************************************************************************************** MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT APRIL 2000 TEXT-ONLY VERSION Hard copy versions of this report, including graphics, can be obtained from the weather station at the following address: Pitsford Hall weather station Pitsford Hall Moulton Lane Pitsford Northampton NN6 9AX Enclosing a stamped address A4 envelope. The full register can be downloaded separately to this report from this web site. If you encounter any problems in downloading data or viewing the files, please contact the station via the answerphone on 07967 438314. For official purposes, data entries should always be double checked with the station office. ************************************************************************************** Pitsford Hall Weather Station Authority: Northamptonshire Grammar School Office: Pitsford Hall Northamptonshire Grammar School Pitsford Northampton NN6 9AX Tel. 01604 880306 (Ext 314) Fax. 01604 882212 Answerphone. 07967 438314 (local forecast and readings) E-mail office@northantsweather.org.uk Web site www.northantsweather.org.uk Registered member of the Climatological Observers Link Corporate Member of the Royal Meteorological Society Station grading: A Climatological Station No: 91012 Station Manager: M J Lewis, BSc(Hons), FRGS, FRMetS Observers: Richard Carruthers Charlie Cockrell Michael Franklin Thomas Gutteridge Robert Illingworth Technician: Mrs S West Groundsman: Mr R Green Brief Climatological Summary The most significant aspect of April's weather was the high rainfall total. A total of 108.6mm was recorded at Pitsford Hall, more than twice the normal total of 47.7mm, making this Northampton's wettest April since the floods of 1998 (140.8mm) and the second wettest since 1920 (130.1mm). The wet weather caused significant disruption to sporting activities within the county. Car parks at the Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone were turned into mud baths and thousands of potential spectators were turned away with an estimated £5 millions in lost revenue. Towcester Racecourse was also forced to close its Easter Monday races, its biggest earner of the year in fine weather. And Holdenby House, which normally has over 3000 visitors over the Easter Bank Holiday, saw figures sink to just 1300 this year with cars getting stuck in the mud trying to park. In contrast to the past 9 months, April's average temperature actually fell below average by a small margin (-0.3C). Despite a brief warm spell between the 8th and 9th, temperatures only really started to climb in the second half of the month associated with a fairly consistent south-westerly airflow. Snow fell on two days, the fall on the 3rd contributing significantly to the largest 24 hr rainfall of 18.6mm. Some strong winds, gusting to 56mph and 60mph on the 3rd and 4th respectively, produced near blizzard conditions in the Northamptonshire Uplands around Thornby. Temperatures: Mean Max: 12.0C Mean Min: 3.9C Mean Temp: 8.0C (-0.3C) Highest Max: 17.5C on 29th Lowest Max: 5.5C on 4th Highest Min: 8.8C on 26th Lowest Min: -0.6C on 6th Relative Humidity: Humidities observed at 0830hrs: Max: 99% on 26th Min: 73% on 8th Mean: 90.1% Lowest RH (hygrograph record): 42% on 8th Rainfall: Total for Month: 108.6mm (mean comparison: 227.7%) Max: 18.6mm on 3rd Rain Days: 22 Wet Days: 19 Duration: 110.2 hours Rainfall acidity: Lowest pH: 5.80 on 18th Winds: Max Max Gust: 60mph on 4th Max wind speed at observation: 19mph on 25th Mean wind speed at observation: 7.4mph Max mean 24 hour wind speed: 14mph on 3rd Mean mean 24 hour wind speed: 6.6mph Directions: north 1, northeast 5, east 3, southeast 1, south 3, southwest 12, west 1, northwest 3, calm 1, variable 0 Pressures : Max: 1034.1mb on 7th Min: 982.8mb on 12th Mean: 1005.8mb Sunshine: Total: 139.5 hrs (99.6%) Most in a day: 10.5hrs on 6th No of sunless days: 2 Cloud Cover: Mean cloud cover at observation: 77.5% (6.2 oktas) Ground Observations: Lowest Grass Min: -4.5C on 6th Highest Grass Min: 8.8C on 29th Mean Grass Min: 1.5C Lowest Concrete Min: -2.0C on 6th Highest Concrete Min: 10.1C on 29th Mean Concrete Min: 3.7C Earth Temperatures: Bare Earth mean: 7.5C max: 12.1C on 23rd min: 3.0C on 4th 5cm mean: 6.4C max: 10.6C on 25th min: 2.1C on 4th,6th 10cm mean: 