A wild end to the month

Very blustery during the night with some strong winds to test our anemometer.  The forecast suggested 40-50mph, but it looks like we've peaked at around 38mph.  I'm sure our high wind recordings are suppressed by where we are though - we're in the lee of a hill and the other buildings around will have an effect.  One thing's sure though, it was quite tricky walking around at lunchtime.

We've had several heavy showers too, making it the windiest and wettest day 'on record' (for us at least!) - it's a wild end to what's been a fairly well-behaved month.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.3°c (00:01) minimum: 3.6°c (18:31).  Average temperature for the day: 5.5°c
Highest apparent temperature: 1.7°c (00:21).  Low apparent temperature: -6.6°c (15:31)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 32.2mph (15:31).
Highest gust speed: 38.0mph (15:21), bearing 270 (W)
Dominant wind bearing: 270 (W)

Pressure
Maximum: 1019.6Mb, minimum: 993.5Mb

Humidity
Highest: 87% (00:01), lowest 58% (16:21)

Rainfall
Total for today: 2.4mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 4.2mm/hr (00:11)

Hail, wind, sun and heavy rain

Overnight wintery showers left some hail on the car first thing and maybe just a hint of snow. Drier by dawn but staying overcast, and with heavy rain forecast for later it didn't look promising.  However, the skies started to clear and by nine o'clock the sun was out and it was quite nice, if still fairly windy.

The favourable conditions lasted well into the afternoon, when cloud started to build and the rain arrived just before rush hour.  By evening, the promised downpour had arrived, giving us a spell of the heaviest rainfall since we started recording.  For the first time in a long while, the Oakdale Lake has returned in the field!

Temperature
Maximum: 10.2°c (22:22) minimum: 2.2°c (06:11).  Average temperature for the day: 5.8°c
Highest apparent temperature: 6.4°c (22:08).  Low apparent temperature: -4.9°c (06:01)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 23.3mph (03:31).
Highest gust speed: 30.1mph (23:31), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 227 (WbN)

Pressure
Maximum: 1012.6Mb, minimum: 993.5Mb

Humidity
Highest: 91% (22:05), lowest 51% (14:06)

Rainfall
Total for today: 15.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 3.9mm/hr (23:56)

First day of British Summer Time? Pah!

Well we're only just into spring but today is the first day of British Summer Time, though it feels anything but summery.  We've seen a fairly consistent drizzle, heavy cloud and outside temperatures on the cool side, not that we're out and about.  It's definitely a day for staying indoors!

The rain eased off by evening, but although there was daylight until well after seven, it still wasn't the sort of day to venture out.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.1°c (00:10) minimum: 4.2°c (23:56).  Average temperature for the day: 6.2°c
Highest apparent temperature: 4.5°c (12:00).  Low apparent temperature: -1.9°c (14:00)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 21.8mph (00:35).
Highest gust speed: 28.9mph (00:35), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 287 (WNW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1003.8Mb, minimum: 993.1Mb

Humidity
Highest: 89% (14:36), lowest 67% (23:21)

Rainfall
Total for today: 5.4mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 1.5mm/hr (09:10)

What's this - rain?

Persistent rain throughout the morning, turning drier for a time in the afternoon but rain was never far away with further spells of wet weather in the evening and during the night.  Fairly breezy throughout the day, making it feel quite unpleasant outside.  The one positive stat was the temperatures, which were quite mild, but let's be honest, it wasn't a day to be out and about.

Temperature
Maximum: 12.8°c (13:00), minimum: 4.4°c (00:50).  Average temperature for the day: 8.6°c
Highest apparent temperature: 10.8°c (14:10).  Low apparent temperature: 1.0°c (05:30)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 16.6mph (15:55).
Highest gust speed: 20.6 mph (11:00), bearing 90 (E)
Dominant wind bearing: 302 (NWbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1020.3Mb, minimum: 1002.9Mb

Humidity
Highest: 88% (06:00), lowest 68% (00:00)

Rainfall
Total for today: 9.9mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 3.0mm/hr (10:20)

Blustery and buffety - typical March

A dry day, if rather cloudy, with reasonable temperatures but quite strong winds, especially noticeable around tall buildings.  Some spells of sunshine, particularly in the afternoon.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.9°c (16:10) minimum: 2.5°c (07:05).  Average temperature for the day: 5.6°c
Highest apparent temperature: 5.2°c (18:40).  Low apparent temperature: -0.9°c (06:25)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 11.2mph (00:05).
Highest gust speed: 14.5mph (00:45), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 315 (NW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1022.8Mb, minimum: 1017.3Mb

Humidity
Highest: 85% (07:45), lowest 49% (14:05)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0 mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm/hr

A bit of everything!

