this afternoon the wind was SSW'ly and the fires, recharged at 18 GMT, were sending a huge black pall of smoke in a NE'ly direction across Anglesey out into Liverpool Bay. After dark the fire could be seen across Anglesey and the mainland. Another 10 cases are suspected on Anglesey involving many hundreds more animals. It seems that we will be witnessing this for many more days yet. There has been very little movement of people today, normally with the good weather walkers would have been enjoying the countryside and the mountains. There are now 59 cases under review in the UK that include 1 on a farm in the middle of Dartmoor. There are also several cases reported, or animals have had contact, in France and Belgium. One other suspect is in Denmark and many animals recently exported from the UK to Germany have already been slaughtered. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 6.5C; Min -5.0C; Grass -10.2C]
5th: Pressure was rising 1012mb as a ridge of high-pressure was across southern Britain. With the wind a light S'ly the night was not as cold with an overnight minimum of -1.2C. The 24-h minimum was the -3.0C at 0900 GMT on the 4th. The ground surface was still frozen but the 5cm-soil thermometer had risen from 0.0C yesterday to 0.4C. At 30-cm (2.7C), 50-cm (3.9C) and 100-cm (5.5C) the temperatures are still falling. A sunny start to the day with a temperature of 3.3C (dewpoint 0.1C; 79% RH) at 0900 GMT. The morning and afternoon were sunny with the temperature rising to 9.4C. Overnight the temperature declined to 0.2C with a frost on the grass (-5.0C). [Rain 0.0mm; Max 9.4C; Min -3.0C; Grass -6.5C]
6th: Overnight frost on the grass had melted by 0900 GMT when the temperature had risen to 7.1C. Pressure had fallen to 1010mb as twin Atlantic-lows 958mb and 955mb approached the W. A sunny start to the day with the sun rising above the mountains at 0710 GMT. With the wind in the SE there was a cluster of lee-wave clouds to the S of here. The morning and at first in the afternoon remained mainly sunny with thin high cloud. By 1300 GMT the temperature had risen to 12.0C and honeybees were making their first forage of the season feeding on early flowering Ericas in the garden. The temperature went on to reach 14.2C (highest of the month and amongst the highest in the UK on the day) before thicker cloud on a rain-bearing front moved in from the SE. By 1830 GMT the wind had increased to force 5-6 and there was light rain until 21 GMT followed by a shower around 03 GMT. [Rain 3.1mm; Max 14.2C; Min 0.2C; Grass -5.0C]
7th: A mild night, it was 12.0C at 03 GMT, but the temperature had fallen to 9.3C by 0900 GMT. There was low cloud and mist with poor visibility at first in the morning but soon brightened with sunny spells before noon. Most snow had melted in the warmth except patches on the Snowdonia Mountains above 2000ft; on Foel-fras there was just sufficient to record snow as lying at 2800 ft. The afternoon had some blustery showers in the area but not at the station that was sunny with a maximum of 12.5C. Colwyn Bay (Conwy) reported 9.3 h sunshine in the 24-h to 18 GMT, the highest in the UK. The night remained dry. [Rain 0.5mm; Max 12.5C; Min 7.1C; Grass 5.1C]
8th: There were some light showers after dawn that accumulated 0.5mm. The minimum was 7.8C, the highest of the month. The sky was clearing at 0900 GMT but there were still showers in sight over the Snowdonia Mountains. Most of the snow on the mountains had melted, even on the summits, leaving frequent patches as low as 2000ft. Temperatures on the summit of Snowdon were between 3.5C and 5.5C during the past 24-h (the AWS is working again after problems for several months). The morning and afternoon became sunny with a moderate S'ly wind and a maximum of 13.5C. Valley (Anglesey) reported 8.4 h sunshine in 24-h to 18 GMT, the highest in the UK. Unfortunately another case of foot-and-mouth disease involving 300 cattle and 600 sheep has been confirmed at Llandaniel Fab, not far SE from Gaerwen the site of the original case. The new case was considered serious because it was in cattle thought to have had no connection with the sheep in the first case. Contact, however, was later reported. Cattle are more affected than sheep and can produce and disseminate more viruses. Examples of airborne infection have been reported in the past. Winds from the N-NE were frequent since the first case was identified in Gaerwen, but have later turned S-SW'ly. The night was cloudy and mild, with a little rain around 21 GMT, and becoming misty by morning. [Rain 2.2mm; Max 13.5C; Min 7.8C; Grass 6.2C]
9th: A misty start to the day with light rain or drizzle. This was starting to clear away with improving visibility by 0900 GMT. Breaks in the cloud soon brought some sunshine before 1030 GMT with a maximum of 10.0C. Snow on the mountains had further reduced and was largely confined to gullies. By noon it had become cloudier with a little drizzle at times. After dusk there was a period of light rain as an occluded front, associated with an Atlantic-low (996mb), moved in from the SW. There was drizzle and mist throughout the night. Two further cases of foot-and-mouth disease on Anglesey have been confirmed today at Llangaffo within 5km SW of Gaerwen. The total confirmed in the UK now stands at 127. The reason why some tests take longer than others to perform is that, where the number of virus particles is low, samples must be cultured to produce enough for a positive or prove non-existence for a negative identification. [Rain 3.6mm; Max 10.0C; Min 7.4C; Grass 6.8C]
10th: A grey and damp start to the day with continuous drizzle and very poor visibility. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 9.0C with 100% relative humidity, the wind a light SW'ly. By 0920 GMT in low cloud visibility had deteriorated to <200 m (fog). There had been little temperature variation over the past 24-h (2.9C). The cloud was slow to lift but by afternoon it was bright, with a few breaks appearing, but was overcast again by dusk. [Rain 1.1mm; Max 10.2C; Min 7.7C; Grass 7.7C]
11th: A grey overcast start to the day but continuing mild with 8.0C at 0900 GMT and little or no wind. The swirl of cloud associated with the low (968mb) can be seen S of Iceland. Pressure here was 999mb and there was a weak S'ly airflow across the UK with a slow moving warm front, S Wales to Isle of Wight. Rain to the associated with the cloud seen to the SW brought moderate to heavy rain to the London area during the afternoon. Central areas of Scotland also had rain during the day. Here there was just some drizzle from time to time. The night, cloudy at first, became clearer later and it became colder with a minimum of 2.9C and 0.3C on the grass with dew by morning. [Rain 0.2mm; Max 10.5C; Min 6.8C; Grass 4.5C]
12th: A bright start to the day with some sunshine. At 0830 GMT there was just cirrus cloud overhead but cumulus could be seen to the NE and SW. A light covering of fresh snow was seen on the summits of the Carneddau Mountains. By 0930 GMT there were cumulus overhead and there was a shower of rain at 1020 GMT; over the mountains the showers were of snow giving a light covering as low as 2000ft. Pressure here was 998mb as low (978mb) to the NW was expected to move SE during the day towards the Irish Sea. After 1 or 2 further light showers the afternoon was mainly sunny. After dark it became cloudier with more showers of rain around 21 GMT. Some good news for Anglesey farmers today: six suspected cases of FMD on Anglesey were negative and have been cleared. There are 8 confirmed cases in Wales, including 1 near Carmarthen, and a total of 164 in the UK that include the first suspected cases in Kent and Gloucester. [Rain 1.5mm; Max 7.4C; Min 2.9C; Grass 0.3C]
Pictures of sky from experimental webcam looking NEbr