7.5C max: 11.0C on 25th,26th min: 3.4C on 7th 20cm mean: 8.3C max: 11.5C on 20th min: 5.0C on 5th,6th 30cm mean: 8.8C max: 11.8C on 30th min: 5.5C on 5th 40cm mean: 8.9C max: 11.7C on 30th min: 6.0C on 5th 50cm mean: 9.0C max: 11.8C on 30th min: 6.6C on 5th-7th 100cm mean: 8.5C max: 10.1C on 30th min: 7.0C on 7th Other observations: Days with fog recorded at 0830 hours: 2 Mean visibility: 6 (moderate, up to 7km) Days with air frosts: 2 Days with ground frosts: 12 Duration of air frost: 2.0 hrs Days with snow falling: 2 (3rd, 4th) Days with snow lying at observation: 0 Days with hail observed: 0 Days with thunder heard: 0 Days with lightning observed: 1 Gales: 0 Evaporation (tank): Reinstated on 1st May. All averages refer to the period 1961-1990. Thunder Report No reports of thunder were received this month. United Kingdom Climatological Analysis - April 2000 The 1st began cloudy in most places, with rain in the N and W spreading gradually S and E. In N Scotland rain turned to sleet and snow, accompanied by winbds gusting to 40 kn in exposed places. Elsewhere, apart from parts of S Scotland and the extreme N of England, it was a mainly cloudy day with rain at times. (Jersey 13C, Shap Fell -4C, Altnaharra 19mm, Newcastle 8.0h.) Rain, heavy in places, moved S over Scotland and into N England and Ireland on the 2nd, followed by snow over Scotland that caused whiteout conditions in a strong N wind. Gusts to 50kn were reported with the snow, and driving was difficult in the Highlands, Aberddenshire, Moray, Perthshire and Kinross. Rain also spread NE across S Ireland, S England, Wales and the Midlands later in the day, turning heavy in parts of the SW. A lively thunderstorm moved slowly NNE across west and north suburbs of Nottingham around 1500GMT; hail up to 12mm in diameter was observed. The maximum at Bollington (Cheshire) was just 1.7C. (London 14C, Loch Glascarnoch and Aviemore 1C max, Lerwick -1C min, Castlederg 37mm, Herne Bay 6.1h.) The 3rd began mainly bright over Scotland and N Ireland with air frost and snow showers in places. Further S the day began with rain, heavy in places, and turning to snow from N England, through the Midlands. The A352 in Dorset between Wareham and Wool was flooded, and cross-Pennine routes were closed by snow. The area of rain moved slowly SE during the day, with snow on its northern edge spreading to Wales, SW England and parts of Cent. S England, settling in places, and followed by snow showers. N gusts to 60kn were recorded along the coasts of NE England and it was a windy day over much of England and Wales. Aviemore reported 10cm of lying snow at 0600GMT, and further snow and hail fell in showers over Scotland and Ireland during the day. In the 30 hours ending 1200GMT Wittering received 32mm of precipitation - the monthly mean for March is 34mm; 21mm fell in 6 hours. Over Ireland the air was quite dry, with Shannon reporting a temperature of 7C and a dew point of -7C at 1500GMT. At Dun Laoghaire 4.6C was the lowest April maximum for 11 years. At Cirencester 52.7mm was recorded 1st-3rd, with 35mm on the 3rd; there was snow cover over the Cotswolds where there was some drifting. At Carlton-in-Coverdale there was a snow accumulation of 5cm and a maximum temperature of 1.1C. (Jersey 15C, Aviemore 1C max, Altnaharra -5C min, Wittering 41mm, Lerwick 10.7h.) The 4th began with severe weather disruption in parts of the UK. Roads in Somerset were flooded, while snow blocked routes in Yorkshire, Durham, Derbyshire and Aberdeenshire. Luton Airport was closed after snow-clearing equipment was unable to clear the runways (depths of 8.5cm were reported in Luton) , and a speed limit was imposed on the Severn Bridge due to high winds. By dawn cloud and precipitation was confined SE of a line from Newcastle - Cornwall, with snow in places on the N edge of the line and some heavy snow falling in Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight (many other places in the SE had some snowfall overnight). The precipitation gradually lessened and moved SE although many places had showers of sleet and snow oncde the rain cleared; elsewhere a clear and frosty start was followed sunshine and showers, some wintry. Later in the day, following recent large precipitation totals, flood alerts were also issued in parts of Kent and East Anglia. The river Loddon