A quite turbulent day.  Rain during the night but temperatures fell away, allowing the rain to turn to sleet and a little snow before dawn.  We were quite lucky on Oakdale as the roads were still clear - driving into Darwen at 7am, the cars coming in the opposite direction had certainly experienced more snow, and even in the centre, on the railway station, the edges of the platforms and the tracks had a white covering.

The rest of the day was lively with gusty winds that were fairly strong at times, variable amounts of cloud, spells of sunshine and reasonable temperatures in sheltered spots.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.7°c (14:35) minimum: 0.9°c (04:45).  Average temperature for the day: 5.1°c
Highest apparent temperature: 2.4°c (21:15).  Low apparent temperature: -5.9°c (05:00)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 26.2mph (14:00).
Highest gust speed: 29.8mph (17:15), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 301 (NWbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1017.4Mb, minimum: 999.3Mb

Humidity
Highest: 91% (09:10), lowest 54% (15:55)

Rainfall
Total for today: 3.3 mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.9mm/hr (02:45)

Early spring promise

Generally a fairly nice day with light winds, decent spells of sunshine and temperatures responding in the early spring sun.  Feeling warmer than the thermometer recorded, but apart from a brief shower late morning, all in all not a bad day.  Later in the evening the wind started freshening, indicating that tomorrow may be quite different...

Temperature
Maximum: 9.0°c (12:45) minimum: -2.4°c (06:40).  Average temperature for the day: 3.0°c
Highest apparent temperature: 6.3°c (12:45).  Low apparent temperature: -5.1°c (06:55)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 6.8mph (23:55).
Highest gust speed: 11.4mph (23:55), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 317 (NW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1017.1Mb, minimum: 1008.6Mb

Humidity
Highest: 88% (11:15), lowest 47% (18:45)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.3 mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.3mm/hr (11:30)

Cool but better than expected

Today proved to be better than expected - we were promised several sharp showers which would make us think it was April, but in the event we only had a couple of light showers in an otherwise dry day.  Once again it's been quite cool, and with the wind today being a little stronger than of late, there's been a distinct nip in the air reminding us that we're still nearer winter than summer.

Temperature
Maximum: 7.4°c (11:35), minimum: 0.6°c (03:00).  Average temperature for the day: 3.8°c
Highest apparent temperature: 3.9°c (11:30).  Low apparent temperature: -1.7°c (03:00)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 12.9mph (15:20).
Highest gust speed: 13.6 mph (15:10), bearing 270 (W)
Dominant wind bearing: 302 (NWbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1015.7Mb, minimum: 1012.4Mb

Humidity
Highest: 90% (05:05), lowest 61% (15:20)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.9mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.6mm/hr (10:50)

Back to normality

A drizzly start to the day, a marked change from recent days, and my wait on the platform at Darwen Station was much less pleasant than last week.  The drizzle gradually lifted to low cloud, which eventually brightened in the afternoon, and the rest of the day remained dry if not particularly inspiring.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.7°c (14:25), minimum: 2.8°c (01:30).  Average temperature for the day: 5.4 °c
Highest apparent temperature: 5.5°c (14:25).  Low apparent temperature: -0.3°c (01:30)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 12.2 mph (09:50).
Highest gust speed: 15.9 mph (16:30), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 244 (WSW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1021.3Mb, minimum: 1015.7Mb

Humidity
Highest: 90% (09:30), lowest 62% (17:10)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.9mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.6mm (08:25)

More sunshine (we're being spoiled!)

Another beautiful day and, although still a little on the chilly side (it's now the tail end of March after all), it was quite pleasant to be outside in the sunshine.  Another dry day, but there was a sharp frost first thing this morning.

Temperature
Maximum: 9.4°c (11:44), minimum: -3.1°c (06:04).  Average temperature for the day: 6.5°c
Highest apparent temperature: 6.5°c (14:09).  Low apparent temperature: -5.8°c (06:04)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 7.4 mph (09:34).
Highest gust speed: 9.2 mph (09:29), bearing 180 (S)
Dominant wind bearing: 170 (SbE)

Pressure
Maximum: 1034.2Mb, minimum: 1021.2Mb

Humidity
Highest: 87% (08:59), lowest 52% (14:39)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm

Sunny skies are back

A cool start but skies were encouragingly bright from early morning and remained fairly clear throughout the day.  Although winds were light, temperatures remained cool, although the sun, having crossed the equator now, is getting quite a bit stronger.

