Llansadwrn (Anglesey) Weather
Diary 2002
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Llansadwrn (Anglesey) Weather
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; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 1 January 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
; "Pall of smoke overhanging the Menai Strait generated from a fire on the lower slopes of the mountains during the afternoon of 1 January 2002."){kind=small}
1st: A clear start to the New Year with heavy hoar frost, the minimum temperature above remaining snow on the ground having been -6.8C. The high-pressure area passed over Wales and was situated over central UK and France. Pressure here at 0900 GMT was 1036 mb and the temperature was 0.0C (dewpoint (-3.0C). There was no wind but by 9045 there was a gentle SSE'ly breeze off the mountains and the temperature fell 0.5C as a result of cold air descending from the mountains. The morning was sunny and the air had warmed to 2.5C by 1130 GMT and went on to reached 5.2C around noon. The afternoon was also sunny with just a little cloud on the western horizon. There were clear views across Anglesey but it was hazier with smoke haze off the coast to the N and E. A fire on the lower slopes of the mountains produced a lot of smoke that hung over the Strait until dusk. Sunshine determined from sunrise and sunset times was 6.9h. It was a clear night with good views of the moon and 3 planets including the giant Jupiter that is at its closer to Earth than usual today. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 5.2C; Min -1.7C; Grass -6.8C]
2nd: A clear pre-dawn but soon cloudier with a very red sunrise. It remained bright as the cloud was generally high and thin. A heavy frost overnight with the minimum -2.3C and -7.3C above snow left on the weather station, both lowest of the month. The ground was freezing (-0.5C at 5 cm depth). Humidity was low; at 08 GMT it was 43% rising to 47% at 1.0C at 0900 GMT. Valley, however, reported 37% and it was 38% on the summit of Snowdon. The Llanberis AWS was reporting it warmer at 7.3C with 24% RH with a low of 19% at 0545 GMT. Pressure was falling but still relatively high at 1027 mb with the high centred over the Alps (1043 mb). A low SE of the Baltic (992 mb) was resulting in extensive snowfall in central Europe and it was also very cold in eastern Europe and in NE Scotland with -11 at Aberdeen. To the W isobars were tightening and winds strengthening over Ireland and the SW, where there was a slow-moving band of rain associated with a small low (997 mb) in mid-Atlantic. Here the day remained bright as the thin cloud did not obscure the sun the temperature reaching 7.2C . There was not much wind until later in the day; in the late evening the SE'ly was force 5 making a roaring noise in the trees. It was a Föhn-like wind as the temperature had risen from a low of 1.8C at 1730 GMT to nearly 8C and the relative humidity dropped to 31% between 23-00 GMT, the lowest of the month. The wind had fallen away by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 8.2C; Min -2.3C; Grass -7.3C]
; "A flotilla of lee-wave-clouds over the Menai Strait and Llansadwrn during the afternoon of 3 January 2002."){kind=small}
; "Lee-wave clouds across the old cricket field near the weather station at sunset on 3 January 2002."){kind=small}
3rd: Another very red sky soon after 08 GMT and although bright in the E dark clouds were assembling to the W. It was warmer with the temperature at 0900 GMT 7.5C. Pressure 1022 mb had fallen only a little with the Baltic-high (1042 mb) still in position but with low-pressure, and attendant fronts, to the SW of Ireland patchy rain was already over central Wales and reached the W of Anglesey by 08 GMT and here by 1045 GMT but was only a few drops. With the warmth the ice/snow left on the weather station is melting although the ground remains cold (0.0C at 5 cm and 6.2C at 100 cm). On the mountains the snowline was about 1000 ft but began retreating upwards with the warmth of the day. It was bright and with the wind SSE'ly there was a flotilla of lee-wave clouds the rest of the day. Despite a rather black looking cloud that hovered over Llansadwrn in the afternoon the temperature reached 9.2C. But at Valley 10C was reported the highest in the UK. Later the clouds dispersed and it was a clear night but the air temperature was slow to decline and humidity fell to 45% at 2200 GMT. [Rain trace; Max 9.2C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.5C]
4th: A bright and clear start to the day. There was a hard ground frost (-3.8C) and air temperature was at its minimum of 1.0C at 0900 GMT. With just a hint of thin cloud to the S and W it was soon sunny but hazy (smoke). On the summit of Snowdon, with the descent of warm dry air, the temperature was 3.5C (37% RH) melting remaining ice and snow. The snowline was on 2000 ft on sunny slopes, lower 1000 ft in shaded places like Cwm Idwal, but become patchy even at 3000 ft and more so during the day. Pressure was high (1044 mb) central Europe, where it continues to be very cold, and N Africa. Pressure here was steady at 1023 mb with a deep mid-Atlantic low (962 mb) with slow-moving fronts poised on the W Irish coast. The day remained bright with a little sunshine and a few lee-wave over the western end of the Menai Strait under Snowdon. By evening it was becoming dull and with the arrival of warm sector moist air around 19 GMT bringing some some fine drizzle. The temperature rose to a maximum of 9.6C between 04-07 GMT. [Rain 1.0 mm; Max 9.6C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.8C]
5th: Light rain around dawn so a dull and damp start to the day. A warm front was lying lying over Wales and moving SE with a cold front over Ireland. Pressure 1029 mb had risen with the high (1044 mb) over Germany. Deep Atlantic-low (960 mb) was making its way to S Greenland. The morning was dull but warmer at 8.2C (97% RH) with poor visibility, quite a change from previous days. In late afternoon the sky cleared and shallow fog formed on the surrounding fields but cleared after dark. The night clear at first soon clouded over again. [Rain trace; Max 8.5C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.0C]
6th: A dull and misty start to the day with poor visibility. Pressure 1034 mb had risen, the high-Germany (1042 mb) having a broad ridge across the UK, but a warm front lay over the Midlands and Wales resulting in the murky weather. The day remained overcast and dull and there was no change overnight. [Rain trace; Max 9.2C; Min 2.6C; Grass -1.9C]
7th: With overcast skies and a light S'ly airflow it was a mild night with a minimum of 7.1C. Pressure 1033 mb remained high with high-Belgium (1036 mb) dominating the weather with the anticyclonic gloom. Dull with a few spits of drizzle in the morning but dry in the afternoon. Very small range of temperature in the day; only 0.5C. Fishguard was a bright spot with a hole in the cloud; it had 5.2h of sunshine. A cloudy and mild night dry at first but spots of drizzle later. [Rain trace; Max 7.6C; Min 7.1C; Grass 6.5C]
8th: Another murky start to the day with a little light rain and very poor visibility. Pressure was unchanged at 1033 mb and it was calm. Some rain or drizzle in the morning with fog in the Menai Strait between and beyond the bridges much of the dry. The cloud lifted for a time in the afternoon but it remained overcast. A dry but cloudy night. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 6.8C; Min 6.1C; Grass 5.0C]
9th: With little change in pressure 1032 mb the general situation remains the same with high (1043 mb) N Italy and low (957 mb) Greenland. Little or no wind and overcast with thick haze but the mountaintops were just visible. Plenty of snow patches on the Carneddau and Crib Goch but no continuous snow. Temperatures are colder again and it was freezing on the summits overnight. Here, there had been a ground frost (-1.0C) but there was no ice on the ground at 0900 GMT. A small low W of Brest was bringing wintry showers to the SW and the S coast of England. The morning here remained overcast and very murky but the cloud thinned and lifted by late afternoon. The day's maximum was only 4.0C, the lowest of the month. At dusk there were breaks in the cloud and further clearance brought clear skies by midnight. Over 60 schools were closed, no not in North Wales but, in 'winter sunshine holiday island' Cyprus where unexpected snowfall isolated many mountain villages. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 4.0C; Min 2.6C; Grass -1.0C]
10th: Extensive hoar frost before dawn with airfrost (-1.1C) and ground frost (-5.4C). The sun rose above the Carneddau Mountains at 0854 GMT to give a sunny but hazy (with smoke in the Strait up to 2500 feet) morning with little or no wind. Pressure 1030 mb was declining slowly as Atlantic-low pressure was moving fronts very close to the NW. The afternoon was also sunny with a maximum of 5.7C. After dusk a patch of cloud moved across but the sky cleared again later resulting in frost. [Rain trace; Max 5.7C; Min -1.1C; Grass -5.4C]
11th: It was cloudy before dawn with a light shower around 06 GMT as patchy light rain moved across the NW from the Irish Sea.. Pressure 1026 mb was a little lower with the wind veering S'ly in the night the temperature had been rising and was 5.3C at 0900 GMT rising to 8.0C around noon. The day remained cloudy with a few spots of rain early and in the afternoon. There were 1 or 2 clear spells in the night but there was no frost. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 8.0C; Min -0.7C; Grass -5.5C]
12th: A bright start to the day with thin high cloud and early on a few lee-wave clouds. The wind was a S'ly force 4 and pressure 1025 mb still relatively high but beginning to fall with pressure low to the W with fronts near Ireland. There was a patch of rain over the Western Isles. The day remained dry and with the wind S'ly it was mild with a maximum of 12.3C, the highest of the month, and RH of 54%. The warmth was also felt over Ireland and Scotland where Aultbea (Highland) with 13.3C saw the highest of the day. The first snowdrops of the year emerged and some honey bees were tempted out and spotted on Erica December Red on the rockery banks in the garden. During the evening with pressure dipping to 1009 mb the SSE'ly wind strengthened, with downdraught from the mountains, to gale force 8 but moderated by midnight. [Rain trace; Max 12.3C; Min 5.3C; Grass 3.6C]
13th: With an occluded front over the Irish Sea the SW, Wales and the NW was affected by a band of light rain or drizzle. It had been mild overnight and the temperature at 0900 GMT 10.2C. Pressure was 1017 mb had risen but there were lows in mid-Atlantic (972 mb) and near Newfoundland (967 mb) while remaining high over Spain (1035 mb) and S Europe. Here the morning remained dull with mist and rain from 11-13 GMT that accumulated 1.7 mm. A small fall for January but the largest amount so far. A little brightness and a glimmer of sunshine early in the afternoon was the best on offer. By 1600 GMT there was fog but this cleared after dark to give a clear starry sky. After midnight the sky became overcast and it was becoming windier. [Rain 1.7 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 8.0C; Grass 6.44C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 14 January 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
14th: A grey start to the day with spots of rain and drizzle on the force 5-6 S'ly wind. Pressure 1018 mb had fallen overnight as Icelandic-low (966 mb) tracked NE. There were fronts in the Irish Sea bringing rain to W Scotland and NW Ireland. With the warm Atlantic airstream it was keeping mild (9.5C at 0900 GMT) in the W with daily mean temperatures 4C above the long-term average. A spell of rain in the morning then some drizzle in the afternoon before becoming colder after 1600 GMT with the overnight temperature keeping about 5C. It had been wet over Snowdonia with Capel Curig reporting 22 mm of rain in the 24-h to 18 GMT. [Rain 4.3 mm; Max 10.1C; Min 5.8C; Grass 1.8C]
; "An almost clear sky over Anglesey on 15 January 2002. View is from Bangor looking across the Menai Strait towards Beaumaris with Puffin Island beyond."){kind=small}
; "A working platform at Porth Penrhyn in Bangor on 15 January 2002. The rig is the larger of 2 doing work for Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences. It remained cloudier on this side of the Strait and over the mountains."){kind=small}
15th: Rain and a few ice pellets from 0630-08 GMT that fell as snow over the mainland mountains upwards from about 1500 ft. Pressure was 1014 mb with the Icelandic low (985 mb) the airflow was more W to NW'ly and had brought colder air with the return of wintry weather. At 0900 GMT with the clearance of the front the sky began to clear giving a sunny day over Anglesey and the North Wales coast. The mountains continued to have cumulus clouds over them with a few snow showers on the summits. With clear sky at first after dark there was a touch of ground frost. Later in the night, with the approach of a warm front, it became cloudy and warmer. [Rain trace; Max 8.0C; Min 4.3C; Grass 1.0C]
16th: A dull and misty start to the day with a moderate SW'ly wind. Temperatures had been rising and was 7.3C at 0900 GMT. A warm front was lying N-S over the Mersey. The day remained dull with a few spots of rain at times. From 17 GMT there was almost continuous light to moderate rain through the night accumulating 15.3 mm. This was the most rain in 24-h since the 28/29th November 2001 that had 31.6 and 15.0 mm respectively. [Rain 15.3 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 3.2C; Grass -1.2C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 17 January 2002. Courtesy of Georg Muller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
; "While the sky cleared over Anglesey the Snowdonia Mountains remained cloud covered on 17 January 2002. View is from Llansadwrn towards the Ogwen Valley."){kind=small}
17th: It was still raining at 0900 GMT with low cloud and mist obscuring the mountains. A slow-moving cold front was sliding up the Irish Sea giving rain from Wick to Plymouth. Pressure was 1011 mb with the low (976 mb) W of Iceland. By 1030 GMT the rain had ceased and the cloud lifted and cleared over Anglesey to give a sunny day. Over the mountains the the cloud hung around the summits all day. The night clear at first became cloudy and windier before dawn. [Rain 0.8 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 7.5C; Grass 6.9C]
; "Click for Meteosat image at 1000 GMT on 18 January 2002. Courtesy of Ulm University."){kind=small}
18th: The last of the clear sky was seen disappearing over Conwy at dawn. Deep Atlantic-low (960 mb) SW of Iceland steaming NE'ly was bringing several rain-bearing fronts towards the W. By 0900 GMT pressure here was 1014 mb and rain was affecting the W of Ireland. The day remained dull with a few spots of rain at 0920 GMT. The force 4-5 S'ly wind strengthened to force 6-7 by the afternoon with some rain from 1330 GMT. The wind remained strong but it became dry. With temperatures around freezing on the mountaintops a sprinkling of snow was seen above 2800 ft on Carnedd Dafydd (Snowdon was obscured in cloud) and was likely to remain overnight. [Rain 1.3 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 2.2C; Grass 1.7C]
19th: The wind had moderated by morning and was WSW'ly force 3. The sky was beginning to clear but there was low cloud and mist over the mountains. Pressure was rising at 1006 mb with the low (969 mb) filling S of Iceland we were into a showery airflow. There had been thundery showers over Ireland, South Wales and Scotland. A succession of Atlantic-lows promises some more rough weather to come. A bright morning with the cloud partially clearing here but not over the mountains where there continued to be cumulus clouds. By afternoon it was cloudier and becoming windier and milder. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 10.1C; Min 5.5C; Grass 2.7C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 20 January 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
20th: A strengthening S-SW'ly wind brought with a little rain before dawn. The wind rose to gale force 8 with strong gusts of 50 mph as pressure of 1000 mb continued to fall. With low (975 mb) to the NW of Scotland winds across the UK were strong. But it was mild with the temperature rising from the 5.5C yesterday morning to 10.1C just before 0900 GMT. The day was windy with a little light rain at times and poor visibility. Hawarden (Flintshire) reported the highest UK temperature of 14.7C in the 24-h to 18 GMT benefiting again by being in the lee of the Snowdonia Mountains. [Rain 0.7 mm; Max 11.1C; Min 5.5C; Grass 3.5C]
; "Click for Meteosat image at 1000 GMT on 21 January 2002 showing low W of Malin and frontal cloud over the UK. and Portugal. Note cloud also over N Africa. Courtesy of Ulm University."){kind=small}
; "Click for Meteosat image at 0930 GMT on 21 January 2002 showing deepening low S of Newfoundland. Courtesy of Ulm University."){kind=small}
21st: It was mild overnight with a minimum of 9.2C, warmest of the month and 3rd highest January minimum on record here. Only 1998 (12.2C) and 1990 (9.8C) were warmer. It was again windy with the SSW'ly force 7 with occasional strong gusts of up to 50 mph. But on Snowdon there was a gust of 65 mph at 0545 GMT. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 11.0C, the day's maximum, making the 24-h mean 10.1C only the 6th January mean to reach 10C, or more, in records since 1979 (all are since 1996). Pressure 1001 mb was falling a little with low (963 mb) W of Malin. And out in the wings a deepening low (966 mb) off S Newfoundland was moving towards the UK (see satellite image). The day was dull remained dull with spots of rain and poor visibility. The S'ly wind was gale for 8 at times with gusts reaching 55 mph on Anglesey. (72 mph on Snowdon). The Britannia Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles and speed restrictions were in force. There was rain on a cold front from 18 GMT to 02 GMT and was heavy (including ice pellets) around 01 GMT . As the low made its way towards the Western Isles pressure fell to 992 mb around midnight before starting to rise again. By dawn the sky was starting to clear after the cold front had passed. [Rain 8.9 mm; Max 11.0C; Min 9.2C; Grass 7.0C]
22nd: With the sky clearing rapidly temperature 5.4C was at its 24-h lowest at 0900 GMT. Pressure 997 mb was rising with low near Cape Wrath. The morning started bright and sunny. Yesterday's Newfoundland low (now 960 mb) was in mid-Atlantic but on course for the UK. The wind was a moderate WSW'ly and remained strong to gale-force all day. It was mainly sunny over Anglesey and the mainland coast with cloud confined to the mountain summits. It was cloudier and warmer by evening and there were 2 bands of rain from 2030-22 GMT and 03-0530 GMT. [Rain 3.8 mm; Max 10.1C; Min 5.4C; Grass 3.0C]
