PITSFORD HALL WEATHER STATION NORTHAMPTON, UNITED KINGDOM MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2000 Brief Climatological Analysis This October was a very unsettled month. The rainfall total, 110.8mm, was more than double average for October (243%) and Northampton's wettest October since 1960 (157.7mm). The end of the month saw some particularly stormy weather with widespread flooding and some structural damage attributed to gale force winds. October opened on a fairly changeable theme associated with a number of swift moving lows and weather fronts. It was generally windy with gusts up to 35mph on the 2nd and 32mph on the 5th. Apart from a fall of 4.1mm, daily rainfall totals climbed slowly from 0.6mm on the 4th to 10.5mm on the 7th. In between the cloud and rain some fairly respectable sunshine totals were recorded. The period between the 9th and the 12th was particularly wet associated with a slow moving low over northern Britain. 15mm of rain fell in 6 hours at Pitsford Hall, although more torrential downpours affected other parts of the country, with notable flooding in Kent and Sussex. Much of the period between the 13th and the 25th was marked by a generally changeable spell of weather. Winds were generally light and southerly in direction, although a swing round to the north associated with the appearance of a small ridge led to a chilly night on the 17th with a ground frost. Again some days had respectable sunshine totals, although the period between the 14th and 16th remained cloudy. The 20th was a particularly wet day with a fall of 10.8mm. The final week was especially wet culminating in 28.7mm of rain of the 29th associated with a deep depression. Strong gale force winds whipped across the county late on the 29th and early on the 30th with gusts reaching 54mph. Falling trees blocked roads and flood warnings were issued for the rivers Nene, Avon and Ouse. Trains out of Northampton were cancelled for a time during the morning on the 30th. Statistical Summary Air Temperatures The Highest Maximum: 18.1C on 2nd The Lowest Maximum: 9.9C on 30th The Highest Minimum: 11.1C on 4th The Lowest Minimum: 4.1C on 9th The Mean Maximum: 14.1C The Mean Minimum: 7.4C The Overall Mean: 10.8C Difference from the Monthly Mean: -0.3C Relative Humidity: Highest Relative Humidity (at 0900): 100% on 7th Lowest Relative Humidity (at 0900): 46.5% on 9th Mean Relative Humidity (at 0900): 88.6% Dew Point: The Highest Dew Point (at 0900): 13.3C on 28th The Lowest Dew Point (at 0900): 2.0C on 9th The Mean Dew Point (at 0900): 8.6C Rainfall: Total: 110.8mm Difference from the Monthly Mean: 243% Duration: 71.9 hrs Highest 24 hour fall (from 0900): 28.7mm on 29th Rain Days (>/=0.2mm): 21 Wet Days (>/=1.0mm): 14 Lowest pH: 5.64 on 29th Sunshine: Total Duration of Bright Sunshine: 85.9hrs Sunniest day: 7.0hrs on 26th Sunless days: 9 Cloud cover (mean at 0900): 6.3 oktas (78.8%) Pressure (reduced to sea level): The Highest Pressure: 1026.4mb on 6th The Lowest Pressure: 965.1mb on 11th Mean Pressure (recorded at 0900): 1007.2mb Winds Run of wind (mean over 24 hrs): 95.7 miles Mean 24 hr wind speed: 5.2mph Highest 24 hr wind speed: 11.4mph on 30th Run of wind: 2965.35 miles Highest Maximum Gust: 54mph on 29th Highest wind strength (at 0900): 33mph on 30th Mean wind strength (at 0900): 7.5mph Winds from the Following Directions: N 3, NE 0, E 1, SE 3, S 8, SW 6, W 5, NW 5, Calm 0 Ground Temperatures: Lowest Grass Minimum: -1.1C on 17th Mean Grass Minimum: 4.8C Lowest Concrete Minimum: 3.0C on 20th Mean Concrete Minimum: 6.4C Lowest Bare Earth Minimum: 2.5C on 6th Mean Bare Earth Minimum: 6.2C Soil/Earth Temperatures: 5cm mean: 9.7C 10cm mean: 9.8C 20cm mean: 10.3C 30cm mean: 11.8C 40cm mean: 12.0C 50cm mean: 12.4C 100cm mean: 12.6C Days with: Thunder: 0 Hail less than 0.5cm: 1 (8th) Hail greater than/equal to 0.5mm: 0 Snow or snow & rain: 0 Fog: 2 Ground frost: 1 Air frost: 0 Evaporation: Suspended until next summer. Observations made at 0900 UTC. Averages refer to the period 1961-1990.