************************************************************************************** MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT MARCH 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 weather@brixworth.demon.co.uk Web site http://www.brixworth.demon.co.uk/weather 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 Observers: Richard Carruthers Charlie Cockrell Michael Franklin Thomas Gutteridge Robert Illingworth Technician: Mrs S West Groundsman: Mr R Green Brief Climatological Summary The predominant feature of the weather during March was the lack of rainfall. Just 12.8mm were recorded at Pitsford Hall, 28.7% of the March average, making it the driest March since 1997 and the second driest since 1972. Rain fell on only 7 days, with virtually no rainfall being recorded between the 3rd and 22nd. Temperatures were again above average (+1.2C), continuing a long succession of mild months. This March was the third warmest since 1991 and the sixth warmest since 1973. Two distinct trends were observed during the month: a period of amelioration during the first week following the cold end to February, and then a period of gradual deterioration from a high of 15.2C on the 8th accompanied by winds from a northerly direction. The predominance of anticyclonic conditions during March (1020.7mb mean sea level pressure) also led to some record sunshine. The total at Pitsford Hall was 119.4 hrs (130.2% of the average), making this the sunniest March since 1988. Statistical Analysis of Air and Ground Observations - March 2000 Temperatures: Mean Max: 11.1C Mean Min: 3.7C Mean Temp: 7.4C (+1.2C) Highest Max: 15.2C on 8th Lowest Max: 6.0C on 28th Highest Min: 11.3C on 9th Lowest Min: -1.5C on 4th Relative Humidity: Humidities observed at 0830hrs: Max: 96% on 13th, 31st Min: 63% on 18th Mean: 84.7% Lowest RH (hygrograph record): 50% on 19th Rainfall: Total for Month: 12.8mm (mean comparison: 28.7%) Max: 4.8mm on 24th Rain Days: 7 Wet Days: 4 Duration: 16.4 hours Rainfall acidity: Lowest pH: 5.50 on 1st Winds: Max Max Gust: 53mph on 14th Max wind speed at observation: 20mph on 11th Mean wind speed at observation: 7.0mph Max mean 24 hour wind speed: 12mph on 14th Mean mean 24 hour wind speed: 6.8mph Directions: north 5, northeast 11, east 2, southeast 3, south 1, southwest 4, west 0, northwest 3, calm 0, variable 2 Pressures: Max: 1037.3mb on 19th Min: 998.5mb on 3rd Mean: 1020.7mb Sunshine: Total: 119.4 hrs (130.2%) Most in a day: 8.6 hrs on 3rd, 11th No of sunless days: 4 Cloud Cover: Mean cloud cover at observation: 68.8% (5.5 oktas) Ground Observations: Lowest Grass Min: -4.8C on 5th Highest Grass Min: 7.5C on 9th Mean Grass Min: 0.4C Lowest Concrete Min: -3.5C on 4th Highest Concrete Min: 8.8C on 9th Mean Concrete Min: 2.1C Earth Temperatures: Bare Earth mean: 6.3C max: 11.4C on 9th min: 0.5C on 4th 5cm mean: 4.9C max: 8.9C on 9th min: 0.5C on 4th 10cm mean: 6.0C max: 9.2C on 9th,10th min: 2.5C on 5th 20cm mean: 6.7C max: 9.4C on 10th min: 3.5C on 5th 30cm mean: 7.2C max: 9.3C on 10th min: 4.2C on 5th 40cm mean: 7.4C max: 8.6C on 10th,11th,13th,17th min: 5.0C on 5th 50cm mean: 7.7C max: 9.0C on 23rd min: 5.5C on 5th 100cm mean: 7.4C max: 8.6C on 20th min: 6.0C on 4th,5th Other observations: Days with fog recorded at 0830 hours: 2 Mean visibility: 6 (moderate, up to 7km) Days with air frosts: 4 Days with ground frosts: 17 Duration of air frost: 17.0 hrs Days with snow falling: 0 Days with snow lying at observation: 0 Days with hail observed: 3 (1st,24th,27th) Days with thunder heard: 0 Days with lightning observed: 0 Gales: 0 Evaporation (tank): Suspended until further notice. Thunder Report No reports of thunder were received this month. United Kingdom Climatological Analysis - March 2000 The 1st was a showery day across the British Isles, the showers being of snow and hail over Scotland and N England, and accompanied by gusts to 40kn in many places. Hail was also reported in the Birmingham area. During the evning the wind backed from NW to SW over Ireland and more general rain fell in W Ireland by midnight. (Southsea 11C, Kinbrace -1C, Loch Glascarnoch 11mm, Teignmouth 10.1h.) Clear skies over England and Wales, that led to a slight frost in places early on2nd, soon clouded over as the rain in Ireland pushed E to affect the rest of the British Isles