in Reading has flooded leaving the showcase cinema next door and the Reading Park and Ride scheme unable to open for the foreseeable future. Rainfall total at Chalfont St. Giles for the 24 hours to 0900GMT was 35.9 mm - a 48 hour total of 59.7 mm. At Forest Hill (London) 3.9C was the lowest April maximum since 1989 (and the second lowest since 1975). (Jersey 13C, Fair Isle and Kirkwall 3C max, Shap Fell -4C min, Altnaharra 19mm, Newcastle 8.0h.) A clear start to the 5th over most of Scotland, Ireland and NW parts of England and Wales resulted in a widespread frost in these areas, which was followed by a generally dry day with sunshine. Other parts of England and Wales had a cloudy start with a few showers; a snow shower was reported from Guernsey at 0300GMT and snow also fell in North Yorkshire). The cloud and showers gradually moved SE to clear most areas by midnight. (Glasgow 12C, West Freugh -5C, Dunkeswell 6mm, Colwyn Bay 11.9h.) With high pressure developing over the British Isles on the 6th most places had a dry and sunny day. A clear start almost everywhere led to a widespread inland air frost, except over S Ireland, where cloud cover was more extensive during the morning. Pressure rose steadily in most areas during the day, with 1035.3mb reported in Norfolk at midnight. Snow drifts were still up to 30cm deep in the shade at Birdlip (Cotswolds) late in the morning. During the late evening and into the early hours of the 7th the aurora borealis was observed under clear skies as far south as Hereford and Norfolk. (Leuchars 14C, West Freugh -5C, Herne Bay 2mm, Scarborough 12.0h) The 7th dawned cloudless almost everywhere, with a widespread air frost awy from the coasts. During the morning cloud spread from the W across Ireland and Scotland, extending to N England and the Midlands during the afternoon and evening. Rain fell in W Scotland and NW Ireland, being heavy in parts of W Scotland. The remainder of England had a sunny day, under continuing high pressure. (Northolt 15C, Eskdalemuir and Redesdale -5C, Lusa 15mm, Hunstanton and Clacton 12.2h.) Cloud lingered over much of Scotland, Ireland and N Wales and N England during the 8th, with high cloud spreading to S parts duyring the afternoon. However, rainfall amounts were generally small, and the much of S England reported another sunny day. At Chipstead valley the diurnal temperature exceeded 20C for the second successive day. (London 18C, Redhill -4C, Lusa 7mm, Eastbourne 12.3h.) Cloud thickened overnight in the S as a weak cold front pushed S throughout the 9th, giving light falls orf rain and drizzle to S England during the morning. Cloud thinned in most places during the day to give sunny spells, although an exception was Cent. and S Scotland where an extensive veil of medium to high cloud tended to persist. (Lee-on-Solent 16C, Saughall -1C, Hayling Island 8mm, Eastbourne 11.0h.) A mainly clear start to the 10th (except over Scotland) led to an air frost in places over England and Wales, while fog formed before dawn over North Yorkshire and parts of the N Midlands. Cloud pushed E over Ireland during the morning, extending across the whole of the UK by midnight, by which time rain was falling from NE Scotland to SW Wales and S Ireland. (Lee-on-Solent 15C, Shap Fell -4C, Aberdeen 3mm, Saunton Sands 13.0h.) The 11th started cloudy in most places, and widespread rain affected England and Wales during the day. Over Ireland and W Scotland the precipitation was of a more showery nature, with reports of hail in S Ireland. These showers pushed into Wales during the evening, where some thunder and hail was also reported, but more continuous rain was continuing to fall over SE England by midnight. The rain turned to snow from Bristol eastwards along the M4 corridor during the evening, and in parts of Gloucestershire. Snow was also reported from Wigan in the evening at the tail-end of a shower. (Guernsey 11C, Loftus 3C max, Redhill -4C min, Trawscoed 23mm, Penzance 8.0h.) Over parts of Cent. S England the rain turned to snow and sleet for a while before dawn on the 12th, as temperatures there fell close to freezing. In Gloucestershire up to 10cm fell in places. However, this was soon followed by further rain, with rain falling over much of the UK at times during the day and into the evening. In Scotland a N wind gusted