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Llansadwrn (Anglesey) Weather
Diary 2002

 		Logo: Llansadwrn Weather - Melin Llynnon, Ynys Môn

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January 2002

Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 1 January 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. Pall of smoke overhanging the Menai Strait generated from a fire on the lower slopes of the mountains during the afternoon of 1 January 2002. 1st: A clear start to the New Year with heavy hoar frost, the minimum temperature above remaining snow on the ground having been -6.8C. The high-pressure area passed over Wales and was situated over central UK and France. Pressure here at 0900 GMT was 1036 mb and the temperature was 0.0C (dewpoint (-3.0C). There was no wind but by 9045 there was a gentle SSE'ly breeze off the mountains and the temperature fell 0.5C as a result of cold air descending from the mountains. The morning was sunny and the air had warmed to 2.5C by 1130 GMT and went on to reached 5.2C around noon. The afternoon was also sunny with just a little cloud on the western horizon. There were clear views across Anglesey but it was hazier with smoke haze off the coast to the N and E. A fire on the lower slopes of the mountains produced a lot of smoke that hung over the Strait until dusk. Sunshine determined from sunrise and sunset times was 6.9h. It was a clear night with good views of the moon and 3 planets including the giant Jupiter that is at its closer to Earth than usual today. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 5.2C; Min -1.7C; Grass -6.8C]
2nd: A clear pre-dawn but soon cloudier with a very red sunrise. It remained bright as the cloud was generally high and thin. A heavy frost overnight with the minimum -2.3C and -7.3C above snow left on the weather station, both lowest of the month. The ground was freezing (-0.5C at 5 cm depth). Humidity was low; at 08 GMT it was 43% rising to 47% at 1.0C at 0900 GMT. Valley, however, reported 37% and it was 38% on the summit of Snowdon. The Llanberis AWS was reporting it warmer at 7.3C with 24% RH with a low of 19% at 0545 GMT. Pressure was falling but still relatively high at 1027 mb with the high centred over the Alps (1043 mb). A low SE of the Baltic (992 mb) was resulting in extensive snowfall in central Europe and it was also very cold in eastern Europe and in NE Scotland with -11 at Aberdeen. To the W isobars were tightening and winds strengthening over Ireland and the SW, where there was a slow-moving band of rain associated with a small low (997 mb) in mid-Atlantic. Here the day remained bright as the thin cloud did not obscure the sun the temperature reaching 7.2C . There was not much wind until later in the day; in the late evening the SE'ly was force 5 making a roaring noise in the trees. It was a Föhn-like wind as the temperature had risen from a low of 1.8C at 1730 GMT to nearly 8C and the relative humidity dropped to 31% between 23-00 GMT, the lowest of the month. The wind had fallen away by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 8.2C; Min -2.3C; Grass -7.3C]
A flotilla of lee-wave-clouds over the Menai Strait and Llansadwrn during the afternoon of 3 January 2002. Lee-wave clouds across the old cricket field near the weather station at sunset on 3 January 2002. 3rd: Another very red sky soon after 08 GMT and although bright in the E dark clouds were assembling to the W. It was warmer with the temperature at 0900 GMT 7.5C. Pressure 1022 mb had fallen only a little with the Baltic-high (1042 mb) still in position but with low-pressure, and attendant fronts, to the SW of Ireland patchy rain was already over central Wales and reached the W of Anglesey by 08 GMT and here by 1045 GMT but was only a few drops. With the warmth the ice/snow left on the weather station is melting although the ground remains cold (0.0C at 5 cm and 6.2C at 100 cm). On the mountains the snowline was about 1000 ft but began retreating upwards with the warmth of the day. It was bright and with the wind SSE'ly there was a flotilla of lee-wave clouds the rest of the day. Despite a rather black looking cloud that hovered over Llansadwrn in the afternoon the temperature reached 9.2C. But at Valley 10C was reported the highest in the UK. Later the clouds dispersed and it was a clear night but the air temperature was slow to decline and humidity fell to 45% at 2200 GMT. [Rain trace; Max 9.2C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.5C]
4th: A bright and clear start to the day. There was a hard ground frost (-3.8C) and air temperature was at its minimum of 1.0C at 0900 GMT. With just a hint of thin cloud to the S and W it was soon sunny but hazy (smoke). On the summit of Snowdon, with the descent of warm dry air, the temperature was 3.5C (37% RH) melting remaining ice and snow. The snowline was on 2000 ft on sunny slopes, lower 1000 ft in shaded places like Cwm Idwal, but become patchy even at 3000 ft and more so during the day. Pressure was high (1044 mb) central Europe, where it continues to be very cold, and N Africa. Pressure here was steady at 1023 mb with a deep mid-Atlantic low (962 mb) with slow-moving fronts poised on the W Irish coast. The day remained bright with a little sunshine and a few lee-wave over the western end of the Menai Strait under Snowdon. By evening it was becoming dull and with the arrival of warm sector moist air around 19 GMT bringing some some fine drizzle. The temperature rose to a maximum of 9.6C between 04-07 GMT. [Rain 1.0 mm; Max 9.6C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.8C]
5th: Light rain around dawn so a dull and damp start to the day. A warm front was lying lying over Wales and moving SE with a cold front over Ireland. Pressure 1029 mb had risen with the high (1044 mb) over Germany. Deep Atlantic-low (960 mb) was making its way to S Greenland. The morning was dull but warmer at 8.2C (97% RH) with poor visibility, quite a change from previous days. In late afternoon the sky cleared and shallow fog formed on the surrounding fields but cleared after dark. The night clear at first soon clouded over again. [Rain trace; Max 8.5C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.0C]
6th: A dull and misty start to the day with poor visibility. Pressure 1034 mb had risen, the high-Germany (1042 mb) having a broad ridge across the UK, but a warm front lay over the Midlands and Wales resulting in the murky weather. The day remained overcast and dull and there was no change overnight. [Rain trace; Max 9.2C; Min 2.6C; Grass -1.9C]
7th: With overcast skies and a light S'ly airflow it was a mild night with a minimum of 7.1C. Pressure 1033 mb remained high with high-Belgium (1036 mb) dominating the weather with the anticyclonic gloom. Dull with a few spits of drizzle in the morning but dry in the afternoon. Very small range of temperature in the day; only 0.5C. Fishguard was a bright spot with a hole in the cloud; it had 5.2h of sunshine. A cloudy and mild night dry at first but spots of drizzle later. [Rain trace; Max 7.6C; Min 7.1C; Grass 6.5C]
8th: Another murky start to the day with a little light rain and very poor visibility. Pressure was unchanged at 1033 mb and it was calm. Some rain or drizzle in the morning with fog in the Menai Strait between and beyond the bridges much of the dry. The cloud lifted for a time in the afternoon but it remained overcast. A dry but cloudy night. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 6.8C; Min 6.1C; Grass 5.0C]
9th: With little change in pressure 1032 mb the general situation remains the same with high (1043 mb) N Italy and low (957 mb) Greenland. Little or no wind and overcast with thick haze but the mountaintops were just visible. Plenty of snow patches on the Carneddau and Crib Goch but no continuous snow. Temperatures are colder again and it was freezing on the summits overnight. Here, there had been a ground frost (-1.0C) but there was no ice on the ground at 0900 GMT. A small low W of Brest was bringing wintry showers to the SW and the S coast of England. The morning here remained overcast and very murky but the cloud thinned and lifted by late afternoon. The day's maximum was only 4.0C, the lowest of the month. At dusk there were breaks in the cloud and further clearance brought clear skies by midnight. Over 60 schools were closed, no not in North Wales but, in 'winter sunshine holiday island' Cyprus where unexpected snowfall isolated many mountain villages. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 4.0C; Min 2.6C; Grass -1.0C]
10th: Extensive hoar frost before dawn with airfrost (-1.1C) and ground frost (-5.4C). The sun rose above the Carneddau Mountains at 0854 GMT to give a sunny but hazy (with smoke in the Strait up to 2500 feet) morning with little or no wind. Pressure 1030 mb was declining slowly as Atlantic-low pressure was moving fronts very close to the NW. The afternoon was also sunny with a maximum of 5.7C. After dusk a patch of cloud moved across but the sky cleared again later resulting in frost. [Rain trace; Max 5.7C; Min -1.1C; Grass -5.4C]
11th: It was cloudy before dawn with a light shower around 06 GMT as patchy light rain moved across the NW from the Irish Sea.. Pressure 1026 mb was a little lower with the wind veering S'ly in the night the temperature had been rising and was 5.3C at 0900 GMT rising to 8.0C around noon. The day remained cloudy with a few spots of rain early and in the afternoon. There were 1 or 2 clear spells in the night but there was no frost. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 8.0C; Min -0.7C; Grass -5.5C]
12th: A bright start to the day with thin high cloud and early on a few lee-wave clouds. The wind was a S'ly force 4 and pressure 1025 mb still relatively high but beginning to fall with pressure low to the W with fronts near Ireland. There was a patch of rain over the Western Isles. The day remained dry and with the wind S'ly it was mild with a maximum of 12.3C, the highest of the month, and RH of 54%. The warmth was also felt over Ireland and Scotland where Aultbea (Highland) with 13.3C saw the highest of the day. The first snowdrops of the year emerged and some honey bees were tempted out and spotted on Erica December Red on the rockery banks in the garden. During the evening with pressure dipping to 1009 mb the SSE'ly wind strengthened, with downdraught from the mountains, to gale force 8 but moderated by midnight. [Rain trace; Max 12.3C; Min 5.3C; Grass 3.6C]
13th: With an occluded front over the Irish Sea the SW, Wales and the NW was affected by a band of light rain or drizzle. It had been mild overnight and the temperature at 0900 GMT 10.2C. Pressure was 1017 mb had risen but there were lows in mid-Atlantic (972 mb) and near Newfoundland (967 mb) while remaining high over Spain (1035 mb) and S Europe. Here the morning remained dull with mist and rain from 11-13 GMT that accumulated 1.7 mm. A small fall for January but the largest amount so far. A little brightness and a glimmer of sunshine early in the afternoon was the best on offer. By 1600 GMT there was fog but this cleared after dark to give a clear starry sky. After midnight the sky became overcast and it was becoming windier. [Rain 1.7 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 8.0C; Grass 6.44C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 14 January 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. 14th: A grey start to the day with spots of rain and drizzle on the force 5-6 S'ly wind. Pressure 1018 mb had fallen overnight as Icelandic-low (966 mb) tracked NE. There were fronts in the Irish Sea bringing rain to W Scotland and NW Ireland. With the warm Atlantic airstream it was keeping mild (9.5C at 0900 GMT) in the W with daily mean temperatures 4C above the long-term average. A spell of rain in the morning then some drizzle in the afternoon before becoming colder after 1600 GMT with the overnight temperature keeping about 5C. It had been wet over Snowdonia with Capel Curig reporting 22 mm of rain in the 24-h to 18 GMT. [Rain 4.3 mm; Max 10.1C; Min 5.8C; Grass 1.8C]
An almost clear sky over Anglesey on 15 January 2002. View is from Bangor looking across the Menai Strait towards Beaumaris with Puffin Island beyond. A working platform at Porth Penrhyn in Bangor on 15 January 2002. The rig is the larger of 2 doing work for Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences. It remained cloudier on this side of the Strait and over the mountains. 15th: Rain and a few ice pellets from 0630-08 GMT that fell as snow over the mainland mountains upwards from about 1500 ft. Pressure was 1014 mb with the Icelandic low (985 mb) the airflow was more W to NW'ly and had brought colder air with the return of wintry weather. At 0900 GMT with the clearance of the front the sky began to clear giving a sunny day over Anglesey and the North Wales coast. The mountains continued to have cumulus clouds over them with a few snow showers on the summits. With clear sky at first after dark there was a touch of ground frost. Later in the night, with the approach of a warm front, it became cloudy and warmer. [Rain trace; Max 8.0C; Min 4.3C; Grass 1.0C]