23rd: The sky was clearing just after dawn but it was still windy with the SSW'ly force 5. The mild spell continued with the 0900 GMT reading 9.5C. The low now complex (966 mb) was to the SW of Ireland and pressure here 983 mb was falling quickly as it was moving towards the Irish Sea. The morning was bright at first but with cumulus clouds in the vicinity it was not long before the sky darkened and there was a showers of rain but the maximum reached 11.1C. The afternoon was similar with sunny spells and the odd passing shower. As the low passed nearby on its way to the North Sea pressure was lowest, 0974 mb, about 18 GMT. It was wet in Gwynedd with Capel Curig reporting 36 mm rain in the 24-h to 18 GMT. There was a spell of rain here from 20-22 GMT before becoming showery again as the wind veered W'ly. [Rain 7.9 mm; Max 11.1C; Min 5.4C; Grass 2.6C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 24 January 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
24th: As the wind veered N'ly in the night it became cooler and was lowest (6.0C) at 0900 GMT. Pressure 0994 mb at 0900 GMT was rising as a small ridge of high-pressure crossed the UK. The low (977 mb) was in the North Sea. Cooler air from Scandinavia (where it was very cold in the N) was being drawn down across the northwest. Visibility was good but the mainland mountaintops were obscured in cloud. A spell of rain here during the morning fell as snow above 2000 feet on the Snowdonia Mountains seen lying at 1400 GMT. The afternoon was bright with sunny spells and further snow showers over the mountaintops. By 20 GMT the sky had cleared, there was a moderate ground frost, but cloud encroached again by 02 GMT. [Rain 2.1 mm; Max 6.9C; Min 6.0C; Grass 5.2C]
25th: There was light rain from 07 GMT and it was misty with only moderate visibility with the mountains obscured in low cloud.. Pressure 1008 mb was falling with the approach of another Atlantic-low (960 mb) S of Greenland with the wind turning SE'ly since midnight. Several fronts were about to cross from the W and the first, a warm front, was crossing the Irish Sea giving heavy precipitation over Northern Ireland. Over high ground it may be cold enough for snow in the NW but here, at 300 feet, it was not cold enough. From Cumbria northwards there were widespread reports of snow. In parts of Scotland there were 10 cm snow and there was even heavy snow and freezing drizzle in Dundee. The day here was blustery with a little light rain or drizzle at times. Later a band of moderate to heavy rain resulted in 17.8 mm accumulated by morning, the largest 24-h fall in the month. But Capel Curig (Gwynedd) again topped the list with 30 mm in the 24-h to 18 GMT. [Rain 17.8 mm; Max 11.2C; Min 1.1C; Grass -2.7C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 26 January 2002. Courtesy of Georg Muller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
; "Map of the sferics recorded between 00-07 GMT on 26 January 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
26th: There were gales in the English Channel and the Irish Sea with ferries from Fishguard to Rosslare disrupted. Capel Curig reported a gust of 66 mph around 06 GMT and it was rough here as well with the S'ly reaching gale force 8 from 0530-0730 GMT. As a cold front passed thunder was heard at 0545 GMT over the mountains and there was a temperature drop of 3C. Later this feature developed as a line squall that spawned a tornado and damaged houses in Alsager in Cheshire. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 990 mb with a low (975 mb) Northern Ireland moving NE. It was a mild 9.5C with the wind then moderating to force 5-6. Any snow that fell on the Snowdonia Mountains on the 24th had thawed. The morning was dull with spots of rain on the wind from time to time but, by the afternoon, it was brighter with a little sunshine although still breezy. With soils now waterlogged there were pools of water on nearby fields. In Powys the winds blew down several trees and there was flooding between Carmarthen and Llandeilo. Flood warnings were issued for several Welsh rivers. As a small ridge of high-pressure moved over the night became quiet and it remained dry reducing further risk of flooding. [Rain trace; Max 10.2C; Min 6.5C; Grass 5.4C]
27th: An overcast start to the day but the cloud was high and the mountain summits, including Snowdon, could be seen clearly. There was no snow, not even any patches in gullies, as it has been so mild. At 0900 GMT pressure 999 mb had risen but low (960 mb) W of Ireland was deepening and moving towards Rockall. A rain-bearing warm front was bringing rain to S Ireland and the SW and moving NE. The wind was a light SW'ly. The day was dull with rain at times and became windier at dusk. During the night it was very windy with the SW'ly reaching gale-force. Hawarden (Flintshire) once again was the warmest spot returning a maximum of 14.7C. [Rain 1.8 mm; Max 12.1C; Min 5.9C; Grass 3.1C]
28th: Pressure 1001 mb at 0900 GMT was rising and the sky clearing with a gale force 8 SW'ly. There were strong gusts with the Snowdon AWS reporting up to 82 mph. The deep low (957 mb) was near Rockall; there was a rough over Ireland, the SW and W. Heavy thundery showers were frequent but missed here although sferics were recorded over Snowdonia. Rain was patchy over Scotland and the SE. The day became sunny but the wind was the main factor continuing at gale or near gale-force. The Britannia Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles and many ferries from South Wales to Scotland bound for Ireland were disrupted. Valley was reporting gale force 8 with gusts up to 60 mph. The wind was affecting other parts of the UK as well closing several bridges including Severn and Tay. Winds were strongest in Northern Ireland and Scotland disrupting electricity supplies to over 40,000 homes. Exposed and mountain locations experienced some very high gusts. At the Tay Bridge a gust of 99 mph was recorded while on Snowdon 105 mph was seen at 1430 GMT. On Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, 120 mph was recorded. Many trees have been brought down all over Britain damaging buildings, vehicles and a train. Several roads in N England and Scotland were closed, as a result of overturned vehicles, and 8 people killed in weather related incidents. All train services N of Newcastle and into Scotland were suspended. Tides around the coast were high; there were spectacular sea running into Hells Mouth near Abersoch (Gwynedd) where there was a 96 mph gust. But coastal defences, along the North Wales coast, held on this occasion helped by the winds being more S'ly than N'ly. [Rain trace; Max 10.4C; Min 6.6C; Grass 5.5C]
29th: A brighter start to the day with a little pink sky in the SE after dawn. It was soon cloudier with low cloud and mist and rain affecting western mountains and coasts. Pressure was 1012 mb, it was a mild 9.7C and less windy with the S'ly force 5-6 at 0900 GMT. Later it became brighter but the wind again reached gale-force for a time around 14 GMT. The afternoon then turned sunny with the sky clearing at dusk. The clear slot did not last long as cloud and a broad band of rain from 01 GMT, heavy at times, moved across. [Rain 11.0 mm; Max 11.0C; Min 7.3C; Grass 5.3C]
30th: At dawn despite the rain and wind a 'storm cock' (Mistle thrush) was singing at the top of a tall tree near the weather station. The rain continued until just after 09 GMT. The cloud was beginning to lift and a torrent of water could be seen on the rocks above Llyn Idwal. With soil saturated with water and rain will lead to large runoff. Rainfall here can be multiplied by a factor of between 3 and 5 for the Snowdonia Mountains. I would expect about 30 mm above Cwm Idwal and up to 50 mm overnight on Snowdon. Capel Curig reported 30 mm rain in the 24-h to 18 GMT. Pressure 1006 mb was falling with a wedge of fronts over the Irish Sea. With further Atlantic-lows to the W it was continuing mild and windy. It was a cloudy day with no sunshine. At 21 GMT there was a heavy shower of rain that included ice pellets but the rest of the night was dry. [Rain 2.6 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 8.4C; Grass 6.5C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 31 January 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
31st: Some clear sky to the E gave a pink sunrise before cloud was descending again. Already obscuring the western mountains only Carnedd Llewelyn and summits eastwards were just clear cloud at 0900 GMT. Temperatures were below freezing on Snowdon overnight but rose 5C during the day. Here it was 7.2C but felt cold in the force 5 S'ly. There were spots of rain by 0930 GMT as a large band of rain covering Ireland was starting to encroach from the W. Pressure was 1007 mb but a deep Atlantic-low (962 mb) to the W was bringing strengthening winds to the NW. It soon became very windy with the S'ly reaching gale force 8 with lashing rain. Valley reported gusts up to 59 mph while at Abersoch (Gwynedd) it reached 75 mph at 1400 GMT. The Britannia Bridge was again closed to high-sided vehicles. Strong winds were affecting the whole of the UK and two men were killed when their car was crushed by a falling tree. By 16 GMT the wind eased but many ferries crossing the Irish Sea from Fishguard and Holyhead were cancelled causing problems for rugby fans travelling for the Ireland-Wales match on Sunday. The winds eased later in the day and the night was quieter at first but had returned by 04 GMT accompanied by heavy rain. Capel Curig was the wettest with 40 mm rain to 18 GMT. [Rain 16.8 mm; Max 11.0 C; Min 4.8C; Grass 2.5C]
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; "Waves lashing against the pier and the Blue Peter Lifeboat House at Beaumaris during the storm on 1 February 2002. Photo taken 1 hour after high water."){kind=small}
1st: Strong to storm force winds along Irish Sea coasts and high ground. Abersoch (Gwynedd) reported mws of 56 mph (force 10) with gusts up to 82 mph. On Anglesey it was almost as bad with Valley reporting force 9 winds and gusts of 70 mph. Here the wind was roaring in the trees and bending them over with many twigs and small branches breaking off. There was intermittent heavy rain and visibility was poor. Pressure 991 mb was falling more slowly as low (933 mb) W of Malin was moving N towards Iceland with a broad band of rain covering Ireland and the Irish Sea. There was further rain during the morning and local roads became awash with runoff water and were partially flooded in several places. Local streams including the Cadnant and Braint (sources in Llansadwrn) were beginning to burst their banks. With a high 10m spring tide at 1 o'clock, and a tidal surge due to the storm, an anxious watch was kept around the coast. The railway line at Deganwy had some water on the track. At Beaumaris some water and debris came on the road but there was no serious flooding. But at Aberffraw and Malltraeth some houses near the shore were flooded and fields at Red Wharf Bay were inundated with water reaching the road. There was flooding also at Dwyran where the Braint burst it banks. Several rivers were on flood alert and parts of the Conwy Valley and Llanwrst were flooded. The river Ogwen overflowed and flooded farmland near Bethesda where a house was also flooded. At Caernarfon the high tide and river water flooded the quay alongside the castle swamping several parked cars. At least 12 trees were blown over at Penrhyn Caste near Bangor and led to the postponement of the 'snowdrop weekend'. The whole of the UK was affected by the strong winds and the Tay and Severn Bridges were again closed while several others, including the Britannia, were closed to high-vehicles. A man was swept from Brighton Pier and drowned. After easing at first the wind returned to gale-force in the night. [Rain 13.0 mm; Max 11.1C; Min 5.6C; Grass 2.2C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 2 February 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
; "Tidal defences were tested at Ynys Gored Goch in the Menai Strait between the bridges on 2 February 2002."){kind=small}
2nd: No respite in the gales around exposed coasts and high-ground. Low (939 mb) Iceland with the tightly packed isobars over the UK maintaining the strong SW'ly. Pressure here was 996 mb and rising slowly but another low (974 mb) has formed W of Ireland. This is a feature of this very disturbed spell of weather the result of conflict between warm and cold air. A band of rain had cleared to the SE leaving it drier but overcast with moderate visibility. The temperature at 09 GMT was 11.1C, the day's maximum. The gale force 8 wind moderated slowly during the day. High tide was near 2 o'clock between the bridges and it was a close call at Ynys Gored Goch with the water lapping the top of the tidal defences (see photo). Flooding was occurring widely in W Wales, Crickhowell (Powys) was virtually cut off during the day. The A465 Heads of the Valleys Road at Clydach Gorge in South Wales was closed due to a landslide caused by the heavy rain. Capel Curig reported 47 mm the most rainfall in the 24-h to 18 GMT. With clouds darkening at 1640 GMT there was heavy rain that included ice pellets accompanied by a 3C drop in temperature. The nights minimum was 5.9C at 04 GMT. The wind began to increase again and there was more rain from midnight, heavy at times, and with a warm front the temperature had risen to 10.7C at 07 GMT. [Rain 14.2 mm; (Capel Curig 67.4 mm) Max 11.1C; Min 8.5C; Grass 8.5C]
3rd: Pressure had fallen to 993 mb with a small low (988 mb) over the Irish Sea. The warm front had just cleared and the ragged low cloud was beginning to clear. Visibility was only moderate but the Carneddau summits could just be seen. The wind was gale force 8 again with some strong gusts. Abersoch (Gwynedd) reported a gust of 74 mph at 0815 GMT. The morning was blustery with a little sunshine and showers. The afternoon was sunnier, and much less windy but colder. The night was showery with some clear spells at first. Prestatyn (Flintshire 6.1h sunshine; Capel Curig 37 mm rainfall). [Rain 2.2 mm; Max 9.0C; Min 5.9C; Grass 5.4C]
4th: A colder night with a touch of ground frost. A quiet dawn with some pink sky over Conwy in the E but it was to herald more wet and windy weather. By 0900 GMT with pressure 1001 mb falling it was raining with the S'ly force 4 becoming blustery. Previous good visibility had deteriorated to poor in the rain. With further paired lows (969 mb) to the W and attendant fronts a large area of rain was affecting Ireland the SW and Wales. Followers of the Shipping Forecast will notice from midday today the use of the sea area FitzRoy, after Admiral Robert FitzRoy (1805-65) who commanded the Beagle that took Charles Darwin around the world in 1831. But he helped found, and direct, the Met Office and pioneered the use of synoptic charts starting the first system of issuing gale warnings. The new sea area replaces Finisterre, in agreement with Spain and France, that it partially overlaps. Appropriately there were gale warnings for most sea areas today. By noon the wind was strong to gale force 8 with further light rain but heavier between 16-18 GMT before becoming showery in the night. The rain over Wales added to the swollen rivers and there was flooding of the Wye and Monnow in Monmouth by the evening. (Capel Curig 36 mm 24-h to 18 GMT). [Rain 5.7 mm; Max 10.7C; Min 3.2C; Grass -0.7C]
5th: Continuing mild in the run of Atlantic-lows. Pressure (967 mb) was low to the NW and pressure here 988 mb had fallen over the past 24-h. There was a force 5 SSW'ly. The sky was clearer (6 oktas at 0900 GMT) but there were cumulus clouds over the mountains and the W. There were crepuscular rays in the Nant Ffrancon Pass and there were blustery showers in the morning. Leaves of bluebell in the wood have emerged a few days earlier than last year and some are already 3-5 cm above ground. In the afternoon there were frequent showers that included snow pellets and ice pellets. Another shower of rain in the night. [Rain 6.6 mm; Max 8.5C; Min 6.6C; Grass 5.5C]
6th: After dawn the sky began to clear over Anglesey and the temperature at 0900 GMT was the coldest of the past 24-h. Pressure 1003 mb had risen as a ridge of high-pressure moved in from the W and there was a cool NW'ly wind. Low (986 mb) in the North Sea had small fronts that brought wintry showers to the Highlands. It was soon sunny (Valley 7.5h) but cloud affected some coastal areas and obscuring the mountains until late afternoon. As the cloud lifted from the mountains snow was seen above 2900 feet. The night was clear at first with a moderate ground frost. Cloud and a long broad band of rain, with the S'ly wind increasing in strength, moved across from the W later. (Capel Curig 11 mm 24-h to 18 GMT and total for the year so far 474 mm; here the total is 145 mm). [Rain 3.7 mm; Max 8.6C; Min 4.5C; Grass 0.6C]
7th: A blustery and wet start to the day with the S'ly wind strong to gale force 8 with strong 50 mph gusts. Pressure 1009 mb was falling with a low to the NW. Light rain at first but the wind moderated but it became foggy by noon and was thick (less than 100 m) through most of the afternoon. Just before dusk the fog lifted and the sky cleared from the W. It was a better day in Conwy where the temperature reached 14C while here it only managed 9.8C. With the approach of another set of fronts it was cloudy again with light rain by morning. [Rain 1.5 mm; Max 9.8C; Min 1.5C; Grass -3.5C]
8th: A damp and overcast start to the day with a little light rain. Pressure was 1013 mb and falling as yet another low-pressure system moved towards N Scotland. It was continuing mild and, once again, the small amount of snow on the mountaintops had thawed. The morning remained overcast and dull. By afternoon there was a spell moderate to heavy rain with a force 6-7 WSW'ly wind before turning colder and showery after 03 GMT. [Rain 15.7 mm (Capel Curig 50.0 mm); Max 10.7C; Min 6.0C; Grass 5.2C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 9 February 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
9th: Showers and some ice pellets in the early hours. Pressure was 999 mb with the low (971 mb) between Iceland Scotland. We were in a fresh to strong W'ly showery airstream with some breaks in the cloud appearing at 0900 GMT. It was keeping mild (mountains here clear of snow) over most of W Europe with the only cold weather in the N and E. The day was mainly cloudy but was sometimes bright with showers confined to coasts and high ground in Snowdonia. It remained windy into the night and there was a shower of rain and ice pellets before midnight. [Rain 0.8 mm; Max 9.0C; Min 5.6C; Grass 3.2C]
