Saturday 31/01/15 Report

Apart from a brief light shower overnight, today has generally been dry and fairly bright, with even one or two spells of sunshine coming through gaps in the fair weather cloud.  Temperatures around about normal but feeling very cold in a northwesterly breeze.

Temperature
Maximum: 3.9c (11:11), minimum: 1.1c (01:06).  Average temperature for the day: 2.4c
Highest apparent temperature: 0.0c (10:36).  Low apparent temperature: -5.8c (23:51)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 16.6mph (23:51).
Highest gust speed: 18.3mph (22:16), bearing 270 (W)
Dominant wind bearing: 270 (W)

Pressure
Maximum: 999.4Mb, minimum: 981.6Mb

Humidity
Highest: 87% (05:46), lowest 55% (17:11)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.6mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.3mm (03:26)

Friday 30/01/15 Report

Further snowfalls overnight meant a similar start to yesterday. This time the snow arrived in the early hours and formed from bigger flakes, to a depth of around 2cm. By 7am the spine road through the estate was slushy but driveable.

After cloud early on, skies broke up nicely to give some good spells of sunshine, helping to thaw the snow on the ground.  Throughout the day, there were occasional light showers, just enough to register on our equipment.  Feeling cold in a brisk north-northwesterly breeze.

Temperature
Maximum: 4.1c (13:31), minimum: -1.0c (06:01).  Average temperature for the day: 1.5c
Highest apparent temperature: 0.8c (11:46).  Low apparent temperature: -4.8c (20.21)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 14.5mph (16:36).
Highest gust speed: 19.0mph (17:46), bearing 270 (W)
Dominant wind bearing: 279 (WbN)

Pressure
Maximum: 983.1Mb, minimum: 977.5Mb

Humidity
Highest: 92% (11:26), lowest 72% (14:41)

Rainfall
Total for today: 2.4mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.9mm (11:31)

Thursday 29/01/15 Report

Little in the way of lying snow overnight, but by 6:30am the snow showers gathered together and the roads were covered by 7am.  Further heavy snow showers during the morning rush hour caused chaos on the roads, with plenty shunts and bumps, leaving many people to abandon their cars on the estate and through Darwen.

The snow continued with frequent showers throughout the morning, though by afternoon, apart from the odd shower of snow, sleet and hail, skies brightened.  This allowed temperatures to rise a little, and with the help of occasional sunshine, most of the snow had melted before the tea-time rush.  The snow showers returned by early evening though, once again covering roads and pavements with a light coating.

Temperature
Maximum: 2.3c (04:30), minimum: 0.1c (07:35).  Average temperature for the day: 1.5c
Highest apparent temperature: -1.7c (16:00).  Low apparent temperature: -6.6c (03:05)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 20.8mph (03:05).
Highest gust speed: 25.1mph (03:05), bearing 180 (S)
Dominant wind bearing: 284 (WbN)

Pressure
Maximum: 994.6Mb, minimum: 977.8Mb

Humidity
Highest: 85% (08:45), lowest 69% (13:10)

Rainfall
Total for today: 2.7mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.6mm (11:20)

Wednesday 28/01/15 Report

Rain overnight and breezy, clearing by first light but remaining overcast.  Squally showers with strong winds during the morning. Temperatures started off mild, but dropped noticeably during the afternoon, which saw further heavy showers of rain and sleet, accompanied by very strong winds.

By evening, the winds were gusting even higher, and the showers turned more to snow, leaving a light covering of wet snow on the ground for a time.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.3c (07:15), minimum: 0.9c (20:15).  Average temperature for the day: 4.2c
Highest apparent temperature: 5.9c (06:25).  Low apparent temperature: -7.4c (20:00)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 25.1mph (09:30).
Highest gust speed: 34.9mph (09:20), bearing 225 (SW)
Dominant wind bearing: 270 (W)

Pressure
Maximum: 1016.6Mb, minimum: 994.5Mb

Humidity
Highest: 90% (04:25), lowest 65% (15:30)

Rainfall
Total for today: 5.7mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 2.1mm (09:05)

Tuesday 27/01/15 Report

Another cloudy start, overnight rain fizzling out to leave an overcast morning.  Occasional light rain in the afternoon but temperatures slightly above normal.

Temperature
Maximum: 6.3c (14:00), minimum: 3.7c (00:00).  Average temperature for the day: 5.3c
Highest apparent temperature: 3.0c (08:35).  Low apparent temperature: 0.0c (05:10)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 13.9mph (13:30).
Highest gust speed: 15.9mph (13:20), bearing 180 (S)
Dominant wind bearing: 312 (NW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1031.1Mb, minimum: 1015.9Mb

Humidity
Highest: 92% (06:15), lowest 84% (21:35)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.6mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.3mm (12:05)

Monday 26/01/15 Report

Contrary to the forecast, today stayed stubbornly cloudy, with just the briefest glimpses of sunshine every now and then.  Mainly dry all day until afternoon when one or two showers set in, this theme continued into the evening.  Towards midnight skies became clearer, allowing the half-moon to be seen.  Temperatures above average all day, dropping at night.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.3c (00:03), minimum: 3.6c (20:43).  Average temperature for the day: 5.6c
Highest apparent temperature: 6.4c (00:33).  Low apparent temperature: -2.6c (12:59)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 21.7mph (12:59).
Highest gust speed: 22.1mph (20:22), bearing 135 (SE)
Dominant wind bearing: 283 (WbN)

Pressure
Maximum: 1031.2Mb, minimum: 1022.4Mb

Humidity
Highest: 93% (05:06), lowest 76% (13:26)

Rainfall
Total for today: 4.2mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 1.5mm (01:08)

Sunday 25/01/15 Report

Overcast and cloudy throughout the day, dry in the morning and milder temperatures, but damp and drizzly in the afternoon as a warm front passes through.

Temperature
Maximum: 8.8c (22:13), minimum: 3.1c (00:41).  Average temperature for the day: 6.3c
Highest apparent temperature: 6.9c (23:12).  Low apparent temperature: -0.4c (00:41)

Wind
Highest sustained wind speed: 9.2mph (22:05).
Highest gust speed: 11.4mph (20:22), bearing 315 (NW)
Dominant wind bearing: 339 (NNW)

Pressure
Maximum: 1033.1Mb, minimum: 1023.5Mb

Humidity
Highest: 89% (18:41), lowest 78% (11:31)

Rainfall
Total for today: 0.9mm. Highest hourly rainfall: 0.6mm (23:48)