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13th: Just after midnight there was a shower of ice pellets, then the sky began to clear and the minimum dropped to 2.1C with a slight frost on the grass (-0.8C) at dawn. Pressure was low in the North Sea (985mb) with several minor troughs around the UK. It was a bright but misty start to the day. The initially poor visibility soon improved as the morning became sunny with a light N'ly breeze. The passing cumulus clouds were well developed over the mountains by mid-morning. There was a sprinkling of snow as low as 2600 ft particularly around Cwm Idwal and the western summits. It was warm enough at noon (9.3C) to bring out the honeybees to feed on the flowering Ericas in the garden. The afternoon was mainly sunny, with the maximum reaching 11.5C, the sky clearing towards evening leading to a slight ground frost. Later in the night it became cloudier. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 11.5C; Min 2.1C; Grass -0.8C]
14th: Overnight cloud was clearing away after dawn and the day became sunny. Pressure had risen a little to 1003mb. There was a light W'ly wind that backed SE'ly during the afternoon. It felt warm in the sunshine with a maximum of 12.5C. All day the honeybees were busy on the Ericas that are now covered with flowers. Further burning of foot-and-mouth infected animals took place during the day with unpleasant acrid smoke affecting several villages. There was clear sky at dusk and this lead to heavy dew and then frost on the grass. [Rain tr(frost); Max 12.5C; Min 3.5C; Grass -1.6C]
15th: A clear sky at dawn but soon a covering of thin high cloud that quickly thickened. Pressure was high 1008mb with high (1009mb) over Wales. Atlantic-low W of Ireland (998mb) had associated fronts bringing rain to SW England during the morning. At times the sun could be seen through the thin cloud, but later in the afternoon it was totally obscured. The cloudbase was high with the summits of the northern Snowdonia Mountains clear of cloud and precipitation all day. The rain to the S fragmented and petered out and when it reached here about 21 GMT was just a few drops. During the day there was little or no wind but a SW'ly n the evening became E'ly by the next morning. A case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed at Malltraeth, on the W coast of Anglesey. [Rain 0.3mm; Max 8.6C; Min 1.0C; Grass -4.0C]
16th: A little rain and drizzle around dawn but it only measured 0.3mm. With the cloud cover overnight it remained mild between 4-5C. The 24-h minimum (3.9C) was recorded at 09 GMT on the 15th. Pressure 1008mb had changed little during the past 24-h. . There was low-pressure SW of Ireland and an associated occluded front (Isle of Man) and a cold front behind (Aberystwyth). both across the UK to the E coast. The cold front was expected to slowly make its way N, against high-pressure extending S from Iceland, with the chance of snow over North Wales later in the day. The sky was overcast at 09 GMT with a temperature of 5.5C in an E'ly breeze. As the day went on it became murkier; with poor visibility and no breaks in the cloud cover, the maximum was 7.5C. It was a sunless day. After midnight there were showers of sleet but amounts were small as, with E'ly winds, the station was unusually in a precipitation-shadow area. Snow fell on the mountains of Snowdonia. [Rain 0.1mm; Max 7.5C; Min 3.9C; Grass 3.7C]
17th: Pressure (1004mb) had fallen only a little as low-pressure (994mb), just S of Ireland, and warm air failed to make much progress N against a ridge of high-pressure from the high (1037mb) now over Greenland. The satellite picture shows the cloud over southern UK with occluded front more or less stationary from the Isle of Man to North Wales. Overnight there was some sleet and snow and in the morning snow was lying as low as 600ft in places on the Snowdonia Mountains and in the Midlands. The wind was still E'ly (force 3-4) and, with a temperature of only 2.7C at 09 GMT, felt even colder with the wind-chill effect. Another sunless day with slight rain at times. [Rain 1.2mm; Max 4.4C; Min 1.4C; Grass 0.8C]
18th: Just after 04 GMT there was some snow and flurries continued until past 08 GMT. Pressure (1006mb) had risen slightly and the front seems to have been pushed back S and was lying over central Wales at 06 GMT. The sky was clearing at 09 GMT as, with the wind ENE'ly, cloud was dispersing in the lee of the Snowdonia Mountains. Snow was lying as low as 400ft and was on the road in the Nant Ffrancon and Llanberis Passes. The day was bright and sunny with passing cumulus clouds. It was a dry day with a maximum of 5.6C in a brisk wind becoming NNE'ly later in the afternoon. By evening the sky had cleared and the wind decreasing in strength. Further cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed again at Llandaniel Fab and nearby Llangristiolus, and at Llangaffo on Anglesey. The current outbreak shows no sign of diminishing at present with the total number of confirmed cases in the UK standing at 326. The number of cases is, at this stage of the outbreak, less than 1967 but the number of animals involved is very much larger. After the 1967 outbreak there were calls to ban the importation of meat, and meat products, from the 26 countries in which the disease is endemic. This seems a sensible thing to do in the absence of vaccination, but it was not implemented. The case for feeding swill, under licence, to pigs must also be re-considered as it has been reported that this was the source of the current outbreak. Only a small part (97) of the herd is fed on swill as most pigs (on 9000 farms) are now fed on homegrown cereals. A new improved molecularly engineered vaccine is under development in the US that could be the answer to the problem in the future. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 6.0C; Min 1.2C; Grass -0.4C]
19th: It was cold overnight with a minimum of -1.7C and heavy hoarfrost (-6.6C) on the grass by morning. It was a clear dawn with an antique gold sunrise, the sun now rising just to the E of the Snowdonia Mountains. By 0900 GMT it was cloudier and the temperature had risen to 2.2C. Pressure was high over the UK (1017mb) but was sandwiched between Atlantic-low (965mb) and low (992mb) Netherlands. The morning was partly cloudy with little sunshine. The afternoon was sunnier and the temperature rose to 8.9C; there was little or no wind. By 18 GMT there was a band of frontal cloud to the SW associated with the Atlantic-low [Rain 0.0mm; Max 8.9C; Min -1.7C; Grass -6.6C]
20th: A dry night, clear sky at first, with the thermometer above the grass falling to -3.6C. With the cold and drying force 5-6 E'ly wind the grass was dry at 0900 GMT. The temperature was 3.0C, but it felt much colder because of the strong biting wind. Around 08 GMT a lorry was blown off the road near Talybont (Bangor). The morning was bright with the sun showing from time to time through the thin high cloud. In the morning the Holyhead to London railway line was closed at Abergwyngregyn when a tree fell across the line damaging a train. The afternoon was similar but was duller later as the cloud thickened; the force 5-6 E'ly wind strengthened to force 7, gusting at times to force 8. During the night the wind reached gale force 8 and during strong gusts a tree was blown across the road just past our house towards the church. In Bangor several trees were blown down closing 4 streets near the University. It seems likely that these exceptional local winds were the result of violent downdraughts from the mountains in the E'ly wind. A band of heavy rain and snow on the slow moving occluded front associated with the mid Atlantic-low (960mb) was affecting the SW (Bristol); heavy snow in South Wales (Cardiff and Swansea), light snow in Oxford with rain in London. Luton airport was closed for a time. Later the snow moved on to mid Wales and Birmingham. Another case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed at Brynsiencyn, Anglesey. [Rain 1.1mm; Max 7.0C; Min 1.1C; Grass -3.6C]