10th: A bright start to the day with a little sunshine but it was soon cloudier again. Pressure 1006 mb had risen a a small ridge of high pressure passed over in the night. But with another Atlantic-low (966 mb) heading our way more rain, already over Ireland, was expected later. The morning was mainly cloudy with a slight shower about 1030 GMT before moderate rain started at noon. With a strong to gale-force wind there was heavy rain during the afternoon only easing about 23 GMT. There were further showers in the night and at 06 GMT that, in total, accumulated 33.7 mm, the largest of the month. (But Capel Curig had 54 mm in the 24-h to 18 GMT, 47 mm fell in the last 12 h mostly since 11 GMT).. [Rain 33.7 mm (Capel Curig 121.0 mm); Max 10.5C; Min 5.9C; Grass 3.3C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 00 GMT on 11 February 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
11th: At 0900 GMT the sky was starting to clear after the passage of the warm front that gave yesterday's rain. It had been a mild night with the temperature not below 10C, the minimum was at 09 GMT on the 10th. Pressure 994 mb was beginning to rise with a moderate SW'ly wind. By 11 GMT the sky was clear over Anglesey and it was a sunny morning the afternoon was a little cloudier. The day's maximum of 11.4C was the warmest of the month. The night was partially cloudy with one or two clear spells. It remained dry throughout. (Capel Curig had 73 mm rain in the 24-h to 18 GMT this falling mainly between 18 GMT on the 10th to the morning of the 11th. Here the total for the month was 97 mm but at Capel Curig 356 mm, 3.7 times more. Both are already above February averages). [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.4C; Min 7.0C; Grass 6.0C]
12th: A bright start to the day but soon becoming cloudy. Pressure 1006 had risen and with a large high (1027 mb) in mid-Atlantic there were prospects of some quieter and drier weather but colder weather later in the week. The wind was a moderate WSW but visibility was only moderate in thick haze. The morning was mainly cloudy with showers confined mainly to Scotland and the South West. By the afternoon it was brighter with the sky clearing before dusk. The night was clear at first, with the temperature dipping to 0.5C on the grass, before becoming cloudier and warmer temporarily. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 7.5C; Grass 4.8C]
13th: A narrow band of showery rain passed over from 06 GMT giving 0.9 mm that would have fallen as snow above 2500 feet on the Snowdonia Mountains. At 0900 GMT the fresh wind had turned N'ly, the temperature was at its coldest (5.5C) for the past 24-h, and some breaks had appeared in the cloud. With the Atlantic-high (1031 mb) edging closer to Ireland pressure 1018 mb had been rising steadily. The morning was cloudy but the afternoon became mainly sunny. The night was mainly clear. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 7.6C; Min 5.5C; Grass 0.5C]
; "Silver frost (frozen supercooled dew) on blades of grass on the morning of 14 February 2002. ."){kind=small}
14th: A much colder night than of late with a minimum of 0.5C and -4.0C on the grass. There was a covering of silver frost (frozen dew drops) that was glistening in the sunshine just before 0900 GMT. Pressure was 1035 mb with the high-pressure (1036 mb) centred to the SW with a ridge over Ireland, Wales and northern England. There was hazy sunshine with high cirrus cloud and some smoke hanging over the Menai Strait. There was snow on Carnedd Llewelyn (3000 feet) and a light dusting of snow on Snowdon above 2700 feet. The morning and afternoon was sunny with a little SE'ly wind, or calm at times at first, becoming SW'ly later. The night was clear at first with a ground frost but was cloudy later. [Rain 0.4 mm; Max 8.1C; Min 0.5C; Grass -4.0C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 15 February 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
15th: Pressure remained high 1037 mb but as can happen in anticyclonic conditions cloud on a weak cold front over North Wales gave some drizzle before and after dawn. Visibility was poor and there was a light W'ly wind. During the day the cloud thinned and it was bright around noon and brought the maximum temperature back above 10C. The front was slow to move S and did not clear from Anglesey until 17 GMT when a little mist began to form over the fields. The evening was clear with a ground frost but it was cloudy again by dawn. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 1.3C; Grass -3.4C]
; "Click for Meteosat image at 0930 GMT on 16 February 2002. Courtesy of Ulm University."){kind=small}
16th: High-pressure (1034 mb) was centred over South Wales and there was little or no wind. Thin high cloud had returned overnight and there was slight smoke haze. Where there had been clear sky over parts of central England there were patches of fog. There was a cold front in the Atlantic to the NW and a low in the Mediterranean (clearly seen on the meteosat image) giving some rain to the S of France and parts of N Africa. It was also giving snow on the Alps. Here there was a little snow on Carnedd Llewelyn and Crib Goch and Yr Wyddfa summits. The day and night were mainly cloudy but dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.0C; Min 2.6C; Grass -2.0C]
17th: Pressure 1023 mb had fallen as yesterday's high had moved away, but another Atlantic-high (1037 mb) was to the W and intensifying. It was a dry but cloudy morning with a light breeze from the SW. To the NW there was some rain associated with a cold front over Northern Ireland and Scotland, whereas to the S it was clear and colder with fog patches. The rain reached here before 1300 GMT and had passed by 1600 GMT. During the night the sky gradually cleared so that by morning there was a frost on the grass. [Rain 2.4 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 5.0C; Grass 3.0C]
; "Click for NOAA image at 1241 GMT on 18 February 2002 showing a snow covered Alps caught in a clear slot between 2 fronts. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
18th: Rain and dew frozen on the grass was melting at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1034 mb was rising with Atlantic-high (1041 mb) SW of Valentia. It was a sunny by misty morning with a light to moderate NW'ly breeze. Yesterday's cold front had moved on to the Channel coasts giving some rain in northern France. There were moderate wintry showers over Scotland and Northern Ireland. A mainly sunny morning but a cloudier afternoon becoming showery later. Some rain in the evening then a mild dry night with the temperature about 8C. [Rain 2.0 mm; Max 2.3C; Min 2.2C; Grass -3.5C]
19th: A damp start to the day with intermittent slight rain. A mild 7.5C at 0900 GMT and with mist resulting in poor to moderate visibility. With February more than half over temperatures are 2C above average. Many plants, including clematis, are beginning to produce shoots. A dwarf white rhododendron is in flower as are primroses, but these are always early. There is a good display of snowdrops and crocus. Pressure was 1020 mb with the Atlantic-high (1043 mb) still to the SW. But pressure was low (986 mb) between Greenland and Iceland, and (991 mb) Denmark giving unsettled weather. The latter had fronts over the UK and N France. The morning was dull with light rain or drizzle at times and became wetter and windier by afternoon as isobars tightened between the low and high-pressure. There was continuous moderate rain from 13-2330 GMT that contributed most to the 20.5 mm rain for the 24-h 09-09 GMT. (Capel Curig 56.4 mm). [Rain 20.5 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 2.3C; Grass -0.2C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 20 February 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
20th: After midnight it was colder and there was a shower of rain and ice pellets at 07 GMT. Pressure 0996 mb had fallen with the low 979 mb now just N of Scotland. Weather in N Scandinavia had turned cold again (-30C) and there was snow over Denmark. There were also snow showers over the Scottish Highlands. Here the temperature was 6.5C, with a fresh to moderate NW'ly wind, with wintry conditions already on the summits of the Snowdonia Mountains. The morning was mainly sunny but there were several showers of rain in the afternoon and a few ice pellets. The wind, strong to gale force 8, turned N'ly and there were gusts of 60 mph resulting in the Britannia Bridge being closed to high-sided vehicles and a 20 mph speed restriction. In the night there was a clear and calm slot as a ridge of high-pressure passed over. The rainfall total from 1 January to 20 February is 123.4 mm but at Capel Curig it is 875.0 mm, unusually 7 times more and a 1 in 60 years chance of reoccurrence. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 5.2C; Grass 2.6C]
21st: A moderate ground frost (-4.4C) and 0.1C air minimum, both lowest of the month, but with cloud before dawn the temperature had risen to 4.5C (the minimum for the next 24-h) by 0900 GMT (pressure 1020 mb). A long band of rain in the Irish Sea, associated with a warm front, had just reached here. The morning became misty with light rain or drizzle and poor visibility. Atlantic-high (1044 mb) was still to the SW but lows to the N and E would continue to keep the weather unsettled. The afternoon was wet with a burst of heavy rain around 15 GMT. A new road surface was being laid on the road that passes the weather station. The rain on the hot tarmac resulted in such dense vapour (like fog) that traffic had to be escorted in batches past the laying equipment. Rain turned showery from 2330 GMT through the night. [Rain 14.6 mm; Max 9.1C; Min 0.1C; Grass -4.4C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 22 February 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
; "Conical shaped hail up to 10 mm diameter at 1441 GMT on 22 February 2002. The hailstone had melted 1 mm by the time I got the camera."){kind=small}
; "Click for NOAA 14 visible image at 1628 GMT on 22 February 2002 showing showers clouds to the NW and frontal cloud to the N of Scotland. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
22nd: A mild night with the maximum at 0600 GMT when pressure 998 mb was lowest. The cloud was beginning to break-up by 0900 GMT but there was a shower of ice pellets with the temperature 6.6C still falling. Pressure 1001 mb had started to rise with low 960 mb Norwegian coast. There was a moderate to fresh NW'ly airflow across the UK with heavy wintry showers associated with cold fronts. The warm fronts of yesterday were giving snow in Scandinavia and Belgium. The morning here was occasionally bright with showers of snow pellets at 1054 GMT and later frequent ice pellets. Showers continued in the afternoon (see satellite image) and included a slight to moderate shower of conical shaped hail up to 10 mm diameter that rapidly melted. Temperatures varied between 4C in showers to 8C in the brighter spells. The wintry showers, including sleet and snow, were more frequent and heavier over the Snowdonia Mountains, with accumulations at higher levels. In the N of England and Scotland strong winds brought down trees and overturned lorries causing much disruption. Overnight it was clearer but with the occasional snow shower. [Rain 2.6 mm; Max 8.0C; Min 4.5C; Grass 4.0C]
23rd: Light snow showers here from dawn but no accumulation; on the mountains there were light patchy deposits as low as 500 feet in places and 1000 feet at Ogwen Cottage with greater but small accumulations above 1500 feet. Pressure was 1002 mb with a deep low (954 mb) N Baltic. Cold dry air was being drawn from the Arctic but moisture was being picked up over the relatively warm sea (8C). When it reaches the colder land surface any precipitation will be of the various forms of ice we have been having the last 2 days. The wind, force 5-6 with a temperature of 2.5C (84% RH, dewpoint 0.1C), continuing to bring wintry showers from the NW. An occluded front over the N of Scotland moving S brought heavy snow to the Highlands. The morning here was brighter with the odd sunny spell with showers of snow from time to time. The afternoon was sunnier and this included coasts bordering the Irish Sea around the Isle of Man, that had 7.5h sunshine the most in the UK. The day's maximum of 6.5C was the coldest of the month. With the sky clear the night was cold at first with a ground frost (-3.2C) but it later warmed as cloud on a warm front encroached by midnight. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 6.5C; Min 1.6C; Grass -0.2C]
24th: There was light rain by dawn with an area of rain, associated with another warm front, to the SW and over Ireland. Pressure was 1010 mb with a succession of Atlantic-lows to the NW and the high 1030 mb Portugal resulting in W-SW'ly winds across the UK. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 3.4C, just too warm for the precipitation to be falling as snow here, but on the mountains above 2000 feet snow at first accumulated but then most melted later. The day remained dull and misty with continuous light to moderate rain that continued until 01 GMT. It was dryish until 05 GMT when there was more rain. [Rain 20.5 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 1.5C; Grass -3.2C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1305 GMT on 25 February 2002 showing low 962 mb near the Western Isles and frontal cloud responsible for the heavy rain. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
25th: Continuous rain at first with a fresh to strong SSW'ly wind. Low (968 mb) was NW of Malin and isobars were tightening over Ireland and the Irish Sea. At 0900 GMT pressure 992 mb was falling with the temperature of 9.4C highest for the past 24-h. It was still raining and there was standing water in the garden and small lakes on nearby fields. The rain turned heavy during the morning and another 11.4 mm fell before 13 GMT. The rain stopped in the afternoon and there were some sunny spells before dusk before once again becoming cloudy with further rain. With rain from 21-07 GMT another 13.2 mm brought the total 09-09 GMT to 24.6 mm. (Capel Curig 66 mm 18-18Z, here 25.6 mm) [Rain 24.6 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 3.4C; Grass 3.3C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 26 February 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
26th: Overnight the 'eye of a storm' passed over. My Oregon storm alarm sounded at 01 GMT with pressure 0976 mb still falling. The lowest seen was 0969 mb about 03 GMT when the wind started to veer W'ly and freshen soon reaching gale force 8. Valley reported 60 mph gusts but winds were stronger to the S, away from the 'eye', and Aberporth had 76 mph and Capel Curig 86 mph. By morning it was a drier and brighter start to the day with pressure 983 mb rising with low (967 mb), the most S'ly of a complex of lows, having moved away into England. There was a fresh W'ly wind and the sky cleared towards noon. A torrent of water was seen, from here, falling down from Llyn Bochlwyd into Llyn Ogwen at the head of the Nant Ffrancon Pass, an indication of the heavy rains on the mountains this month. In the afternoon cloud encroached and as a cold front moved across there were blustery showers. There was a 5C fall in temperature from a maximum of 8.6C and a shower of ice pellets at 1610 GMT. Soon after there was sleet and later, a dusting of snow was seen on the mountains above 2000 feet. Towards evening the showers died out and the sky cleared giving a clear moonlit but windy night with gusts of nearly 50 mph. With the full moon tomorrow the moonlight was brilliant, it is 20% brighter than average this February and the brightest of the year. By August it will be 12% dimmer according to NASA. [Rain 0.7 mm; Max 8.6C; Min 5.6C; Grass 4.2C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1244 GMT on 27 February 2002 showing twin lows near the Western Isles and Northern Ireland. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
27th: A colder night than of late with slight ground frost. It was a bright start to the day, with a little red in the cloudier sky in the E after dawn. The morning was sunny with some cumulus clouds being driven along smartly on the fresh to strong WSW'ly wind. Pressure was 990 mb and the temperature 3.5C (dewpoint 0.0C at 0900 GMT. Pressure continues low (972 mb) to the N with depressions running in from the Atlantic. There was a change on the chart with a high (1034 mb) off Newfoundland the high to the S having slipped away. This brought the northern lows further S and with them some wintry weather. There were frequent showers, some wintry, to the N and S that were thundery. But the day here was mainly sunny although very windy. I was able to mow some grass around the garden for the first time as there had been considerable growth, due to mild weather, since the last cut in the autumn. Some soils here are free-draining (our garden on glacial drift is one) and the surface soon dries in the wind. Other places are much less so, are peaty and keep wet for a long time. These areas, if undrained and not cultivated have interesting wetland floras; there are several on Anglesey but many have been lost through drainage. By 16 GMT pressure 0984 mb was falling as the low now over Northern Ireland moved closer and it was cloudier, the SW'ly wind rose to gale force 8 by 17 GMT when there was some light rain. The gale continued in the evening with gusts of 50 mph but eased well before midnight. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 7.4C; Min 2.6C; Grass -0.4C]
28th: Some snow pellets just as it was getting light and snow showers over the mountains left a sprinkling down to 1500 feet and 1000 feet near Cwm Idwal. Pressure 991 mb was still low with the depressions centred nearby but was starting to rise slowly. There was a thundery trough giving showers and strong winds in the Channel and an occluded front with wintry precipitation to the N; there had been snow in Belfast earlier. The morning here was at times sunny but with cumulus clouds in the vicinity the threat of further wintry showers. A few snow pellets fell near 13 GMT and a flurry of snow at 14 GMT. Showers were more frequent over the mountains where further small accumulation of snow occurred. The night was mainly cloudy but dry with the wind veering N'ly then ENE'ly by morning. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 7.8C; Min 2.2C; Grass -0.5C]
With a total of 187.7 mm rain February ranked the 2nd wettest on record. Wettest was in 1958 that had 193 mm (average of 2 Llansadwrn stations 196.1 mm and 189.7 mm) followed by 1990 with 181 mm. There is hope for a good summer as 1990 was one of the better. On 2nd August a maximum of 33.0C was recorded, the highest on record in Anglesey!
