A transient ridge of high pressure covered Northern and Central England on the 1st. That day was cloudless with a north-west wind. The first week was dry - in fact there wasn't any rain until the 9th March. A front on the 2nd gave mild but dull conditions. The weather was quiet, mild and dull on the 3rd and 4th as well. The 5th and 7th were sunny.
A depression brought windy and unsettled weather on the 9th and 10th but after the 12th as pressure built across the UK. With high pressure over Scandinavia and low pressure in Biscay an easterly flow covered the UK between the 13th and 15th. The 13th was a fine, sunny day but the 14th was dull with heavy showers in the evening. The 15th was the coldest and wettest day of the month with heavy rain in the morning and persistent steady rain that lasted well into the evening. After the rain stopped, the night was very foggy and murky. The maximum temperature all day was 42F. The flow veered southerly on the 16th and the weather became warmer whilst remaining unsettled. Heavy rain fell on the evening of the 18th but the rest of the month was mainly dry and mild or very mild as high pressure became established across the UK.
After a very mild and sunny first day of Spring (21st March) and four dull and dry days, though there were sunny spells on the afternoon of the 23rd, a glorious period of weather occurred between the 26th and the 30th. Sunshine became abundant and totals became creditable for July. March 28th was the sunniest day since August 2001 and this was the sunniest five day spell since July last year, though there was a frost on the morning of the 29th. Easter Sunday was dull, mild and dry.
March 2002 was comfortably milder than average. Since 1997 only March 2001 has had below average temperatures. Sunshine was above average though it was well below up to the 25th. Rainfall was half the average.
Kevin Phillips - 7.35pm - Monday 1st April 2002.