to 50kn in places, with showers in the N and over the Highlands falling as sleet and snow during the evening. Thundery showers were reported over coastal counties of SE and Cent. S England during the evening, with large hail in Hampshire. (Poole 12C, High Wycombe 4C max, Lyneham 0C min, Brize Norton 23mm, Jersey 8.2h.) The 13th began generally cloudy over the British Isles, although inland Ireland was mainly free of cloud. Rain over the UK was followed in most places later in the day by showery conditions, these showers being heavy in places. Hail showers were observed over Ireland and N Scotland, while sleet and snow fell over Cent. and N Scotland also. The rain was rather more persistent and prolonged in NE and E England, while thunder was reported in the Midlands during the afternoon. (Torquay 12C, Glenlivet and Benson 0C, Leeming 27mm, Cromer 10.5h.) Cloudy conditions over much of England and Wales on the 14th persisted for much of the day, although rainfall became mainly confined to East Anglia and E England. Ireland and S Scotland had a mainly clear and sunny day, after an early air frost in places, while Scotland had a showery day, the showers being of snow over high ground and in the N, and hail occurred in the Midlands. (Penzance 12C, Lough Fea -3C, Clacton 10mm, Isle of Man 9.8h.) An area of cloud and rain pushed N into S England overnight, the rain turning to sleet and snow for a while during the morning of the 15th over Cent. S England. The rain moved slowly N during the day, clearing S England by early evening and reaching NE England by midnight, with snow also falling over high ground in Yorkshire. After a mainly dry start, there were scattered showers, including falls of snow over N Wales, over the remainder of the British Isles, before more general rain spread to W Scotland and Ireland later in the day. Uplyme, East Devon escaped all snow during the winter until this morning. (Penzance 12C, High Wycombe 4C max, West Freugh -5C min, Bracknell 19mm, Aviemore 10.0h) Skies cleared over S England by dawn on the 16th, with an air frost occurring in places inland; fog patches occurred in parts of the Midlands and Cent. S England. However, patchy cloud already affecting other areas by dawn soon spread E, bringing rain to much of Ireland (where it was followed by thundery showers). During the late afternoon another area of rain moved N to affect S England. Snow showers were reported over parts of Scotland during the day. (London 14C, Shap Fell -5C, St Angelo 30mm, Hunstanton 10.5h.) A complex area of low pressure over S areas on the 17th resulted in a cloudy and wet day in many places. However, over N and Cent. Scotland clear skies before dawn led to a frosty start in places, followed by sunny spells before rain moved N to affect most places. Elsewhere the day began cloudy and wet, with the rain moving N, foloowed by sunny intervals and showers. Sleet was reported at Aberporth during the morning, and some of the showers were thundery with hail over S England and East Anglia during the afternoon. (Poole 14C, Aviemore -5C, Sennybridge 29mm, Norwich 9.6h.) Rain continued to move N overnight, clearing most of N England by dawn on the 18th. Clear skies over much of England, Wales and Ireland led to a ground frost in many places, before another area of rain began to affect S England. The rain over Scotland largely cleared during the day, while the area of rain to the S moved E and N to affect most parts of England by midnight; thunder was reported in Lincolnshire during the afternoon. The best of the weather was over Ireland, where most places had a day of sunny spells and little cloud. (Herne Bay 16C, Castlederg -2C, Plymouth 20mm, Belfast 10.0h.) The rain over England moved E during the night, clearing most places by dawn on the 19th, and followed by fog patches over the S Midlands and Cent. S England. Over Ireland and Scotland clear skies led to a ground frost in places, and there was early coastal fog around W Wales. While must of E England and Scotland had a sunny day, rain crossed Ireland during the afternoon, and moved E during the evening to affect the Wales and W parts of England and Scotland by midnight. (London 18C, West Freugh -4C, Buxton (Derbyshire) 23mm, Tiree 12.8h.) Rain moved W to E overnight over the British Isles, clearing over Ireland by dawn on the 