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; "Strong NE wind running waves into Traeth Goch (Red Wharf Bay) at high tide on 1 March 2002."){kind=small}
; "High water in Traeth Goch (Red Wharf Bay) on 1 March 2002. View looking across to the Ship Inn and Trwyn Dwlban."){kind=small}
; "Waves lashing cottages on the edge of Traeth Goch (Red Wharf Bay) on 1 March 2002. The road along side was inundated."){kind=small}
; "View looking SW up the flooded valley of the Afon Nodwydd that drains into Traeth Goch."){kind=small}
1st: Daffodils have flowered early so they were available this year for St. David's Day celebrations. But I need to checkout my leeks, the other symbol of Wales, as a new EU rule announced today lays down minimum standards. Top quality leeks must have a white base at least one third of the total length. Also early leeks must be a minimum of 8 mm, and others 10 mm, measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis above the swelling of the neck. It was a bright start to the day but the moderate ENE'ly wind made the 3.8C feel even colder. Pressure 1012 mb had risen in the past 24-h as mid-Atlantic high (1038 mb) extended a ridge across northern Britain. Low (994 mb) was in the SW approaches and bringing wintry conditions to SW Ireland (unusually snow in Cork) and SW England. A warm front across Spain, S France gave a lot of snow on the Alps. Here the morning was mainly sunny and, with a 10.3 m spring tide in Red Wharf Bay at noon, the strong Nor'easter was running in a spectacular sea. The water reached the road and almost reached the top of the arch of the old stone bridge to cottages on the shore line. With the tide holding back the river water the salt marsh and some farm fields were flooded, this is normal at high spring tides. The afternoon was sunny with the sky clearing by before sunset but the day's maximum was only 6.7C, the lowest of the month. After sunset the western sky was a pale peach colour. The night was clear with bright moonlight being larger and brighter than average (see entry for 26 February). [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 6.7C; Min 2.8C; Grass 0.6C]
2nd: Clear overnight skies led to the first air frost (-0.7C) since 11 January, and only one of the month. The ground was white with frozen water deposits the -2.7C recorded on the grass minimum thermometer was the lowest of the month. The ice had melted by the time of the 0900 GMT observations. The sky had become overcast, since the bright dawn, and the cloud became thick enough for a few spots of rain to fall at 0920 GMT. Pressure had risen to 1021 mb and the temperature was 2.5C the lowest for the next 24-h. A ridge from Atlantic-high (1036 mb) was extended across the UK, but there was low-pressure (989 mb) over Iceland and a warm front over Northern Ireland and Scotland giving a little snow in the Highlands. Pressure was low in the western Mediterranean (1008 mb) with fronts over France and snow on the Massif Central and Alps. During the day the warm front moved very slowly S giving a cloudy day with just spots of rain from time to time. There was little change overnight. [Rain trace; Max 7.5C; Min -0.7C; Grass -2.7C]
3rd: A dull and damp start as the warm front was near and lingering over central England. It had been a mild night as a result with the temperature not below 5.5C. Pressure was unchanged at 1021 mb with little or no wind. It was misty with visibility only poor to moderate. There was patchy rain to the N but it did not reach here. A cloudy and quiet night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 8.6C; Min 2.5C; Grass 2.5C]
4th: A grey start to the day with frontal cloud still over much of the UK. Little change in pressure 1020 mb with a light W'ly wind. Another mild night with the minimum about 7C and, as a result of thawing, there was little snow to be seen on the mountains. The morning remained dull and overcast. With the high-pressure of the past days declining a developing low over Newfoundland could cross the Atlantic bringing storms to the NW later in the week. The day remained overcast and sunless. There was a shower of light rain at 01 GMT. White flowers of blackthorn (sloe) Prunus spinosa have appeared along the hedgerows. [Rain 0.4 mm; Max 7.8C; Min 6.2C; Grass 6.0C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1319 GMT on 5 March 2002. With Wales and England mostly clear giving a sunny day there was cloud over Scotland and N France. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
5th: The sky had cleared before dawn and it was cold enough on the ground to freeze water on the grass. A golden sunrise with the sun rising more to E over Penmaenmawr, and not over the Carneddau Mountains, giving a few minutes more sunlight to the day. A sunny morning here with cumulus clouds hanging around Snowdonia with the cold front clearing S England. Another front was giving showers to N Scotland. Pressure was a little lower at 1017 mb with low 968 mb now S of Greenland and heading our way. By the afternoon it was warmer with a maximum of 10.8C. There were a few lee-wave clouds over the W Menai Strait before it became generally cloudier, and windier, over Anglesey by later. The night was cloudy and mild (minimum 6.5C) with a spell of moderate rain around 03 GMT. [Rain 3.9 mm; Max 10.8C; Min 1.7C; Grass -1.0C]
6th: A damp and dismal start to the day with light drizzle and poor visibility. Pressure 1005 mb had fallen as low (968 mb) SW of Iceland tracked eastwards towards Scotland. Small warm front's over W Ireland and Wales were giving the wet and misty weather. A cold front over Scotland was giving some rain there also. The day remained cloudy with drizzle at times with a maximum of 10.0C. But at Hawarden (Flintshire) the temperature rose to 14C, the warmest in the UK. It was a showery night. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 4.2C; Grass 3.5C]
7th: A bright start to the day with overnight showers dying out. Pressure 1018 mb had risen with a ridge of high pressure to the S. The morning became sunnier as clouds dispersed with the afternoon almost cloudless over Anglesey (maximum 13.0C the warmest along the North Wales coast). By evening it had become overcast as a warm front, associated with deepening low (996 mb) tracking towards NW Scotland, moved in from the W. [Rain trace; Max 13.0C; Min 7.0C; Grass 4.3C]
8th: The day began overcast and fog developed quickly soon after 08 GMT but had cleared by 0900 GMT. With low (987 mb) to the N of Scotland pressure 1022 mb here was falling. With tightening isobars as the high to the S declined the SW'ly wind at force 5 was freshening. There was a cold front to the NW with heavy rain over N Scotland. The morning here was dull with a little drizzle from time to time and becoming windier in the afternoon with the SW'ly force 7. At 1837 GMT there were ice pellets in moderate rain as the cold front passed with a fall in temperature of 6C. The rain fell as snow on the mountains of Snowdonia. [Rain 7.3 mm; Max 10.2C; Min 7.3C; Grass 5.3C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1235 GMT on 9 March 2002. Low with comma shaped cloud formation near the Mersey. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
9th: At midnight there was a low 1006 mb SW of Ireland moving towards Anglesey and deepening. It was a blustery and showery start to the day with wet snow lying generally at 1500 feet but it was as low as 1000 feet at the head of the Ogwen Valley. A moderate accumulation had taken place on the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn. Pressure had fallen overnight to 1000 mb. Visibility was only poor to moderate during the morning when there were sleet showers. Near 13 GMT there was heavy shower of rain and ice pellets. The satellite image shows the depression near the Mersey at 1235 GMT with the cloud in comma shape, that caused the precipitation, and clearer weather behind. Being near the centre winds were strongest inland to the N and S of here. The sky began to clear to give a brighter afternoon with some sunshine. The sky cleared during the evening with a minimum temperature of 2.2C and ground frost (-1.0C) at 2300 GMT. [Rain 3.4 mm; Max 8.7C; Min 3.3C; Grass 0.5C]
10th: At midnight (0000 GMT) with the low moved away into the North Sea yet another (978 mb) was W of Shannon. This brought in a warm front with the temperature rising throughout the night reaching a maximum of 8.7C at 08 GMT. At 0900 GMT with pressure 999 mb falling with the low (965 mb) heading for Rockall. The SSW'ly wind was gale force 8 and, with low ragged clouds, there was intermittent light rain during the morning and poor visibility. In the afternoon it was brighter with a little sunshine, maximum 10.0C, although it stayed windy. At 2000 GMT there was a shower of rain that included ice pellets before turning dry overnight. Some young sycamore trees in the shelter of the wood already have leaves although mature trees are still in bud. Several garden plants including fuchsia, clematis and raspberry have shoots. [Rain 2.9 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 2.2C; Grass -1.0C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 11 March 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
11th: Overnight the wind had moderated and it was a bright start to the day. Although it was mainly overcast the cloud was thin and high. There was fresh slight snow seen on and between the summits of Carnedd Llewelyn and Carnedd Dafydd. Pressure was 1005 mb but the was still low-pressure (971 mb) to the N of Scotland where there were gales and heavy wintry showers accompanied by thunder. There was showery rain to the S. Pressure was high (10-30 mb) over Europe but low (998 mb) over the E Mediterranean where the Greek Islands were topping up their water supply. Here with the temperature 6.5C, rising from the overnight minimum of 3.8C, and with relative humidity of 84% with a gentle S'ly wind it was a good drying day the showers affecting other parts kept away. The sky cleared during the afternoon and gave a clear night at first with a ground frost. Later it became cloudier. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 10.8C; Min 3.8C; Grass 1.5C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1343 GMT on 12 March 2002. Shows the thin cloud over Anglesey and snow on the Scottish Highlands. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
; "Click for Meteosat image at 1800 GMT on 12 March 2002. Shows the low W of Biscay. Courtesy of Ulm University."){kind=small}
12th: A bright start to the day but it was cloudier by 0900 GMT. Pressure 1016 mb had risen and it was calm with good visibility. The cloud was high and by noon it was thinner with some sunshine breaking through. A NE'ly breeze had developed and by bringing cold air from the Continent kept the maximum to 9.3C. The NOAA 16 image shows beautifully the thin cloud over Anglesey and also snow on the Scottish Highlands. By 16 GMT the cloud was thicker again but it remained dry. With high-pressure (1025 mb) to the W of the UK this has, temporarily, blocked the run of Atlantic-lows across the UK making them track further S and N. A good example of a S'ly low is the one (981 mb) just W of the Iberian Peninsula seen on the Meteosat image at 1800 GMT. This would bring strong winds and rain to the Iberian coast, possibly stir up dust from North Africa, and gales to the Channel. We have had several depositions of Saharan dust in March in previous years. By 2200 GMT the sky was clear again resulting in dew on the grass but no frost. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 2.3C; Grass -1.2C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 13 March 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
13th: A bright and sunny start to the day but there was a cold ENE'ly wind. The edge of the S'ly cloud could be seen above the Menai Strait and mountains with almost clear sky over Anglesey. Pressure 1020 mb was rising slowly with northern-UK high (1024 mb) centred over Glasgow and to the W over Northern Ireland. There was rain in the SE England with all N UK dry except for a few showers in N Scotland. Iberian-low (986 mb) was slow moving with fronts in the Channel and SE. Here the day was dry with sunshine from almost clear skies. The night was also clear and there was a slight ground frost despite the wind that had become E'ly and strengthened to force 6. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.0C; Min 2.5C; Grass 0.3C]
; "Choppy water in the Menai Strait with cap clouds over Snowdonia on 14 March 2002."){kind=small}
; "Almost clear skies over Anglesey on 14 March 2002. View is from Beaumaris looking towards Gallows Point with Bangor on the mainland beyond."){kind=small}
14th: A sunny start to the day but with a biting E'ly wind feeling colder than the 3.3C at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1014 mb had fallen a little with the high transferred to Scandinavia. The low had moved NE to be in the Bay of Biscay tightening isobars across the S UK. The morning was sunny with smoke haze low on the horizons. Cap clouds were present on the mountains where there was still some snow patches on the Carneddau and in shaded gullies on N-facing slopes. A few small cumulus clouds were blown across Anglesey from time to time that otherwise had clear skies until late afternoon when it became overcast. Valley reported 9.8h sunshine close to the UK highest at Belfast that had 10.7h. With soils becoming drier local farmers have had their ploughs working on some of the free-draining fields. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 9.2C; Min 1.5C; Grass -0.4C]
; "Sferics recorded over 24-h on 15 March 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
15th: A dull start to the day with the wind that had been less at dawn was strengthening again from the E. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 1004 mb with complex lows Biscay and SW approaches triggering thunderstorms over N Africa, Portugal and France as far as the Channel. We missed some rain that fell early in the morning in Caernarfon and W Anglesey. The day remained mainly dull but dry with the occasional brighter spell later in the afternoon. The hedgerows are being to green up as hawthorn leaves are beginning to appear. A band of light rain on a warm front worked its way N reaching here at 2130 GMT lasting until 0230 GMT with the temperature not falling below 5.5C. [Rain 2.7 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 3.3C; Grass 2.0C]
16th: High (1035 mb) was E of the Baltic and with lows to the W (996 mb) and SW (998 mb) of Ireland. These were working their way N with pressure here at 1006 mb the wind had turned S'ly. As a result with warm sector airflow it was already warmer being 10.0C at 0900 GMT, the maximum for the past 24-h. Dull and grey earlier the sky was clearing and gave a bright morning (but Talycafn (Conwy Valley) caught a heavy shower) and a sunny afternoon with a maximum of 13.2C. Colwyn Bay was the warmest with 16C and the sunniest with 7.2h. The warm day brought out honey bees to feed on heathers in full flower in the garden and a peacock butterfly that had overwintered. This was later seen feeding on primrose flowers. A clear night followed with heavy dew before some cloud passed over around midnight. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.2C; Min 4.6C; Grass 4.4C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 0758 GMT on 17 March 2002. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
; "Cumulus clouds over E Snowdonia Mountains on 17 March 2002. View is across Anglesey from Gaerwen towards Menai Bridge with Conwy beyond. Fields have now been restocked following the foot-and-mouth cull last year."){kind=small}
17th: The sky was clearing before dawn and there was a colourful sunrise at 0645 GMT. Pressure was 1003 mb falling just a little with low-pressure (980 mb) still W of Ireland and high-pressure (1032 mb) centred on Kiev (Russia) maintaining the S'ly airflow over the UK. The sky was clear over most of Anglesey and the Lleyn Peninsula (see satellite image). Some cumulus clouds were over the Snowdonia Mountains and cloud over Amlwch (NE Anglesey) and Liverpool Bay around the Mersey. There was cloud over south and mid Wales; frontal cloud could be seen here low in the SW bringing a band of rain close to Cork and Land's End. There was heavy rain N of London. It was a pleasantly warm morning here with just the hint of a SSE'ly breeze and the temperature rose to 14.5C just before noon (Colwyn Bay (Conwy) 16C and Prestatyn (Flintshire) 8.3h sunshine, both UK highest in 24-h to 18 GMT). Showery rain reached here by 13 GMT ahead of 3 patches of light rain from 1515 GMT. In the evening it was windy with the S'ly reaching force 6 around midnight. After that it eased with a slot of clear sky before becoming overcast before dawn. [Rain 2.3 mm; Max 14.5C; Min 4.4C; Grass 0.5C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1238 GMT on 18 March 2002. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek."){kind=small}
18th: A dull start to the day after a little red sky. Pressure 992 mb was falling with a small lows 981 mb near Land's End and W of Malin Head. A large area of rain was working its way N and the western edge reached here at 0945 GMT. By noon the low (982 mb) was making its way up the Severn Estuary; associated cloud nicely seen in the NOAA 16 satellite image. There was intermittent light rain or drizzle most of the day but Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury both reported heavy rain. It was brighter for a while later in the afternoon but by evening it was murky once again. It was a cooler day than of late with a maximum of 8.5C. The wind had backed to the NW by 18 GMT and in the night to SW. [Rain 0.5 mm; Max 8.5C; Min 5.6C; Grass 2.8C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 19 March 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
19th: Overnight mist had cleared early and the sky was clearing at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1001 mb had risen with the low (983 mb) having moved away to S Norway. Another low (981 mb) was W of Ireland and the UK was sandwiched between. Pressure was high (1022 mb) Greenland and (1028 mb) Spain. Scotland was being affected by wintry weather on a cold front off the Norwegian-low while the SW was affected by rain from a warm front off the Atlantic-low. Here it was a bright and at times sunny morning with a temperature rising from 7.7C to a maximum of 10.0C. The afternoon was cloudy with a slight shower later and became murky towards evening. There was fog from 20-22 GMT that wetted the trees so much that they were dripping water from their branches. Later the fog cleared to thin high cloud by morning. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 4.0C; Grass 0.2C]