by mid-morning. Falls were heavy over high ground (at Windermere 45.8mm fell between 0300 and 2240GMT), and were accompanied by gusts to 50kn in Scotland, N England and around coasts. During the afternoon the rain turned to showers over N Scotland, these falling as hail and snow as the temperature fell. Over much of England and Wales, however, rain continued on-and-off for much of the day, some of it mixed with hail. Stornoway reported a thunderstorm just before midnight. (Colwyn Bay 12C, Topcliffe -3C, Capel Curig 43mm, Stornoway 3.0h.) Wet and cloudy weather overnight in S Britain and Ireland cleared to the SE during the morning of the 3rd, with the observer at Dun Laoghaire reported a feint covering of very fine dust over cars, windows, etc, once the rain had stopped. The rain was followed by a showery NW airstream, with snow and hail over Scotland and N England, where gusts to 40kn were recorded. Snow showers were also reported as far S as Suffolk. (Gosport 12C, Altnaharra -2C, Capel Curig 37mm, Isle of Man 9.2h.) Clear skies overnight (apart from N Scotland where wintry showers continued to fall) resulted in a widespread air frost by dawn on the 4th. In Kyle of Sutherland, 15cm of snow fell overnight, on top of yesterday's 7cm. It remained below freezing in parts of N Scotland during the day, and some Scottish League football matches were postponed due to frozen pitches. Wintry showers continued to fall over Scotland, N England and N Ireland, but these were less frequent that on the 3rd as pressure built from the W. reaching 1033.3mb at Valentia at 1200GMT and 1036.3mb at Guernsey at midnight. (Solent 10C, Lerwick -1C max, Biggar -5C min, Lerwick 17mm, Margate 10.4h.) Patchy overnight cloud in places meant that air frost was not quite so widespread early on the 5th, despite pressure rising to 1036.1mb at Jersey at 1200GMT. More extensive cloud over Scotland and Ireland brought rain from the W, that affected most of Scotland and parts of Wales and N England by midnight. (Falmouth 12C, Redhill -6C, Lusa 36mm, Guernsey 9.8h.) Cloudy, and in places damp, conditions continued overnight leading to very little air frost by dawn on the 6th. Over NW Ireland and NW Wales there was patchy fog around dawn; this persisted for much of the morning in parts of NW Wales and formed over S wales and coasts of the Bristol Channel during the afternoon. It was a mild day with SW winds everywhere, except in the Northern Isles were temperatures hovered around 5-7C for much of the day; patchy rain and drizzle affected many parts during the day, the rain being more persistent N and Cent. Scotland. (Colwyn Bay and Kilkenny 16C, Redhill -1C, Loch Glascarnoch 14mm, Cromer 8.5h.) The 7th was a mild day everywhere, except in N Scotland, N of a warm front that migrated N across this area during the evening. At 1800GMT, for example, the temperature at Aberdeen was 5C, while that at Leuchars was 12C. Bands of precipitation swept the British Isles during the day, the precipitation being heavy over Scotland and mainly of drizzle in S England. To the N of the warm front there were falls of sleet and snow. (Herne Bay 16C, Wick 4C max, Kirkwall 0C min, Altnaharra 31mm, Guernsey 8.9h.) The 8th was a mild day, albeit generally cloudy, in most places. After a cloudy start with rain and drizzle in most places (and with fog around the coasts of Wales) temperatures climbed steadily. At Dun Laoghaire the minimum of 12.4C was the highest in March since before 1976, and by the afternoon temperatures in many places had risen to 15C. It was windy over Scotland and N England with gusts including 66kn at Kirkwall at 1200GMT. At Rossendale 28.6mm fell in 13 hours to 0800GMT, and the River Irwell was on red flood alert in Ramsbottom. (Hawarden 18C, Lerwick 2C min, Lerwick 20mm, Jersey 9.4h.) Cloudy warm sector conditions led to a mild night over the British Isles, with minima of 10C widespread from S Scotland southwards on the 9th. At Keyworth the minimum temperature of 11.5C was the highest in March on record, as was the reading of 11.9C at Southend. It was very warm again over S England during the day; maxima at unofficial sites included 17.8C at Maidenhead. There was fog around Bristol Channel coasts and in the Channel Islands, with some drizzle in S England. N England, N Ireland and Scotland had