The 4th, 5th and 6th were fine and pleasant, with light winds. From the 7th to the 10th the weather was cloudy but turned very mild as the anti-cyclone drifted into the continent and a South-Westerly flow developed. 66F was recorded on the 10th, the highest of the month. 1033MB was recorded on the 12th as the anti-cyclone strengthened. A new anti-cyclone then brought more fine weather but the weather turned colder from the 17th as the high pressure transferred to Scandinavia and the wind changed to the East.

The air pressure gradually fell from the 18th. The 21st was a cold, miserable, wet day with steady drizzle falling throughout. The 22nd and 23rd, though both unsettled, were warmer as the North-Easterly flow was replaced by a Southerly. An intense secondary depression tracked North-East then North across England on the 24th bringing the wettest day of the month. The 26th to the 29th were fine, sunny and mild but the 30th, whilst still very mild, with a maxima of 62F, saw sharp downpours. The final day of the month was a stormy but dry one.

October 1998 will long be remembered for the heavy rain and floods. This October, whilst still having slightly above average rainfall totals, will be remembered for the high sunshine amounts, though it wasn't quite as sunny as October 1997. October 1999, temperature wise, was warmer than either October 1997 or October 1998, and the warmest October recorded since 1995. You have to go back to October 1993 to find a significantly colder than average October. The thermometer, unlike the October's which preceeded it, didn't fall below freezing at any point during the month.

Kevin Phillips - 7.35pm - Tuesday 9th November 1999.