21st: From 0430 GMT the temperature began to fall from 3.0C to 0.8C. There were showers of snow grains (white grains of ice about 1mm diameter) noisily hitting the windowpanes. These were followed by snow and later sleet, and further snow grains, that continued intermittently through the day. Amounts of precipitation were small here (2mm by 16 GMT) being in the lee of the Snowdonia Mountains. There was wet snow lying in parts of Bangor while Bethesda had several centimetres. Lorries had difficulties in the Nant Ffrancon Pass where the snow had drifted. With wind still E'ly the cloud was breaking up over the Straits between Bethel and Llanfairpwll early in the afternoon. Heavy snow fell in other parts of North Wales with 15cm being reported in Flintshire. In Gwynedd, 31 schools were closed. Several roads were blocked and the electricity supply to 4500 homes was disrupted. At Aberystwyth the strong winds blew the roof off a house. The temperature here at 0900 GMT was 1.6C and this rose to a maximum of 4.0C during the day. Another case of foot-and-mouth disease at Llangaffo (now 4) brought the total on Anglesey to 12. It was reported that a mass cull of animals is being considered to prevent the disease crossing the Menai Strait. [Rain 3.6mm; Max 7.5C; Min 0.8C; Grass 0.2C]
22nd: The temperature rose to 7.5C between 03-06 GMT. After dawn visibility deteriorated as low cloud descended and by 0900 GMT it was <200m. Fronts from the Atlantic-low (966mb) were still across the UK, N and S of here, with pressure here at 996mb. The morning was very dull and misty with a little light or drizzle rain at times. The afternoon and night remained cloudy but mainly dry. [Rain 0.1mm; Max 9.2C; Min 1.6C; Grass 1.1C]
23rd: A mild night with the 24-h maximum of 9.2C at 0900 GMT. It was a damp and cloudy start to the day with little or no wind. Just before noon the cloud was beginning to fragment. With temperatures above freezing on the mountains there had been a thaw and most lying snow was patchy. There was 50% cover on some slopes particularly under Carnedd Llywelyn, the Glyders and Crib Goch. The afternoon was bright but the sky did not clear. At dusk it became misty with drizzle later in the night. A mass cull involving 40,000 animals is to be carried out on Anglesey on 25 sq. miles of land to the SW of the A5 and the new A55 Expressway. The A5 and A55 run together along this section and it must be hoped would be a barrier to the disease. It is remarkable that the winds since the start of the epidemic have been mainly N-E-S'ly not the prevailing S-W'ly. Today fires that were burning in the Brynsiencyn area could be seen for many miles across Anglesey and from the mainland. [Rain 0.1mm; Max 11.8C; Min 6.6C; Grass 6.0C]
24th: Drizzle about 04 GMT then the sky cleared resulting in shallow thick fog (<100m) before dawn. By 0900 GMT the fog was clearing; there were patchy cumulus clouds at times and plenty of sunshine with a temperature of 8.0C. Honeybees were busy on the Ericas by 1030 GMT. The rest of the day was mainly sunny with a maximum temperature of 12.5C by 1300 GMT. By evening it was cloudier but remained dry throughout the night. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 12.5C; Min 5.2C; Grass 3.3C]
25th: An overcast start to the day with slight dew on the grass. An occluded front was lying between the Isle of Man and Anglesey resulting in the cover of cloud. Pressure had risen slowly to 1005mb at 0900 GMT; with the wind a light E'ly the temperature was 5.4C. Visibility was moderate to good with thick haze. Around noon it was brighter and for a while some sunny spells. The temperature rose to 9.8C before it became cloudy again and colder in the still E'ly breeze. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 9.8C; Min 3.1C; Grass 0.8C]
26th: Patchy cloud during the night with a few clearer spells with a slight ground frost by morning. The sky was clearing towards 0900 GMT with weak hazy sunshine. With high-pressure over Norway and an Atlantic-low W of Ireland the E-SE'ly airflow was being maintained across the UK. Pressure was 1009mb and the temperature 5.4C (RH 71%). With the drying wind of the last few days, and relatively little rainfall this month (19.2mm; 27% LTA), the surface soil is beginning to dry and the grass is better to walk on. The lysimeter has starting giving positive PE readings again (6.4mm). There was a lot of patchy but thin cloud around during the day with the maximum reaching 10.0C. By evening it was overcast and rather murky and there was a little rain near midnight and 06 GMT. [Rain 1.4mm; Max 10.0C; Min 2.3C; Grass -1.2C]
27th: A cloudy and damp start to the day. There was a thin covering of fresh snow on the mountains as low as 1500 ft. With low-pressure (997mb) now over Ireland (pressure here 1001mb) fronts were slow moving over here and the UK. High (1026mb) was over the Baltic. The day remained cloudy with intermittent light rain. Towards evening there was a little clearance from the W but was short-lived as there was some light rain from 2230-04 GMT. Winds remained SE or S'ly during the day but it is expected that as a result of the low W-NW'ly winds will occur later. An analysis of the wind direction (turned through 180 degrees to show where it blows) from 20 February (7 days before the first confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease on Anglesey) to today shows how the NE-S winds have been dominant over the period. The prevailing wind is S-W. Compared with the distribution of cases (the first was at the abattoir at Gaerwen) there is a good correlation with subsequent 12 additional cases. It is thought that FMD can be carried on the wind; it seems that this is supported by these data. But there may, however, be other factors involved. It is hoped to contain the disease in the SW corner of the island (W of the A5 and new A55 Expressway) where a mass cull of 40,000 sheep was to begin today at the Abattoir at Gaerwen. What will be done with the carcasses has not been made public at the moment; landfill sites are being investigated as a solution but the idea is of concern both to farmers and the public. [Rain 4.2mm; Max 7.6C; Min 4.5C; Grass 3.6C]
28th: A bright start to the day with the sky clearing after the overnight rain. The rain had fallen as snow on the Carneddau Mountains, particularly C. Llywelyn, and Snowdon. A complex low-pressure area was centred over Ireland (988mb) and the Scottish Borders (989mb) with frontal troughs surrounding the UK. Pressure here was 0991mb and falling slowly through the day. Showery weather, with some good cumulus cloud development, and sunny spells was the pattern for the day. Showers, however, were confined to the Snowdonia Mountains where, later in the afternoon, they were falling as snow on the summits. During the afternoon the temperature rose to 11.2C. at night it was cloudier. In the afternoon cattle were being burned at Llangristiolus that resulted in dense smoke blowing across the new A55 Expressway and causing problems for drivers. At 21 GMT it was overcast but the sky cleared before dawn when there was some mist. It has been decided to burn the sheep being culled on Anglesey at Mona Airfield near Bodffordd. This is used by the RAF from Valley for landing and takeoff practice and the local flying club. The ground is very wet and pits would fill with water so landfill here would not be practicable. Also drainage would be into the Cefni reservoir. About 900 of the expected 40,000 animals were culled and taken there today with the intention to burn. The local school has been closed for the duration of the burn likely to last some weeks. There are several communities and 2 reservoirs in the vicinity and with the large quantities of coal, wood and diesel required there is considerable concern lest the surrounding environment, and water supply, is contaminated with pollutants. [Rain 0.0mm; Max 11.2C; Min 3.5C; Grass 0.1C]