; "The sun was looming through thin high cloud (with dark lee-waves clouds under) over the Menai Strait at Beaumaris on 20 March 2002."){kind=small}
20th: A bright but overcast start to the day with the cloudbase well over the mountain summits. There were some lee-wave clouds, under the high thickening cloud, over the Menai Strait near low water at Beaumaris just after 09 GMT. Visibility was good although still a little misty with the sun shining through the cloud. Pressure 1011 mb had risen but the chart was almost the same as yesterday with highs Greenland and Spain with lows Atlantic and Sweden. Rain on a warm front was affecting the SW and it was moving slowly NE. Scotland was colder with some wintry showers. The morning gradually became duller as the cloud thickened. The rain, when it arrived in the afternoon, was of small amount. In the night the sky was slow to clear and later, when it did, fog formed. [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 12.0C; Min 6.7C; Grass 4.5C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1340 GMT on 21 March 2002 showing cloud and coastal fog affecting N coast of Lleyn, W Anglesey and Menai Strait. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de)."){kind=small}
21st: Early fog was clearing by 0630 GMT and by 0900 GMT it was sunny here and in N Anglesey. The fog remained in the Menai Strait, and around the coast, until late in the afternoon until the sky became generally overcast. Pressure 1017 mb had continued to rise in the past 24-h and a fine day was in prospect. Rain was confined to the SW and wintry showers were still affecting the Highlands and E Scotland. The day was sunny with a maximum of 13.8C but at Hawarden (Flintshire) 17C was reached. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 13.8C; Min 7.3C; Grass 4.8C]
22nd: A bright start to the day with overnight cloud showing signs of dispersal at 0900 GMT before becoming cloudier again. It had been a mild night (minimum 8.4C, the highest of the month) and the 5 cm soil thermometer was reading 10.0C for the first time this year. Pressure 1017 mb was still rising as high (1032 mb) Spain had a ridge over Wales and with high (1031 mb) Norwegian Sea to the N. To the W Atlantic-low (966 mb) had a warm front, with rain, affecting the SW. It remained dry here but or the most part overcast with the cloud was thin enough for it to be bright. Later in the afternoon the sky did become clearer and this extended into the evening. With the warmth the grass verges are covered with the yellow flowers of the celandine that respond quickly to temperature. Some clear spells at night led to a heavy dew but the grass minimum only fell to 3.3C. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.4C; Min 8.4C; Grass 7.0C]
23rd: Another bright start to the day but the sky was again overcast with thin but high cloud. Pressure 1029 mb was rising slowly as a ridge of high-pressure to the E associated with the Norwegian high (1042 mb) the southern high (1025 mb) now over N Africa persist. Unfortunately there is cloud on a warm front in the W on Atlantic-low (984 mb) steaming N towards Iceland. The day remained cloudy but dry and occasionally bright with the temperature reaching 14.7C. Lusa (Isle of Skye) with 16C was the warmest place on the day. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.7C; Min 6.3C; Grass 3.3C]
24th: A cloudy but fairly bright start to the day. Pressure 1020 mb was unchanged with the low (991 mb) now near Iceland still having fronts down the W side of the UK. Pressure was high (1041 mb) over N Norway and Sweden where it was cold (-16C overnight). Temperatures here (11.7C at 0900 GMT; RH 70%) were continuing to be mild but with the thicker cloud today kept the maximum to 13.9C. At Prestatyn (Flintshire) 16C was reached. During the night some very patchy rain moved across the area. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 13.9C; Min 7.5C; Grass 4.0C]
25th: A little rain at 07 GMT was clearing away but drizzle was left around the coasts and the mountains. Pressure 1029 mb was little changed with high (1035 mb) Denmark. High-pressure (1034 mb) to the SW was extending N pushing the lows N of Iceland. The morning bright at first was soon dull and overcast. By the afternoon there was drizzle at times and light light rain from 1500-1630 GMT with poor visibility. During the rain (total 1.1 mm) there was a slight deposition of orange coloured Saharan dust. The cloud and rain began to clear away by 20 GMT and led to a clear night with the temperature on the grass down to -1.0C. [Rain 1.1 mm; Max 10.3C; Min 7.0C; Grass 6.2C]
; "Smoke haze trapped by an inversion in the Menai Strait. View is towards the Nant Ffrancon Pass taken from the weather station."){kind=small}
26th: A sunny start to the day and with pressure 1034 mb with a high building across the UK there are prospects for some sunny dry days ahead. There was an inversion in the Menai Strait and this had trapped smoke haze to a height of 2500 feet. The summits of the mountains were in clearer air. The overnight ground frost with heavy depositions of dew that were frozen earlier (and silver frost supercooled dewdrops) had by 0900 GMT mostly melted in the sunshine. It was a sunny morning with the haze burning-off by 11 GMT leaving high cirrus or cirrostratus cloud that did not affect the sunshine. At RAF Valley there was {10.0h} sunshine but Glasgow recorded the most with {11.3h}. It was a warm 14.0C but below the warmest was 16C at Torquay in Devon. The first chiff-chaff of the season arrived in the garden today a few days later than usual. It was a clear night with bright stars but I failed to see the comet. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.0C; Min 1.8C; Grass -1.0C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1240 GMT on 27 March 2002 showing clear skies over Wales and much of England. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de)."){kind=small}
27th: The sun rose at 0612 GMT to give a sunny start to the day soon melting frost on the grass. Pressure 1032 mb had declined a little as the high (1034 mb) moved SE towards Germany. Lows (979 mb) SW of Iceland were bringing strong winds to NW Scotland and Shetland. Further to the S it was sunshine, after a cold and frosty start in some inland places in England, with clear skies except in the SE. It was hazy sunshine all day with a maximum of 13.2C. Along the North Wales coast it was similar with Hawarden (Flintshire) reaching 15C. A clear and cold night with frost on the grass. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.2C; Min 2.8C; Grass -1.9C]
28th: Another sunny start to the day with pressure 1028 mb just a shade lower. It had been a cold night in central and southern England with airfrost in places and early fog with visibility down to 100 m in several places. There were several road accidents and loss of life as a result. Here visibility was good although haze was thick. Some cirrus cloud developed overhead and there was cirrostratus low to the W at first. The afternoon was a little cloudier for a time but at RAF Valley {11.6h} sunshine was reported, the highest in the UK. It was another clear starlit night with a bright moon. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.1C; Min 2.4C; Grass -2.5C]
29th: Overnight moderate dew had frozen on the grass that was looking white at dawn. The frost had melted, except in the shade, by 0900 GMT. With high-pressure (1033 mb) over Germany pressure here 1023 mb continued to decline slowly. A long frontal system to the NW was threatening to move in to spoil the fine spell of weather we have been enjoying. Visibility was poor in thick haze but fog inland, 100 m in places, was again affecting road travel and there were fog related accidents in North Yorkshire. The day was sunny and warm with the temperature reaching 16.0C (range 13.0C), the warmest of the month. A clear dry night followed. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 3.0C; Grass -1.0C]
30th: A sunny start to the day. Pressure 1020 mb continued to decline and low (982 mb) near Iceland has a cold front already on the W Irish coastline. Despite this threat it was a warm and sunny morning on Anglesey with the temperature reaching 14.4C. The beaches were busy as visitors to the island took advantage of the good weather. Later it was cloudier but the rain on a warm front did not arrive until midnight. It rained continuously until 0730 GMT accumulating 8.6 mm the largest 24-h fall of the month. [Rain 8.6 mm; Max 14.4C; Min 3.8C; Grass 0.4C]
31st: The rain had stopped but the sky was overcast and dull for Easter Sunday. Humidity was 100% at 0900 GMT there was little variation in temperature in the next 24-h. There were spots of rain and drizzle at times through the day. Some brighter spots could be seen across the Menai Strait, near Llanfairfechan and Conwy, but the gloom remained here all day. A disappointing day for the many visitors. There was intermittent rain during the night. In Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, was hit by the 'worst-known storm' that gave 230 mm of rain in 2 h. This caused flash flooding and 6 people died with many missing. [Rain 2.8 mm; Max 10.3C; Min 7.5C; Grass 6.7C]
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1st: It was a gloomy start to the Bank Holiday and there was no improvement during the day. At 0900 GMT pressure 1009 mb was continuing its slow decline with slow moving low (968 mb) just S of Iceland and highs (1022 mb) Germany and stretching down to the Mediterranean. Here intermittent slight rain with moderate to poor visibility gave way to a period moderate rain in the afternoon as a weak cold front moved across the Irish Sea. There was a moderate temperature drop of nearly 4C from 10.5C to 6.7C as the front passed and 6 mm of rain. Visitors to the island had had enough and most decided to return home early. This caused severe traffic congestion on the E bound A55 Expressway from Llanfairfechan all the way to the English border. Roadworks had been suspended for the holiday but signs were still in place and might have slowed the flow. The sky began to clear about 1530 GMT giving a sunny but cool end to the day. A walk through the wood revealed the first few flowers of bluebell. The night saw some clear spells with the temperature dropping to 3.4C and 0.2C on the grass. There was heavy dew. [Rain 6.3 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 8.3C; Grass 7.2C]
; "Sferics recorded over 24-h on 2 April 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
2nd: It was a bright start to the day and with clearer air visibility was very good. With a fleeting return to cooler weather there was a sprinkling of snow on the highest summits of the Snowdonia Mountains that latest only for a few hours. At 0900 GMT pressure 1009 mb was lower and there was a gentle SE'ly breeze. The temperature was 7.7C (dewpoint 5.2C). The Iceland low (976 mb) was filling but a new low (984 mb) was approaching the W of Ireland. The morning was mainly cloudy and bright. But by afternoon the cloud was thicker and there were a few spots of rain. Thunderstorms were reported from Powys in mid Wales extending S to the Channel. There were widespread thunderstorms in the Mediterranean including N Africa and Greece. It was a warm night here with the temperature not falling below 10C. There was intermittent rain (1.3 mm) between 2130 - 02 GMT. [Rain 1.3 mm; Max 13.5C; Min 3.4C; Grass 0.2C]
; "With ploughing and sowing complete it was time to roll the grass leys to encourage tillering that are being grazed by sheep (and rooks). View from near the weather station towards the cloud covered Snowdonia Mountains on 3 April 2002."){kind=small}
; "Rook nests (25) in tall sycamore trees under grey skies near the weather station on 3 April 2002. Most rooks were away grazing on nearby fields."){kind=small}
; "The hedgerow banks near the weather station are becoming colourful as Dog-violet Viola riviniana flowers open amongst grass and ivy on 3 April 2002."){kind=small}
3rd: A dull and damp start to the day with pressure steady on 1005 mb. A very slight deposition of light coloured dust was observed at 0900 GMT (fallen in past 24-h as wet deposition in rain). Low (984 mb) W of Rockall had weak slow-moving fronts lying down the Irish Sea. There was patchy light rain moving E giving a little drizzle along some coasts. Here the cloud was thick but it was dry with a light SW'ly wind. During the day the were 1 or 2 brighter spells but the grey overcast sky remained. Despite this, visibility was good with clear views as far as Holyhead Mountain and the Lleyn Peninsula. Thunderstorms were again reported in the afternoon from Powys and S Scotland where electricity failure unlocked cell doors at Shotts prison. There was light rain here from 18 GMT and a little more at midnight (00 GMT) during which there was a further deposition of light-orange coloured dust. Several dust falls here, including the recent fall on 25 March and the heavy fall on 14th October 2001, have had an origin in N Africa but the origin of the latest is unknown. [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 10.9C; Min 7.7C; Grass 7.3C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1254 GMT on 4 April 2002 showing the warm front over Wales and France and storm in the Meditteranean. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de)."){kind=small}
; "Cloud forming, disappearing and reforming in the Menai Strait under high thin cloud at 1246 GMT on 4 April 2002. View is from near the weather station towards Llandegfan with the Carneddau Mountains in the background."){kind=small}
4th: Mist patches early and an overcast dawn but there was sufficient clearer sky to the E to give a colourful sunrise. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 1012 mb with low pressure (988 mb) Iceland and NW-Atlantic. Low pressure was creeping up through France from the stormy low (992 mb) in the Mediterranean near Sardinia (see satellite image). Cold weather in E Europe and Russia (with snow) could bring a return to colder weather eventually. A warm front in the W was bringing rain S of here in Wales, the SW and W France. The morning was cloudy but was bright with the cloud thinning later to give a hazy but sunny afternoon. The cool wind was N'ly turning NE'ly in the afternoon when cloud was forming, disappearing and reforming in almost the same place, in the eastern Menai Strait between 1500 - 3000 ft. It was a fine and mostly clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.9C; Min 4.8C; Grass 1.3C]
5th: A clear sky start to the day but it was very hazy and the sun rose about 0605 GMT with a deep red colouration. There was heavy dew on the grass with a minimum of 2.5C. There was a cool NE'ly breeze but the temperature at 0900 GMT was 10.1C (RH 67%, dewpoint 4.3C). Both 30 cm and 50 cm soil thermometers were reading 10.0C for the first time this year. Pressure 1006 mb was a little lower with low (992 mb) W of Valentia and high (1032 mb) Finland. It was still stormy in the E Mediterranean. The day was sunny with thick haze giving only moderate visibility that became poor in the afternoon. A fine and clear night with freshening E'ly wind. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.3C; Min 6.5C; Grass 2.5C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 6 April 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
; "Click for NOAA 12 visible image at 1623 GMT on 6 April 2002 showing a cloud-free British Isles. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de)."){kind=small}
6th: Another sunny start to the day but there was a cold E'ly wind with dry cold air being drawn across the UK from E Europe. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 6.8C with 74% relative humidity. Pressure 1018 mb had risen with the high (1029 mb) Norwegian Sea edging closer. Low (993 mb) FitzRoy was dragging the the old front away to be over SW France, Spain and Portugal. There were a few cumulus clouds over Snowdonia but Anglesey was sunny although visibility was still only just moderate in smoke haze. The cloud over the mountains soon dispersed and it became less hazy with a maximum of 14.5C. With the dry wind and RH at 46% for a time evaporation was larger than usual (Piche 3.0 mls in 24-h). By late afternoon the whole of the British Isles was cloud-free! (For excellent large image [260 KB] see below). The night was also clear and dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.5C; Min 5.4C; Grass 3.4C]
7th: High (1028 mb) was established over N UK with complex lows sea areas Biscay (997 mb) and Trafalgar (993 mb). Sunshine in a cloud-free sky but the cold wind (NE'ly force 4) was still with us. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 6.0C with the humidity moderate at 70%; both the soil and grass were dry. During the day the pollution haze (smoke) increased particularly in Liverpool Bay but was visible to the N as well restricting visibility, good at first, to moderate later on. The maximum only 11.3C here but at Pembray Sands it reached {17C} the highest in the UK. A sunny evening with the sun setting a deep orange colour and a clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.3C; Min 2.5C; Grass 0.5C]
8th: A touch-of-frost on the grass had frozen deposits of dew but the ice soon melted as the temperature rose to 9.4C at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1025 mb was unchanged but the high-pressure was being squeezed by low-pressure in the N and S. A little cloud around but it was hazy sunshine in the morning with only poor visibility. Cloudier after noon, but returned to mainly sunny later on. The day's maximum of 14.7C was one of the warmest in the UK. The sky was clearing in the evening to give a clear night (just missing a ground frost) before it turned foggy. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.7 C; Min 2.8C; Grass -0.5C]
9th: A cool night with a minimum of 2.3C with fog forming in the small hours. The fog had cleared leaving it misty by 0530 GMT and by 0900 GMT the sun was starting to burn it away but visibility remained poor. Pressure 1027 mb little changed with high (1030 mb) Malin Head stretching away westwards into the Atlantic. Low pressure in the Mediterranean (centred on Sardinia) continued to give poor weather to the whole region. Here it was a sunny with cirrus cloud and some mist patches at first. It remained sunny all day although visibility was poor. The night was clear of cloud at times. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.6C; Min 2.3C; Grass 0.3C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1329 GMT on 10 April 2002 showing cloud to the NW but clearer skies over Wales, much of England and N France. Also seen is the cloud affecting N Spain and S France and N Africa. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de)."){kind=small}