We went out to Southport for the day, where it was quite breezy on the seafront, and it's that time of year where I can't work out whether I need a woolly hat, cap or wide brimmed sunhat on!


Temperature
Maximum: 8.8°c (11:50), minimum: -0.3°c (23:59).  Average temperature for the day: 4.5°c
Highest apparent temperature: 6.0°c (13:30).  Low apparent temperature: -2.9°c (23:59)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 6.9 mph (14:05).
Highest gust speed: 9.2 mph (14:00), bearing 180 (S)
Dominant wind bearing: 203 (SSW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1035.0Mb, minimum: 1028.2Mb

Humidity
Highest: 88% (00:25), lowest 53% (14:45)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm

Cloudy for the eclipse of the decade

All we were hoping for this morning was for the weather to hold until 10 o'clock so we could witness a rare event - a near-total eclipse of the sun.  This time over 90% of the sun's visible disc was covered, making it the best eclipse in the UK since 1999 and also the best for several decades to come.  But luck seemed to be against us as the clear skies of the last few days had disappeared and the cloud rolled in.

Eclipse 2015 by Paul Taylor

Fortunately, although cloudy all morning, the coverage was patchy and for most of the eclipse the show put on by the sun and the moon was not only visible, but as the cloud acted as a huge filter blocking most of the light it actually gave us a better than expected view.

I was in the office throughout the eclipse so have no photos of my own worth keeping, so I've borrowed a shot by Paul Taylor from the Camera Club, which shows the effect well as the eclipse gathered pace.

At maximum coverage, the moon blocked enough light to create an eerie twilight which lasted several minutes, before normal daylight gradually returned.  The whole show lasted about an hour and a half before the moon moved away, travelling according to the experts at over 1,400mph.

After the eclipse the cloud did increase, and we had a few spots of drizzly rain in mid afternoon (though not enough to register) before the weather began to improve and the unimpeded sun returned.

Temperature
Maximum: 7.9°c (12:10), minimum: 4.5°c (23:55).  Average temperature for the day: 6.3°c
Highest apparent temperature: 5.6°c (12:10).  Low apparent temperature: 1.4°c (21:10)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 12.2 mph (18:30).
Highest gust speed: 13.6 mph (15:55), bearing 270 (W)
Dominant wind bearing: 285 (WbN)

Pressure
Maximum: 1035.9Mb, minimum: 1027.4Mb

Humidity
Highest: 88% (13:55), lowest 75% (00:00)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm

Cool, but a lovely day

A cold start with another morning frost, but the sun quickly got to work as you'd expect at this time of year.  The day was again filled with hazy sunshine, warming up a little although temperatures remained a little disappointing.

Temperature
Maximum: 10.6°c (11:55), minimum: -1.7°c (04:50).  Average temperature for the day: 4.3°c
Highest apparent temperature: 8.3°c (11:55).  Low apparent temperature: -4.2°c (04:50)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 7.4 mph (16:45).
Highest gust speed: 8.3 mph (16:45), bearing 225 (SW)
Dominant wind bearing: 218 (SWbS)

Pressure
Maximum: 1039.5Mb, minimum: 1035.8Mb

Humidity
Highest: 90% (09:25), lowest 53% (15:05)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm

Finally we see the sun!

Well, after several days of overcast skies and a hint of murky sun at best, this morning brought clear skies and bright sunshine, if a touch of frost.  Even the view from the platform at Darwen Station was smiling!

The blue skies gradually became more hazy, but even so I didn't need a coat for the first time this year as I went for a walk at lunchtime.  Over the afternoon, the cloud gradually built, but the day stayed dry and winds remained light.

Temperature
Maximum: 10.4°c (11:55), minimum: -2.0°c (06:40).  Average temperature for the day: 3.5°c
Highest apparent temperature: 8.3°c (11:50).  Low apparent temperature: -4.5°c (06:40)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 3.8 mph (13:30).
Highest gust speed: 5.4 mph (13:25), bearing 270 (W)
Dominant wind bearing: 255 (WbS)

Pressure
Maximum: 1039.3Mb, minimum: 1033.8Mb

Humidity
Highest: 90% (09:40), lowest 57% (11:55)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm

More of the same

Yet another overcast day, cool, with light winds and a little hazy sunshine to brighten things up for a time in the afternoon.  It's certainly a quiet spell of weather, but on the positive side it's dry and relatively pleasant when out and about.