16th: A dull and misty start to the day with a moderate SW'ly wind. Temperatures had been rising and was 7.3C at 0900 GMT. A warm front was lying N-S over the Mersey. The day remained dull with a few spots of rain at times. From 17 GMT there was almost continuous light to moderate rain through the night accumulating 15.3 mm. This was the most rain in 24-h since the 28/29th November 2001 that had 31.6 and 15.0 mm respectively. [Rain 15.3 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 3.2C; Grass -1.2C]
Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 17 January 2002. Courtesy of Georg Muller at Top Karten. While the sky cleared over Anglesey the Snowdonia Mountains remained cloud covered on 17 January 2002. View is from Llansadwrn towards the Ogwen Valley. 17th: It was still raining at 0900 GMT with low cloud and mist obscuring the mountains. A slow-moving cold front was sliding up the Irish Sea giving rain from Wick to Plymouth. Pressure was 1011 mb with the low (976 mb) W of Iceland. By 1030 GMT the rain had ceased and the cloud lifted and cleared over Anglesey to give a sunny day. Over the mountains the the cloud hung around the summits all day. The night clear at first became cloudy and windier before dawn. [Rain 0.8 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 7.5C; Grass 6.9C]
Click for Meteosat image at 1000 GMT on 18 January 2002. Courtesy of Ulm University. 18th: The last of the clear sky was seen disappearing over Conwy at dawn. Deep Atlantic-low (960 mb) SW of Iceland steaming NE'ly was bringing several rain-bearing fronts towards the W. By 0900 GMT pressure here was 1014 mb and rain was affecting the W of Ireland. The day remained dull with a few spots of rain at 0920 GMT. The force 4-5 S'ly wind strengthened to force 6-7 by the afternoon with some rain from 1330 GMT. The wind remained strong but it became dry. With temperatures around freezing on the mountaintops a sprinkling of snow was seen above 2800 ft on Carnedd Dafydd (Snowdon was obscured in cloud) and was likely to remain overnight. [Rain 1.3 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 2.2C; Grass 1.7C]
19th: The wind had moderated by morning and was WSW'ly force 3. The sky was beginning to clear but there was low cloud and mist over the mountains. Pressure was rising at 1006 mb with the low (969 mb) filling S of Iceland we were into a showery airflow. There had been thundery showers over Ireland, South Wales and Scotland. A succession of Atlantic-lows promises some more rough weather to come. A bright morning with the cloud partially clearing here but not over the mountains where there continued to be cumulus clouds. By afternoon it was cloudier and becoming windier and milder. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 10.1C; Min 5.5C; Grass 2.7C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 20 January 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. 20th: A strengthening S-SW'ly wind brought with a little rain before dawn. The wind rose to gale force 8 with strong gusts of 50 mph as pressure of 1000 mb continued to fall. With low (975 mb) to the NW of Scotland winds across the UK were strong. But it was mild with the temperature rising from the 5.5C yesterday morning to 10.1C just before 0900 GMT. The day was windy with a little light rain at times and poor visibility. Hawarden (Flintshire) reported the highest UK temperature of 14.7C in the 24-h to 18 GMT benefiting again by being in the lee of the Snowdonia Mountains. [Rain 0.7 mm; Max 11.1C; Min 5.5C; Grass 3.5C]
Click for Meteosat image at 1000 GMT on 21 January 2002 showing low W of Malin and frontal cloud over the UK. and Portugal. Note cloud also over N Africa. Courtesy of Ulm University. Click for Meteosat image at 0930 GMT on 21 January 2002 showing deepening low S of Newfoundland. Courtesy of Ulm University. 21st: It was mild overnight with a minimum of 9.2C, warmest of the month and 3rd highest January minimum on record here. Only 1998 (12.2C) and 1990 (9.8C) were warmer. It was again windy with the SSW'ly force 7 with occasional strong gusts of up to 50 mph. But on Snowdon there was a gust of 65 mph at 0545 GMT. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 11.0C, the day's maximum, making the 24-h mean 10.1C only the 6th January mean to reach 10C, or more, in records since 1979 (all are since 1996). Pressure 1001 mb was falling a little with low (963 mb) W of Malin. And out in the wings a deepening low (966 mb) off S Newfoundland was moving towards the UK (see satellite image). The day was dull remained dull with spots of rain and poor visibility. The S'ly wind was gale for 8 at times with gusts reaching 55 mph on Anglesey. (72 mph on Snowdon). The Britannia Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles and speed restrictions were in force. There was rain on a cold front from 18 GMT to 02 GMT and was heavy (including ice pellets) around 01 GMT . As the low made its way towards the Western Isles pressure fell to 992 mb around midnight before starting to rise again. By dawn the sky was starting to clear after the cold front had passed. [Rain 8.9 mm; Max 11.0C; Min 9.2C; Grass 7.0C]
22nd: With the sky clearing rapidly temperature 5.4C was at its 24-h lowest at 0900 GMT. Pressure 997 mb was rising with low near Cape Wrath. The morning started bright and sunny. Yesterday's Newfoundland low (now 960 mb) was in mid-Atlantic but on course for the UK. The wind was a moderate WSW'ly and remained strong to gale-force all day. It was mainly sunny over Anglesey and the mainland coast with cloud confined to the mountain summits. It was cloudier and warmer by evening and there were 2 bands of rain from 2030-22 GMT and 03-0530 GMT. [Rain 3.8 mm; Max 10.1C; Min 5.4C; Grass 3.0C]
23rd: The sky was clearing just after dawn but it was still windy with the SSW'ly force 5. The mild spell continued with the 0900 GMT reading 9.5C. The low now complex (966 mb) was to the SW of Ireland and pressure here 983 mb was falling quickly as it was moving towards the Irish Sea. The morning was bright at first but with cumulus clouds in the vicinity it was not long before the sky darkened and there was a showers of rain but the maximum reached 11.1C. The afternoon was similar with sunny spells and the odd passing shower. As the low passed nearby on its way to the North Sea pressure was lowest, 0974 mb, about 18 GMT. It was wet in Gwynedd with Capel Curig reporting 36 mm rain in the 24-h to 18 GMT. There was a spell of rain here from 20-22 GMT before becoming showery again as the wind veered W'ly. [Rain 7.9 mm; Max 11.1C; Min 5.4C; Grass 2.6C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 24 January 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. 24th: As the wind veered N'ly in the night it became cooler and was lowest (6.0C) at 0900 GMT. Pressure 0994 mb at 0900 GMT was rising as a small ridge of high-pressure crossed the UK. The low (977 mb) was in the North Sea. Cooler air from Scandinavia (where it was very cold in the N) was being drawn down across the northwest. Visibility was good but the mainland mountaintops were obscured in cloud. A spell of rain here during the morning fell as snow above 2000 feet on the Snowdonia Mountains seen lying at 1400 GMT. The afternoon was bright with sunny spells and further snow showers over the mountaintops. By 20 GMT the sky had cleared, there was a moderate ground frost, but cloud encroached again by 02 GMT. [Rain 2.1 mm; Max 6.9C; Min 6.0C; Grass 5.2C]
25th: There was light rain from 07 GMT and it was misty with only moderate visibility with the mountains obscured in low cloud.. Pressure 1008 mb was falling with the approach of another Atlantic-low (960 mb) S of Greenland with the wind turning SE'ly since midnight. Several fronts were about to cross from the W and the first, a warm front, was crossing the Irish Sea giving heavy precipitation over Northern Ireland. Over high ground it may be cold enough for snow in the NW but here, at 300 feet, it was not cold enough. From Cumbria northwards there were widespread reports of snow. In parts of Scotland there were 10 cm snow and there was even heavy snow and freezing drizzle in Dundee. The day here was blustery with a little light rain or drizzle at times. Later a band of moderate to heavy rain resulted in 17.8 mm accumulated by morning, the largest 24-h fall in the month. But Capel Curig (Gwynedd) again topped the list with 30 mm in the 24-h to 18 GMT. [Rain 17.8 mm; Max 11.2C; Min 1.1C; Grass -2.7C]
Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 26 January 2002. Courtesy of Georg Muller at Top Karten. Map of the sferics recorded between 00-07 GMT on 26 January 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. 26th: There were gales in the English Channel and the Irish Sea with ferries from Fishguard to Rosslare disrupted. Capel Curig reported a gust of 66 mph around 06 GMT and it was rough here as well with the S'ly reaching gale force 8 from 0530-0730 GMT. As a cold front passed thunder was heard at 0545 GMT over the mountains and there was a temperature drop of 3C. Later this feature developed as a line squall that spawned a tornado and damaged houses in Alsager in Cheshire. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 990 mb with a low (975 mb) Northern Ireland moving NE. It was a mild 9.5C with the wind then moderating to force 5-6. Any snow that fell on the Snowdonia Mountains on the 24th had thawed. The morning was dull with spots of rain on the wind from time to time but, by the afternoon, it was brighter with a little sunshine although still breezy. With soils now waterlogged there were pools of water on nearby fields. In Powys the winds blew down several trees and there was flooding between Carmarthen and Llandeilo. Flood warnings were issued for several Welsh rivers. As a small ridge of high-pressure moved over the night became quiet and it remained dry reducing further risk of flooding. [Rain trace; Max 10.2C; Min 6.5C; Grass 5.4C]
27th: An overcast start to the day but the cloud was high and the mountain summits, including Snowdon, could be seen clearly. There was no snow, not even any patches in gullies, as it has been so mild. At 0900 GMT pressure 999 mb had risen but low (960 mb) W of Ireland was deepening and moving towards Rockall. A rain-bearing warm front was bringing rain to S Ireland and the SW and moving NE. The wind was a light SW'ly. The day was dull with rain at times and became windier at dusk. During the night it was very windy with the SW'ly reaching gale-force. Hawarden (Flintshire) once again was the warmest spot returning a maximum of 14.7C. [Rain 1.8 mm; Max 12.1C; Min 5.9C; Grass 3.1C]
28th: Pressure 1001 mb at 0900 GMT was rising and the sky clearing with a gale force 8 SW'ly. There were strong gusts with the Snowdon AWS reporting up to 82 mph. The deep low (957 mb) was near Rockall; there was a rough over Ireland, the SW and W. Heavy thundery showers were frequent but missed here although sferics were recorded over Snowdonia. Rain was patchy over Scotland and the SE. The day became sunny but the wind was the main factor continuing at gale or near gale-force. The Britannia Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles and many ferries from South Wales to Scotland bound for Ireland were disrupted. Valley was reporting gale force 8 with gusts up to 60 mph. The wind was affecting other parts of the UK as well closing several bridges including Severn and Tay. Winds were strongest in Northern Ireland and Scotland disrupting electricity supplies to over 40,000 homes. Exposed and mountain locations experienced some very high gusts. At the Tay Bridge a gust of 99 mph was recorded while on Snowdon 105 mph was seen at 1430 GMT. On Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, 120 mph was recorded. Many trees have been brought down all over Britain damaging buildings, vehicles and a train. Several roads in N England and Scotland were closed, as a result of overturned vehicles, and 8 people killed in weather related incidents. All train services N of Newcastle and into Scotland were suspended. Tides around the coast were high; there were spectacular sea running into Hells Mouth near Abersoch (Gwynedd) where there was a 96 mph gust. But coastal defences, along the North Wales coast, held on this occasion helped by the winds being more S'ly than N'ly. [Rain trace; Max 10.4C; Min 6.6C; Grass 5.5C]
29th: A brighter start to the day with a little pink sky in the SE after dawn. It was soon cloudier with low cloud and mist and rain affecting western mountains and coasts. Pressure was 1012 mb, it was a mild 9.7C and less windy with the S'ly force 5-6 at 0900 GMT. Later it became brighter but the wind again reached gale-force for a time around 14 GMT. The afternoon then turned sunny with the sky clearing at dusk. The clear slot did not last long as cloud and a broad band of rain from 01 GMT, heavy at times, moved across. [Rain 11.0 mm; Max 11.0C; Min 7.3C; Grass 5.3C]