20th, and by midday over E parts of England (except for the SE where it lingered for most of the day). The rain was followed by showers, some of them heavy. By evening some rivers in Cent. S England and the Midlands were on amber flood alert. (Dishforth 18C, Fair Isle 4C, Southampton 21mm, Tiree 9.0h) A fresh SW airflow on the 21st brought showers to many areas, these being heavy in Ireland, Wales and parts of SW England. Gusts to 40kn were reported in the SW. Thunder occurred across the N half of Ireland and in N England during the late afternoon and into the evening, by which time an area of heavy rain was pushing NE into SW England. Bristol has already recieved twice the long term average rainfall for the month - currently the 6th wettest April on record in 150 years of records. (Herne Bay 17C, Altnaharra 4C, Dunkeswell 15mm, Eastbourne 9.7h.) The heavy rain in SW England during the early hours of the 22nd pushed NE across England and Wales during the day to be followed by further showers. Elsewhere, there were sunny intervals and showers, which were heavy in places and accompanied by thunder over E Ireland, parts of the Midlands and N England. River levels were high in Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire after the rain. Intense thundery activity with heavy rain and hail creating a hail covering for some time in the Irish Midlands (around 1300GMT), with roads were flooded locally. Several days of wet weather broughts chaos to the British Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone, with police forced to turn away spectators as car parks become unusable due to waterlogging. (Gravesend 19C, Loch Glascarnoch 0C, Linton-on-Ouse 20mm, Valley 11.7h.) The 23rd began with fog patches in parts of N Yorkshire and the Midlands, which soon cleared as cloud developed over much of the British Isles. Showers affected many parts of the British Isles during the day, these being thundery over W and N England, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of SE Scotland during the afternoon and evening. Two funnel clouds were seen about 8km W of Buxton (Norfolk), with another 2 reported from Southwold. In Northamptonshire, one local vicar was ferried by helicopter to conduct Easter Sunday services in surrounding villages as a result of traffic congestion and flooding around Silverstone. (Leeds Weather Centre 18C, Redesdale -1C, Weybourne 15mm, Tiree 11.9h.) After a clearance overnight over central parts of England, Wales and Ireland, bands of cloud and rain spread N on the 24th to affect many parts of England, Wales and Ireland. More persistent rain over N Scotland extended SE into Cent. Scotland by the evening, while during the late afternoon and evening an area of pushed N across SW England, Wales and S Ireland. Thundery showers occurred across N Ireland, S Scotland and N England during the afternoon and evening, leading to some local flooding in S Scotland. (London Weather Centre 17C, Redhill 1C, Aboyne 17mm, Eastbourne 11.3h.) Rain in the S and over N Scotland spread to affect most areas on the 25th. During the afternoon N winds gusted to 50 kn over W Ireland. Flooding occurred during the evening and into the night in Edinburgh, Lothian and Grampian regions.Some thunder was reported in N England. At Dun Laoghaire the morning was dull, cold, and misty at 8C. (Herne Bay 19C, Glenlivet 2C, Crosby 29mm, Stornoway 9.4h.) The 26th began cloudy in most places with heavy rain falling in parts of E Scotland, and with another area of rain across S England. Three old people's homes and at least 40 houses were evacuated in Edinburgh overnight as flood waters rose by more than one metre. Horse racing was cancelled at Perth and Catterick. Rain affected most areas during the day, with thunder in the East Midlands during the afternoon. Gusts reached 50kn along exposed coasts of W Ireland and W Scotland. At Stratfield Mortimer the total rainfall for April 2000 is now 147.8 mm (0900GMT). This is 298% of the 1961-90 normal for April and already well above the previous April record total back to 1862 (114.3 mm in 1966). (London Weather Centre 16C, Loch Glascarnoch 3C, Inverbervie 44mm, Lerwick 9.2h.) The rain gradually moved N and then W on the 27th, as the fronts responsible moved around a depression migrating N over Ireland, with showers over S Britain. Gusts to 