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A WRITTEN NARRATIVE OF THE WEATHER OF OCTOBER 2003
This year, the only duller than average month has so far been July. The month that has just passed, October, was another sunny month, and was the sunniest October recorded since that of 1997. Low pressure over Biscay brought showers to southern England, but central and northern Britain were sunny and dry. The 2nd was a fine, sunny and fairly warm day for the time of the year. That day in fact, was the warmest of the month.
The fine weather continued until the 4th, when it turned cooler. That day itself had a cold wind. Fronts swept south-eastwards across Britain on the night of the 5th/6th, depositing rain on the latter date. However, the 7th was fine and sunny. The following day started cool and showery but turned into a day of sunny spells.
An anticyclone developed over the UK on the 11th, and brought a week of quiet weather. The wind was mainly from an easterly point. Temperatures were around average, but air pressure transferred to eastern Greenland, bringing in north-easterly winds, and therefore the weather turned cooler, particularly between the 20th and the 22nd. The lowest maximum daytime temperature, 45F, was recorded on the 22nd. There was a frost on the 21st. The 22nd was a cold, dull day. In contrast though, the 23rd was a fine, Autumnal day, with 9.2 hours of sunshine, the sunniest day of the month.
The next few days were quiet and dry with sunny spells, but the final three days of the month were rather cold and very unsettled. This contributed substantial rainfall to what had previously been a dry October. The 28th was wet and overcast. There was rain on the morning of the 29th but this soon cleared. Late on the 30th further rain fell. Air pressure fell to 988MB and then 986MB on the 31st as the depression bringing the unsettled weather made its presence felt.
However, whilst very wet at night, the 30th was very sunny in the daytime. The final day, Halloween, was totally miserable from 3pm onwards. It was quite mild and damp up to early afternoon, then it rained heavily in the late afternoon and in the evening.
Both day and night-time temperatures for October 2003 were below average. Night-time temperatures were 1.4C below average. Overall, it was the coldest October recorded for ten years - since that of 1993. It is worth noting that in the last 100 years, only Octobers in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1978, (The 1970's was a decade for dry Octobers) and 1985 have been very dry.
Kevin Phillips – 12.10pm - Sunday 9th November 2003.
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