30th: At dawn despite the rain and wind a 'storm cock' (Mistle thrush) was singing at the top of a tall tree near the weather station. The rain continued until just after 09 GMT. The cloud was beginning to lift and a torrent of water could be seen on the rocks above Llyn Idwal. With soil saturated with water and rain will lead to large runoff. Rainfall here can be multiplied by a factor of between 3 and 5 for the Snowdonia Mountains. I would expect about 30 mm above Cwm Idwal and up to 50 mm overnight on Snowdon. Capel Curig reported 30 mm rain in the 24-h to 18 GMT. Pressure 1006 mb was falling with a wedge of fronts over the Irish Sea. With further Atlantic-lows to the W it was continuing mild and windy. It was a cloudy day with no sunshine. At 21 GMT there was a heavy shower of rain that included ice pellets but the rest of the night was dry. [Rain 2.6 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 8.4C; Grass 6.5C]
Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 31 January 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. 31st: Some clear sky to the E gave a pink sunrise before cloud was descending again. Already obscuring the western mountains only Carnedd Llewelyn and summits eastwards were just clear cloud at 0900 GMT. Temperatures were below freezing on Snowdon overnight but rose 5C during the day. Here it was 7.2C but felt cold in the force 5 S'ly. There were spots of rain by 0930 GMT as a large band of rain covering Ireland was starting to encroach from the W. Pressure was 1007 mb but a deep Atlantic-low (962 mb) to the W was bringing strengthening winds to the NW. It soon became very windy with the S'ly reaching gale force 8 with lashing rain. Valley reported gusts up to 59 mph while at Abersoch (Gwynedd) it reached 75 mph at 1400 GMT. The Britannia Bridge was again closed to high-sided vehicles. Strong winds were affecting the whole of the UK and two men were killed when their car was crushed by a falling tree. By 16 GMT the wind eased but many ferries crossing the Irish Sea from Fishguard and Holyhead were cancelled causing problems for rugby fans travelling for the Ireland-Wales match on Sunday. The winds eased later in the day and the night was quieter at first but had returned by 04 GMT accompanied by heavy rain. Capel Curig was the wettest with 40 mm rain to 18 GMT. [Rain 16.8 mm; Max 11.0 C; Min 4.8C; Grass 2.5C]

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February 2002

Waves lashing against the pier and the Blue Peter Lifeboat House at Beaumaris during the storm on 1 February 2002. Photo taken 1 hour after high water. 1st: Strong to storm force winds along Irish Sea coasts and high ground. Abersoch (Gwynedd) reported mws of 56 mph (force 10) with gusts up to 82 mph. On Anglesey it was almost as bad with Valley reporting force 9 winds and gusts of 70 mph. Here the wind was roaring in the trees and bending them over with many twigs and small branches breaking off. There was intermittent heavy rain and visibility was poor. Pressure 991 mb was falling more slowly as low (933 mb) W of Malin was moving N towards Iceland with a broad band of rain covering Ireland and the Irish Sea. There was further rain during the morning and local roads became awash with runoff water and were partially flooded in several places. Local streams including the Cadnant and Braint (sources in Llansadwrn) were beginning to burst their banks. With a high 10m spring tide at 1 o'clock, and a tidal surge due to the storm, an anxious watch was kept around the coast. The railway line at Deganwy had some water on the track. At Beaumaris some water and debris came on the road but there was no serious flooding. But at Aberffraw and Malltraeth some houses near the shore were flooded and fields at Red Wharf Bay were inundated with water reaching the road. There was flooding also at Dwyran where the Braint burst it banks. Several rivers were on flood alert and parts of the Conwy Valley and Llanwrst were flooded. The river Ogwen overflowed and flooded farmland near Bethesda where a house was also flooded. At Caernarfon the high tide and river water flooded the quay alongside the castle swamping several parked cars. At least 12 trees were blown over at Penrhyn Caste near Bangor and led to the postponement of the 'snowdrop weekend'. The whole of the UK was affected by the strong winds and the Tay and Severn Bridges were again closed while several others, including the Britannia, were closed to high-vehicles. A man was swept from Brighton Pier and drowned. After easing at first the wind returned to gale-force in the night. [Rain 13.0 mm; Max 11.1C; Min 5.6C; Grass 2.2C]
Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 2 February 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. Tidal defences were tested at Ynys Gored Goch in the Menai Strait between the bridges on 2 February 2002. 2nd: No respite in the gales around exposed coasts and high-ground. Low (939 mb) Iceland with the tightly packed isobars over the UK maintaining the strong SW'ly. Pressure here was 996 mb and rising slowly but another low (974 mb) has formed W of Ireland. This is a feature of this very disturbed spell of weather the result of conflict between warm and cold air. A band of rain had cleared to the SE leaving it drier but overcast with moderate visibility. The temperature at 09 GMT was 11.1C, the day's maximum. The gale force 8 wind moderated slowly during the day. High tide was near 2 o'clock between the bridges and it was a close call at Ynys Gored Goch with the water lapping the top of the tidal defences (see photo). Flooding was occurring widely in W Wales, Crickhowell (Powys) was virtually cut off during the day. The A465 Heads of the Valleys Road at Clydach Gorge in South Wales was closed due to a landslide caused by the heavy rain. Capel Curig reported 47 mm the most rainfall in the 24-h to 18 GMT. With clouds darkening at 1640 GMT there was heavy rain that included ice pellets accompanied by a 3C drop in temperature. The nights minimum was 5.9C at 04 GMT. The wind began to increase again and there was more rain from midnight, heavy at times, and with a warm front the temperature had risen to 10.7C at 07 GMT. [Rain 14.2 mm; (Capel Curig 67.4 mm) Max 11.1C; Min 8.5C; Grass 8.5C]
3rd: Pressure had fallen to 993 mb with a small low (988 mb) over the Irish Sea. The warm front had just cleared and the ragged low cloud was beginning to clear. Visibility was only moderate but the Carneddau summits could just be seen. The wind was gale force 8 again with some strong gusts. Abersoch (Gwynedd) reported a gust of 74 mph at 0815 GMT. The morning was blustery with a little sunshine and showers. The afternoon was sunnier, and much less windy but colder. The night was showery with some clear spells at first. Prestatyn (Flintshire 6.1h sunshine; Capel Curig 37 mm rainfall). [Rain 2.2 mm; Max 9.0C; Min 5.9C; Grass 5.4C]
4th: A colder night with a touch of ground frost. A quiet dawn with some pink sky over Conwy in the E but it was to herald more wet and windy weather. By 0900 GMT with pressure 1001 mb falling it was raining with the S'ly force 4 becoming blustery. Previous good visibility had deteriorated to poor in the rain. With further paired lows (969 mb) to the W and attendant fronts a large area of rain was affecting Ireland the SW and Wales. Followers of the Shipping Forecast will notice from midday today the use of the sea area FitzRoy, after Admiral Robert FitzRoy (1805-65) who commanded the Beagle that took Charles Darwin around the world in 1831. But he helped found, and direct, the Met Office and pioneered the use of synoptic charts starting the first system of issuing gale warnings. The new sea area replaces Finisterre, in agreement with Spain and France, that it partially overlaps. Appropriately there were gale warnings for most sea areas today. By noon the wind was strong to gale force 8 with further light rain but heavier between 16-18 GMT before becoming showery in the night. The rain over Wales added to the swollen rivers and there was flooding of the Wye and Monnow in Monmouth by the evening. (Capel Curig 36 mm 24-h to 18 GMT). [Rain 5.7 mm; Max 10.7C; Min 3.2C; Grass -0.7C]
5th: Continuing mild in the run of Atlantic-lows. Pressure (967 mb) was low to the NW and pressure here 988 mb had fallen over the past 24-h. There was a force 5 SSW'ly. The sky was clearer (6 oktas at 0900 GMT) but there were cumulus clouds over the mountains and the W. There were crepuscular rays in the Nant Ffrancon Pass and there were blustery showers in the morning. Leaves of bluebell in the wood have emerged a few days earlier than last year and some are already 3-5 cm above ground. In the afternoon there were frequent showers that included snow pellets and ice pellets. Another shower of rain in the night. [Rain 6.6 mm; Max 8.5C; Min 6.6C; Grass 5.5C]
6th: After dawn the sky began to clear over Anglesey and the temperature at 0900 GMT was the coldest of the past 24-h. Pressure 1003 mb had risen as a ridge of high-pressure moved in from the W and there was a cool NW'ly wind. Low (986 mb) in the North Sea had small fronts that brought wintry showers to the Highlands. It was soon sunny (Valley 7.5h) but cloud affected some coastal areas and obscuring the mountains until late afternoon. As the cloud lifted from the mountains snow was seen above 2900 feet. The night was clear at first with a moderate ground frost. Cloud and a long broad band of rain, with the S'ly wind increasing in strength, moved across from the W later. (Capel Curig 11 mm 24-h to 18 GMT and total for the year so far 474 mm; here the total is 145 mm). [Rain 3.7 mm; Max 8.6C; Min 4.5C; Grass 0.6C]
7th: A blustery and wet start to the day with the S'ly wind strong to gale force 8 with strong 50 mph gusts. Pressure 1009 mb was falling with a low to the NW. Light rain at first but the wind moderated but it became foggy by noon and was thick (less than 100 m) through most of the afternoon. Just before dusk the fog lifted and the sky cleared from the W. It was a better day in Conwy where the temperature reached 14C while here it only managed 9.8C. With the approach of another set of fronts it was cloudy again with light rain by morning. [Rain 1.5 mm; Max 9.8C; Min 1.5C; Grass -3.5C]
8th: A damp and overcast start to the day with a little light rain. Pressure was 1013 mb and falling as yet another low-pressure system moved towards N Scotland. It was continuing mild and, once again, the small amount of snow on the mountaintops had thawed. The morning remained overcast and dull. By afternoon there was a spell moderate to heavy rain with a force 6-7 WSW'ly wind before turning colder and showery after 03 GMT. [Rain 15.7 mm (Capel Curig 50.0 mm); Max 10.7C; Min 6.0C; Grass 5.2C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 9 February 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. 9th: Showers and some ice pellets in the early hours. Pressure was 999 mb with the low (971 mb) between Iceland Scotland. We were in a fresh to strong W'ly showery airstream with some breaks in the cloud appearing at 0900 GMT. It was keeping mild (mountains here clear of snow) over most of W Europe with the only cold weather in the N and E. The day was mainly cloudy but was sometimes bright with showers confined to coasts and high ground in Snowdonia. It remained windy into the night and there was a shower of rain and ice pellets before midnight. [Rain 0.8 mm; Max 9.0C; Min 5.6C; Grass 3.2C]
10th: A bright start to the day with a little sunshine but it was soon cloudier again. Pressure 1006 mb had risen a a small ridge of high pressure passed over in the night. But with another Atlantic-low (966 mb) heading our way more rain, already over Ireland, was expected later. The morning was mainly cloudy with a slight shower about 1030 GMT before moderate rain started at noon. With a strong to gale-force wind there was heavy rain during the afternoon only easing about 23 GMT. There were further showers in the night and at 06 GMT that, in total, accumulated 33.7 mm, the largest of the month. (But Capel Curig had 54 mm in the 24-h to 18 GMT, 47 mm fell in the last 12 h mostly since 11 GMT).. [Rain 33.7 mm (Capel Curig 121.0 mm); Max 10.5C; Min 5.9C; Grass 3.3C]
Met Office analysis chart for 00 GMT on 11 February 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. 11th: At 0900 GMT the sky was starting to clear after the passage of the warm front that gave yesterday's rain. It had been a mild night with the temperature not below 10C, the minimum was at 09 GMT on the 10th. Pressure 994 mb was beginning to rise with a moderate SW'ly wind. By 11 GMT the sky was clear over Anglesey and it was a sunny morning the afternoon was a little cloudier. The day's maximum of 11.4C was the warmest of the month. The night was partially cloudy with one or two clear spells. It remained dry throughout. (Capel Curig had 73 mm rain in the 24-h to 18 GMT this falling mainly between 18 GMT on the 10th to the morning of the 11th. Here the total for the month was 97 mm but at Capel Curig 356 mm, 3.7 times more. Both are already above February averages). [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.4C; Min 7.0C; Grass 6.0C]
12th: A bright start to the day but soon becoming cloudy. Pressure 1006 had risen and with a large high (1027 mb) in mid-Atlantic there were prospects of some quieter and drier weather but colder weather later in the week. The wind was a moderate WSW but visibility was only moderate in thick haze. The morning was mainly cloudy with showers confined mainly to Scotland and the South West. By the afternoon it was brighter with the sky clearing before dusk. The night was clear at first, with the temperature dipping to 0.5C on the grass, before becoming cloudier and warmer temporarily. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 7.5C; Grass 4.8C]