10th: A sunny start to the day and for those up early some fine lee-wave clouds to the S of here at 0530 GMT. The wind SE'ly soon turned ENE'ly and they were gone. Pressure 1027 mb was unchanged with high-pressure over central UK, but isobars to the S were tighter giving continued stronger E'ly winds in the S of the country. Weather in the western Mediterranean remained poor with rain affecting Portugal, Spain, S France and N Africa. Here cloud was to the NW but the altocumulus were dispersing at 0900 GMT (7.4C, 73% RH) but visibility in haze was just moderate and deteriorated to poor later. It remained mainly sunny but the temperature only managed to rise to 11.5C in the cold ENE'ly wind bringing the mean 7.9C close to the average. Towards evening cloud and haze dispersed giving a clear and mostly calm night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.5C; Min 4.2C; Grass 1.7C]
11th: A cold night with heavy dew freezing on the grass (minimum -2.2C). The white frost had disappeared before 0900 GMT when the air temperature had risen from the 1.6C minimum to 7.1C. Pressure 1016 mb had fallen but pressure was still high (1034 mb) in mid-Atlantic. A weak cold front over NW Ireland and Scotland, associated with a small low just to the N of Scotland, was already bringing a little rain to those areas. Here there was patchy thin cloud with sunshine at first with the cloud thickening during the morning. The afternoon was cloudy but it remained dry. A large duststorm had occurred in Algeria with airborne dust on its way to Italy. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 1.6C; Grass -2.2C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 visible image at 1307 GMT on 12 April 2002 showing dust from yesterday, storm on its way across the Med to Italy. Courtesy of Michael Wienzek (www.wettersat.de)."){kind=small}
12th: A murky start to the day with the weak cold front in the vicinity. It remained dry here but there was a little drizzle around the coasts in the W and N of the island. Pressure 1012 mb is keeping relatively high with Atlantic-low (1025 mb) to the W of Ireland. Complex lows in the Mediterranean are keeping the weather there very unsettled. Here the morning brightened with some patches of blue sky appearing and a little sunshine. With no rain for 8 days, and there was none today, the soil is beginning to look rather dry and plants in the garden in need of water. The sky continued to clear over Anglesey in the afternoon leaving cumulus clouds over the Snowdonia Mountains. Visibility also improved with the inflow of clearer air from the N. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 5.0C; Grass 3.8C]
13th: It was cold overnight with a minimum of 1.5C and moderate dew on the grass froze (-1.7C). We have many plants in the greenhouse waiting to be put outside but have not done so because of the risk of such frosts. Visibility was excellent at 0900 GMT with some sunshine although it was partially cloudy. The temperature had risen to 7.2C and the N'ly wind was very light. Pressure was 1015 mb with the ridge of high-pressure over the UK. Low (986 mb) between Greenland and Iceland has a cold front to the NW that will bring some rain soon. The weather remains disturbed all across the Mediterranean. Here it was mostly cloudy but with some good sunny spells during the day. [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 10.7C; Min 1.5C; Grass -1.7C]
14th: There was light rain from 06-09 GMT amounting to 0.6 mm associated with a warm front along the W of the UK. It was just cold enough for it to fall as snow on the highest summits of the Snowdonia Mountains. Further to the W, over Ireland and the Western Isles, there was a cold front. Pressure 1013 mb was little changed. There had been a deposition of grey coloured dust in the recent rain (origin unknown). The day was dull with spells of light rain or drizzle but ceased by late afternoon. It was the coldest day of the month with a maximum of 8.5C. A sprinkling of snow was seen at 18 GMT on Foel-fras. The sky cleared at night giving a beautiful view of the new crescent moon at 2000-2030 GMT that was a dull orange colour low in the NW sky. The moon's bright crescent was lit by the sun, but the rest was dimly lit by earthshine (light from the sun reflected off the earth to light the moon) a feature best seen in April and May, and worth looking out for. After the moon had set there was a fine view of the stars and planets. We are very fortunate that light pollution is low here and good views are had on dark nights. [Rain 1.0 mm; Max 8.5C ; Min 4.1C; Grass 0.6C]
; "Bluebells were flowering in the wood near the weather station on 15 April 2002."){kind=small}
15th: A cold and frosty night with heavy dew on the grass frozen white by morning (-2.3C grass minimum) lowest of the month. Air temperature too was low down to 1.0C in the Stevenson screen, also the lowest of the month. It was a sunny start to the day with clear air visibility was excellent. The sprinkling of snow was still on Foel-fras, none was seen on Carnedd Dafydd or C. Llewelyn, but a little could also be seen on Crib Goch (Snowdon). With the sun still low in the sky the tall trees nearby cast shade on the fields so that the white frost remains in long stripes. Early in the morning sheep were grazing in lines where the sun has melted the frost avoiding the still-frozen grass. With half the month gone the rainfall total is only 9.8 mm. Evaporation, measured by lysimeter, has been 10.6 mm resulting in a small negative water balance (0.8 mm) for the month so far. This can happen in April that is usually the driest month of the year. The morning was sunny but after noon it was cloudy here with the N of the island in sunshine. The cloud cleared later and there was a sunny evening and mostly clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.4C; Min 1.0C; Grass -2.3C]
16th: A touch-of-frost on the grass overnight but this quickly disappeared when the sun rose. Pressure 1016 mb was beginning to fall as Atlantic-low (978 mb) to the W threatened to spoil the days of fine weather and to push the high-pressure further S. Slow-moving fronts were lining up along the W coast of Ireland where there was a little rain. The day was bright and sunny with a light S'ly breeze that strengthened to force 3 - 4 later. The temperature reached 14.6C just before 14 GMT. With the dry weather there was plenty of pollen in the air and hay fever suffers allergic to tree pollen have been affected. The blackthorn hedges are still flowering and willow, alder (all flower before leaves appear) have flowered, now early ash and scrub elm (both without leaves) together with sycamore flowers (after leaves) also have appeared. Buds on our outdoor vines have begun to burst. This is very early, last year (2001) the buds opened on 23 May while in 2000 they began to break on 1 May. The night was clear at first but became cloudier by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.6C; Min 3.0C; Grass -0.6C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image (channels 1+2+5) at 1345 GMT on 17 April 2002. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
; "Cracks in uncultivated soil 8 mm wide by 40 mm deep due to the dry weather."){kind=small}
17th: A mainly cloudy but bright and still dry start to the day after a mild night. The grass was dry and the Piche tube showed 3.3 ml evaporation in the past 24-h. Pressure 1012 mb continued to fall very slowly and the heavy rain over Ireland, Belfast {29 mm}, had only just reached Pembrokeshire (and the SW) by 0900 GMT. Low (988 mb) was filling SW of Iceland and the small low (1008 mb) steaming into St George's Channel was associated with the rain-bearing warm front stretching from Greenland to the Azores (see satellite image). High-pressure (1020 mb) seemed to be re-establishing in the western Mediterranean. Here, the day continued bright and dry with the S'ly wind increasing to force 4 or 5. Despite the threat of rain (the radar image showed rain but it was evaporating before reaching the ground) we only got a few drops at 1530 GMT before nightfall. Cracks 8 mm wide and 40 mm deep have appeared in uncultivated soil over the last few days. Moderate rain arrived at midnight and continued till morning. [Rain 10.8 mm; Max 14.5C; Min 7.5C; Grass 2.9C]
18th: A dull and damp start to the day with slight rain or drizzle (100% RH) and poor visibility. Pressure 1011 mb had risen a bit with the small low (1008 mb) now near the Isle of Man. An area of rain was over N Wales, but mainly S of Anglesey at first. Yesterday's Icelandic-low (998 mb) was being pushed aside by another deeper low (996 mb) S of Greenland. The morning continued dull and misty with light rain or drizzle. The rain turned heavier after noon then became showery and kept overcast. The day maximum was only 8.8C. Thunder and hail was reported from Gloucester, Birmingham and Hertfordshire. [Rain 5.1 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 4.9C; Grass 4.4C]
; "Cumulus clouds were decaying in mid-afternoon over Snowdonia on 19 April 2002. Overnight snow was receding in the warmth of the day. View is towards Snowdon from near Llansadwrn village."){kind=small}
19th: There was fog overnight and the day dawned misty with poor visibility. This was clearing by 0900 GMT when the temperature had risen to 9.4C, the highest of the past 24-h. There was snow lying as low as 2500 ft on the mountains, particularly Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Carnedd Dafydd, but it receded through the day. Pressure 1021 mb had risen a little and a ridge of high-pressure to the S (1025 mb) was trying to fend off the Atlantic-low (959 mb) S of Greenland and front W of Ireland to giving a fine day. The morning was bright and sunny with the sky clearing over the N and W of Anglesey. Here, and over the mountains, there were quite active looking cumulus clouds but I saw no precipitation. The cumulus diminished in the afternoon when there was a maximum of 15.8C the highest of the month. There was a sunny end to the day but was overcast by 22 GMT and there was light rain from 00 - 05 GMT. [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 15.8C; Min 4.2C; Grass 1.0C]
20th: A light shower at passed over at 0845 GMT. Pressure 1025 mb had risen slightly and there was a moderate S'ly breeze. Visibility was good and there was a little patchy snow seen on the Carneddau but there was greater cover on the summit of Snowdon. With the sky remaining overcast it was a rather dull but mild day. In the night the wind strengthened and there was light rain from 03 - 06 GMT as a warm front passed. [Rain 3.1 mm; Max 13.0C; Min 7.2C; Grass 3.1C]
; "A pile-of-plates cloud hovering over Llansadwrn on the 21st April 2002"){kind=small}
21st: It was a windy start to the day with the force 6 S'ly (with strong gusts) stripping some of the new leaves from the trees. Pressure was 1027 mb with Atlantic-low (979 mb) filling W of Ireland and moving NE with high (1038 mb) over Denmark. Isobars were tight along the western seaboard giving the strong winds. There was rain in N England and more rain on another front over W Ireland. All soil temperatures 5 cm to 100 cm deep were above 10C this morning. So with the recent rain, restoring the water balance, growing conditions should be better for shallow rooting crops. Here the morning was fairly bright with the cloud thinning later leaving mostly high cloud. Lee-wave clouds formed at a lower level near Snowdon and a 'pile-of-plates' to the SE of the weather station. The clouds were observed from 1230 - 1330 GMT. In the afternoon the temperature rose to 15.4C before the cloud thickened again towards evening. There was some drizzle around 19 GMT and rain from midnight to 04 GMT as the front passed over. [Rain 5.4 mm; Max 15.4C; Min 9.7C; Grass 8.3C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image (channels 1+2+5) at 1251 GMT on 22 April 2002. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
22nd: It had been a mild night (minimum 10.2C) the warmest of the month, but it was a dull and misty start to the day with the sky was starting to clear during the morning. It was still windy with the SSW'ly force 5 at first becoming force 6 - 7 later. Pressure 1026 mb was similar to yesterday but the Atlantic-low (985 mb) was just S of Iceland at 00 GMT with isobars tightly packed to the NW. The day was mainly cloudy the mainland coast and W Anglesey cleared for a while after noon but the low cloud that remained over the E of the island returned later. Much of the UK was covered in frontal cloud bands but was it clearer in the Midlands and the SE (see satellite image). [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.5C; Min 10.2C; Grass 9.2C]
; "It was an overcast but dry morning in the High Street of the City of Bangor on 23 April 2002. The old red brick clock has a very small weather vane on top, but can you spot the fine one to it's right?"){kind=small}
; "The fine schooner weather vane in Bangor's High Street."){kind=small}
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1240 GMT on 23 April 2002 showing low cloud and sea fog affecting the English Channel, Irish Sea, Liverpool Bay and much of Wales, Merseyside and Cheshire. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
23rd: With thin cloud cover it was a mild night (minimum 9.5C) and a bright start to the day although there was fog around the coasts that remained most of the day. Pressure 1031 mb had risen as high pressure (1035 mb) Land's End pushed up from the S. The S'ly wind lessened during the morning with the lows to the NW receding. The low cloud thickened during the day but it remained dry. By 17 GMT the cloud partially cleared to give a mainly sunny evening but the low cloud returned later with a little fine drizzle. [Rain trace; Max 14.0C; Min 9.5C; Grass 7.5C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1410 GMT on 24 April 2002 showing the Irish Sea and English Channel ahead of cold front over Ireland. Note affect on Holyhead and tip of Lleyn Peninsula. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
24th: It was a murky start to the day with a little fine drizzle from time to time. Pressure 1028 mb was falling slowly as the high in the English Channel (1030 mb) declined. A weak cold front just to the W of Ireland made slow progress eastwards during the day. The morning remained dull but became drier and the sky cleared later to give a sunny afternoon and evening. The NW of Anglesey, and tip of the Lleyn peninsula, continued to have low cloud and coastal fog most of the day with Valley reporting only {0.9 h} sunshine. By 18 GMT rain was falling over Ireland and it reached here at 23 GMT but the amount was small. There was a small temperature fall from 9.0C to 5.0C as the cold front passed with the sky clearing. [Rain 0.4 mm; Max 15.5C; Min 7.2C; Grass 5.8C]
25th: There was heavy dew on the grass and shallow mist formed across the fields at 0530 GMT. The mist cleared by 0600 GMT when the sun had risen giving a bright start to the day. Pressure was 1026 mb and there was a light W'ly breeze with good but hazy visibility. The morning turned partially cloudy at first but there were sunny spells that lengthened before noon. By the afternoon the sky had cleared over Anglesey leaving some cirrus clouds with some cumulus over the mountains {Valley 8.1 h sunshine}. Pressure was falling as our friendly high pressure, that has given such settled weather, was moving S to the Azores letting lows to the N cross the UK once again. [Rain 12.0 mm; Max 14.1C; Min 5.0C; Grass 2.2C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 00 GMT on 26 April 2002. Courtesy of Georg Muller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
26th: There was a band of heavy rain (0230 - 0530 GMT), associated with low (987 mb), NW of Cape Wrath at midnight, resulting in 12.0 mm of rain. It was a damp and misty start to the day with low cloud and poor visibility. Pressure 1000 mb had fallen overnight and we were in a showery airstream. A moderate shower at 0900 GMT then during the morning the sky cleared and gave Anglesey a mostly sunny afternoon. Cumulus clouds were largely confined to the Snowdonia Mountains. The evening became cloudier and there was a shower about 21 GMT. [Rain 1.1 mm; Max 13.4C; Min 7.5C; Grass 6.9C]
; "Click for NOAA 14 image at 1815 GMT on 27 April 2002 showing thick cloud over the UK associated with low to the NW of Ireland and following showers. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
27th: A fairly bright start to the day but there were well-developed cumulus clouds in the vicinity at 0900 GMT. It was not long before we caught a light shower. Pressure 1008 mb was rising in a weak ridge of high-pressure. It was a cool day with the maximum of 11.5C in the morning. The afternoon turned cloudy with the temperature falling to 8.5C. As another Atlantic-low (984 mb) made its way towards NW Scotland by midnight pressure was falling as thick frontal cloud brought bands of rain across the UK in the night. Rain here was moderate (8.5 mm) from 1900 - 2130 GMT before turning showery as the rain moved E . [Rain 10.6 mm; Max 11.5C; Min 5.8C; Grass 3.2C]
28th: A bright start to the day with the frequency of showers diminishing. It was windy with cumulus clouds fast-moving in the fresh to strong W'ly. Cloud was slow to lift from the mountains the summits remaining obscured. Pressure 989 mb at 0900 GMT was starting to rise but soon fell off again as complex lows (978 mb) were still to the NW. The temperature rose to 10.6C in the sunny spells before a cold front passed through about 1133 GMT. There was a squally shower with ice pellets, and the temperature dropped to 6.2C but no thunder was heard. In the afternoon the sky began to clear and revealed a sprinkling of snow above 2500 ft on the Snowdonia Mountains. Hail and thunder were reported across much of central UK during the afternoon. During the day the winds strengthened and gale-force winds were affecting the SW. The WSW'ly was strong to gale here around 22 GMT. It was wet in Snowdonia with Capel Curig reporting {38 mm rain}. [Rain 1.9 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 6.5C; Grass 5.8C]
