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WRITTEN NARRATIVE OF THE WEATHER OF MARCH 1999
Just as January 1998 and 1999 were similar months weatherwise, and just as February 1998 and 1999 had a few coincidences, in many ways, March this year was like the March which preceeded it 12 months earlier. Both months had a cold and very wet first week with snow. Both months were mild after the very wet and cold first week. Both months had an anti-cyclonic spell in the middle of the month. Both had a very mild night at the end of the month. Both months were wetter than average but whilst March 1998 was a cloudier than average month, March 1999 had sunshine totals that were well above normal for the time of the year.
A deep depression crossed the UK at the start of the month and March opened as February ended, very unsettled. The 1st and 2nd were quite mild, but the 2nd was miserable with heavy rain and winds. The 3rd had sunny spells but showers and winds grew stronger that day. The air pressure fell to 978MB on the 3rd. The 4th had early bright spells but this soon gave way to showers, in a cold biting wind.
Snow fell early on the 5th, then turned to rain. After 8pm it snowed for an hour. This turned to rain again. It later snowed heavily, starting just before midnight, and at 9am on the morning of the 6th snow lay at a depth of four and a half inches - the heaviest fall of the winter of 1998/99 - so far. Look what happened on April 14th last year, when the heaviest fall of the "Winter" occurred. The snow on March 6th led to the cancellation of many football matches across the UK. The next day was also gloomy with heavy rain falling throughout most of the day with a cold, raw wind. This melted the snow however.
A respite was seen on the 8th, but more snow fell on the morning of the 9th under a North-East wind. This snowfall didn't last, but only 36 minutes of sunshine was recorded between the 5th and the 9th, the longest consecutive dull spell recorded in any month since November 1997.
The wind changed to a southerly direction by the 11th, and as the low pressure disappeared, the weather improved. As to compensate, the period between March 13th and March 19th, with a strong ridge of high pressure, brought fine, sunny weather. The 17th brought an early taste of summer, when 68F was recorded and nearly 10 hours of sunshine, the highest temperature of the month. Air Pressure rose to 1030MB, the highest reading of the month. The average sunshine amount between the 13th and 20th was eight hours, in contrast to the sunless spell between the 5th and 9th.
The weather turned a lot cooler on the 20th, and the 21st felt quite cold. The thermometer didn't rise above 48F on the 21st, the first day of spring.
The 25th was wet and unsettled, particularly in the afternoon, but another fine, sunny spells occurred between the 26th and the 28th. March 27th was the sunniest day in the UK since last August with eleven hours of sunshine. Sharp downpours occurred on the afternoon of the 29th, but the temperature didn't fall below 50F at any point on the evening of the 28th/29th, another parallel with last year when it didn't fall below 54F on the evening of the 29th/30th.
The month ended with southerly winds and two mild days. Sunshine totals were well above average, bumped up by the fine anti-cyclonic spell in the middle of the month.
Kevin Phillips - 2.30pm - Saturday 3rd April 1999.
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