29th: Early clear skies, and a touch of ground frost (-0.5C), led to cloudier conditions by 0900 GMT. Early cumulus development over the mountains increased during the morning but there were a few sunny spells when the temperature reached 9.7C before noon. With complex lows (990mb) off Dundee and (992mb) Denmark a NW'ly airflow was covering the UK. A ridge of high-pressure was to the W of Ireland. The afternoon was showery with rain and ice pellets falling in Llandegfan about 13 GMT but not at this station. Towards evening with the sun low in the sky a double rainbow was seen encompassing Llansadwrn Church. After an unsatisfactory meeting at Bodffordd (where it was reported no health officers were present) protests by local people have continued at Mona Airfield over the proposed burning of 40,000 sheep. This afternoon it was revealed that the Environment Agency had taken samples from the Afon Cefni that appeared to have been contaminated by body fluids from the 900 dead sheep already stored on the wet Mona Airfield. This situation is judged by local people to be entirely unsatisfactory. Slaughtering continued at Gaerwen with carcasses being put into lorries where they are staying for the moment. With the winds resuming their more W'ly type there must be concern for E Anglesey that, so far, has kept clear of infection. Another point that is of concern to me is the burning process. Cattle are being burnt but culled sheep can be buried. This method was judged unsatisfactory to burn BSE infected cattle; rendering and burning at high temperature in controlled incinerators has been necessary. As BSE has not yet entirely been eradicated it is possible that some, albeit a small number, of the cattle burned could have been infected with BSE. Burning at this relatively low temperature would not destroy the prions responsible for this disease. The possibility of active prions being distributed many miles downwind of the fires does not bear thinking about. At a late night meeting it was revealed that, in a return to the original plan, the animals would be buried at the reported 'well-run' landfill site at Penhesgyn, 3km SW of Llansadwrn. [Rain 0.2mm; Max 9.7C; Min 2.6C; Grass -0.5C]
30th: The sky was clearing at dawn as a ridge of high-pressure (1010mb here at 0900 GMT) moved from the W over the UK. Low (972mb) S of Greenland and associated fronts seem poised to move in later. A low in the Mediterranean is giving some bad weather at the moment to Italy and the Greek Islands. The wind here was W'ly and the temperature rose to 10.5C by noon and a maximum of 11.2C later. The air became clearer and there were good views of the mountain summits, where snow was lying as low as 2600 ft in places, and the Lleyn Peninsular. Most snow was between Foel-fras and Carnedd Llywelyn while fresh snow had fallen on Snowdon. During the afternoon cloud encroached from the W but it remained dry and bright. The moderate wind backed to the SW and strengthened to force 5-6 during the night. There was light rain from 02 GMT the southern end of a band of rain affecting the NW. [Rain 4.1mm; Max 11.2C; Min 3.5C; Grass 0.5C]
31st: A very large sunspot AR9393 (covering a surface area of 13 earth's), the largest for more than 10 years, has resulted in 3 relatively dense interplanetary shockwaves of particles hitting the earth at 01, 06 and 07 GMT. The activity was very high and could have given good displays of Aurora borealis (Northern Lights) over the entire UK. Unfortunately we were cloud covered when dark and could not see anything. Good displays have been reported from N America that was dark and clear at the times. There was a good chance that the sky would clear later in the day and that the geomagnetic storms continue tonight. Light rain from 02 GMT had accumulated 4.1mm by 0900 GMT. The morning was wet and windy (SSW force 5-6) with mist and poor visibility. In the afternoon it brightened, the wind lessened and as the sky cleared it was sunny and the temperature rose to 14.0C late in the afternoon. Overwintered comma and peacock butterflies were seen around the garden enjoying the sunshine. At 20 GMT the sky was clear and with the geomagnetic activity still high a spectacular sighting of the Aurora borealis was observed. Red coloured aurora were seen overhead, at times patches seemed to cover the sky, for about an hour despite a bright one-third moon in the NW. At times bands of light green colour were seen. Similar displays were seen in Cumbria. Later it was cloudier. [Rain 5.9mm; Max 14.0C; Min 6.5C; Grass 6.5C]
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1st: A bright start to the day with a temperature of 9.5C at 0900 GMT. Pressure here was 1018 mb and the morning was mainly sunny. Around the coast, and at Holyhead, there was some mist and fog patches. By noon the temperature was 12.5C and by 14 GMT had reached 15.3C, the highest of the year to date, it was also the highest maximum of the month! Pershore (Worcestershire) with 17C was the highest in the UK. The day's minimum of 9.4C (24-h to 0900 GMT on the 2nd) was the warmest of the month. Later in the afternoon it was cloudier and there was a little rain about 1630 GMT. It was a mild night with the temperature not falling below 10C. [Rain tr; Max 15.3C; Min 6.6C; Grass 4.2C]
2nd: Another bright start to the day with a little weak sunshine through thin cloud. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 13.0C in a moderate S'ly wind and soon went on to reach 14.1C. Pressure here 1004 mb and falling with a low (983 mb) was just to the W of Ireland. A trough was lying down through Wales to the Channel Islands with a cold front over Ireland. During the morning the S'ly wind strengthened to force 5-6 as a band of rain affected most of Wales, the West Country and the Channel Islands. There were only a few spots of rain here being at the N'ly tip of the rain-band. Later as the weak cold front passed through the temperature fell away and the sky cleared. The satellite picture at 1704 GMT shows the cloud just clearing Anglesey and the swirl of cloud around the low now off the Western Isles. The evening had sunny spells but it was windy (SSW'ly force 5-6). There are quite a few indications that spring has arrived. There are buds on bluebells in the wood and a few leaves have opened on early sycamore trees. The sticky buds on horse chestnut look like large greeny-yellow candles. The blackthorn is in flower along the hedgerows and bright green leaves of hawthorn are appearing. Birdsong is picking-up as birds pair-up and nest boxes are being closely inspected but, as yet, there is no sign of nesting. I have been listening out for the chiffchaffs; they arrived on the 22 March in 2000 but there is no sign of them yet. [Rain tr; Max 14.1C; Min 9.4C; Grass 6.4C]
3rd: Some clear sky overnight led to a touch of ground frost. A bright dawn with some pink clouds that soon developed into cumulus particularly over the mountains during the morning. At 0900 GMT pressure had risen to 1008 mb; with a moderate SW'ly breeze although the temperature was 8.0C it felt much colder. The low of yesterday was positioned to the N of Scotland. It was cloudier around noon and there were 1 or 2 spots of rain before turning sunnier. The sky became overcast by evening as a frontal trough turned into a low (993 mb) over Wales by midnight bringing rain to Wales, the Midlands and Brittany. The rain here from 20-04 GMT accumulated 11.1 mm by morning. [Rain 11.1 mm; Max 11.4C; Min 4.0C; Grass -0.2C]
4th: After the overnight band of rain it was showery and at 06 GMT there was a shower of rain and ice pellets. Fresh snow had fallen over Snowdonia and was lying as low as 1800 ft above Cwm Idwal. At 0900 GMT pressure was rising 1001 mb and there was a breeze from the WNW with a temperature of 6.4C. The morning was bright with sunny spells between fast-moving cumulus clouds. Further snow showers gave a covering down to 1200 ft near Ogwen Cottage. It was cloudier before noon but later the sky was clearer and there were good views across Anglesey and towards the Snowdonia Mountains. It was a good drying day with a relative humidity of 60% and a maximum of 13.0C that equalled the UK highest reported from Guernsey (Channel Islands). With a clear sky at first during the night there was a slight ground frost (-0.3C). The fields around Llanddaniel now look strangely empty the animals having been culled because of FMD. While there are sheep in the fields around Llansadwrn cattle are being kept in their sheds as long as possible. In places, however, farmers have run out of winter fodder and have had to put them out. Following the drier spell of weather there is some ploughing taking place in the last few days. Only 1 field was ploughed in Llansadwrn in the autumn due to the exceptionally wet weather. After the overnight rain I noticed that the 'old cricket field' next to the house had a small patch of standing water. The soil is still near saturation despite the month of below average rainfall. [Rain 2.0 mm; Max 13.0C; Min 4.1C; Grass 3.8C]