Temperature
Maximum: 7.7°c (13:50), minimum: -0.2°c (23:45).  Average temperature for the day: 4.4°c
Highest apparent temperature: 5.6°c (16:25).  Low apparent temperature: -2.6°c (23:45)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 3.9 mph (09:45).
Highest gust speed: 5.4 mph (09:35), bearing 225 (SW)
Dominant wind bearing: 245 (WSW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1033.8Mb, minimum: 1027.3Mb

Humidity
Highest: 84% (00:45), lowest 65% (16:50)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm

Stuck in a rut

The weather seems stuck in a rut at the moment as today was again fairly cloudy, with light winds and cool temperatures.  There was a little more sunshine in fairness during the morning, and again it's been dry, so not too bad all in all.  The cloud did clear in the evening, allowing the stars to come out and temperatures to fall.

Temperature
Maximum: 7.5°c (14:20), minimum: 2.5°c (23:50).  Average temperature for the day: 4.7°c
Highest apparent temperature: 5.1°c (15:05).  Low apparent temperature: 0.4°c (23:50)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 4.3 mph (14:20).
Highest gust speed: 6.9 mph (16:30), bearing 270 (W)
Dominant wind bearing: 266 (W)

Pressure
Maximum: 1032.4Mb, minimum: 1027.0Mb

Humidity
Highest: 84% (06:40), lowest 69% (15:25)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.3mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.3mm (09:40)

Cool and cloudy for Mothers Day

Again a cloudy day and cool temperatures this year for Mothers Day.  The cloud did thin slightly during the afternoon and we did have the briefest of glimpses of sunshine, but it was brief and the cloud soon closed over again.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.5°c (16:14), minimum: 2.5°c (00:02).  Average temperature for the day: 5.1°c
Highest apparent temperature: 6.0°c (16:45).  Low apparent temperature: -1.1°c (00:07)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 4.8 mph (01:27).
Highest gust speed: 6.0 mph (00:02), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 275 (W)

Pressure
Maximum: 1038.1Mb, minimum: 1032.4Mb

Humidity
Highest: 81% (05:22), lowest 62% (16:30)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm

A persistent blanket of cloud

Throughout the day we've been covered by a blanket of cloud, which did thin a little at times to allow some watery sunshine through.  Feeling quite cool, but it did stay all but dry - just a few light spots in the afternoon.

Temperature
Maximum: 6.0°c (14:27), minimum: 0.7°c (22:07).  Average temperature for the day: 3.4°c
Highest apparent temperature: 3.4°c (14:42).  Low apparent temperature: -2.4°c (22:42)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 5.4 mph (17:17).
Highest gust speed: 9.8 mph (17:17), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 318 (NW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1039.1Mb, minimum: 1035.7Mb

Humidity
Highest: 85% (00:02), lowest 59% (19:22)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.3mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.3mm (00:57)

Dull and drizzly in the main

Persistent drizzle throughout the morning due to another frontal system passing overhead.  This one stalled though, due to a developing area of high pressure out over the North Sea and northern Europe.  This has gradually killed off the rain but left quite heavy cloud cover throughout the day.

Temperature
Maximum: 6.1°c (16:57), minimum: 1.8°c (08:31).  Average temperature for the day: 4.1°c
Highest apparent temperature: 4.5°c (18:07).  Low apparent temperature: -1.3°c (08:26)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 11.7 mph (01:56).
Highest gust speed: 14.5 mph (01:51), bearing 0 (N)
Dominant wind bearing: 351 (NbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1035.9Mb, minimum: 1024.1Mb

Humidity
Highest: 89% (11:37), lowest 80% (00:01)

Rainfall
Total for today: 4.2mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 1.2mm (07:46)

The conveyer belt of weather fronts continues

Dry for the most part but rain arriving later in the evening.  Milder before then and again we saw spells of sunshine making it feel very pleasant.