29th: There were frequent blustery showers during the night with ice pellets at 0104 GMT. By morning the showers had lessened but the NW'ly was strong and it felt a cold 8.0C at 0900 GMT. Pressure 985 mb was lowest around midnight but had risen to 993 mb as low (979 mb) was near the Moray Firth in NE Scotland. During the morning there were some sunny spells; light snow cover could be seen on the mountaintops. Some spots of rain during the morning but the afternoon was sunnier and less windy. By nightfall it was cloudy as a warm front moved in from the W. There was moderate to heavy rain from 2330 - 0900 GMT giving the wettest day (15.5 mm) of the month. {Capel Curig 30 mm 24-h to 18 GMT on the 30th}. [Rain 15.5 mm; Max 12.4C; Min 5.0C; Grass 3.2C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 30 April 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
; "Well-developed cumulus clouds over Snowdonia at 1238 GMT on 30 April 2002. Looking S from Llansadwrn."){kind=small}
; "It was clear sky over Anglesey at 1309 GMT on 30 April 2002. Looking N from Llansadwrn."){kind=small}
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1305 GMT on 30 April 2002 showing the low near Mullet Peninsula and front having away moved SE leaving Anglesey in a clearer showery slot. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
30th: It was raining hard at 05 GMT when my Oregon barometer started bleeping. Pressure had been falling rapidly and reached a low of 985 mb at 0530 GMT. Earlier the wind had backed SE'ly and it had gone quieter but it was veering again and to blow from the S. We were near a complex low to the NW centred (983 mb) near the Mullet Peninsula NW Ireland. With the soil saturated again with water there were large pools of water on the fields adjacent to the weather station. On the mainland a torrent of water descending the mountainside above Cwm Idwal was seen from here. As the warm front went over the temperature reached 10.2C at 06 GMT. By 0900 GMT, with pressure 988 mb rising the rain had eased and the cloud beginning to lift and thin, the temperature was falling (8.6C) as the following cold front approached. The wind, now SW'ly, was force 4 to 5 and there were soon some patches of blue sky appearing. Winds had been strongest in the SW with Mumbles (Swansea) reporting gusts of 60 mph. The beech trees are beginning to come into leaf, but many tender leaves have been blown-off the leading branches and litter the ground joining the sycamore and horse chestnut torn-off in the gale on the 28th. The day became sunny, but windy, on Anglesey with well-developed cumulus over Snowdonia and patchy cloud to the N. (See satellite and ground pictures taken at almost the same time). Later a cumulonimbus cloud was seen but no thunder was heard. We had just a few spots of rain around 1530 GMT and a moderate shower just after midnight. [Rain 1.8 mm; Max 12.9C; Min 5.4C; Grass 3.1C]
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; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1253 GMT on 1 May 2002 showing frontal trough over Ireland and North Wales that gave the wet afternoon. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
1st: A bright but chilly start to the day the fresh W'ly making the 8.5C at 0900 GMT feel a lot colder. To back it up there was a sprinkling of snow on Glyder Fawr, the Devil's Kitchen and above the slabs would make an interesting morning for anyone out there early. Pressure 997 mb was rising slowly with low (980 mb) now Norwegian Sea with a front extending to N England. The UK was in a showery airflow that was giving precipitation along the western seaboard but some inland as well in the N. On mountaintops it fell as snow. Cumulus clouds were well-developed in the vicinity (starting to form dark cumulonimbus), but there were good sunny spells here with the bluebells looking at their best in the wood. Some good sunny spells in the morning but there were prolonged showers in the afternoon. The maximum of 10.6C was the lowest of the month. By evening the sky had cleared giving a mostly sunny end to the day but became cloudy later. [Rain 1.5 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 4.5C; Grass 1.8C]
; "A sunny day in Moelfre on 2 May 2002."){kind=small}
; "Well-developed cumulus clouds over Snowdonia with cumulonimbus developing over Anglesey on 2 May 2002. Looking S from Moelfre."){kind=small}
; "With skies clearing in the afternoon 'cloud streets' formed over Anglesey on 2 May 2002. View looking NW across the Menai Strait from Llanfairisgaer Church on the mainland."){kind=small}
; "Click for NOAA 16 image (ch1+2+5) at 1242 GMT on 2 May 2002 showing Cbs developing over Scotland, South Wales and Brittany. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
; "Click for NOAA 12 image at 1553 GMT on 2 May 2002 showing temperature profile of strongly convective Cbs. Light blue is -40C; dark blue -60C. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
2nd: A bright and sunny start to the day with pressure 1010 mb rising with a N'ly airflow. By 0900 GMT cumulus clouds had developed and were seen well-developed to the N and S of here. At Moelfre it was a sunny morning but cloud did build up to the S forming cumulonimbus. At noon there were many fair weather cumulus over Anglesey but cloud development to the N and S continued. By 1430 GMT the sky was clearing leaving 'cloud streets' NNW - SSE across the island. Over Scotland, South Wales, S England and Brittany the strongly convective clouds continued to build. (See NOAA 12 satellite cloud temperature profile showing -50C at cloud-tops). These resulted in heavy thunderstorms in Fife and heavy hail. At Wishaw in N Lanarkshire (Scotland) hail up to 4.5 cm was reported and electricity supply was widely affected. A tornado was reported as a squally shower hit Caldicot (on the Levels between Newport and Chepstow) in South Wales at 1140 GMT. The strength was small, no damage or injuries were reported, although it 'whistled' past a local school and picked up debris from the ground. Here it was a dry day and with the sky clearing at night led to heavy dew that froze on the grass by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.6C; Min 6.3C; Grass 3.7C]
3rd: Another bright start to the day with cumulus clouds already building at 0900 GMT. Some in the vicinity looked dark but drifted away without any precipitation. Pressure 1019 mb was still building with a ridge extending from Atlantic-high (1030 mb) to the SW. It was a sunny morning with a light N'ly breeze. Cumulus clouds built up during the day but it remained dry and mostly sunny. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.0C; Min 3.1C; Grass -0.8C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1220 GMT on 4 May 2002 showing the storm that affecting the southern Alps. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
4th: A touch-of-frost had left the overnight heavy dew frozen on the grass just after dawn. The overnight minimum of 2.9C was the lowest of the month. This soon melted and the grass dried in a sunny day. The wind was light but variable in direction, S'ly at first but settled into a mainly N'ly later on. Pressure 1023 mb was high over the UK with low pressure and weak fronts to the W and E. The day was sunny the build up of cumulus clouds were confined mainly to the mountains. It was a good day for the annual sale of plants, many grown in our garden, in aid of the NSPCC. Held last year at another location because of foot-and-mouth restrictions it was back here this year. The beaches were crowded with people enjoying the good weather on the traditional holiday weekend. By evening the clouds dispersed leaving much smoke haze that later produced a blood-red sunset. Severe weather in the southern Alps 2 - 4th has brought over 400 mm of rain in 30 h to Switzerland causing flash floods and mudslides over a wide area. Several transalpine roads and railways were affected. Heavy snowfalls (up to 2.5 m) have also been reported. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.6C; Min 2.9C; Grass -0.2C]
; "Click for NOAA 12 image at 1621 GMT on 5 May 2002 showing clear sky over NW Britain and encroaching front unusually from the E. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
5th: Another heavy dew but it was a little warmer and there was no frost. Pressure 1028 mb had risen in ridge of high-pressure extending to N Britain from high (1033 mb) Norwegian Sea. A little cloud bubbled up at first in the morning but soon dispersed to give a clear sky and sunny but hazy afternoon and evening. The cool NE'ly breeze moderated the temperature that reached 13.2C. Northwest Wales and Scotland had the best of the sunshine with Dalmally, at the head of Loch Awe on the sheltered west coast, reaching 19C. The satellite image shows cloud, associated with Netherlands low (1017 mb), encroaching unusually from the SE that reached here in the night. Cloud over Ireland is associated with Atlantic fronts associated with low (988 mb) near Greenland. [Rain trace; Max 13.2C; Min 5.3C; Grass 3.8C]
6th: A cloudy and grey start to the day with a few spots of rain around 06 GMT. Pressure 1028 mb was unchanged; the temperature at 0900 GMT was 8.7C and feeling chilly without the sunshine of previous days. By 10 GMT the cloud thinned and dispersed that gave some sunny spells around noon. Later in the afternoon the cloud thickened again but it remained dry. The W of Scotland again had the best sunshine with Stornoway reporting {15.4 h} and was the warmest with Dalmally{21C}. It was a wet day in the S and SE England. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.0C; Min 6.5C; Grass 5.2C]
; "A cloudy but bright day on the 7 May 2002. View towards Llandegfan from Llansadwrn with the Snowdonia Mountains obscured in cloud and haze."){kind=small}
7th: A fairly bright dawn as there were some holes in the cloud cover. Some mistiness above heavy dew across the fields at first. At 0900 GMT with the sun obscured behind thin cloud visibility was still poor. Pressure 1025 mb had fallen with high (1036 mb) in mid-Atlantic and weak low-pressure over the continent. Low (996 mb) N Africa was bringing heavy rain to areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Here there was still the cool NE'ly breeze as the morning became sunnier with the cloud slowly dispersing. In SW England there was rain. Temperatures continue to be below average for the beginning of May. There was some sunshine in the afternoon but visibility remained poor and it later became murky. W Scotland still had the best of the weather with Tulloch Bridge (Highland) reporting a warm {21C} and Tiree (Inner Hebrides) {14.6 h} sunshine whereas Valley had only {2.5 h}.. At dusk the sky was tending to clear but remained patchy through the night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 13.5C; Min 7.1C; Grass 5.4C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1318 GMT on 7 May 2002 showing front over N Med shores, dust blowing from N Africa and front to the NW of the UK. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
; "A bright day in Bangor on 8 May 2002. View is of 'top-col tower' the old building in Upper Bangor under thin cloud and haze taken from the Clock Tower in the High Street."){kind=small}
8th: Thin cloud and thick haze gave poor visibility but a bright beginning of the day. Pressure 1022 mb continued to fall very slowly. The Mediterranean continued to have bad weather with complex pressure lows (1001 mb), frontal cloud lay across the Spain, S France to Italy; dust was again moving N out of N Africa towards continental Europe and possibly here. (See satellite image). Pressure was high (1032 mb) between Cape Wrath and Iceland. Fronts hung to the NW while the UK continued in a N - NE'ly airflow with cloudy and sometimes murky weather. Here it remained mainly dry and bright with some weak sunshine at times. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.6C; Min 7.7C; Grass 4.9C]
9th: After a fairly mild night with patchy cloud there was some dew on the grass but with no rain since the 1st cracks in the soil are opening up again. The cloud was dispersing overhead and it was again bright but visibility remained poor. Pressure 1017 mb continued it's slow to decline. There were thunderstorms over SW Ireland and more moved N in France and Germany during the day. The day here was bright, although the cloud thickened at times, with poor visibility. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.6C; Min 8.8C; Grass 6.8C]
10th: Murky at first the cloud was beginning to disperse before 0900 GMT. Pressure 1012 mb had fallen a little but the temperature already 12.6C. There were good sunny spells during the day with the maximum reaching 17.6C the highest so far this year. By evening most of the cloud had dispersed but it was still very hazy. At night patchy cloud returned. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.5C; Min 8.8C; Grass 6.7C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1244 GMT on 11 May 2002 low Faroes and frontal cloud over France and disturbed Mediterranean with storm anvils over Italy. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
; "Click for big (100 KB) NOAA 16 image at 1244 GMT on 11 May 2002 showing Anglesey, N Wales and much of central UK almost clear of cloud. Note high cirrostratus over Irish Sea and Anglesey. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
; "Cumulus clouds over Snowdonia. View SE from Pont Malltraeth Bridge across reclaimed marshland with the Carneddau on the left and Crib Goch, Snowdon and Moel Eilio on the right of the Llanberis Pass on 11 May 2002."){kind=small}
; "Cirrus and cumulus clouds over Malltraeth Sands and the Cefni estuary. View SW from the 'cob'."){kind=small}
11th: A cloudy start to the day and breaks appearing in the cloud soon gave sunny spells. Pressure was low over the North Sea but a weak ridge if high-pressure was crossing the UK. Pressure 1015 mb had risen and there was a light N'ly breeze and with clearer cooler air visibility was good. The day was sunny with clouds soon lifting and clearing from N and W Anglesey leaving mainly high cirrostratus and cumulus clouds over Snowdonia, and the S, in the afternoon. From Malltraeth there was a fine clear view across Anglesey towards the Snowdonia Mountain range and out over Malltraeth Sands from the 'cob' (photographs almost the same time as the satellite image). A cooler day with a maximum of 12.6C and with the sky clearing at night a heavy dew by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.6C; Min 8.3C; Grass 6.6C]
12th: Pressure was low (989 mb) N of Scotland and (996 mb) deepening W of Biscay heading our way. Pressure here 1013 mb was more or less unchanged. With an almost clear sky the morning was sunny but cloud started to encroach from the SW by 15 GMT and was overcast by 16 GMT. The evening and night was overcast but it remained dry until morning. [Rain trace; Max 14.8C; Min 4.4C; Grass 1.6C]
; "Met Office analysis chart for 06 GMT on 13 May 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
13th: There were grey skies and light showers of rain from 0720 GMT. Pressure 1000 mb was falling and the gusty wind had veered SSE'ly bringing showers of bud scales down from the trees. It was a warm 14.0C at 0900 GMT. With 18.0 mm of potential evapotranspiration so far this month and only 1.5 mm of rain there is a negative water balance of 16.5 mm. A large area of patchy rain was over the UK but so far, being in rain-shadow of the mountains today, we were having little at the moment. The low (986 mb), with a complex of fronts, was just SW of Valentia in Ireland. There were heavier showers in the afternoon with rain from 13 - 15 GMT before it brightened and there was a little sunshine before dusk. A further shower at 21 GMT before a dry night. It was windy the S'ly reaching force 6 - 7 at times but at Valley a gale was recorded with a maximum gust of 52 mph. [Rain 3.3 mm; Max 16.3C; Min 9.8C; Grass 8.8C]
14th: An overcast grey start to the day, it was still windy (SW force 5 -6) but some breaks in the cloud by 0900 GMT. Pressure 1002 mb had risen a little but with the low (984 mb) to the W of Scotland and fairly tight isobars over the UK it was a windy day. By afternoon it was bright and sunny but still very windy. Cloud encroached again by 16 GMT with the wind freshening (a gusty force 6) by evening. A spell of light rain from 01-03 GMT accounted for the 0.5 mm of rain. [Rain 0.5 mm; Max 14.4C; Min 9.8C; Grass 8.4C]
15th: A dull and damp start to the day with only moderate visibility and slight drizzle on the wind. The wind had moderated a little (S force 5) and there were many leaves and small branches of trees lying on the ground. Pressure 1018 mb had risen in a ridge of high-pressure (1030 mb) that intensified over central Europe. Low (996 mb) was filling N of Scotland near the Faeroes but low (986 mb) was deepening in mid-Atlantic. The morning and afternoon were dull with drizzle at times but began to clear by 16 GMT. The day's maximum was only 14.0C while Shetland had 11C. It was much warmer to the S with London on 21C. It was wet in Snowdonia with Capel Curig having {25 mm} rain. The evening was bright with sunny spells and it was a dry night. [Rain trace; Max 19.0C; Min 10.1C; Grass 9.3C]
; "Seeds of willow (Salix sp.) were gently blowing away in the light wind near the weather station on 16 May 2002."){kind=small}
; "It was a warm sunny morning in Pentraeth and lee-wave clouds, near the Menai Strait, could just be seen over the brow of the hill."){kind=small}
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1331 GMT on 16 May 2002 showinf low W of Ireland and approaching frontal cloud. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
16th: After a mild night it was a bright but mainly overcast start to the day. But pressure was unchanged at 1018 mb but expected to fall as low (975 mb at 0000 GMT) tracked W of Ireland. By 0900 GMT with the sky clearing and a light SE'ly the temperature in the sunshine had risen to 19.0C the warmest of the past 24-h and the year so far. Lenticular lee-wave clouds formed over the Menai Strait. The morning was sunny and warm with the temperature reaching 23.0C before noon and went on to a maximum of 24.7C (ranked 5th highest in May), the warmest since the 25.9C on 28 July 2001 the year's highest. In the afternoon thin cloud encroached from the west but it remained pleasantly warm well into the evening. Thunder showers were breaking out over SW Ireland and to the SW by 18 GMT and slowly moved E during the night across Wales and SW England. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 24.7C; Min 9.9C; Grass 6.6C]