13th: A narrow band of showery rain passed over from 06 GMT giving 0.9 mm that would have fallen as snow above 2500 feet on the Snowdonia Mountains. At 0900 GMT the fresh wind had turned N'ly, the temperature was at its coldest (5.5C) for the past 24-h, and some breaks had appeared in the cloud. With the Atlantic-high (1031 mb) edging closer to Ireland pressure 1018 mb had been rising steadily. The morning was cloudy but the afternoon became mainly sunny. The night was mainly clear. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 7.6C; Min 5.5C; Grass 0.5C]
Silver frost (frozen supercooled dew) on blades of grass on the morning of 14 February 2002. . 14th: A much colder night than of late with a minimum of 0.5C and -4.0C on the grass. There was a covering of silver frost (frozen dew drops) that was glistening in the sunshine just before 0900 GMT. Pressure was 1035 mb with the high-pressure (1036 mb) centred to the SW with a ridge over Ireland, Wales and northern England. There was hazy sunshine with high cirrus cloud and some smoke hanging over the Menai Strait. There was snow on Carnedd Llewelyn (3000 feet) and a light dusting of snow on Snowdon above 2700 feet. The morning and afternoon was sunny with a little SE'ly wind, or calm at times at first, becoming SW'ly later. The night was clear at first with a ground frost but was cloudy later. [Rain 0.4 mm; Max 8.1C; Min 0.5C; Grass -4.0C]
Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 15 February 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. 15th: Pressure remained high 1037 mb but as can happen in anticyclonic conditions cloud on a weak cold front over North Wales gave some drizzle before and after dawn. Visibility was poor and there was a light W'ly wind. During the day the cloud thinned and it was bright around noon and brought the maximum temperature back above 10C. The front was slow to move S and did not clear from Anglesey until 17 GMT when a little mist began to form over the fields. The evening was clear with a ground frost but it was cloudy again by dawn. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 1.3C; Grass -3.4C]
Click for Meteosat image at 0930 GMT on 16 February 2002. Courtesy of Ulm University. 16th: High-pressure (1034 mb) was centred over South Wales and there was little or no wind. Thin high cloud had returned overnight and there was slight smoke haze. Where there had been clear sky over parts of central England there were patches of fog. There was a cold front in the Atlantic to the NW and a low in the Mediterranean (clearly seen on the meteosat image) giving some rain to the S of France and parts of N Africa. It was also giving snow on the Alps. Here there was a little snow on Carnedd Llewelyn and Crib Goch and Yr Wyddfa summits. The day and night were mainly cloudy but dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.0C; Min 2.6C; Grass -2.0C]
17th: Pressure 1023 mb had fallen as yesterday's high had moved away, but another Atlantic-high (1037 mb) was to the W and intensifying. It was a dry but cloudy morning with a light breeze from the SW. To the NW there was some rain associated with a cold front over Northern Ireland and Scotland, whereas to the S it was clear and colder with fog patches. The rain reached here before 1300 GMT and had passed by 1600 GMT. During the night the sky gradually cleared so that by morning there was a frost on the grass. [Rain 2.4 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 5.0C; Grass 3.0C]
Click for NOAA image at 1241 GMT on 18 February 2002 showing a snow covered Alps caught in a clear slot between 2 fronts. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. 18th: Rain and dew frozen on the grass was melting at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1034 mb was rising with Atlantic-high (1041 mb) SW of Valentia. It was a sunny by misty morning with a light to moderate NW'ly breeze. Yesterday's cold front had moved on to the Channel coasts giving some rain in northern France. There were moderate wintry showers over Scotland and Northern Ireland. A mainly sunny morning but a cloudier afternoon becoming showery later. Some rain in the evening then a mild dry night with the temperature about 8C. [Rain 2.0 mm; Max 2.3C; Min 2.2C; Grass -3.5C]
19th: A damp start to the day with intermittent slight rain. A mild 7.5C at 0900 GMT and with mist resulting in poor to moderate visibility. With February more than half over temperatures are 2C above average. Many plants, including clematis, are beginning to produce shoots. A dwarf white rhododendron is in flower as are primroses, but these are always early. There is a good display of snowdrops and crocus. Pressure was 1020 mb with the Atlantic-high (1043 mb) still to the SW. But pressure was low (986 mb) between Greenland and Iceland, and (991 mb) Denmark giving unsettled weather. The latter had fronts over the UK and N France. The morning was dull with light rain or drizzle at times and became wetter and windier by afternoon as isobars tightened between the low and high-pressure. There was continuous moderate rain from 13-2330 GMT that contributed most to the 20.5 mm rain for the 24-h 09-09 GMT. (Capel Curig 56.4 mm). [Rain 20.5 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 2.3C; Grass -0.2C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 20 February 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. 20th: After midnight it was colder and there was a shower of rain and ice pellets at 07 GMT. Pressure 0996 mb had fallen with the low 979 mb now just N of Scotland. Weather in N Scandinavia had turned cold again (-30C) and there was snow over Denmark. There were also snow showers over the Scottish Highlands. Here the temperature was 6.5C, with a fresh to moderate NW'ly wind, with wintry conditions already on the summits of the Snowdonia Mountains. The morning was mainly sunny but there were several showers of rain in the afternoon and a few ice pellets. The wind, strong to gale force 8, turned N'ly and there were gusts of 60 mph resulting in the Britannia Bridge being closed to high-sided vehicles and a 20 mph speed restriction. In the night there was a clear and calm slot as a ridge of high-pressure passed over. The rainfall total from 1 January to 20 February is 123.4 mm but at Capel Curig it is 875.0 mm, unusually 7 times more and a 1 in 60 years chance of reoccurrence. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 5.2C; Grass 2.6C]
21st: A moderate ground frost (-4.4C) and 0.1C air minimum, both lowest of the month, but with cloud before dawn the temperature had risen to 4.5C (the minimum for the next 24-h) by 0900 GMT (pressure 1020 mb). A long band of rain in the Irish Sea, associated with a warm front, had just reached here. The morning became misty with light rain or drizzle and poor visibility. Atlantic-high (1044 mb) was still to the SW but lows to the N and E would continue to keep the weather unsettled. The afternoon was wet with a burst of heavy rain around 15 GMT. A new road surface was being laid on the road that passes the weather station. The rain on the hot tarmac resulted in such dense vapour (like fog) that traffic had to be escorted in batches past the laying equipment. Rain turned showery from 2330 GMT through the night. [Rain 14.6 mm; Max 9.1C; Min 0.1C; Grass -4.4C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 22 February 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. Conical shaped hail up to 10 mm diameter at 1441 GMT on 22 February 2002. The hailstone had melted 1 mm by the time I got the camera. Click for NOAA 14 visible image at 1628 GMT on 22 February 2002 showing showers clouds to the NW and frontal cloud to the N of Scotland. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. 22nd: A mild night with the maximum at 0600 GMT when pressure 998 mb was lowest. The cloud was beginning to break-up by 0900 GMT but there was a shower of ice pellets with the temperature 6.6C still falling. Pressure 1001 mb had started to rise with low 960 mb Norwegian coast. There was a moderate to fresh NW'ly airflow across the UK with heavy wintry showers associated with cold fronts. The warm fronts of yesterday were giving snow in Scandinavia and Belgium. The morning here was occasionally bright with showers of snow pellets at 1054 GMT and later frequent ice pellets. Showers continued in the afternoon (see satellite image) and included a slight to moderate shower of conical shaped hail up to 10 mm diameter that rapidly melted. Temperatures varied between 4C in showers to 8C in the brighter spells. The wintry showers, including sleet and snow, were more frequent and heavier over the Snowdonia Mountains, with accumulations at higher levels. In the N of England and Scotland strong winds brought down trees and overturned lorries causing much disruption. Overnight it was clearer but with the occasional snow shower. [Rain 2.6 mm; Max 8.0C; Min 4.5C; Grass 4.0C]
23rd: Light snow showers here from dawn but no accumulation; on the mountains there were light patchy deposits as low as 500 feet in places and 1000 feet at Ogwen Cottage with greater but small accumulations above 1500 feet. Pressure was 1002 mb with a deep low (954 mb) N Baltic. Cold dry air was being drawn from the Arctic but moisture was being picked up over the relatively warm sea (8C). When it reaches the colder land surface any precipitation will be of the various forms of ice we have been having the last 2 days. The wind, force 5-6 with a temperature of 2.5C (84% RH, dewpoint 0.1C), continuing to bring wintry showers from the NW. An occluded front over the N of Scotland moving S brought heavy snow to the Highlands. The morning here was brighter with the odd sunny spell with showers of snow from time to time. The afternoon was sunnier and this included coasts bordering the Irish Sea around the Isle of Man, that had 7.5h sunshine the most in the UK. The day's maximum of 6.5C was the coldest of the month. With the sky clear the night was cold at first with a ground frost (-3.2C) but it later warmed as cloud on a warm front encroached by midnight. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 6.5C; Min 1.6C; Grass -0.2C]
24th: There was light rain by dawn with an area of rain, associated with another warm front, to the SW and over Ireland. Pressure was 1010 mb with a succession of Atlantic-lows to the NW and the high 1030 mb Portugal resulting in W-SW'ly winds across the UK. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 3.4C, just too warm for the precipitation to be falling as snow here, but on the mountains above 2000 feet snow at first accumulated but then most melted later. The day remained dull and misty with continuous light to moderate rain that continued until 01 GMT. It was dryish until 05 GMT when there was more rain. [Rain 20.5 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 1.5C; Grass -3.2C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1305 GMT on 25 February 2002 showing low 962 mb near the Western Isles and frontal cloud responsible for the heavy rain. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. 25th: Continuous rain at first with a fresh to strong SSW'ly wind. Low (968 mb) was NW of Malin and isobars were tightening over Ireland and the Irish Sea. At 0900 GMT pressure 992 mb was falling with the temperature of 9.4C highest for the past 24-h. It was still raining and there was standing water in the garden and small lakes on nearby fields. The rain turned heavy during the morning and another 11.4 mm fell before 13 GMT. The rain stopped in the afternoon and there were some sunny spells before dusk before once again becoming cloudy with further rain. With rain from 21-07 GMT another 13.2 mm brought the total 09-09 GMT to 24.6 mm. (Capel Curig 66 mm 18-18Z, here 25.6 mm) [Rain 24.6 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 3.4C; Grass 3.3C]
Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 26 February 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. 26th: Overnight the 'eye of a storm' passed over. My Oregon storm alarm sounded at 01 GMT with pressure 0976 mb still falling. The lowest seen was 0969 mb about 03 GMT when the wind started to veer W'ly and freshen soon reaching gale force 8. Valley reported 60 mph gusts but winds were stronger to the S, away from the 'eye', and Aberporth had 76 mph and Capel Curig 86 mph. By morning it was a drier and brighter start to the day with pressure 983 mb rising with low (967 mb), the most S'ly of a complex of lows, having moved away into England. There was a fresh W'ly wind and the sky cleared towards noon. A torrent of water was seen, from here, falling down from Llyn Bochlwyd into Llyn Ogwen at the head of the Nant Ffrancon Pass, an indication of the heavy rains on the mountains this month. In the afternoon cloud encroached and as a cold front moved across there were blustery showers. There was a 5C fall in temperature from a maximum of 8.6C and a shower of ice pellets at 1610 GMT. Soon after there was sleet and later, a dusting of snow was seen on the mountains above 2000 feet. Towards evening the showers died out and the sky cleared giving a clear moonlit but windy night with gusts of nearly 50 mph. With the full moon tomorrow the moonlight was brilliant, it is 20% brighter than average this February and the brightest of the year. By August it will be 12% dimmer according to NASA. [Rain 0.7 mm; Max 8.6C; Min 5.6C; Grass 4.2C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1244 GMT on 27 February 2002 showing twin lows near the Western Isles and Northern Ireland. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. 27th: A colder night than of late with slight ground frost. It was a bright start to the day, with a little red in the cloudier sky in the E after dawn. The morning was sunny with some cumulus clouds being driven along smartly on the fresh to strong WSW'ly wind. Pressure was 990 mb and the temperature 3.5C (dewpoint 0.0C at 0900 GMT. Pressure continues low (972 mb) to the N with depressions running in from the Atlantic. There was a change on the chart with a high (1034 mb) off Newfoundland the high to the S having slipped away. This brought the northern lows further S and with them some wintry weather. There were frequent showers, some wintry, to the N and S that were thundery. But the day here was mainly sunny although very windy. I was able to mow some grass around the garden for the first time as there had been considerable growth, due to mild weather, since the last cut in the autumn. Some soils here are free-draining (our garden on glacial drift is one) and the surface soon dries in the wind. Other places are much less so, are peaty and keep wet for a long time. These areas, if undrained and not cultivated have interesting wetland floras; there are several on Anglesey but many have been lost through drainage. By 16 GMT pressure 0984 mb was falling as the low now over Northern Ireland moved closer and it was cloudier, the SW'ly wind rose to gale force 8 by 17 GMT when there was some light rain. The gale continued in the evening with gusts of 50 mph but eased well before midnight. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 7.4C; Min 2.6C; Grass -0.4C]
28th: Some snow pellets just as it was getting light and snow showers over the mountains left a sprinkling down to 1500 feet and 1000 feet near Cwm Idwal. Pressure 991 mb was still low with the depressions centred nearby but was starting to rise slowly. There was a thundery trough giving showers and strong winds in the Channel and an occluded front with wintry precipitation to the N; there had been snow in Belfast earlier. The morning here was at times sunny but with cumulus clouds in the vicinity the threat of further wintry showers. A few snow pellets fell near 13 GMT and a flurry of snow at 14 GMT. Showers were more frequent over the mountains where further small accumulation of snow occurred. The night was mainly cloudy but dry with the wind veering N'ly then ENE'ly by morning. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 7.8C; Min 2.2C; Grass -0.5C]

With a total of 187.7 mm rain February ranked the 2nd wettest on record. Wettest was in 1958 that had 193 mm (average of 2 Llansadwrn stations 196.1 mm and 189.7 mm) followed by 1990 with 181 mm. There is hope for a good summer as 1990 was one of the better. On 2nd August a maximum of 33.0C was recorded, the highest on record in Anglesey!

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March 2002

Strong NE wind running waves into Traeth Goch (Red Wharf Bay) at high tide on 1 March 2002. High water in Traeth Goch (Red Wharf Bay) on 1 March 2002. View looking across to the Ship Inn and Trwyn Dwlban. Waves lashing cottages on the edge of Traeth Goch (Red Wharf Bay) on 1 March 2002. The road along side was inundated. View looking SW up the flooded valley of the Afon Nodwydd that drains into Traeth Goch. 1st: Daffodils have flowered early so they were available this year for St. David's Day celebrations. But I need to checkout my leeks, the other symbol of Wales, as a new EU rule announced today lays down minimum standards. Top quality leeks must have a white base at least one third of the total length. Also early leeks must be a minimum of 8 mm, and others 10 mm, measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis above the swelling of the neck. It was a bright start to the day but the moderate ENE'ly wind made the 3.8C feel even colder. Pressure 1012 mb had risen in the past 24-h as mid-Atlantic high (1038 mb) extended a ridge across northern Britain. Low (994 mb) was in the SW approaches and bringing wintry conditions to SW Ireland (unusually snow in Cork) and SW England. A warm front across Spain, S France gave a lot of snow on the Alps. Here the morning was mainly sunny and, with a 10.3 m spring tide in Red Wharf Bay at noon, the strong Nor'easter was running in a spectacular sea. The water reached the road and almost reached the top of the arch of the old stone bridge to cottages on the shore line. With the tide holding back the river water the salt marsh and some farm fields were flooded, this is normal at high spring tides. The afternoon was sunny with the sky clearing by before sunset but the day's maximum was only 6.7C, the lowest of the month. After sunset the western sky was a pale peach colour. The night was clear with bright moonlight being larger and brighter than average (see entry for 26 February). [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 6.7C; Min 2.8C; Grass 0.6C]
2nd: Clear overnight skies led to the first air frost (-0.7C) since 11 January, and only one of the month. The ground was white with frozen water deposits the -2.7C recorded on the grass minimum thermometer was the lowest of the month. The ice had melted by the time of the 0900 GMT observations. The sky had become overcast, since the bright dawn, and the cloud became thick enough for a few spots of rain to fall at 0920 GMT. Pressure had risen to 1021 mb and the temperature was 2.5C the lowest for the next 24-h. A ridge from Atlantic-high (1036 mb) was extended across the UK, but there was low-pressure (989 mb) over Iceland and a warm front over Northern Ireland and Scotland giving a little snow in the Highlands. Pressure was low in the western Mediterranean (1008 mb) with fronts over France and snow on the Massif Central and Alps. During the day the warm front moved very slowly S giving a cloudy day with just spots of rain from time to time. There was little change overnight. [Rain trace; Max 7.5C; Min -0.7C; Grass -2.7C]
3rd: A dull and damp start as the warm front was near and lingering over central England. It had been a mild night as a result with the temperature not below 5.5C. Pressure was unchanged at 1021 mb with little or no wind. It was misty with visibility only poor to moderate. There was patchy rain to the N but it did not reach here. A cloudy and quiet night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 8.6C; Min 2.5C; Grass 2.5C]
4th: A grey start to the day with frontal cloud still over much of the UK. Little change in pressure 1020 mb with a light W'ly wind. Another mild night with the minimum about 7C and, as a result of thawing, there was little snow to be seen on the mountains. The morning remained dull and overcast. With the high-pressure of the past days declining a developing low over Newfoundland could cross the Atlantic bringing storms to the NW later in the week. The day remained overcast and sunless. There was a shower of light rain at 01 GMT. White flowers of blackthorn (sloe) Prunus spinosa have appeared along the hedgerows. [Rain 0.4 mm; Max 7.8C; Min 6.2C; Grass 6.0C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1319 GMT on 5 March 2002. With Wales and England mostly clear giving a sunny day there was cloud over Scotland and N France. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. 5th: The sky had cleared before dawn and it was cold enough on the ground to freeze water on the grass. A golden sunrise with the sun rising more to E over Penmaenmawr, and not over the Carneddau Mountains, giving a few minutes more sunlight to the day. A sunny morning here with cumulus clouds hanging around Snowdonia with the cold front clearing S England. Another front was giving showers to N Scotland. Pressure was a little lower at 1017 mb with low 968 mb now S of Greenland and heading our way. By the afternoon it was warmer with a maximum of 10.8C. There were a few lee-wave clouds over the W Menai Strait before it became generally cloudier, and windier, over Anglesey by later. The night was cloudy and mild (minimum 6.5C) with a spell of moderate rain around 03 GMT. [Rain 3.9 mm; Max 10.8C; Min 1.7C; Grass -1.0C]
6th: A damp and dismal start to the day with light drizzle and poor visibility. Pressure 1005 mb had fallen as low (968 mb) SW of Iceland tracked eastwards towards Scotland. Small warm front's over W Ireland and Wales were giving the wet and misty weather. A cold front over Scotland was giving some rain there also. The day remained cloudy with drizzle at times with a maximum of 10.0C. But at Hawarden (Flintshire) the temperature rose to 14C, the warmest in the UK. It was a showery night. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 4.2C; Grass 3.5C]
7th: A bright start to the day with overnight showers dying out. Pressure 1018 mb had risen with a ridge of high pressure to the S. The morning became sunnier as clouds dispersed with the afternoon almost cloudless over Anglesey (maximum 13.0C the warmest along the North Wales coast). By evening it had become overcast as a warm front, associated with deepening low (996 mb) tracking towards NW Scotland, moved in from the W. [Rain trace; Max 13.0C; Min 7.0C; Grass 4.3C]
8th: The day began overcast and fog developed quickly soon after 08 GMT but had cleared by 0900 GMT. With low (987 mb) to the N of Scotland pressure 1022 mb here was falling. With tightening isobars as the high to the S declined the SW'ly wind at force 5 was freshening. There was a cold front to the NW with heavy rain over N Scotland. The morning here was dull with a little drizzle from time to time and becoming windier in the afternoon with the SW'ly force 7. At 1837 GMT there were ice pellets in moderate rain as the cold front passed with a fall in temperature of 6C. The rain fell as snow on the mountains of Snowdonia. [Rain 7.3 mm; Max 10.2C; Min 7.3C; Grass 5.3C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1235 GMT on 9 March 2002. Low with comma shaped cloud formation near the Mersey. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. 9th: At midnight there was a low 1006 mb SW of Ireland moving towards Anglesey and deepening. It was a blustery and showery start to the day with wet snow lying generally at 1500 feet but it was as low as 1000 feet at the head of the Ogwen Valley. A moderate accumulation had taken place on the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn. Pressure had fallen overnight to 1000 mb. Visibility was only poor to moderate during the morning when there were sleet showers. Near 13 GMT there was heavy shower of rain and ice pellets. The satellite image shows the depression near the Mersey at 1235 GMT with the cloud in comma shape, that caused the precipitation, and clearer weather behind. Being near the centre winds were strongest inland to the N and S of here. The sky began to clear to give a brighter afternoon with some sunshine. The sky cleared during the evening with a minimum temperature of 2.2C and ground frost (-1.0C) at 2300 GMT. [Rain 3.4 mm; Max 8.7C; Min 3.3C; Grass 0.5C]
