Spring 2015 Seasonal Report

Spring 2015 has been a typical spring in many respects, certainly we've experienced plenty of weather!  From a minimum cold of -3.1°C in March, the thermometer in April climbed to a balmy 20.9°C during a three-week spell of generally fine weather.  Indeed, April would have really stood out as an exceptional month had it not been for some lively April showers at the end of the month. March and May by contrast were both on the cool side, making spring overall a little cooler on average than we'd expect.

Looking at temperature in more detail, March's average of 5.2°C was almost 2°C below the typical value for the month (7°C).  April was ever so slightly below average (8.1°C compared to 8.5°C), but then May was much cooler, averaging 9.8°C against an expected figure of 12°C.  Of these, April's is perhaps the most surprising, as we had a sustained spell of fine weather, but those two weeks of clear skies, although they brought high day-time temperatures (April's mean max was 1.4°C above the average), also meant nights were cold.  March and May were both more typical, though minimum temperatures for both months were about 1.5°C cooler than usual.

Spring 2015 also goes down as slightly wetter than usual (average 64.2mm per month against a typical 46.1mm, though this figure does seem very low for East Lancashire).  March had rain in line with what we'd expect, but despite the wet end to April, on the whole 42mm for the month seems quite good.  May by contrast had twice the rainfall (85.8mm), as we got hit by streams of weather off the Atlantic.

Here's the full data for spring (expected figure in brackets where available):

Temperature
Mean temperature: 7.7°C (9.2°C)
Mean maximum: 11.8°C (12.0°C)
Mean minimum: 3.7°C (5.3°C)
Highest temperature: 20.9°C
Lowest temperature: -3.1°C

Rainfall / Snow
Average monthly rainfall: 64.2mm (46.1mm)
Wettest Day: 15.0mm
Rain days: 56 (52)
Dry days: 36 (40)
Snow days: 2 (3)

Wind
Average windspeed: 5.4mph
Highest gust: 38.0mph
Wind run: 12,045.9 miles

More hot sunshine, becoming muggy

Very sunny, dare I say it, even hot: our high temperature record went up again today, to a new high of 25.2°C.  The fine weather this week continued throughout the day, but by mid afternoon there was a muggy feel to the air and some cloud, bringing the odd spot of rain. There's a band of thundery rain in the south creeping northwards, but will it reach Oakdale?

Temperature 
Maximum: 25.2°C (15:11).  Minimum: 8.5°C (04:45).  Average temperature for the day: 17.3°C
Highest apparent temperature: 25.0°C (15:11).  Low apparent temperature: 7.4°C (05:00)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 8.4mph (15:56).
Highest gust speed: 9.8mph (15:46), bearing 225 (SW)
Dominant wind bearing: 164 (SbE)

Pressure
Maximum: 1020.7Mb, minimum: 1012.8Mb

Humidity
Highest: 85% (05:35), lowest 41% (14:31)

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

Sunny and warm

Very sunny, and our record high temperature has nudged up for the second time this month to a new high of 22.9°C.  Temperatures have been on a warming trend for a few days now, with both highs creaping upwards and daily lows increasing even more.  Winds remain light, and all in all a perfect summer's day.

Temperature 
Maximum: 22.9°C (13:45).  Minimum: 7.1°C (04:10).  Average temperature for the day: 16.1°C
Highest apparent temperature: 21.9°C (14:45).  Low apparent temperature: 5.6°C (04:20)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 5.9mph (11:20).
Highest gust speed: 9.2mph (12:55), bearing 90 (E)
Dominant wind bearing: 104 (EbS)

Pressure
Maximum: 1031.5Mb, minimum: 1020.6Mb

Humidity
Highest: 84% (04:55), lowest 39% (13:50)

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

More sun

Sunny again.. and warmer this time too!  Very pleasant day with temperatures reaching the low twenties, light winds and high pressure.  Still chilly in the early hours, but during the day it's been very nice.

Temperature 
Maximum: 20.2°C (14:30).  Minimum: 4.3°C (05:30).  Average temperature for the day: 13.7°C
Highest apparent temperature: 18.5°C (16:55).  Low apparent temperature: 2.6°C (05:30)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 5.8mph (17:35).
Highest gust speed: 8.3mph (17:30), bearing 135 (SE)
Dominant wind bearing: 113 (ESE)

Pressure
Maximum: 1038.2Mb, minimum: 1031.5Mb

Humidity
Highest: 90% (06:40), lowest 32% (14:05)

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

Plenty of sunshine

Much improved, with sunny spells and feeling pleasant with lighter winds than recently.  Temperatures a little disappointing, especially overnight, but the weather at its most settled for some time, so we should enjoy it whilst we can!

Temperature 
Maximum: 16.0°C (17:50).  Minimum: 2.4°C (05:15).  Average temperature for the day: 10.3°C
Highest apparent temperature: 13.7°C (15:55).  Low apparent temperature: 0.5°C (05:15)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 6.9mph (10:45).
Highest gust speed: 7.6mph (14:20), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 350 (NbW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1040.9Mb, minimum: 1037.4Mb

Humidity
Highest: 94% (06:40), lowest 44% (13:30)

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

Sunny, but heavy showers later

A cold start for June, almost a frost, but the sun was out from the start and, with lighter winds too, for the most part it was a very pleasant day.

By mid afternoon though the clouds started to build, some developing into dark and angry-looking cumulonimbus.  These gave us a couple of really heavy downpours which lasted on and off for around 2-3 hours, but eventually they cleared away to leave clear skies once again - Venus really prominent in the inky blue sky close to midnight.

Temperature 
Maximum: 16.8°C (13:10).  Minimum: 3.7°C (05:10).  Average temperature for the day: 10.1°C
Highest apparent temperature: 14.8°C (13:00).  Low apparent temperature: 2.0°C (05:25)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 7.9mph (16:15).
Highest gust speed: 9.8mph (12:10), bearing 0 (N)
Dominant wind bearing: 288 (WNW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1040.7Mb, minimum: 1038.4Mb

Humidity
Highest: 91% (05:55), lowest 42% (13:25)

Rainfall
Total for today: 4.5mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 2.7mm/hr

Fine and dry, if still cool

Dry and fine with some decent spells of sunshine, though still cool with a keen wind.

Temperature 
Maximum: 14.0°C (16:30).  Minimum: 6.8°C (23:55).  Average temperature for the day: 10.8°C
Highest apparent temperature: 10.6°C (16:35).  Low apparent temperature: 3.1°C (05:15)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 14.2mph (16:25).
Highest gust speed: 18.3mph (16:15), bearing 135 (SE)
Dominant wind bearing: 285 (WbN)

Pressure
Maximum: 1039.3Mb, minimum: 1029.6Mb

Humidity
Highest: 81% (06:35), lowest 52% (16:40)

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