Temperature
Maximum: 12.5°c (13:46), minimum: 2.4°c (01:01).  Average temperature for the day: 8.0 °c
Highest apparent temperature: 9.0°c (13:11).  Low apparent temperature: 0.1°c (01:01)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 17.4 mph (12:41).
Highest gust speed: 21.3 mph (12:36), bearing 180 (S)
Dominant wind bearing: 225 (SW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1031.4Mb, minimum: 1022.3Mb

Humidity
Highest: 89% (06:36), lowest 52% (18:56)

Rainfall
Total for today: 6.3mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 3.6mm (21:01)

Rain never far away

A touch of frost in the early hours, but cloud building by first light.  The north westerly wind strengthened during the morning, veering round as a warm front approached by lunchtime, bringing a spell of wet weather during the afternoon.  Drier and milder by early evening.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.5°c (17:01), minimum: -0.3°c (00:51).  Average temperature for the day: 4.6°c
Highest apparent temperature: 6.5°c (17:11).  Low apparent temperature: -2.8°c (00:11)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 19.0 mph (12:01).
Highest gust speed: 27.3 mph (11:51), bearing 225 (SW)
Dominant wind bearing: 352 (NbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1033.2Mb, minimum: 1024.4Mb

Humidity
Highest: 89% (22:11), lowest 53% (09:26)

Rainfall
Total for today: 4.8mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 2.4mm (13:31)

A pleasant early spring day

A cool day with fairly light northwesterly winds, variable amounts of cloud and some spells of spring sunshine.

Temperature
Maximum: 9.4°c (11:51), minimum: -0.1°c (23:46).  Average temperature for the day: 4.8°c
Highest apparent temperature: 5.5°c (11:51).  Low apparent temperature: -2.6°c (23:46)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 14.8 mph (03:11).
Highest gust speed: 18.3 mph (03:01), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 323 (NWbN)

Pressure
Maximum: 1035.3Mb, minimum: 1025.6Mb

Humidity
Highest: 87% (07:51), lowest 56% (16:56)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.0mm

Winter 2014/15 Seasonal Report

Oakdale Weather Station has been logging weather data continuously since 24 November 2014, which means we have a complete 3-month record of weather through December, January and February, the meteorological winter.  This means we can give a view on the entire season.  For comparison purposes, we have used data from the internet (weatherbase.com for average temperatures and msn.com for all other data, both of which reports monthly data that we have averaged out across the season).

So what does this mean for Winter 2014-15?  Firstly, let's look at temperature.  December 2014 was warmer than average (mean 4.8°C against an average of 4°C, but January and February were both cooler.  Overall, winter 2014-15 was around 0.4°C cooler than a typical winter, and minimum temperatures in particular 0.8°C below normal.  We had an average 84.6mm of rain per month, well above the expected 70.6mm, and it rained on 67 days, above the expected figure of 58 days.  We haven't any data to compare for wind, but we did note that December and January were windy months.  Finally, we had several snowy days in winter 14-15, mainly in January, where snow fell for 9 days in the month.  Overall, the 11 snowy days we had was above the 8 expected.

Here's this information set out in a table (expected figure in brackets where available):

Temperature
Mean temperature: 4.1°C (4.5°C)
Mean maximum: 6.6°C (7.0°C)
Mean minimum: 1.5°C (2.3°C)
Highest temperature: 12.9°C
Lowest temperature: -5.1°C

Rainfall / Snow
Average monthly rainfall: 84.6mm (70.6mm)
Wettest Day: 18.3mm
Rain days: 67 (58)
Dry days: 23
Snow days: 11 (8)

Wind
Average windspeed: 6.6mph
Highest gust: 36.5mph
Wind run: 13,112.9 miles

Rain bustling through

After a frost overnight, temperatures were already on the rise by morning and cloud was building in the west. The wind picked up as a warm front passed through, meaning a lively day with a fairly short spell of rain.  One or two showers blew in during the afternoon, but skies gradually brightened, bringing some sunshine before nightfall.

Temperature
Maximum: 10.0°c (16:46), minimum: 0.6°c (01:21).  Average temperature for the day: 4.9°c
Highest apparent temperature: 7.4°c (17:01).  Low apparent temperature: -3.4°c (08:41)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 17.2 mph (12:41).
Highest gust speed: 23.5 mph (08:36), bearing 45 (NE)
Dominant wind bearing: 191 (SbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1030.9Mb, minimum: 1017.2Mb

Humidity
Highest: 88% (12:36), lowest 71% (07:56)

Rainfall
Total for today: 3.9mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 1.8mm (11:11)

A day of contrasts

The warmth of yesterday was trapped in by heavy cloud overnight as a frontal system moved in.  Rain soon developed in the early hours and this continued until lunchtime, when the skies finally brightened and the sun reappeared.  The afternoon was bright with blue skies and plenty of sunshine, still with a fresh breeze, and as the air following the cold front was much cooler, temperatures remained significantly less than yesterday.

