Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

WRITTEN NARRATIVE OF THE WEATHER OF MARCH 2003
The anti-cyclone's reign from the 11th to the 27th February finally crumbled on the 28th February, and fronts and troughs crossed the UK almost daily during the first eight days of March, bringing unsettled weather. There were showers on the 1st March, but the 2nd was reasonably mild and sunny. There were light showers early on the 4th but that cleared to give a dull, dry and mild day. The next two days were also mild and dry, but there was heavy rain on the afternoon of the 7th after a bright start and there was further rain on the afternoon of the 8th.
The 9th and the 10th were mild, but strong pressure rises led to the establishment of an intense anti-cyclone over or near to the UK on the 12th. This moved little until the 20th. There was dull and dry weather for the 12th and 13th. The latter date was the coldest day of the month. All areas enjoyed prolonged sunshine after the 14th, with 10.1 hours of sunshine recorded that day and 11.8 hours on the 17th, the sunniest day of the month. The air pressure on the 16th was 1043MB, the highest of the month.
A persistent ridge of high pressure extended across the British Isles to the end of the month, and the anti-cyclone became a "blocking" anti-cyclone, so any depressions and low pressure systems were re-routed elsewhere. The weather on the 22nd and 23rd was sunny as well as fine. Between the 23rd and the 30th no wind was recorded on five days. The highest temperature of the month, 63F, (That was the highest temperature in January as well), was recorded on the 29th. Good sunshine totals were recorded on the 27th, 30th and 31st.
The month was the driest March recorded since that of 1997, and the dry weather of January, February and March has proved to be a welcome relief from the very wet weather of October and November 2002. The month was much milder than usual. Day-time temperatures in particular, were over 2C warmer than normal. There was hardly any fog and no strong winds anywhere. It was the sunniest March recorded since that of 1907.
Kevin Phillips - 12.20pm - Sunday 6th April 2003.
To go back to the links list CLICK ME