10th: At midnight (0000 GMT) with the low moved away into the North Sea yet another (978 mb) was W of Shannon. This brought in a warm front with the temperature rising throughout the night reaching a maximum of 8.7C at 08 GMT. At 0900 GMT with pressure 999 mb falling with the low (965 mb) heading for Rockall. The SSW'ly wind was gale force 8 and, with low ragged clouds, there was intermittent light rain during the morning and poor visibility. In the afternoon it was brighter with a little sunshine, maximum 10.0C, although it stayed windy. At 2000 GMT there was a shower of rain that included ice pellets before turning dry overnight. Some young sycamore trees in the shelter of the wood already have leaves although mature trees are still in bud. Several garden plants including fuchsia, clematis and raspberry have shoots. [Rain 2.9 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 2.2C; Grass -1.0C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 11 March 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. 11th: Overnight the wind had moderated and it was a bright start to the day. Although it was mainly overcast the cloud was thin and high. There was fresh slight snow seen on and between the summits of Carnedd Llewelyn and Carnedd Dafydd. Pressure was 1005 mb but the was still low-pressure (971 mb) to the N of Scotland where there were gales and heavy wintry showers accompanied by thunder. There was showery rain to the S. Pressure was high (10-30 mb) over Europe but low (998 mb) over the E Mediterranean where the Greek Islands were topping up their water supply. Here with the temperature 6.5C, rising from the overnight minimum of 3.8C, and with relative humidity of 84% with a gentle S'ly wind it was a good drying day the showers affecting other parts kept away. The sky cleared during the afternoon and gave a clear night at first with a ground frost. Later it became cloudier. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 10.8C; Min 3.8C; Grass 1.5C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1343 GMT on 12 March 2002. Shows the thin cloud over Anglesey and snow on the Scottish Highlands. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. Click for Meteosat image at 1800 GMT on 12 March 2002. Shows the low W of Biscay. Courtesy of Ulm University. 12th: A bright start to the day but it was cloudier by 0900 GMT. Pressure 1016 mb had risen and it was calm with good visibility. The cloud was high and by noon it was thinner with some sunshine breaking through. A NE'ly breeze had developed and by bringing cold air from the Continent kept the maximum to 9.3C. The NOAA 16 image shows beautifully the thin cloud over Anglesey and also snow on the Scottish Highlands. By 16 GMT the cloud was thicker again but it remained dry. With high-pressure (1025 mb) to the W of the UK this has, temporarily, blocked the run of Atlantic-lows across the UK making them track further S and N. A good example of a S'ly low is the one (981 mb) just W of the Iberian Peninsula seen on the Meteosat image at 1800 GMT. This would bring strong winds and rain to the Iberian coast, possibly stir up dust from North Africa, and gales to the Channel. We have had several depositions of Saharan dust in March in previous years. By 2200 GMT the sky was clear again resulting in dew on the grass but no frost. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 2.3C; Grass -1.2C]
Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 13 March 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. 13th: A bright and sunny start to the day but there was a cold ENE'ly wind. The edge of the S'ly cloud could be seen above the Menai Strait and mountains with almost clear sky over Anglesey. Pressure 1020 mb was rising slowly with northern-UK high (1024 mb) centred over Glasgow and to the W over Northern Ireland. There was rain in the SE England with all N UK dry except for a few showers in N Scotland. Iberian-low (986 mb) was slow moving with fronts in the Channel and SE. Here the day was dry with sunshine from almost clear skies. The night was also clear and there was a slight ground frost despite the wind that had become E'ly and strengthened to force 6. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.0C; Min 2.5C; Grass 0.3C]
Choppy water in the Menai Strait with cap clouds over Snowdonia on 14 March 2002. Almost clear skies over Anglesey on 14 March 2002. View is from Beaumaris looking towards Gallows Point with Bangor on the mainland beyond. 14th: A sunny start to the day but with a biting E'ly wind feeling colder than the 3.3C at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1014 mb had fallen a little with the high transferred to Scandinavia. The low had moved NE to be in the Bay of Biscay tightening isobars across the S UK. The morning was sunny with smoke haze low on the horizons. Cap clouds were present on the mountains where there was still some snow patches on the Carneddau and in shaded gullies on N-facing slopes. A few small cumulus clouds were blown across Anglesey from time to time that otherwise had clear skies until late afternoon when it became overcast. Valley reported 9.8h sunshine close to the UK highest at Belfast that had 10.7h. With soils becoming drier local farmers have had their ploughs working on some of the free-draining fields. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.2C; Min 1.5C; Grass -0.4C]
Sferics recorded over 24-h on 15 March 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. 15th: A dull start to the day with the wind that had been less at dawn was strengthening again from the E. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 1004 mb with complex lows Biscay and SW approaches triggering thunderstorms over N Africa, Portugal and France as far as the Channel. We missed some rain that fell early in the morning in Caernarfon and W Anglesey. The day remained mainly dull but dry with the occasional brighter spell later in the afternoon. The hedgerows are being to green up as hawthorn leaves are beginning to appear. A band of light rain on a warm front worked its way N reaching here at 2130 GMT lasting until 0230 GMT with the temperature not falling below 5.5C. [Rain 2.7 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 3.3C; Grass 2.0C]
16th: High (1035 mb) was E of the Baltic and with lows to the W (996 mb) and SW (998 mb) of Ireland. These were working their way N with pressure here at 1006 mb the wind had turned S'ly. As a result with warm sector airflow it was already warmer being 10.0C at 0900 GMT, the maximum for the past 24-h. Dull and grey earlier the sky was clearing and gave a bright morning (but Talycafn (Conwy Valley) caught a heavy shower) and a sunny afternoon with a maximum of 13.2C. Colwyn Bay was the warmest with 16C and the sunniest with 7.2h. The warm day brought out honey bees to feed on heathers in full flower in the garden and a peacock butterfly that had overwintered. This was later seen feeding on primrose flowers. A clear night followed with heavy dew before some cloud passed over around midnight. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.2C; Min 4.6C; Grass 4.4C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 0758 GMT on 17 March 2002. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. Cumulus clouds over E Snowdonia Mountains on 17 March 2002. View is across Anglesey from Gaerwen towards Menai Bridge with Conwy beyond. Fields have now been restocked following the foot-and-mouth cull last year. 17th: The sky was clearing before dawn and there was a colourful sunrise at 0645 GMT. Pressure was 1003 mb falling just a little with low-pressure (980 mb) still W of Ireland and high-pressure (1032 mb) centred on Kiev (Russia) maintaining the S'ly airflow over the UK. The sky was clear over most of Anglesey and the Lleyn Peninsula (see satellite image). Some cumulus clouds were over the Snowdonia Mountains and cloud over Amlwch (NE Anglesey) and Liverpool Bay around the Mersey. There was cloud over south and mid Wales; frontal cloud could be seen here low in the SW bringing a band of rain close to Cork and Land's End. There was heavy rain N of London. It was a pleasantly warm morning here with just the hint of a SSE'ly breeze and the temperature rose to 14.5C just before noon (Colwyn Bay (Conwy) 16C and Prestatyn (Flintshire) 8.3h sunshine, both UK highest in 24-h to 18 GMT). Showery rain reached here by 13 GMT ahead of 3 patches of light rain from 1515 GMT. In the evening it was windy with the S'ly reaching force 6 around midnight. After that it eased with a slot of clear sky before becoming overcast before dawn. [Rain 2.3 mm; Max 14.5C; Min 4.4C; Grass 0.5C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1238 GMT on 18 March 2002. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek. 18th: A dull start to the day after a little red sky. Pressure 992 mb was falling with a small lows 981 mb near Land's End and W of Malin Head. A large area of rain was working its way N and the western edge reached here at 0945 GMT. By noon the low (982 mb) was making its way up the Severn Estuary; associated cloud nicely seen in the NOAA 16 satellite image. There was intermittent light rain or drizzle most of the day but Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury both reported heavy rain. It was brighter for a while later in the afternoon but by evening it was murky once again. It was a cooler day than of late with a maximum of 8.5C. The wind had backed to the NW by 18 GMT and in the night to SW. [Rain 0.5 mm; Max 8.5C; Min 5.6C; Grass 2.8C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 19 March 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. 19th: Overnight mist had cleared early and the sky was clearing at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1001 mb had risen with the low (983 mb) having moved away to S Norway. Another low (981 mb) was W of Ireland and the UK was sandwiched between. Pressure was high (1022 mb) Greenland and (1028 mb) Spain. Scotland was being affected by wintry weather on a cold front off the Norwegian-low while the SW was affected by rain from a warm front off the Atlantic-low. Here it was a bright and at times sunny morning with a temperature rising from 7.7C to a maximum of 10.0C. The afternoon was cloudy with a slight shower later and became murky towards evening. There was fog from 20-22 GMT that wetted the trees so much that they were dripping water from their branches. Later the fog cleared to thin high cloud by morning. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 4.0C; Grass 0.2C]
The sun was looming through thin high cloud (with dark lee-waves clouds under) over the Menai Strait at Beaumaris on 20 March 2002. 20th: A bright but overcast start to the day with the cloudbase well over the mountain summits. There were some lee-wave clouds, under the high thickening cloud, over the Menai Strait near low water at Beaumaris just after 09 GMT. Visibility was good although still a little misty with the sun shining through the cloud. Pressure 1011 mb had risen but the chart was almost the same as yesterday with highs Greenland and Spain with lows Atlantic and Sweden. Rain on a warm front was affecting the SW and it was moving slowly NE. Scotland was colder with some wintry showers. The morning gradually became duller as the cloud thickened. The rain, when it arrived in the afternoon, was of small amount. In the night the sky was slow to clear and later, when it did, fog formed. [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 12.0C; Min 6.7C; Grass 4.5C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1340 GMT on 21 March 2002 showing cloud and coastal fog affecting N coast of Lleyn, W Anglesey and Menai Strait. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de). 21st: Early fog was clearing by 0630 GMT and by 0900 GMT it was sunny here and in N Anglesey. The fog remained in the Menai Strait, and around the coast, until late in the afternoon until the sky became generally overcast. Pressure 1017 mb had continued to rise in the past 24-h and a fine day was in prospect. Rain was confined to the SW and wintry showers were still affecting the Highlands and E Scotland. The day was sunny with a maximum of 13.8C but at Hawarden (Flintshire) 17C was reached. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 13.8C; Min 7.3C; Grass 4.8C]
22nd: A bright start to the day with overnight cloud showing signs of dispersal at 0900 GMT before becoming cloudier again. It had been a mild night (minimum 8.4C, the highest of the month) and the 5 cm soil thermometer was reading 10.0C for the first time this year. Pressure 1017 mb was still rising as high (1032 mb) Spain had a ridge over Wales and with high (1031 mb) Norwegian Sea to the N. To the W Atlantic-low (966 mb) had a warm front, with rain, affecting the SW. It remained dry here but or the most part overcast with the cloud was thin enough for it to be bright. Later in the afternoon the sky did become clearer and this extended into the evening. With the warmth the grass verges are covered with the yellow flowers of the celandine that respond quickly to temperature. Some clear spells at night led to a heavy dew but the grass minimum only fell to 3.3C. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.4C; Min 8.4C; Grass 7.0C]
23rd: Another bright start to the day but the sky was again overcast with thin but high cloud. Pressure 1029 mb was rising slowly as a ridge of high-pressure to the E associated with the Norwegian high (1042 mb) the southern high (1025 mb) now over N Africa persist. Unfortunately there is cloud on a warm front in the W on Atlantic-low (984 mb) steaming N towards Iceland. The day remained cloudy but dry and occasionally bright with the temperature reaching 14.7C. Lusa (Isle of Skye) with 16C was the warmest place on the day. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.7C; Min 6.3C; Grass 3.3C]
24th: A cloudy but fairly bright start to the day. Pressure 1020 mb was unchanged with the low (991 mb) now near Iceland still having fronts down the W side of the UK. Pressure was high (1041 mb) over N Norway and Sweden where it was cold (-16C overnight). Temperatures here (11.7C at 0900 GMT; RH 70%) were continuing to be mild but with the thicker cloud today kept the maximum to 13.9C. At Prestatyn (Flintshire) 16C was reached. During the night some very patchy rain moved across the area. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 13.9C; Min 7.5C; Grass 4.0C]