50kn were reported before dawn over NW Scotland, although winds eased during the day. Horse racing was cancelled at Catterick and Perth due to waterlogged tracks, and the Murrayfield rugby stadium was flooded. Later in the evening an area of ligth rain began affecting E coast of SE England and East Anglia. (London Weather Centre 18C, Drumburgh 2C, Kinloss 23mm, Lerwick 9.2h.) Rain over NW Ireland cleared during the 28th and much of NW Britain and N Ireland then had a day with sunny spells. England, and later Wales, was cloudier as frontal cloud and rain spread W during the day, reaching W wales by midnight. (Lusa 18C, Bognor Regis 11mm, Falmouth 11.8h.) After a wet start to the 29th over S England, the rain here moved N/NW to affect much of Ireland before clearing to the NW. Clear skies before dawn over Scotland led to early morning fog in many places; fog patches and mist persisted for much of the day over the Northern Isles. It turned cloudy over Scotland with further light falls of rain. Flooding led to Camelot deciding to suspend ticket sales at about 6000 of its lottery outlets in Scotland. (London 20C, Loch Glascarnich 0C, Hastings 17mm, Jersey 12.5h.) Most places had a clear start to the 30th, with a ground frost in some sheltered inland areas of Britain and Ireland, and fog for a while around dawn in parts of the NW Midlands and S Scotland. E England clouded over during the morning as an area of rain moved N across SE and E England; elsewhere it was a mainly dry and sunny day. (Cardiff 21C, Topcliffe 1C, Southend 8mm, Exmouth 14.0h.) Information contained in the Climatological Summary supplied courtesy of Roger Brugge, Climatological Observers Link. Notable Weather Events in Northamptonshire The following report is taken from the weather station's web site 2-4 April Heavy rain and showers of snow and sleet affect much of the county. 15.5mm and 18.6mm of rainfall recorded on the 2nd and 3rd respectively. Rainfall on the 3rd accompanied by strong winds with gale force gusts (56mph). Lying snow recorded on the hilly tracts of the Northampton Uplands around Thornby and Naseby. 23 April Several days of wet weather brings chaos to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Police are forced to turn away spectators as car parks become unusable due to waterlogging. April rainfall at Pitsford Hall currently standing at 89.7mm, 188% of the April average (61-90), with complete saturation of the ground being recorded everyday since the 12th. 15 mile tail backs reported on the approach roads to the grand prix circuit. The local vicar is ferried by helicopter to conduct Easter Sunday services in surrounding villages. The organisers are criticised for not foreseeing the bad weather with the event having been moved from July. 30 April The wettest April since 1998 and the second wettest since 1920 is recorded at Pitsford Hall with a total of 108.6mm, more than twice the April average of 47.7mm. This April was the first for 9 months to have near normal temperatures. The average of 8.0C was just 0.3C short of the average for April. The weather made news in Northamptonshire's press this month. The two articles reproduced here, courtesy of the Northampton Mercury and Chronicle and Echo, feature the quagmire at Silverstone and the weather station itself. Please note that in the latter article, references to 1891 should mean 1920. The error was only discovered after the article went to press. Reports from Other Stations Reports received from Pitsford Hall weather station's network of weather enthusiasts across Northamptonshire. The weather station is not responsible for any inaccuracy contained in these reports. They are supplied for interest only. From Jeremy Borrett, Wilby: WILBY'S APRIL 2000 MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT ========================================= Wind direction -------------- North: 1 day South: 4 days East: 0 dayS West: 3 days North-west: 0 days North-east: 0 days South-west: 5 days South-east: 4 days Variable: 5 days Calm winds: 6 days Total: 29 days Wind speed ---------- Average wind speed (mph): 5mph Highest wind speed (mph): 44mph (17th) Temperature ----------- Average temperature: 10.1°C Highest temperature: 15.9°C (29th) Lowest temperature: 0.0°C (6th) Rainfall -------- Total rainfall (mm): 126¾mm Highest rainfall (mm): 30mm (3rd - this total includes this total which fell on the 2nd and some of the 19mm which fell on the 4th) Air pressure ------------ Average air pressure: 1007mb Highest air pressure: 1025mb (30th) Lowest air pressure: 985mb Station Notes The manager of Pitsford Hall weather station, Mike Lewis, was this month accorded a fellowship of the Royal Meteorological Society. The nomination was made by Dr Roger Brugge, an eminent meteorologist from the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, and Mr Malcolm Walker, education officer of the Royal Meteorological Society. The fellowship represents recognition of the high degree of professionalism which the station endeavours to achieve. Last year, Mike Lewis was invited by Malcolm Walker to participate in a forum to advise the Meteorological Office on its provision of resource material for secondary schools. He also took a lead role in MetLink International and Cloudwatch 2000, two projects initiated by the Royal Meteorological Society. Additional volunteer observers were also recruited and trained during April to ensure the continuation of the climatological record through the school holidays. The station's Hook-gauge evaporimeter was reinstated on 1st May to record potential evaporation during the summer months. Weekly as well as monthly evaporation totals are available from the station on 01604 880306. Evaporation totals are not normally released via the daily weather report and web site. An additional raingauge has been purchased. The Snowdon-type gauge will be introduced to the ground enclosure during May to facilitate comparisons of rainfall totals between the rooftop and ground enclosures. Next September, an additional Stevenson screen will be purchased, also intended for the ground enclosure, together with sheathed maximum and minimum thermometers. Finally, the weather station registered its own web site domain name during April. The site can now be accessed via www.northantsweather.org.uk. A new e-mail address for enquiries is office@northantsweather.org.uk. All old web site URL and e-mail address will remain valid for the time being. Appendix Weather Station Inventory (including equipment in active use as of 1 May 2000) Rooftop Enclosure and Office Standard Stevenson screen containing Mahogany mounted maximum and minimum thermometers (Casella type) Large pattern Stevenson screen containing Sheathed pattern maximum and minimum thermometers (UK Met Office with calibration certificates) Sheathed pattern wet and dry bulb thermometers (UK Met Office with calibration certificates) Thermograph (UK Met Office) Hair Hygrograph (UK Met Office) Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder (UK Met Office MKII) - summer months (repositioned during the winter) Snowdon-type pattern raingauge (UK Met Office) British Association pattern raingauge (for recording rainfall acidity) Tilting syphon rainfall recorder (UK Met Office MKI) Wind vane (UK Met Office) Totalising Cup-Counter Anemometer (UK Met Office, mounted on 5m mast) Digital wind direction system (Digitar, for determination of maximum gust) Fortin-pattern mercury barometer Open-scale micro-barograph (UK Met Office) High resolution digital pH meter (Hanna) Three networked PCs with modem links and dedicated fax/phone line Ground Enclosure Soil thermometers (5cm, 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 40cm, 50cm, 100cm) (Negretti and Zambra) Grass and concrete minimum thermometers (UK Met Office with calibration certificates) Hook Evaporimeter (Negretti and Zambra, used periodically) Bare Earth thermometer (Negretti and Zambra) Bare Earth Plot and Concrete Slab Snowdon-pattern raingauge South Boundary Enclosure This enclosure is used between September and March only for the recording of winter sunshine using the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder normally located at the rooftop site. Archive Weather records from 1880 to the present from a wide variety of locations throughout Northamptonshire are held in the archive adjacent to the station office. Access to these records is by appointment only through the station office Monday to Friday, 8.40am to 5.20pm. The station also holds corporate access rights to additional records held by the Northamptonshire Natural History Society, The Humfrey Rooms, Castillian Terrace, Northampton.