Pictures of sky from experimental webcam looking NE
Note: Timestamp is BST (GMT +1h)
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5th: Cloudy by dawn and rain from 0730 GMT the start of a band of rain that moved across from the W. Rain moderate to heavy at times during the morning with a strengthening S'ly wind. The rain (7 mm), sleety at times fell as snow on the Snowdonia Mountains above 1500 ft, before easing before noon. Runoff from fields soon caused local flooding of some roads; the road to Llanbedrgoch had 15 mm of water across it during the morning. Low (987 mb), leader of a pack of several in the Atlantic, was over Ireland with several fronts across Ireland, Wales and the West Country; extensive high (1024 mb) was centred over the Mediterranean. After a lull about noon, as the rain moved eastwards, there was further rain in the afternoon turning to light drizzle by 18 GMT. It was wet over the mountains with Capel Curig reporting 41 mm in the 24-h to 18 GMT, the largest fall in the UK. [Rain 14.4 mm; Max 10.1C; Min 3.6C; Grass -0.3C]
6th: Moderate to heavy rainfall from 07 GMT gave most of the 14.4 mm measured over the past 24-h. Further light rain and drizzle gave another 6 mm by noon. Low (981 mb) to the W of Ireland and associated fronts was responsible for the rain bands. Pressure here was 995 mb; wind was SSW'ly force 4-5 at time during the morning with poor or very poor visibility. There was standing water on many fields and local flooding of some minor roads. It seems that the emergence of tree leaves has been the signal to return to rain! Further heavy rain over the mountains with Capel Curig reporting 30 mm in the 24-h to 18 GMT, the largest amount in the UK in successive days. [Rain 12.7 mm; Max 10.2C; Min 4.8C; Grass 4.3C]
7th: A dismal start to the day with moderate drizzle until 11 GMT. Low (989 mb) was over Northern Ireland and pressure here was 993 mb. Cloudy but dry later and becoming brighter with a few sunny spells in the afternoon. Overnight the sky cleared and there was a ground frost by morning. [Rain 2.9 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 5.3C; Grass 3.0C]
8th: A cloudy start to the day with a temperature of 8.0C at 0900 GMT, the maximum during the morning. The wind a light W'ly became SW'ly later. By 1130 GMT the temperature had begun to fall to 5.0C for most of the afternoon. There was moderate rain from 1230 GMT to 1730 GMT that accumulated 7.7 mm. Snow fell above 3000 feet on the Snowdonia Mountains. At 18 GMT there was light drizzle in a light SE'ly wind. During the night it was a little warmer (7C) rising to 8.8C by the next morning. [Rain 7.7 mm; Max 8.8C; Min 2.2C; Grass -1.7C]
9th: Cloudy at first with the temperature 8.8C at 0900 GMT, the maximum for the past 24-h. Low (1000 mb) was to the W of the Western Isles with pressure here 1013 mb. Around noon there were some sunny spells but later it was showery with a blustery SW'ly wind. There was cumulonimbus cloud seen around 16 GMT but thunder was not heard. [Rain 3.2 mm; Max 12.5C; Min 5.0C; Grass 5.1C]
10th: Low (1005 mb) was over Holland with a cool N'ly airflow over the UK. Dull at first with low cloud and mist over the mountains it became brighter with sunny spells and showers. During the afternoon the sky cleared and after some more cloud around 17 GMT the evening and night was clear. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 12.0C; Min 7.0C; Grass 6.2C]
11th: Clear sky at first but a little cloud appearing by 0900 GMT. The wind was a light NNE'ly as a ridge of high-pressure was crossing the UK. Pressure here was 1029 mb and the temperature 7.3C (88% RH). The morning was bright and sunny. There was some cumulus cloud development around noon but when this largely dispersed the afternoon was sunny. The temperature reached 10.3C, cooler than might be expected because of the N'ly wind. Excellent views good be seen across Anglesey to Holyhead and the Lleyn Peninsular. The evening was sunny but frontal cloud could be seen encroaching from the W. Valley recorded 12.4h sunshine to 18 GMT but was beaten by Tiree (Western Isles) by 0.1h having 12.5h, highest in the UK. Though there was cloud to the W the evening remained clear and at 2130 GMT there was a spectacular display of aurora (Northern Lights) lasting about an hour (21-22 GMT). In the absence of moonlight it was more intense than the display seen on 31st March. Again there were patches of red turning to orange interspersed with pale-green bands. The northern sky at one stage was brightly lit by a pale blue-green hue that merged into the red and orange overhead. The red colouration extended well to the E of here while there was little to be seen to the S. To the W and NW there were strong bands of slowly fluctuating pale-green colours. Sightings were reported from as far S as Devon, Durham and Shetland that, being in the N, sees auroa more frequently. It was cold out watching the aurora with the minimum on 3.1C and a slight frost on the ground (-0.5C). It has been 16 days since the last confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease on Anglesey. There was 'growing optimism' that the disease had been contained to the SW corner of the island. [Rain tr; Max 10.4C; Min 3.4C; Grass 0.3C]
12th: A brilliant red sunrise at 0530 GMT before becoming overcast. High (1037 mb) was between Iceland and Denmark with another (1033 mb) in Biscay. Long trailing warm fronts, from a low S of Greenland, were over Ireland and W Wales while a cold front was lying over N England. Sandwiched between, with pressure of 1029 mb at 0900 GMT, we had an overcast day but the cloud was high and thin enough to give some brightness at times and the maximum rose to 10.8C in the afternoon. Throughout the day there was intermittent light rain or drizzle, not enough to wet the bottle in the raingauge, that occasionally wetted the ground. We saw our first swallow of the season at Llanbedrgoch and heard a just-returned chiffchaff in the garden. A stream in SW Anglesey, where 200 fish have been found dead, may have been polluted by strong disinfectant used in foot-and-mouth disease control measures. Strong disinfectants, including those that contain phenols, take many days to break down and could get washed into watercourses causing ecological problems. The Environment Agency is doing tests but are also concerned with the build-up of slurry on farms, affected by restrictions, all over the UK. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 10.8C; Min 3.1C; Grass -0.5C]
13th: A cloudy night with spots of rain that did eventually record 0.1 mm. With high (1035 mb) Shetland, extending a ridge the length of the UK, and several fronts associated with low (992 mb) SE of Greenland it was a cloudy picture to the W. An overcast and rather murky start to the day. It was calm with a pressure of 1031 mb and a temperature of 9.0C at 0900 GMT. It remained dull and murky most of the day. After a little fine drizzle early in the afternoon it became brighter for a while (maximum 10.6C) before returning to the gloom later. [Rain 1.1 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 6.6C; Grass 5.1C]
14th: There was fog (<200m), light rain then drizzle around dawn as a warm front passed by, on low (994 mb) between Greenland and Norway. The high of yesterday (1032 mb) had slipped S and broadened and there was a W'ly airflow across the UK. By 0900 GMT (pressure 1026 mb, 9.6C and 97% RH) the fog and low cloud were lifting but the sky had not cleared by midmorning. Although a little brighter before noon, when the temperature reached 12.0C, the afternoon remained dull and uniformly grey. A band of light rain from 1630 GMT until about 21 GMT produced most of the 8.4 mm that accumulated by morning. [Rain 8.4 mm; Max 12.0C; Min 7.2C; Grass 6.8C]