rain during the day (hail fell in the Northern Isles), heavy in places, with gusty conditions leading to traffic restrictions on some exposed routes. However, at midnight the pressure had risen to 1034.9mb at Scilly. (Brize Norton 17C, Lerwick 4C max, Lerwick 2C min, Rosehearty 21mm, Cromer 6.7h.) The 10th began cloudy with rain over Scotland and N England, and drizzle in parts of S and SE England. This was slow-moving, and in the afternoon another band of rain, associated with a cold front, pushed across Scotland and N England. It was windy for much of the day over Scotland, with widespread gusts to 50kn in the N. At Coleraine light rain and drizzle around 1400GMT produced falls of pink/orange dust. Dust also fell later in Anglesey. (Poole 17C, Lerwick 0C, Aultbea 23mm, Exmouth 9.1h.) Overnight precipitation from the cold front was mainly light, and the 11th dawned mainly cloudy, except in parts of the NE. Rain crossed N Scotland during the day, with sunny spells over much of the remainder of the British Isles. (Lee-on-Solent 16C, Bournemouth 3C, Lerwick 4mm, Leeds 9.5h.) Clearing skies overnight over much of England, Wales and E Ireland led to a light air frost in places by dawn on the 12th, with fog patches in Ireland. There was light rain over N Ireland and Scotland during the day, with long sunny spells over England and Wales, before cloud spread SE as far as the Midlands, and SW England during the evening. Two bands of rain moving W-E over the northern parts of Ireland and into brought very noticeable amounts of desert dust to Coleraine, and later to the Wirral. (Aboyne 16C, Topcliffe -2C, Lusa 5mm, Newquay 10.6h.) Skies clouded over during the night in SE England, resulting in a lifting of temperatures by dawn on the 13th, but not before there had been a light ground frost in places. Further N there was occasional light rain or drizzle, while early morning fog occurred in places along the coasts of the Channel Islands, S Wales and SW England - later spreading inland in Cent. S England. It remained cloudy during the day in many places, with light precipitation in N areas and over Ireland, and became quite warm in SW England. At Keyworth, after a period of light rain from 0900-1400GMT there was an obvious dust deposit on windows and cars by late afternoon/evening, the colour and texture resembling fine grey (volcanic?) ash; pale orange dust in light rain was also seen in Bracknell. (Torquay 20C, Redhill -1C, Barra 7mm, Poole 9.1h.) There was a light frost in parts of N Scotland on the 14th, althoiugh in most parts of the British Isles the day began rather cloudy. Showers of hail and snow affected the Northern Isles for much of the day, these eventually as far S as Aberdeen. The veered to NW over the British Isles during the morning, and it felt quite cold in N Scotland due to the wind chill. Ireland and Scotland had sunny spells and a few showers, while elsewhere it remained generally cloudy until after sunset, with light rain showers in S England. (Penzance 15C, Lerwick -1C, Loch Glascarnoch 11mm, Aberdeen 6.8h.) The 15th was another dry day in many S parts of the British Isles, as high pressure to the SW continued to make itself felt. Pressure rose to 1039.7mb by 1200GMT at Valentia. Light rain and drizzle fell over Scotland and parts of N Ireland at times during the day, while much of S England had a sunny day although it clouded over from the W here during the evening. (Torquay 14C, Coningsby -1C, Loch Glascarnoch 4mm, Eastbourne 10.3h.) The 16th was a dry, if rather cloudy, day in most places as the anticyclone extended its influence further N. Clear skies for a while in E England before dawn led to a ground frost in places, but cloud soon reached these parts after dawn. Some light rain and drizzle fell in Shetland during the morning, and in SW Ireland during the afternoon. MSL pressure reached 1038.6mb at Scilly at 1200GMT. (Boulmer 15C, Topcliffe -1C, Lerwick 1mm, Herne Bay 6.4h.) After a generally mild night, the 17th was a rather cloudy day across the British Isles, with light rain and drizzle across Scotland and N Ireland. Cloud began clearing from Scotland during the evening and a few places there reported an air frost by midnight. (Aboyne 14C, Aboyne -3C, Aultbea 4mm, Stornoway 3.5h.) Clearing skies over Scotland led to an air frost in