25th: A little rain at 07 GMT was clearing away but drizzle was left around the coasts and the mountains. Pressure 1029 mb was little changed with high (1035 mb) Denmark. High-pressure (1034 mb) to the SW was extending N pushing the lows N of Iceland. The morning bright at first was soon dull and overcast. By the afternoon there was drizzle at times and light light rain from 1500-1630 GMT with poor visibility. During the rain (total 1.1 mm) there was a slight deposition of orange coloured Saharan dust. The cloud and rain began to clear away by 20 GMT and led to a clear night with the temperature on the grass down to -1.0C. [Rain 1.1 mm; Max 10.3C; Min 7.0C; Grass 6.2C]
Smoke haze trapped by an inversion in the Menai Strait. View is towards the Nant Ffrancon Pass taken from the weather station. 26th: A sunny start to the day and with pressure 1034 mb with a high building across the UK there are prospects for some sunny dry days ahead. There was an inversion in the Menai Strait and this had trapped smoke haze to a height of 2500 feet. The summits of the mountains were in clearer air. The overnight ground frost with heavy depositions of dew that were frozen earlier (and silver frost supercooled dewdrops) had by 0900 GMT mostly melted in the sunshine. It was a sunny morning with the haze burning-off by 11 GMT leaving high cirrus or cirrostratus cloud that did not affect the sunshine. At RAF Valley there was {10.0h} sunshine but Glasgow recorded the most with {11.3h}. It was a warm 14.0C but below the warmest was 16C at Torquay in Devon. The first chiff-chaff of the season arrived in the garden today a few days later than usual. It was a clear night with bright stars but I failed to see the comet. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.0C; Min 1.8C; Grass -1.0C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1240 GMT on 27 March 2002 showing clear skies over Wales and much of England. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de). 27th: The sun rose at 0612 GMT to give a sunny start to the day soon melting frost on the grass. Pressure 1032 mb had declined a little as the high (1034 mb) moved SE towards Germany. Lows (979 mb) SW of Iceland were bringing strong winds to NW Scotland and Shetland. Further to the S it was sunshine, after a cold and frosty start in some inland places in England, with clear skies except in the SE. It was hazy sunshine all day with a maximum of 13.2C. Along the North Wales coast it was similar with Hawarden (Flintshire) reaching 15C. A clear and cold night with frost on the grass. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.2C; Min 2.8C; Grass -1.9C]
28th: Another sunny start to the day with pressure 1028 mb just a shade lower. It had been a cold night in central and southern England with airfrost in places and early fog with visibility down to 100 m in several places. There were several road accidents and loss of life as a result. Here visibility was good although haze was thick. Some cirrus cloud developed overhead and there was cirrostratus low to the W at first. The afternoon was a little cloudier for a time but at RAF Valley {11.6h} sunshine was reported, the highest in the UK. It was another clear starlit night with a bright moon. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.1C; Min 2.4C; Grass -2.5C]
29th: Overnight moderate dew had frozen on the grass that was looking white at dawn. The frost had melted, except in the shade, by 0900 GMT. With high-pressure (1033 mb) over Germany pressure here 1023 mb continued to decline slowly. A long frontal system to the NW was threatening to move in to spoil the fine spell of weather we have been enjoying. Visibility was poor in thick haze but fog inland, 100 m in places, was again affecting road travel and there were fog related accidents in North Yorkshire. The day was sunny and warm with the temperature reaching 16.0C (range 13.0C), the warmest of the month. A clear dry night followed. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 3.0C; Grass -1.0C]
30th: A sunny start to the day. Pressure 1020 mb continued to decline and low (982 mb) near Iceland has a cold front already on the W Irish coastline. Despite this threat it was a warm and sunny morning on Anglesey with the temperature reaching 14.4C. The beaches were busy as visitors to the island took advantage of the good weather. Later it was cloudier but the rain on a warm front did not arrive until midnight. It rained continuously until 0730 GMT accumulating 8.6 mm the largest 24-h fall of the month. [Rain 8.6 mm; Max 14.4C; Min 3.8C; Grass 0.4C]
31st: The rain had stopped but the sky was overcast and dull for Easter Sunday. Humidity was 100% at 0900 GMT there was little variation in temperature in the next 24-h. There were spots of rain and drizzle at times through the day. Some brighter spots could be seen across the Menai Strait, near Llanfairfechan and Conwy, but the gloom remained here all day. A disappointing day for the many visitors. There was intermittent rain during the night. In Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, was hit by the 'worst-known storm' that gave 230 mm of rain in 2 h. This caused flash flooding and 6 people died with many missing. [Rain 2.8 mm; Max 10.3C; Min 7.5C; Grass 6.7C]

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April 2002

1st: It was a gloomy start to the Bank Holiday and there was no improvement during the day. At 0900 GMT pressure 1009 mb was continuing its slow decline with slow moving low (968 mb) just S of Iceland and highs (1022 mb) Germany and stretching down to the Mediterranean. Here intermittent slight rain with moderate to poor visibility gave way to a period moderate rain in the afternoon as a weak cold front moved across the Irish Sea. There was a moderate temperature drop of nearly 4C from 10.5C to 6.7C as the front passed and 6 mm of rain. Visitors to the island had had enough and most decided to return home early. This caused severe traffic congestion on the E bound A55 Expressway from Llanfairfechan all the way to the English border. Roadworks had been suspended for the holiday but signs were still in place and might have slowed the flow. The sky began to clear about 1530 GMT giving a sunny but cool end to the day. A walk through the wood revealed the first few flowers of bluebell. The night saw some clear spells with the temperature dropping to 3.4C and 0.2C on the grass. There was heavy dew. [Rain 6.3 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 8.3C; Grass 7.2C]
Sferics recorded over 24-h on 2 April 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten. 2nd: It was a bright start to the day and with clearer air visibility was very good. With a fleeting return to cooler weather there was a sprinkling of snow on the highest summits of the Snowdonia Mountains that latest only for a few hours. At 0900 GMT pressure 1009 mb was lower and there was a gentle SE'ly breeze. The temperature was 7.7C (dewpoint 5.2C). The Iceland low (976 mb) was filling but a new low (984 mb) was approaching the W of Ireland. The morning was mainly cloudy and bright. But by afternoon the cloud was thicker and there were a few spots of rain. Thunderstorms were reported from Powys in mid Wales extending S to the Channel. There were widespread thunderstorms in the Mediterranean including N Africa and Greece. It was a warm night here with the temperature not falling below 10C. There was intermittent rain (1.3 mm) between 2130 - 02 GMT. [Rain 1.3 mm; Max 13.5C; Min 3.4C; Grass 0.2C]
With ploughing and sowing complete it was time to roll the grass leys to encourage tillering that are being grazed by sheep (and rooks). View from near the weather station towards the cloud covered Snowdonia Mountains on 3 April 2002. Rook nests (25) in tall sycamore trees under grey skies near the weather station on 3 April 2002. Most rooks were away grazing on nearby fields. The hedgerow banks near the weather station are becoming colourful as Dog-violet Viola riviniana flowers open amongst grass and ivy on 3 April 2002. 3rd: A dull and damp start to the day with pressure steady on 1005 mb. A very slight deposition of light coloured dust was observed at 0900 GMT (fallen in past 24-h as wet deposition in rain). Low (984 mb) W of Rockall had weak slow-moving fronts lying down the Irish Sea. There was patchy light rain moving E giving a little drizzle along some coasts. Here the cloud was thick but it was dry with a light SW'ly wind. During the day the were 1 or 2 brighter spells but the grey overcast sky remained. Despite this, visibility was good with clear views as far as Holyhead Mountain and the Lleyn Peninsula. Thunderstorms were again reported in the afternoon from Powys and S Scotland where electricity failure unlocked cell doors at Shotts prison. There was light rain here from 18 GMT and a little more at midnight (00 GMT) during which there was a further deposition of light-orange coloured dust. Several dust falls here, including the recent fall on 25 March and the heavy fall on 14th October 2001, have had an origin in N Africa but the origin of the latest is unknown. [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 10.9C; Min 7.7C; Grass 7.3C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1254 GMT on 4 April 2002 showing the warm front over Wales and France and storm in the Meditteranean. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de). Cloud forming, disappearing and reforming in the Menai Strait under high thin cloud at 1246 GMT on 4 April 2002. View is from near the weather station towards Llandegfan with the Carneddau Mountains in the background. 4th: Mist patches early and an overcast dawn but there was sufficient clearer sky to the E to give a colourful sunrise. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 1012 mb with low pressure (988 mb) Iceland and NW-Atlantic. Low pressure was creeping up through France from the stormy low (992 mb) in the Mediterranean near Sardinia (see satellite image). Cold weather in E Europe and Russia (with snow) could bring a return to colder weather eventually. A warm front in the W was bringing rain S of here in Wales, the SW and W France. The morning was cloudy but was bright with the cloud thinning later to give a hazy but sunny afternoon. The cool wind was N'ly turning NE'ly in the afternoon when cloud was forming, disappearing and reforming in almost the same place, in the eastern Menai Strait between 1500 - 3000 ft. It was a fine and mostly clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.9C; Min 4.8C; Grass 1.3C]
5th: A clear sky start to the day but it was very hazy and the sun rose about 0605 GMT with a deep red colouration. There was heavy dew on the grass with a minimum of 2.5C. There was a cool NE'ly breeze but the temperature at 0900 GMT was 10.1C (RH 67%, dewpoint 4.3C). Both 30 cm and 50 cm soil thermometers were reading 10.0C for the first time this year. Pressure 1006 mb was a little lower with low (992 mb) W of Valentia and high (1032 mb) Finland. It was still stormy in the E Mediterranean. The day was sunny with thick haze giving only moderate visibility that became poor in the afternoon. A fine and clear night with freshening E'ly wind. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.3C; Min 6.5C; Grass 2.5C]
Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 6 April 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne. Click for NOAA 12 visible image at 1623 GMT on 6 April 2002 showing a cloud-free British Isles. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de). 6th: Another sunny start to the day but there was a cold E'ly wind with dry cold air being drawn across the UK from E Europe. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 6.8C with 74% relative humidity. Pressure 1018 mb had risen with the high (1029 mb) Norwegian Sea edging closer. Low (993 mb) FitzRoy was dragging the the old front away to be over SW France, Spain and Portugal. There were a few cumulus clouds over Snowdonia but Anglesey was sunny although visibility was still only just moderate in smoke haze. The cloud over the mountains soon dispersed and it became less hazy with a maximum of 14.5C. With the dry wind and RH at 46% for a time evaporation was larger than usual (Piche 3.0 mls in 24-h). By late afternoon the whole of the British Isles was cloud-free! (For excellent large image [260 KB] see below). The night was also clear and dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.5C; Min 5.4C; Grass 3.4C]
7th: High (1028 mb) was established over N UK with complex lows sea areas Biscay (997 mb) and Trafalgar (993 mb). Sunshine in a cloud-free sky but the cold wind (NE'ly force 4) was still with us. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 6.0C with the humidity moderate at 70%; both the soil and grass were dry. During the day the pollution haze (smoke) increased particularly in Liverpool Bay but was visible to the N as well restricting visibility, good at first, to moderate later on. The maximum only 11.3C here but at Pembray Sands it reached {17C} the highest in the UK. A sunny evening with the sun setting a deep orange colour and a clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.3C; Min 2.5C; Grass 0.5C]
8th: A touch-of-frost on the grass had frozen deposits of dew but the ice soon melted as the temperature rose to 9.4C at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1025 mb was unchanged but the high-pressure was being squeezed by low-pressure in the N and S. A little cloud around but it was hazy sunshine in the morning with only poor visibility. Cloudier after noon, but returned to mainly sunny later on. The day's maximum of 14.7C was one of the warmest in the UK. The sky was clearing in the evening to give a clear night (just missing a ground frost) before it turned foggy. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.7 C; Min 2.8C; Grass -0.5C]