15th: The low (955 mb) was still near Norway but the high (1031 mb) SW UK and Biscay had slipped SW'wards resulting in a NW'ly airflow. There were, at last, some breaks in the cloud sheet appearing by 0830 GMT giving some welcome patches of blue (enough to patch a sailor's trousers). The cloud was beginning to lift off the mountaintops at 0900 GMT. Pressure was 1015 mb and a temperature of 8.5C (dewpoint 6.6C) but still there were dark clouds around. Later in the morning it became sunnier and during the afternoon the temperature rose to 12.1C. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.1C; Min 7.0C; Grass 6.8C]
16th: It was a cloudy start to the day with a cold N'ly wind. The high-pressure area (1031 mb) had moved N'wards and taken up position just to the W of Ireland. Pressure here rose to 1022 mb and the sky during the morning became clearer and by noon there were good sunny spells. The afternoon was sunny and with good visibility there were clear views across Anglesey and to the Lleyn and Snowdonia Mountains. There are just a few patches of snow to be seen on the northern slopes around 3000 ft. The temperature was kept down to 9.5C by the fresh N'ly wind. Valley (Anglesey) reported 11.1 h sunshine in the 24-h to 18 GMT, the highest in the UK. The evening and night was, at first, almost cloudless with the minimum dropping to 1.8C and some frost on the grass (-1.4C). Central England had a cold night with -3C being recorded at Oxford. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 4.8C; Grass 2.6C]
17th: It was cloudier by dawn and soon overcast. The Atlantic-high was declining and being squeezed as a low just off Norway was moving S. Associated fronts were starting to affect N Scotland (wintry showers) and to work S during the day. The satellite picture shows the swirl of cloud around the low with frontal cloud just reaching North Wales. There was light rain or drizzle from 1030 GMT, with poor visibility. But the rain had only accumulated 1 mm by 17 GMT. The maximum, that was reached before noon, was 8.2C. The first bluebells were in flower in the wood. [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 8.2C; Min 1.8C; Grass -1.4C]
18th: It was a cold night with the minimum down to 1.7C and -0.6C on the grass. There were frequent slight showers of snow pellets from 0715 GMT and a sprinkling of snow could be seen as low as 2250' on the mountains. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 4.7C (dewpoint 0.0) and a relative humidity of 71%. It felt cold in the brisk NNE'ly wind. Showers of snow pellets and flurries of snow continued at first in the morning but died out by noon. The afternoon was mainly sunny and the temperature reached 8.4C and the relative humidity fell to 55%; in the evening snow showers could be seen falling over the mountains. Partially cloudy at night but with sufficient clear spells for a touch of ground frost (-0.5C) before morning. [Rain tr; Max 8.4C; Min 1.7C; Grass -0.6C]
19th: A fine start to the day but there were cumulus clouds, threatening later showers, on the horizon to the W and over the Snowdonia Mountains. The summits were sprinkled with snow.
Another cold night inland away from the coasts with temperatures of -2C. With lows (996 mb) in the North Sea and over Denmark the Atlantic-ridge of high-pressure (1026 mb) W or Ireland promised a mainly fine day to the W of the UK. Showers were already affecting the E coast from Scotland to the Wash. At 0900 GMT pressure was 1016 mb and the temperature was 6.5C (dewpoint 2.6C); there were crepuscular rays to be seen in the Nant Ffrancon Pass. The morning was sunny and just after noon the temperature reached 10.0C the highest of the day. The afternoon was sunny, but we caught a slight shower of snow pellets around 14 GMT. There were snow showers over the Mountains that left Carnedd Dafydd and C. Llywelyn with shining white caps in the later afternoon sunshine. Towards 17 GMT the sky was became clearer as the cumulus clouds dispersed. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 1.6C; Grass -0.5C]
20th: A bright and sunny start to the day. Pressure here at 0900 GMT was 1017 mb as the ridge of high-pressure remained over northern Britain. The day was sunny with fair-weather cumulus clouds and good visibility but it remained cool (maximum 9.4C) in the NE'ly breeze. During the afternoon 2 or 3 fires could be seen burning on the lower slopes of the Snowdonia Mountains. Burning should not be carried out after the end of March because of nesting birds. Towards evening the sky cleared resulting in a ground frost later in the night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 2.6C; Grass -0.1C]
21st: The grass was covered at dawn with frost; frozen dew and some hoar frost (-3.0C above the grass) that soon melted. The minimum of 1.0C was the coldest of the month. Pressure was falling (1016 mb) as the ridge of high-pressure declined allowing fronts on an Icelandic-low to encroach from the W. It was bright at first with some weak sunshine as the cloud was thin and high. The leading front could be seen to the W at 0900 GMT (7.5C) but it did not reach here until about 14 GMT. The temperature had risen to 10.0C around noon. By 16 GMT there was some fine drizzle and this turned to light rain by 20 GMT. The band of rain was slow moving and it rained all night with slow decrease in temperature to a minimum of 4.2C. Rainfall for the 24-h period was only 3.7 mm but 11.5 hours duration. With temperatures around 5C here on the mountains it was cold enough to fall as snow above 2000'. [Rain 3.7 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.0C]
22nd: Steady but light rain overnight with about 3.7 mm rain accumulated by 09 GMT. Cloud was seen hanging over the Snowdonia Mountains, the summits were obscured but snow was lying between 2000-2500'. Pressure 999 mb was still declining and the occluded fronts had not yet cleared. The wind was a light S'ly and the temperature beginning to rise at was 6.5C but later could only reached a maximum of 7.0C, the lowest of the month. The intermittent rain and drizzle around 09 GMT soon turned to light rain again and continued until 18 GMT when it appeared to brighten a little. In the 24-h to 18 GMT Capel Curing recorded 32 mm rainfall while here there was 10 mm. By 21 GMT the sky had cleared and there was a slight ground frost (-1.4C). After midnight it became cloudier and there was a slight shower just before 03 GMT. Mean temperatures were above average at the beginning of the month but in recent days have been running below average [Rain 6.5 mm; Max 7.0C; Min 5.0C; Grass 4.2C]
23rd: A cloudy start to the day with a little drizzle and mist looking towards the mountains. By 0900 GMT there was a hint of a break in the cloud sheet and it was looking brighter. Pressure 1000 mb was rising as the low over Wales was moving SE. The temperature was 6.4C (dewpoint 5.5C). A moderate cover snow was lying about 1500' at Cwm Idwal and on the summits of the Carneddau and Y Wyddfa. During the morning the sky cleared leaving well-developed cumulus clouds hanging over the mountains. The afternoon was clear with the white-topped summits of the central Snowdonia Mountains sparkling in the sunshine. Clear sky at first at night with a touch of ground frost but it became cloudier later. [Rain trace; Max 12.3C; Min 2.4C; Grass -1.4C]
24th: An overcast dawn with the wind very light from the SE. Pressure was 997 mb and the temperature 9C at 08 GMT. With a low (989 mb) to the SW of Ireland and there were associated rain-bearing fronts moving in from the SW into the West Country and Wales. There were some spots of rain just before 09 GMT and these continued intermittently during the morning and into the afternoon. From 15 GMT to 19 GMT there was a period of light rain on a passing occluded front and was followed, through the night, by frequent showers. [Rain 6.9 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 4.6C; Grass -0.5C]