places by dawn on the 18th; the clearance spread to much of England and Wales during the day but Ireland remainded generally cloudy with light rain and drizzle which also spread to W Wales. However, MSL pressure rose to 1040.7mb at Valentia at 2100GMT, and at Dun Laoghaire four days of anticyclonic gloom finally ended during the afternoon as the cloud base rose. (Saunton Sands 15C, Loch Glascarnoch -4C, Anglesey 2mm, Aspatria 10.5h.) The 19th dawned with around the coasts of S Wales and SW England, and around Manchester and the SW Midlands. There was some overnight drizzle in W Scotland and a frosty start in parts of E England. Ireland and Scotland had a generally cloudy day with further light precipitation in Scotland, elsewhere there were sunny spells. (Aberdeen 16C, Topcliffe -6C, Machrihanish 1mm, Oxford 10.6h.) Clearing skies led to a frosty start in parts of SE England on the 20th, with fog patches extending from N Yorkshire to S England, which were slow to clear in parts of Cent. S England. It turned cloudy during the day in most areas away from E Scotland and NE England, with light rainfall in N and W Scotland, with pressure falling throughout the day. (Aboyne 17C, Redhill -3C, Baltasound 3mm, Newcastle 9.9h.) The 21st dawned with a slight air frost in a few pockets in SE England and East Anglia, and with fog patches in parts of S England. An area of rain over Scotland moved slowly S during the day, to affect parts of N Ireland and N England by midnight, to be followed by hail showers over the Northern Isles. Southern England had a mainly sunny day under high cloud, with low cloud elsewhere. (Saunton Sands 16C, Redhill -3C, Aultbea 12mm, Clacton 10.3h.) Clear skies over the S half of England led to fog by dawn on the 22nd from the N Midlands to Hampshire, and E into East Anglia. This morning was one of the few mornings this last winter with fog at all the London airports (except City). Runway visual ranges were down to around 200m at most. Several Virgin B747-200s were diverted out of Gatwick (they still need 600m). The fog cleared during the morning to give a sunny day in most S areas, including Wales. Ireland and N England were cloudy with an area of slow-moving light rain. Scotland had a day of sunshine and a few showers, these falling as hail in the N. At Chipstead Valley a minimum temperature of -3.9C was followed by a maximum of 15.9C making a range of 19.8C. (Saunton Sands 18C, Tulloch Bridge -4C, Leuchars 6mm, Anglesey 9.5h.) Parts of Scotland experienced a sharp frost under clear skies on the 23rd, while over other parts of the British Isles cloud spread overnight with light rain in S England and Ireland by dawn. In some parts of SE England this was the first measureable rain for three weeks, while dust was observed to be washed out by the rain in Coleraine, Cirencester, Royston and Southend. Cloud soon spread to most areas as several troughts and fronts affected the British Isles, the rain being heavy in parts of N England and S Scotland, also heavy in parts of S Wales and SW England during the afternoon. Over E Ireland the pressure had fallen 40mb over the past 4 days by evening; however, just 0.9mm was recorded at dun Laoghaire in the 24 hours from 0800GMT, after 20 days with only 0.7mm. (Farnborough 15C, Altnaharra -7C, Mumbles 19C, Lerwick 9.7h.) The 24th started cloudy almost everywhere, with fog in Cent. S England and bands of light rain and drizzle in many places. These bands gradually moved E during the day with showers spreading from the W as a cold front cleared the British Isles. Showers fell as hail over parts of Ireland and there were outbreaks of thunder during the afternoon and evening over parts of W Scotland, E Ireland and England. (Herne Bay 16C, Aboyne 1C, Aberdeen 20mm, Falmouth 8.8h.) Clearing skies overnight led to an air frost in places by dawn on the 25th, ahead of an advancing low and trough that brought showers from the W. The showers were heavy and wintry in places, with thunder in parts of S and E England during the afternoon and evening. A heavy shower of hail at 1200GMT in NW suburbs of Nottingham turned the ground white for a while. A funnel cloud was observed near Felixstowe Ferry at 1250GMT; it lasted about one minute shortly before dissipating, then fairly heavy rain and hail fell in a shower. (Gravesend 