Temperature
Maximum: 9.7°c (04:56), minimum: 0.5°c (22:50).  Average temperature for the day: 6.1°c
Highest apparent temperature: 7.4°c (07:26).  Low apparent temperature: -2.0°c (23:05)
Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 14.8 mph (16:31).
Highest gust speed: 16.8 mph (13:31), bearing 180 (S)
Dominant wind bearing: 261 (WbS)

Pressure
Maximum: 1031.1Mb, minimum: 1017.9Mb

Humidity
Highest: 88% (07:16), lowest 65% (16:56)

Rainfall
Total for today: 3.9mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 1.2mm (08:11)

Merry March warmth continues

Well we have finally broken our record since we started recording back in November, so today marks the warmest day since the Autumn, reaching 14.3°C earlier this afternoon.  We had a cloudy start today, which was due to a deep low pressure system moving through over northern Scotland, but after mid-morning the cloud slowly cleared and the sun emerged.  We were lucky though, the weather just a few miles north of Blackburn was quite different under the tail end of the frontal system.

Temperature
Maximum: 14.3°c (14:36), minimum: 5.8°c (23:56).  Average temperature for the day: 9.8 °c
Highest apparent temperature: 11.3°c (14:11).  Low apparent temperature: 2.5°c (01:21)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 14.2 mph (15:21).
Highest gust speed: 16.8 mph (01:11), bearing 180 (S)
Dominant wind bearing: 30 (NEbN)

Pressure
Maximum: 1023.3Mb, minimum: 1019.6Mb

Humidity
Highest: 80% (23:51), lowest 47% (15:31)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: n/a

Bye bye winter?

After a dull and overcast morning, the sun gradually started winning the battle, and temperatures have responded, recording what felt like the highest temperatures recorded by Oakdale Weather Station (since November last year).  However, the sun is close to crossing the equator now and is much stronger, so being out in the sun can feel warmer than it really is.  Our thermometer is protected from the sun in its Stevenson Screen, and so the true reading was a little down on what we expected. Even so, it's a sign of better weather to come and maybe winter is finally over?

Temperature
Maximum: 11.9°c (15:26), minimum: 6.3°c (07:01).  Average temperature for the day: 8.2°c
Highest apparent temperature: 7.9°c (14:36).  Low apparent temperature: 2.3°c (21:51)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 11.4 mph (15:01).
Highest gust speed: 14.5 mph (13:11), bearing 292 (WNW)
Dominant wind bearing: 268 (W)

Pressure
Maximum: 1036.6Mb, minimum: 1023.2Mb

Humidity
Highest: 75% (00:01), lowest 37% (15:26)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: n/a

Fairly dull but milder

Well the warmer air forecasted earlier in the week has arrived, and temperatures are certainly up compared to recent weeks.  However, the sky didn't respond with the same positivity - the cloud remained stubborn throughout and there was still that nagging wind.  Still, it stayed dry which meant Matthew could get out for a run about in the park :o)
Temperature
Maximum: 8.5°c (14:01), minimum: 4.1°c (00:01).  Average temperature for the day: 6.5 °c
Highest apparent temperature: 5.6°c (17:46).  Low apparent temperature: 0.6°c (00:16)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 14.7 mph (12:31).
Highest gust speed: 17.4 mph (12:21), bearing 180 (S)
Dominant wind bearing: 232 (SWbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1040.3Mb, minimum: 1036.4Mb

Humidity
Highest: 79% (06:01), lowest 67% (15:56)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.0mm. Highest hourly rainfall: n/a

February 2015 Monthly Report

After a very wet January, February ushered in a sudden and welcome change with two weeks of generally dry weather.  Of course, the penalty for calm weather in winter is either fog or frost, and we had a taste of both during the first half of the month.  In fact, the cold weather was a feature of the month, with the majority of days colder than average, and figures overall for the month a full 1° cooler than expected for Blackburn*.

