WEATHER REPORT FOR 1979

JANUARY
    One of the coldest January's on record, with the wind for the most
part coming from the north and east. Frequent snowfall, often heavy,
brought chaotic conditions, added to by continuous freezing temperatures.
It was briefly milder on the 7th and also on the night of the 14th. The
month got colder in the second half with snow and freezing fog. The
nights of the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th were particularly cold. Average
temperatures for the month were well below normal.
FEBRUARY
    The cold northerly winds at the end of January continued into the
early part of February. Continuous rain on the 1st fell onto the frozen
ground and made conditions very treacherous. There was freezing fog on
the 6th and 7th, after which it became brighter, though still cold with
easterly winds. Snow fell on the night of the 11th and continued to fall
throughout the following day. Blizzards on the 14th and 15th made
conditions chaotic, the worst since 1963. It then began to get slowly
milder towards the end of the month. Temperatures well below average.
MARCH
    Westerly type weather returned for the first half of March, bringing
a mixture of windy, sunny and showery days. Snow fell on the morning
of the 10th, turning to rain during the afternoon. This was the start of a
particularly wet spell which was to last to the end of the month. An area
of low pressure to the south-east on the 15th, brought a cold north-
easterly airflow across the county and resulted in heavy snowfall on the
16th. There were further snowfalls on the 21st, 22nd and 27th. Mean
temperatures were well below normal and rainfall well above average.
APRIL
    For the first two weeks the weather was quite bright, though very
cold. A ridge of high pressure across the country on the 14th and 15th
gave splendid weather for the Easter weekend, Easter Sunday being the
warmest day of the month in this county. As the ridge moved away the
weather became unsettled. Sunshine and temperatures were below
average. Rainfall totals varied greatly across the county, some stations
recording above average and others below. This being due to the thundery
showers on the 7th, 12th and 23rd.
MAY
    Very wintery for the first week, with an Arctic airstream, sharp night
frosts and sleet showers. There was a marked improvement on the 12th,
when it bacame sunny and warm. These conditions lasted for five days, the
13th, 14th and 15th being very warm. The remainder of the month was wet
with sunny periods, which just kept the sunshine totals average. It was
the coldest May for many years with rainfall double the monthly average.
 JUNE
     Mainly a cool and unsettled month. Tlle first four days were rrlaiIlly
overcast and humid. Sunnier weather followed, but it was not until the
third week that temperatures reached the values expected at this tirme of
the year. By the 23rd it was cool again and the rnonth ended rather
cloudy. Dry with rainfall well below average.
JULY
     A very pleasant month with many sunny days and several warm
spells. Most of the morlth was dominated by high pressure, bringing
mainly settled and dry weather. It was extremely dry until a cold front
crossed the county on the night of the 28th. This triggered off thundery
outbreaks for the last few days, Which did much to bring rainfalls up to
about half the average for July in most places. Sunshine and mean
temperatures were about average.
AUGUST
     The first week was in the main warm with a reasonable amount ot
sunshine. A vigorous depression crossed the country on the night of the
8th bringing heavy rain. Another depression on the 14th was responsible
for a south-westerly gale, which later veered to westerly. After the 16th it
became quieter and cooler. Sunshine was slightly above average, but
temperatures were below normal. Rainfall totals varied due to the
thundery character of the rain.
SEPTEMBER
    Very mixed weather for the month. Sunny and often warm with
much of the rainfall occurring during the night. There was a strong
westerly wind on the 17th. It was then Iather unsettled and cold for
several days, before warmer weather returned during the last week.
Sunshine was well above average and rainfall well helow.
OCTOBER
    Sunny and warm for the first week. There was heavy rain during the
evening of the 8th and continuous rain on the 10th, after which the
weather settled again, with many pleasant sunny clays. The 25th was very
wet and it remained overcast for a few days before brightening again on
the 29th. Temperatures and rainfall were average and sunshine above
average.
NOVEMBER
    Westerly type weather for the first week brought mild but unsettled
conditions, though there was a sharp frost on the night of the 3rd in some
places. The second week was very pleasant as a ridge of high pressure
moved across the country and held until the 22nd, which along with the
23rd was overcast with rain and drizzle. The high pressure which was
still over France influenced our weather for the rest of the month, bringirlg
mild though less settled weather from the south-west. Mean temperatures
and sunshine above average. Rainfall below.
DECEMBER
    The south-westerly airstream at the end of November continued right
into the first half of December, making it the mildest start to a December
for many years. Eventually the high pressure moved southwards, allow-
ing depressions to move in from the north and west. It became windy
with a cold north-westerly gale on the 17th. The second half of the month
was much colder. It was milder on the 27th, which was a windy and wet
day. There was then sunny but cold weather for the last four days of the
year. Mr. Bristow at Byfield recorded the wettest December since his
records began in 1966 and the heavy rain on the 27th (33.1 mm) was the
wettest December day since 1972 at his station. Rainfall everywhere was
well above average as were temperatures.