13C, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire -3C, Sella Ness 14mm, Aspatria 10.8h.) There was a widespread frost on the 26th, with freezing fog in parts of E Scotland and the S Midlands at 0600GMT. Further showers (heavy in places) affected many places during the day and freshening winds from a NW direction brought gusts to 30kn over Ireland and W Britain. There were a few reports of thunder over Scotland and England, while a tornado reported at Brandsby (50 miles N of York), carried a cat 10 yards into air. (Guernsey 13C, Glenlivet -5C, Trawscoed 17mm, Falmouth 10.7h.) During the 27th the wind gradually veered to a NE direction over the British Isles, as pressure rose from the N. There was an early air frost over parts of Ireland and W Britain, while in the E the day began cloudy and showery. These showers spread W to the Midlands and S England, with hail and sleet in places and with gusts to 40kn in the E coast, although it was sunnier over much of Scotland and Ireland, and in parts of W Wales. By midnight pressure had risen to 1029.6mb at Aviemore. (St. Angelo 12C, Saughall -3C, Jersey 10mm, Anglesey 11.4h.) Cold NE winds continued to affect all but N Scotland on the 28th, with an air frost over parts of Ireland and Scotland before dawn. Much of Wales and England had a cloudy day with light rain and showers over England, and gusts to 40kn along the E coast. Pressure rose to around 1030mb over Scotland, with light rain in N parts, while Ireland had a mainly sunny day with frost in places by midnight. (Castledery 12C, Tulloch Bridge -3C, Marham 3mm, Belfast 9.0h.) A clear night over Ireland, much of Wales and N England led to a frosty start on the 29th here; elsewhere there was low cloud and some light precipitation overnight, including light snow in Birmingham. This cloud distribution persisted for much of the day, resulting in a sunless day with low daytime maxima in S ( a cool NE wind here) and N parts, but warm sunshine in between. At Copley, 12.1h of sunshine betweens sunrise and sunset) was close to the maximum possible for March. (Altnaharra 13C, Crosby -3C, Hastings 13mm, Morecambe 10.6h.) Clear skies over much of Ireland, Wales and NW England led to a sharp air frost in places here on the 30th; although cloud spread over Ireland during the day, most it remained clear and sunny over Wales and NW England during the day. Elsewhere the day was mainly cloudy, with light rain in the Channel Islands and parts of S Scotland and N Ireland. It was again cold in S Britain. (Cardiff 13C, High Wycombe 6C max, Shap Fell -6C min, Guernsey 4mm, Morecambe 12.2h.) Apart from the Midlands, Wales and parts of NW England where the 31st began frosty, much of the British Isles had a cloudy start. Cloud soon spread to most areas with rain spreading to much of Scotland, Ireland and SW England by the end of the day. (Leeds 13C, Shawbury -5C, Lerwick 9mm, Scarborough 11.3h.) 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 14 March 11 consecutive days without rain, only trace being recorded on 9th. March total as of 14th: 4.2mm. The passage of a cold front southwards during the morning produced a significant gust front with winds recorded up to 53mph. 31 March Second driest March since 1972. Only 12.8mm recorded at Pitsford Hall, 28.7% of the March average. Rain falls on only 7 days. 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 MARCH 2000 MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT ============================================ Wind direction -------------- North: 2 days South: 1 day East: 0 dayS West: 9 days North-west: 5 days North-east: 0 days South-west: 4 days South-east: 0 days Variable: 4 days Calm winds: 6 days Total: 29 days Wind speed ---------- Average wind speed (mph): 2mph Highest wind speed (mph): 7mph (29th) Temperature ----------- Average temperature: 9.8°C Highest temperature: 14.5°C (8th) Lowest temperature: -0.3°C (4th) Rainfall -------- Total rainfall (mm): 12½mm Highest rainfall (mm): 8½mm (4th) Air pressure ------------ Average air pressure: 1023mb Highest air pressure: 1038mb (18th) Lowest air pressure: 1008mb (27th) Appendix Weather Station Inventory (including equipment in active use as of 4 April 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 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.