The dry spell at the start of the month also contributed to a lower rainfall figure than usual, our figure of 48.6mm being 19% less than the rainfall of a typical Blackburn February*.  Even so, our rain gauge still got wet on 14 days, exactly half of the total number of days in the month, which might not sound too impressive, but to us Blackburnians that's pretty good going!

February is normally when we would expect some snow, but, aside from a few flakes near the end of the month (which counts as a 'snow day' even though it didn't hang around), we managed to avoid a white-out.  A typical Blackburn February has around 3 days when snow falls, so the one day we recorded was another good result.

I don't have any historical figures to compare for wind speeds, but one interesting statistic produced by the weather station is the 'wind run', the combined distance travelled by the wind based on the continuous speed measurements taken by the station.  In February this was just below 3,300 miles, which compares very favourably with January (almost 5,300 miles) and December 2014 (4,550 miles).

So all in all, February passes all the tests, and even bucks the global warming trend too!  Let's hope the weather continues its good nature into spring, which is now just around the corner.

* Oakdale weather station average compared to historical data obtained from weatherbase.com.

Heading in the right direction

If yesterday showed signs that spring is perhaps on its way, then today gave more of the same.  After some overnight rain, skies improved and whilst still quite cloudy, temperatures seemed up a notch and the wind a little less biting.  The forecast for the weekend is for temperatures in double figures, so we're heading in the right direction.

Temperature
Maximum: 6.7°c (14:26), minimum: 3.4°c (01:11).  Average temperature for the day: 4.7°c
Highest apparent temperature: 3.1°c (17:06).  Low apparent temperature: -3.6°c (04:56)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 16.9 mph (04:56).
Highest gust speed: 23.5 mph (04:56), bearing 270 (W)
Dominant wind bearing: 299 (NWbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1039.6Mb, minimum: 1021.0b

Humidity
Highest: 84% (20:41), lowest 70% (15:21)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.3mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.3mm (03:36)

Signs that spring isn't far away

A generally dry day with some spells  of sunshine and fair weather cloud.  Feeling cold still in what's still a brisk westerly wind, but even though the readings don't show much of an improvement, the weather certainly looked more cheerful (at least through the window!)

Temperature
Maximum: 5.0c (13:56), minimum: 1.5c (04:36).  Average temperature for the day: 3.2c
Highest apparent temperature: -0.3c (16:06).  Low apparent temperature: -3.8c (11:11)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 16.0mph (15:41).
Highest gust speed: 21.3mph (15:36), bearing 225 (SW)
Dominant wind bearing: 309 (NWbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1021.0Mb, minimum: 1011.3Mb

Humidity
Highest: 83% (20:41), lowest 61% (14:56)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.3mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.3mm (20:41)

Spring, or is it winter?

A day of contrasts: feeling quite raw in the strong breeze, carrying through heavy wintery showers, with hail and the odd flake of snow. Brighter spells between the showers, which eased during the afternoon, which became quite pleasant for a time.  One or two showers returned in the evening, again with a touch of winter in the mix, but in between there were some clear spells when the gibbous moon could be seen close in the sky to a very bright Jupiter.

Temperature
Maximum: 4.7c (14:06), minimum: 1.0c (07:46).  Average temperature for the day: 2.9c
Highest apparent temperature: 0.2c (18:26).  Low apparent temperature: -6.8c (07:36)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 23.6mph (12:26).
Highest gust speed: 29.8mph (12:21), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 291 (WNW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1013.1Mb, minimum: 1000.2Mb

Humidity
Highest: 81% (02:41), lowest 62% (15:06)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.6mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.3mm (14:01)*
*Given the number of heavy wintery showers, I guess that the hail has bounced around the rain gauge without being properly captured, hence the lower reading than expected.

A cold and breezy start to March

A cloudy day with a strong breeze throughout, rain moving in during the afternoon.  Temperatures still on the cool side but feeling lower through a significant wind chill.

Temperature
Maximum: 7.4c (00:01), minimum: 0.9c (20:16).  Average temperature for the day: 4.5c
Highest apparent temperature: 2.7c (13:06).  Low apparent temperature: -5.3c (19:51)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 21.8mph (01:41).
Highest gust speed: 27.3mph (01:31), bearing 135 (SE)
Dominant wind bearing: 305 (NWbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1000.3Mb, minimum: 993.6Mb

Humidity
Highest: 87% (19:26), lowest 60% (13:31)

Rainfall
Total for today: 1.8mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 1.2mm (14:26)