25th: The sky was clearing at dawn leaving some towering cumulus clouds over Snowdonia. At 0900 GMT pressure 997 mb was rising and a sunny day ensued. Some passing fair-weather cumulus over Anglesey gave way to almost clear skies during the afternoon. Winds were a light SSW'ly and there was a maximum of 12.4C. Much of the light snow cover on the Carneddau and Y Wyddfa melted during the day leaving only patches. The evening was sunny with little or no wind but it was cloudier by 21 GMT and there was a shower of rain. A further shower about midnight brought the rainfall total to 1.3 mm for the 24-h period. [Rain 1.3 mm; Max 12.4C; Min 6.8C; Grass 4.4C]
26th: Overcast with thick haze at dawn as a trough of comparatively 'high' low-pressure (1004 mb) was over the UK at midnight. Pressure gradients are slack with the most significant low (971 mb) Newfoundland and highs (1027 mb) Azores, (1025 mb) Russia and (1022 mb) Mediterranean. Here at 08 GMT the temperature was 7.7C and pressure had risen to 1009 mb; it was brighter as the sky was starting to clear. The morning became sunny later and the afternoon had almost a clear sky. Some coastal areas in the west had the highest sunshine with Fishguard reporting 11.6h in the 24-h to 18 GMT. The evening became overcast but it remained dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.8C; Min 5.2C; Grass 2.0C]
27th: An overcast morning but the cloud was thin and high with weak sunshine at first. Around noon it was sunniest with the temperature reaching 13.4C. Low (980 mb) E of Greenland had an occluded front stretching from Iceland to Ireland with a trough over W Scotland and Wales. The afternoon was sunny for a while but cumulus clouds were towering over the mountains. Later it became rather murky and there were a few showers of rain. The SW'ly wind had strengthened through the day reaching force 4-5 by 18 GMT. From 18-21 GMT the front brought moderate to heavy rain amounting to 8.8 mm. [Rain 8.8 mm; Max 13.4C; Min 4.6C; Grass 1.0C]
28th: As the front cleared away E'wards it was a bright start to the day but there were cumulus clouds in the vicinity. The infra-red satellite picture at 0636 GMT shows the long front, cleared to the E, and the low now S of Iceland. Also shown is the cloud over Wales, the showers to come to the W and further frontal development over Ireland. In sunny spells the temperature at 0900 GMT was 9.1C. After noon there were well-developed cumulus clouds to the S over Snowdonia. Later there were cumulonimbus and soon here when there were showers of rain and ice pellets but no thunder was heard. A sprinkling of lying snow was seen above 3200' on Carnedd Llywelyn, Crib Goch and Y Wyddfa. During the night a low (997 mb) developed over Wales and there were showers and longer spells of rain; later later there was sleet that fell as snow over the mountains of Snowdonia. [Rain 8.5 mm; Max 11.4C; Min 5.0C; Grass 2.4C]
29th: Showers of sleet continuing at 0900 GMT . Snow could be seen at 1500' on the Carneddau and Moel Eilio; the summits were obscured in cloud. The temperature was 3.6C (dewpoint 3.4C) and visibility was moderate to poor. Low 997 mb was over Merseyside at 06 GMT but pressure here 1000 mb at 0900 GMT was rising slightly. There was some standing water on soil and grassed areas as the soil remained saturated. Further sleet and snow showers gave way to sunny spells by noon. By 13 GMT the cloud had lifted to reveal the snow on the mountaintops. The afternoon was sunny between passing cumulus clouds some of which looked threatening but there was no further precipitation. [Rain 2.5 mm; Max 11.1C; Min 3.0C; Grass 1.4C]
30th: A low rumble was heard at 0239 GMT, there were no sferics reported and it is likely it was an earth tremor. It was overcast at dawn and there were prolonged showers affecting North Wales and Merseyside. At 0900 GMT there were cumulus clouds in the vicinity but it remained dry here. The sky soon cleared and it was a sunny day but remained cool in the NE'ly breeze with a maximum of 11.5C. The evening and night was clear and the grass minimum dropped to 0.5C, but it had turned cloudy by dawn. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.5C; Min 3.5C; Grass 0.3C]
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1st: After a clear night it was cloudier by dawn. There was heavy dew on the grass, the minimum having been on 0.5C. A low over France was moving into the Bay of Biscay (1006 mb) while the pressure here was 1024 mb with high-pressure (1026 mb) N England. The morning became bright and sunny but with a cool NE'ly wind off the sea the temperature only managed to rise to 12.4C. Another clear sky in the evening but it became overcast later. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.4C; Min 4.5C; Grass 0.5C]
2nd: Overcast at dawn and very murky, with thick haze, but by 0900 GMT there were small breaks in the cloud. During the morning the cloud thinned and it was brighter. Just N of here in the Isle of Man it was a sunny morning. Pressure was high (1025 mb) in the North Sea with a ridge over S Britain giving pressure here of 1024 mb. With slack isobars there was little, mainly SW but sometimes variable, or no wind. After noon the cloud dispersed and the temperature reached 17.0C, the warmest day of the year so far. [Rain 0.7 mm; Max 17.0C; Min 4.8C; Grass 2.0C]
3rd: A damp start to the day with light rain or drizzle on a weak cold front associated with a low (971 mb) just to the W of N Norway. By 0900 GMT, with pressure here of 1014 mb, it had stopped raining and the sky was starting to clear and cloud lifted from the mainland mountains. The morning became sunny with some cumulus clouds around. The wind was a gentle to moderate N'ly so in contrast to yesterday's warmth the temperature was 11.5C at noon. In the almost clear sky of the afternoon the temperature went on to reach 12.5C. By evening the wind had eased. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.5C; Min 6.3C; Grass 3.9C]
4th: A cloudy start to the day with cumulus clouds in the vicinity. At 0900 GMT with pressure 1017 mb and 9.0C it was becoming brighter. During the morning it became sunny with the sky clearing in the afternoon. The atmosphere was crystal clear in the late afternoon; cliffs at Ysgolion Duon under Carnedd Dafydd and Y Wyddfa were picked out clearly in the evening sunshine. Towards dusk some patchy cloud formed but this cleared later to give a slight ground frost (-0.2C), the only frost and lowest of the month. The minimum also fell to the lowest of the month (3.5C). [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.1C; Min 5.6C; Grass 3.8C]
5th: The sky was clear at sunrise and there was moderate dew on the grass. At 0900 GMT pressure 1024 mb was rising slightly as Atlantic high (1027 mb) continued its influence. Low (1002 mb) and fronts was over France and the Alps. It was a sunny day but there was a cool N'ly breeze. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.5C; Min 3.5C; Grass -0.2C]
6th: A clear and sunny start to the day but by 0900 GMT (temperature 8.8C) there was some cumulus clouds forming. Visibility was very good. Later in the morning the cloud dispersed and the afternoon was sunny. Valley reported 14.0h sunshine in the 24-h to 18 GMT, the highest in the UK. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.4C; Min 5.2C; Grass 2.7C]
7th: Another sunny start to the day. Pressure 1032 mb was still high across the UK in an area extending from Norway to the Azores. The grass was wet with moderate dew with the temperature above the grass down to 0.6C in the night. Just a little cirrostratus cloud to the S and very good visibility although there was slight haze later. At noon the temperature was 10.5C and this went on to reach a maximum of 12.2C during the afternoon. The cirrostratus drifted across during the afternoon but was not dense enough to obscure the sun. Smoke haze was seen towards the horizons this probably the result of the bright sunlight of the past several days acting on pollutants in the atmosphere. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.2C; Min 3.6C; Grass 0.6C]