9th: A cool night with a minimum of 2.3C with fog forming in the small hours. The fog had cleared leaving it misty by 0530 GMT and by 0900 GMT the sun was starting to burn it away but visibility remained poor. Pressure 1027 mb little changed with high (1030 mb) Malin Head stretching away westwards into the Atlantic. Low pressure in the Mediterranean (centred on Sardinia) continued to give poor weather to the whole region. Here it was a sunny with cirrus cloud and some mist patches at first. It remained sunny all day although visibility was poor. The night was clear of cloud at times. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.6C; Min 2.3C; Grass 0.3C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1329 GMT on 10 April 2002 showing cloud to the NW but clearer skies over Wales, much of England and N France. Also seen is the cloud affecting N Spain and S France and N Africa. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de). 10th: A sunny start to the day and for those up early some fine lee-wave clouds to the S of here at 0530 GMT. The wind SE'ly soon turned ENE'ly and they were gone. Pressure 1027 mb was unchanged with high-pressure over central UK, but isobars to the S were tighter giving continued stronger E'ly winds in the S of the country. Weather in the western Mediterranean remained poor with rain affecting Portugal, Spain, S France and N Africa. Here cloud was to the NW but the altocumulus were dispersing at 0900 GMT (7.4C, 73% RH) but visibility in haze was just moderate and deteriorated to poor later. It remained mainly sunny but the temperature only managed to rise to 11.5C in the cold ENE'ly wind bringing the mean 7.9C close to the average. Towards evening cloud and haze dispersed giving a clear and mostly calm night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.5C; Min 4.2C; Grass 1.7C]
11th: A cold night with heavy dew freezing on the grass (minimum -2.2C). The white frost had disappeared before 0900 GMT when the air temperature had risen from the 1.6C minimum to 7.1C. Pressure 1016 mb had fallen but pressure was still high (1034 mb) in mid-Atlantic. A weak cold front over NW Ireland and Scotland, associated with a small low just to the N of Scotland, was already bringing a little rain to those areas. Here there was patchy thin cloud with sunshine at first with the cloud thickening during the morning. The afternoon was cloudy but it remained dry. A large duststorm had occurred in Algeria with airborne dust on its way to Italy. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 1.6C; Grass -2.2C]
Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1307 GMT on 12 April 2002 showing dust from yesterday, storm on its way across the Med to Italy. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de). 12th: A murky start to the day with the weak cold front in the vicinity. It remained dry here but there was a little drizzle around the coasts in the W and N of the island. Pressure 1012 mb is keeping relatively high with Atlantic-low (1025 mb) to the W of Ireland. Complex lows in the Mediterranean are keeping the weather there very unsettled. Here the morning brightened with some patches of blue sky appearing and a little sunshine. With no rain for 8 days, and there was none today, the soil is beginning to look rather dry and plants in the garden in need of water. The sky continued to clear over Anglesey in the afternoon leaving cumulus clouds over the Snowdonia Mountains. Visibility also improved with the inflow of clearer air from the N. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 5.0C; Grass 3.8C]
13th: It was cold overnight with a minimum of 1.5C and moderate dew on the grass froze (-1.7C). We have many plants in the greenhouse waiting to be put outside but have not done so because of the risk of such frosts. Visibility was excellent at 0900 GMT with some sunshine although it was partially cloudy. The temperature had risen to 7.2C and the N'ly wind was very light. Pressure was 1015 mb with the ridge of high-pressure over the UK. Low (986 mb) between Greenland and Iceland has a cold front to the NW that will bring some rain soon. The weather remains disturbed all across the Mediterranean. Here it was mostly cloudy but with some good sunny spells during the day. [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 10.7C; Min 1.5C; Grass -1.7C]
14th: There was light rain from 06-09 GMT amounting to 0.6 mm associated with a warm front along the W of the UK. It was just cold enough for it to fall as snow on the highest summits of the Snowdonia Mountains. Further to the W, over Ireland and the Western Isles, there was a cold front. Pressure 1013 mb was little changed. There had been a deposition of grey coloured dust in the recent rain (origin unknown). The day was dull with spells of light rain or drizzle but ceased by late afternoon. It was the coldest day of the month with a maximum of 8.5C. A sprinkling of snow was seen at 18 GMT on Foel-fras. The sky cleared at night giving a beautiful view of the new crescent moon at 2000-2030 GMT that was a dull orange colour low in the NW sky. The moon's bright crescent was lit by the sun, but the rest was dimly lit by earthshine (light from the sun reflected off the earth to light the moon) a feature best seen in April and May, and worth looking out for. After the moon had set there was a fine view of the stars and planets. We are very fortunate that light pollution is low here and good views are had on dark nights. [Rain 1.0 mm; Max 8.5C ; Min 4.1C; Grass 0.6C]
Bluebells were flowering in the wood near the weather station on 15 April 2002. 15th: A cold and frosty night with heavy dew on the grass frozen white by morning (-2.3C grass minimum) lowest of the month. Air temperature too was low down to 1.0C in the Stevenson screen, also the lowest of the month. It was a sunny start to the day with clear air visibility was excellent. The sprinkling of snow was still on Foel-fras, none was seen on Carnedd Dafydd or C. Llewelyn, but a little could also be seen on Crib Goch (Snowdon). With the sun still low in the sky the tall trees nearby cast shade on the fields so that the white frost remains in long stripes. Early in the morning sheep were grazing in lines where the sun has melted the frost avoiding the still-frozen grass. With half the month gone the rainfall total is only 9.8 mm. Evaporation, measured by lysimeter, has been 10.6 mm resulting in a small negative water balance (0.8 mm) for the month so far. This can happen in April that is usually the driest month of the year. The morning was sunny but after noon it was cloudy here with the N of the island in sunshine. The cloud cleared later and there was a sunny evening and mostly clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.4C; Min 1.0C; Grass -2.3C]
16th: A touch-of-frost on the grass overnight but this quickly disappeared when the sun rose. Pressure 1016 mb was beginning to fall as Atlantic-low (978 mb) to the W threatened to spoil the days of fine weather and to push the high-pressure further S. Slow-moving fronts were lining up along the W coast of Ireland where there was a little rain. The day was bright and sunny with a light S'ly breeze that strengthened to force 3 - 4 later. The temperature reached 14.6C just before 14 GMT. With the dry weather there was plenty of pollen in the air and hay fever suffers allergic to tree pollen have been affected. The blackthorn hedges are still flowering and willow, alder (all flower before leaves appear) have flowered, now early ash and scrub elm (both without leaves) together with sycamore flowers (after leaves) also have appeared. Buds on our outdoor vines have begun to burst. This is very early, last year (2001) the buds opened on 23 May while in 2000 they began to break on 1 May. The night was clear at first but became cloudier by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.6C; Min 3.0C; Grass -0.6C]
Click for NOAA 16 image (channels 1+2+5) at 1345 GMT on 17 April 2002. Courtesy of Bernard Burton. Cracks in uncultivated soil 8 mm wide by 40 mm deep due to the dry weather. 17th: A mainly cloudy but bright and still dry start to the day after a mild night. The grass was dry and the Piche tube showed 3.3 ml evaporation in the past 24-h. Pressure 1012 mb continued to fall very slowly and the heavy rain over Ireland, Belfast {29 mm}, had only just reached Pembrokeshire (and the SW) by 0900 GMT. Low (988 mb) was filling SW of Iceland and the small low (1008 mb) steaming into St George's Channel was associated with the rain-bearing warm front stretching from Greenland to the Azores (see satellite image). High-pressure (1020 mb) seemed to be re-establishing in the western Mediterranean. Here, the day continued bright and dry with the S'ly wind increasing to force 4 or 5. Despite the threat of rain (the radar image showed rain but it was evaporating before reaching the ground) we only got a few drops at 1530 GMT before nightfall. Cracks 8 mm wide and 40 mm deep have appeared in uncultivated soil over the last few days. Moderate rain arrived at midnight and continued till morning. [Rain 10.8 mm; Max 14.5C; Min 7.5C; Grass 2.9C]
18th: A dull and damp start to the day with slight rain or drizzle (100% RH) and poor visibility. Pressure 1011 mb had risen a bit with the small low (1008 mb) now near the Isle of Man. An area of rain was over N Wales, but mainly S of Anglesey at first. Yesterday's Icelandic-low (998 mb) was being pushed aside by another deeper low (996 mb) S of Greenland. The morning continued dull and misty with light rain or drizzle. The rain turned heavier after noon then became showery and kept overcast. The day maximum was only 8.8C. Thunder and hail was reported from Gloucester, Birmingham and Hertfordshire. [Rain 5.1 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 4.9C; Grass 4.4C]
Cumulus clouds were decaying in mid-afternoon over Snowdonia on 19 April 2002. Overnight snow was receding in the warmth of the day. View is towards Snowdon from near Llansadwrn village. 19th: There was fog overnight and the day dawned misty with poor visibility. This was clearing by 0900 GMT when the temperature had risen to 9.4C, the highest of the past 24-h. There was snow lying as low as 2500 ft on the mountains, particularly Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Carnedd Dafydd, but it receded through the day. Pressure 1021 mb had risen a little and a ridge of high-pressure to the S (1025 mb) was trying to fend off the Atlantic-low (959 mb) S of Greenland and front W of Ireland to giving a fine day. The morning was bright and sunny with the sky clearing over the N and W of Anglesey. Here, and over the mountains, there were quite active looking cumulus clouds but I saw no precipitation. The cumulus diminished in the afternoon when there was a maximum of 15.8C the highest of the month. There was a sunny end to the day but was overcast by 22 GMT and there was light rain from 00 - 05 GMT. [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 15.8C; Min 4.2C; Grass 1.0C]
20th: A light shower at passed over at 0845 GMT. Pressure 1025 mb had risen slightly and there was a moderate S'ly breeze. Visibility was good and there was a little patchy snow seen on the Carneddau but there was greater cover on the summit of Snowdon. With the sky remaining overcast it was a rather dull but mild day. In the night the wind strengthened and there was light rain from 03 - 06 GMT as a warm front passed. [Rain 3.1 mm; Max 13.0C; Min 7.2C; Grass 3.1C]
A pile-of-plates cloud hovering over Llansadwrn on the 21st April 2002 21st: It was a windy start to the day with the force 6 S'ly (with strong gusts) stripping some of the new leaves from the trees. Pressure was 1027 mb with Atlantic-low (979 mb) filling W of Ireland and moving NE with high (1038 mb) over Denmark. Isobars were tight along the western seaboard giving the strong winds. There was rain in N England and more rain on another front over W Ireland. All soil temperatures 5 cm to 100 cm deep were above 10C this morning. So with the recent rain, restoring the water balance, growing conditions should be better for shallow rooting crops. Here the morning was fairly bright with the cloud thinning later leaving mostly high cloud. Lee-wave clouds formed at a lower level near Snowdon and a 'pile-of-plates' to the SE of the weather station. The clouds were observed from 1230 - 1330 GMT. In the afternoon the temperature rose to 15.4C before the cloud thickened again towards evening. There was some drizzle around 19 GMT and rain from midnight to 04 GMT as the front passed over. [Rain 5.4 mm; Max 15.4C; Min 9.7C; Grass 8.3C]
Click for NOAA 16 image (channels 1+2+5) at 1251 GMT on 22 April 2002. Courtesy of Bernard Burton. 22nd: It had been a mild night (minimum 10.2C) the warmest of the month, but it was a dull and misty start to the day with the sky was starting to clear during the morning. It wa