8th: Almost clear sky at dawn but by 0900 GMT (temperature 10.4C, 66% RH) cumulus clouds had formed. Some quite active looking clouds bubbled up around noon but there was insufficient heat (maximum 15.4C) for them to continue development and by mid-afternoon they dispersed. The wind SE'ly at first turned to the NE off the sea around 14 GMT when the clouds started to disperse. There was a little patchy cloud at times during the night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.4C; Min 5.0C; Grass 1.0C]
9th: There were spectacular lee-wave clouds just to the S of here from dawn. The wind was E'ly and a group of 4 over Bangor merged and remained in position only slowly changing shape for several hours. At times they looked like 'flying saucers or when merged a humped-back whale. Later the sky clear and it was a sunny morning. High-pressure of the last days moved N'wards allowing a weak Atlantic-low with thundery troughs to move into S Britain. The afternoon was cloudy becoming murky by evening when there was a little rain after dark. It was a warm feeling 15.7C, but 18C was reported at Valley where there was 13.9h sunshine. Belfast with 14.4h was the highest in the UK in the 24-h to 18 GMT. A further heavier shower in the night, contributed 3 mm to the 4.0 mm total for the day, as the thundery weather moved into Wales. [Rain 4.0 mm; Max 15.7C; Min 8.3C; Grass 8.0C]
10th: A rumble of thunder was heard at 0510 GMT and there was a little rain and mist around 06 GMT. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 1020 mb with the temperature 11.3C. Visibility was still poor but it was brightening with 1 or 2 breaks in the cloud but the sky did not clear. At noon visibility was still poor in the haze but the temperature had risen to 15.0C. During the afternoon the cloud thinned and a maximum of 17.8C was reached. There was a slight shower around 21 GMT and there was a rumble of thunder around midnight. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 17.8C; Min 8.3C; Grass 8.0C]
11th: An overcast start to the day but it was warm (17.0C) after a warm night with little or no wind. Pressure here was 1020 mb with the area of high-pressure (1033 mb) to the N of Scotland and low (998 mb) to the W of Ireland. There were thundery troughs over Wales and the Western Isles. The minimum (11.3C) was at 0900 GMT yesterday. The morning was bright with the sun occasionally looming through the thin high cloud. The afternoon became rather murky and sultry with a maximum of 21.5C. Thunder was heard at 21 and 2140 GMT with a storm to the E of here where lightning could be seen. It was a warm night the minimum not falling below 14.0C. There was heavy rain at Colwyn Bay where 6 mm was reported, the largest amount in the UK for the 24-h to 18 GMT on the 12th. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 21.5C; Min 11.3C; Grass 10.8C]
12th: A sunny and warm start to the day with the temperature at 0900 GMT already 18.9C. Visibility, poor at first, improved as the sky cleared from the 2 oktas. There was a slight NE'ly wind off the sea that moderated the temperature during the afternoon. It was a warm and pleasant evening and we were able to have our evening meal in the garden for the first time this year. Southampton reported a maximum of 27C, the highest in the UK. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 23.7C; Min 14.0C; Grass 9.5C]
13th: Another sunny start to the day with some cirrostratus clouds and contrails overhead from planes inbound from America on the BLUE 1 route. There was moderate dew on the grass and much tree pollen deposited on the Stevenson screen roof and elsewhere. Patchy morning cloud clear around noon when the temperature reached 21.6C. Soon after the sky darkened from the SW and a storm cell, associated with a cold from on a low (993 mb) to the SW of Ireland, passed to the NW. There was a squall on the cold front, as the ENE'ly wind swung to the S and reached force 5 and the temperature fell quickly 5C from 19.5C just after 14 GMT. This brought down a 'snowstorm' of bud scales from nearby trees. With little wind of late most of the scales were still on the trees until the squall. There was a downpour at Gaerwen, Rhoscefnhir and Pentraeth of some 10 mm but we only had a few drops here from 1425 GMT onwards. Slight to moderate thunder was heard at 1458, 1609, 1622, 1909 GMT. From 1914-1928 GMT 16 rumbles of thunder were heard to the E. There was moderate rain between 1930-2115 GMT that accumulated 2.5 mm rain. [Rain 2.7 mm; Max 21.6C; Min 10.5C; Grass 8.8C]
14th: Overcast with slight intermittent slight rain at first with a light S'ly wind. Visibility was poor in the mist with a temperature of 11.0C at 0900 GMT. Soon after it brightened and 13.2C was reached before the wind turned N-NE'ly and it became dull and cooler again. The afternoon remained dull with an overcast sky. A band of rain from 2100-0300 GMT resulted in 10.6 mm of rain in the gauge by morning. [Rain 10.6 mm; Max 13.0C; Min 9.7C; Grass 9.0C]
15th: An overcast start to the day with some slight rain . The day did not improve as it remained dull and during the afternoon there was a spell of fine drizzle with mist reducing visibility to poor. The maximum was only 11.6C, the lowest of the month. [Rain 2.5 mm; Max 11.6C; Min 8.5C; Grass 8.4C]
16th: Another overcast dawn and before 0900 GMT a moderate shower resulted in 2.5 mm rainfall. The wind was S-SW'ly but it was cool with a temperature of 10.0C. After further slight showers the afternoon became brighter and there was eventually some sunshine before evening. There was a moderate shower of rain about 21 GMT. [Rain 2.6 mm; Max 13.0C; Min 8.0C; Grass 6.0C]
17th: A grey overcast morning with some slight drizzle just before 0900 GMT. The cloud was hanging low over the mountains with mist on the lower slopes. At noon low (997 mb) had just cleared the Wash and pressure here 999 mb at 0900 GMT was continuing to rise. The satellite picture at 1247 GMT shows the position of the low and the cloud and rain affecting S Britain. It became brighter from 13-15 GMT and there was a little sunshine as the cloud temporarily cleared away and the temperature reached 13.4C. To the E of Manchester and around Leeds there were thunderstorms moving S during the afternoon. Later in the afternoon it became overcast again here with a strengthening N'ly wind reaching force 5 in exposed places. [Rain tr; Max 13.4C; Min 6.8C; Grass 4.0C]
18th: Some breaks in the cumulus clouds early but the morning remained mainly overcast. Pressure 1019 mb had risen as an area of high-pressure (1029 mb) moved up from the S. But low (1008 mb) over Iceland had a weak and slow moving occluded front across Ireland and NW Scotland. Again some brightness and a glimpse of the sun afternoon raising the temperature to 13.6C, but it was short-lived. Another cloudy and dull end to the day. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.6C; Min 4.3C; Grass 0.8C]
19th: The Icelandic-low with another set of fronts across Ireland and North Wales was keeping the cloud sheet topped up. Weak fronts such as these within high-pressure have little or no rain associated with them but they can bring 'anticyclonic-gloom'. There were just 1 or 2 patches of blue to be seen and the cloud-base was high revealing the mountain summits. By 10 GMT it was a little brighter and warmer with the thermometer showing 14C. The afternoon was bright at times but the cloud did not clear away until evening when it became mainly sunny. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.5C; Min 9.0C; Grass 6.0C]
20th: It was again disappointingly overcast by dawn and with just 1 or 2 breaks in the cloud by 0900 GMT was beginning to brighten. Visibility was only moderate in the haze. Temperature was 13.3C with a relative humidity of 88%. Pressure here was 1028 mb and this applied to most of S Britain and Ireland that was mostly covered by thin cloud. Out to the W Atlantic-low (991 mb) with a band of much thicker cloud, associated with fronts that stretched from Iceland to N Africa, was being kept back by the high-pressure over the UK. Cloud thickened during the day here and there was some coastal fog patches. Late in the afternoon the cloud dispersed to give a sunny end to the day. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.3C; Min 10.2C; Grass 8.2C]
21st: A brighter start to the day w