; "Map of the sferics recorded between 17 - 23 GMT on 17 May 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
; "Map of the sferics recorded between 00-06 GMT on 17 May 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
; "A rising tide as it became cloudier at Beaumaris on 17 May 2002. View is SW from Chimney Corner towards Gallows Point with Bangor beyond."){kind=small}
17th: Thunder was heard at RAF Valley at 04 and 06 GMT but not here. A Föhn wind off the mountains at times in the night, at 04 GMT the temperature rose to 20.3C, with the relative humidity falling to 53%. It was short-lived and then the temperature fell to the night's minimum of 17.0C that was the warmest May night on record (since 1979). It was the warmest night since the 17.5C recorded on 10 July 1999. It was cloudy but bright start to the day, with the sun breaking through occasionally at first and it was warm, the temperature at 08 GMT was 19.5C and went on to reach 21.3C. The mean temperature for the day was was 19.2C and was the highest in May on record here beating the 18.9C seen in 2001 and 1990. By 0930 GMT it was becoming cloudier at Beaumaris where on a rising tide some boats on the mud between the town and Gallows Point were beginning to float. Thunderstorms moved across the UK but, although there were dark threatening clouds and a few spots of rain, there was no thunder or downpour of rain here. We escaped by being in the lee of the Snowdonia Mountains as storms tracked NW across Wales and up the Irish Sea. There was heavy rain in South Wales where Milford Haven reported {48 mm} of rain the most in a day in May on record there. The slow-moving front became occluded N of a small low (1007 mb at 24 GMT) central Wales. We did not escape rain altogether as there was light rain from 21 GMT till morning but at Valley (nr. Holyhead) 19.2 mm fell. [Rain 9.2 mm; Max 21.3C; Min 17.0C; Grass 13.9C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1128 GMT on 18 May 2002. The rain-bearing front is just clearing Anglesey and SW UK. The next front can be seen touching SW Ireland and Cornwall. Note low near Corsica giving bad weather in the Med. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
18th: With the slow-moving front hanging over us the light rain had turned to heavy drizzle. Visibility was poor or very poor at times in the mist. It had been a mild night with a minimum of 10.9C and was 12.0C at 0900 GMT with 100% relative humidity. Not the best of days for the start of the annual Vintage Rally at Plas Coch on Anglesey that was cancelled last year because of foot-and-mouth restrictions. Pressure was 1010 mb with low (994 mb) W of Ireland. The morning was misty with further drizzle; more heavy rain was falling in South Wales where at Mumbles {42 mm} was reported. The Fire Service was called to pump out flooded houses in nearby Oystermouth. Several rivers in South Wales were on flood alert and at Cwmmorgan-Cwmcych the road collapsed into the river. By afternoon the sky began to clear when the wind suddenly freshened as the front cleared. This left a clear sunny slot that lasted into the evening before the next band of rain that fell between c. 01 - 03 GMT. [Rain 4.0 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 10.9C; Grass 10.5C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1257 GMT on 19 May 2002. The low can be seen W of Scotland with frontal cloud over the Irish Sea and Scotland. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
19th: After a mild wet night the sky was overcast but the cloud and mist was thinning near 0900 GMT but did not clear. Pressure here was 1012 mb and there was a fresh blustery S'ly breeze. Low (992 mb) was just W of Ireland making it's way NE to be off W Scotland (990 mb) by noon. Associated warm and cold fronts were lying over Scotland, the Irish Sea, Wales and the SW. With pressure high over the continent the scene is set for unsettled weather with a succession of Atlantic-lows to follow. The morning was overcast with a little rain from time to time. The afternoon was dry at first but there was more light rain by 16 GMT that lasted until 03 GMT. [Rain 6.0 mm; Max 15.0C; Min 10.2C; Grass 9.5C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 20 May 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
20th: Pressure 1002 mb had fallen with another low 980 mb off the W coast of Ireland. This was already bringing blustery strong winds to the SW approaches and rain over Ireland and Wales. It had been a mild night with a minimum of 11.8C. The morning had blustery showery rain before a brighter spell around noon. Irish Sea Ferries were being delayed or cancelled on advice of the forecast. The wind was strong to gale-force and increased to gale force 8 between 14 - 1530 GMT. In a severe gust just before 15 GMT a large branch was broken off a sycamore tree with a loud crack. I was in the garden at the time but went indoors as it was becoming dangerous to be outside. It was fortunate that the leaves had dried as, with the additional weight of water on them at this time of year, trees might have been brought down. Trees are vulnerable in exposed places on Anglesey to these 'summer gales', I have seen several trees felled across the island by weight of leaves and water in force 8 winds that would require force 9 or 10 in the winter when leaves have fallen. By evening the wind had moderated but there were showers between 17 - 21 GMT. (The low 977 mb was W of the Outer Isles by midnight). The sky cleared giving a clear and cooler night. [Rain 1.3 mm; Max 17.3C; Min 11.8C; Grass 11.5C]
; "In the wood the bluebells had finished flowering and formed seed pods on the 21 May 2002."){kind=small}
; "With leaves still forming and expanding the woodland canopy was nearly closed on the 21 May 2002. View is looking vertically upwards."){kind=small}
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1416 GMT on 21 May 2002. The low can be seen SW of Ireland with broad frontal cloud over the UK and Bay of Biscay. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
21st: A cooler night with dew after the rain but soon after dawn cloud was forming in the W and over Snowdonia. By 0900 GMT there were 7 oktas of cumulus clouds. Low enough to obscure Yr Wyddfa but just touching the summits of the Carneddau. Pressure 997 mb was falling with another low (970 mb) was approaching from the SW. The morning remained bright with sunny spells but there was a wide band of rain already over SW Ireland and the SW arrived here at 1300 GMT. Not as windy as yesterday afternoon but was dull with light rain or heavy drizzle. The wind fell light having backed SE'ly by 18 GMT and there was light rain until 23 GMT and a shower at 03 GMT. [Rain 3.9 mm; Max 14.7C; Min 8.4C; Grass 6.8C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1224 GMT on 22 May 2002. The low can be over Northern Ireland with frontal cloud over the North Sea on it's way E. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
22nd: With the low still close by pressure 983 mb was falling and it was again windier with the gusty S'ly a force 5 - 6 at 0900 GMT. We were in a showery airflow, there were dark cumulus clouds around, but it kept dry at first. By afternoon there were squally showers and the wind reached strong to gale force 8 for about an hour around 14 GMT and later at 19 GMT. There were thundery outbreaks over Scotland, the English Channel and, with the reinvigorated cold front working it's way E over S Sweden, Denmark and Germany storms there also. Low (982 mb) was over the Western Isles at midnight. Here light showers continued until midnight before dying out when it became less windy. [Rain 0.8 mm; Max 15.8C; Min 10.7C; Grass 9.4C]
; "Click for big (102KB) NOAA 16 image at 1354 GMT on 23 May 2002 showing deepening Atlantic-low approaching the UK. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
23rd: A quieter dawn but the wind was back to force 5 at 0900 GMT. It was a cloudy and dull start to the day and with the garden looking worse for wear with much leaf and branch debris on the ground. On the vegetable plot the wind had broken off several stems of early potato and medium sized lettuce at ground level. Pressure 997 mb was rising as a ridge of high-pressure was approaching from the W. With clearing skies Anglesey had a sunny, but windy, day with the S'ly keeping at force 5 - 6. In mid-Atlantic a deepening low was heading rapidly our way. A coronal mass ejection from the sun struck Earth's magnetic field this afternoon, with greater energy than anticipated, generating a geomagnetic storm. But the frontal cloud (occluded) arrived overhead at 19 GMT and spoilt a chance of seeing any aurora. The was rain from 23 - 01 GMT followed by showers. [Rain 3.2 mm; Max 15.3C; Min 10.4C; Grass 9.44C]
; "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 24 May 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
24th: The sky was clear at dawn except that the mountains were covered by well-developed cumulus clouds. By 0900 GMT we had had several squally showers with the S'ly wind force 6 - 7 increasing to force 8 - 9. In between there were brief bright patches with the sun breaking through. Pressure 988 mb had continued to fall overnight with the low (974 mb) to the NW and the frontal rain now over central UK. pressure was high (1032 mb) over Spain. The morning continued with squally showers and deteriorated in the afternoon with gale force 8 winds and gusts of 55 mph. Many more branchlets with leaves were broken from trees and litter the ground along with green torn-off leaves. Other garden plants have been damaged as well including clematis and rose buds before they have opened. More potato and lettuce have suffered too. There was light rain from 22 GMT until 03 GMT then a few showers before turning dry by morning. [Rain 2.3 mm; Max 12.6C; Min 9.2C; Grass 8.0C]
25th: The wind had eased after midnight with the low (961 mb) off Cape Wrath filling and heading N; around dawn it was force 2 -3, but by 0900 GMT although the sky was clearing the SW'ly was beginning to pick up and was force 5 - 6. A small low (985 mb) was within the circulation of the Cape Wrath low and was heading our way. It kept dry in the morning but there was rain from 15 - 1630 GMT and later at 19 - 21 GMT. Amounts were small here but at Shap Fell there were {42 mm}. The wind moderated through the night. [Rain 3.2 mm; Max 13.6C; Min 8.4C; Grass 7.5C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1321 GMT on 26 May 2002 showing temperature profile of strongly convective Cbs. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
26th: Some clear spells before dawn allowed the temperature on the grass to fall to 2.8C. There was little or no wind and it was a pleasant start to the day with some sunny spells. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 11.9C and this soon rose to 13.1C the day's maximum. Complex low (996 mb) was centred near Stoke on Trent and a storm system was circulating within it. Cumulus clouds were building and there was a slow-moving shower from 11 - 1230 GMT during which there were ice pellets and a fall in temperature to 9.0C. The convective system went on to develop E of here (see satellite cloud temperature profile where temperature of the highest and most active clouds were -50C) and there were thunderstorms over the Pennines in the afternoon. Here there was a little sunshine and no more rain, although clouds threatened from time to time, until a shower around midnight. [Rain 4.4 mm; Max 13.1C; Min 5.9C; Grass 2.8C]
27th: With low pressure (998 mb) moving N near Edinburgh the weather remains unsettled. A cloudy start to the day but the sky soon began to clear and it became bright with some sunshine. There were dark cumulus clouds in the vicinity at first but these diminished through the day over Anglesey. But near Warrington at 1315 GMT a rotating funnel cloud was sighted. Mostly sunny in the afternoon but became windier. Frontal cloud moved across from Ireland in the night giving a little rain from 05 - 09 GMT [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 16.6C; Min 7.7C; Grass 5.2C]
; "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1300 GMT on 28 May 2002 showing low over Ireland and clear skies over Anglesey. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
28th: Early rain ceased just before 0900 GMT. Low (992 mb) was just NW of Ireland with pressure here 996 mb. The wind was SE'ly having been there in the night but was to soon veer S'ly as the sky started to clear over Anglesey. The mountains remained covered in cloud with some heavy showers. During the day the low moved SE to be over Ireland at noon with no change in pressure. This left frontal cloud over most of the UK and France but parts of Wales, SW England and NE Scotland enjoyed some sunshine. By the end of the afternoon it turned cloudy and there was a shower at 1730 GMT and light rain from 23 - 01 GMT. [Rain 2.5 mm; Max 14.5C; Min 8.8C; Grass 6.7C]
29th: A cloudy start to the day with light showers. Pressure 1006 mb had risen and there were some small breaks appearing in the cloud near 0900 GMT. But with a low (0997 mb) near the Western Isles the weather remains unsettled. There was a cool blustery W'ly wind force 4 - 5 with the temperature only 10.0C. Since the warmer days of 17 -18th daytime temperatures have been below average. In the morning there was patchy rain to the N and showers to the S of here and over the Snowdonia Mountains where, at Capel Curig, there were {25.6 mm}. There were good sunny spells in late morning and afternoon the wind backed SW'ly but remained fresh at force 5. The evening was showery and more so from 21 GMT before a spell of moderate to heavy rain from 03 - 06 GMT followed by even more showers. This brought the day's total to 13.5 mm, the most in the month, and the month's total of 62.2 mm close to the long-term average. [Rain 13.5 mm; Max 14.6C; Min 9.0C; Grass 8.4C]
30th: A blustery morning with some breaks in the cloud between the showers. Pressure 1014 mb was continuing to rise but the SW'ly wind was still fresh or strong in showers. Low-pressure (998 mb) was still off NW Scotland and a complex system, including troughs across Ireland and Wales, responsible for the often prolonged showers. It was not long before the sky began to clear and there were good sunny spells before noon on Anglesey. Over Snowdonia the towering cumulus clouds developed and remained there until late afternoon. The wind kept fresh to strong whipping up a choppy sea on the Menai Strait near Caernarfon. The evening was also sunny and there was a fine and mostly clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.6C; Min 8.8C; Grass 7.6C]
; "View across the sand dunes at Aberffraw on 31 May 2002. High cloud is encroaching from the NW"){kind=small}
; "View towards Snowdonia from Aberffraw dunes on 31 May 2002. Cumulus clouds can be seen over the mountains."){kind=small}
; "The Burnet Rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia) in flower on Aberfraw dunes on 31 May 2002."){kind=small}
; "Early marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza incarnata) in flower on Aberfraw dunes on 31 May 2002."){kind=small}
; "Salt spray blown inland by recent gales damaged leaves on trees growing 1.5 km inland on the W coast of Anglesey seen on 31 May 2002."){kind=small}
31st: Almost clear skies over Anglesey to start the day but cumulus clouds were already building over the mountains of Snowdonia. Pressure 1025 mb was highest since the 7th as continental high-pressure (1027 mb) pushed up from the S. There were lows to the SW and NW the latter bringing cloudy weather to the NW of the UK. With lighter winds and sunshine it was a pleasant day. At Aberffraw thin high cloud could be seen encroaching from the NW while in the other direction cumulus clouds remained all day over the Snowdonia Mountains. On the sand dunes the Burnet rose has been in flower and a profusion of early marsh orchids were just coming into flower. Sky larks were plentiful and a pair of reed buntings seen on dwarf willow now taking over some of the dune slacks. Effects of recent gales was evident on the orchids where leaves were scorched by the salt spay, and 1.5 km inland leaves on exposed ash and sycamore were scorched and shrivelled and will not regrow. It looked like autumn not May! [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.3C; Min 6.6C; Grass 4.1C]
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; "Click for NOAA 12 image at 1743 GMT on 1 June 2002 showing developing disturbance over Ireland. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
1st: A fine start to June with sunshine and little (SE'ly) or no wind the temperature at 0900 GMT was feeling warm at 17.3C and went on to reach a maximum of 22.6C, the highest of the month. Visibility was very good, there were clear views of the mountains, the Lleyn Peninsula and across Anglesey to Holyhead Mountain, with only a veil of cirrus cloud. It was cloudier around noon but the afternoon was mainly sunny the sky clearing towards evening and remained warm through the evening. Later it turned cloudy and with pressure low (1014 mb) to the SW a trough over S Ireland moved into the Irish Sea and led to the development of thunderstorms that moved NE to affect North Wales by morning. [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 22.6C; Min 8.0C; Grass 5.8C]
; "Sferics recorded 00 - 12 GMT on 2 June 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
; "Click for dust forecast map at 12 GMT on 2 June 2002. Courtesy of the University of Athens."){kind=small}
2nd: Thunder was first heard here at 0610 GMT and a storm cell passed to the W at 0753 GMT. Another moved directly over us by 0830 GMT when there were 8 local cloud to ground lightning strikes and heavy rumbles of thunder. This moved off NE by 0850 GMT so I was able to take the 0900 GMT observations on time. Another storm cell approached at 0925 GMT with 4 local flashes of lightning and heavy thunder before it moved off.. There was some rain including a short burst of heavy rain but of small amount. A quieter spell followed but there was more heavier rain at 1112 GMT and thunder at 1120 GMT. After there was a little sunshine and the temperature rose to 20.3C but threatening clouds were still in the vicinity and there were further showers before turning drier and cooler later in the afternoon. There was deposition of light-coloured dust of N African origin around noon, this was well-forecast by the SKIRON dust forecast model run by the University of Athens. A tongue of dust was shown moving W to E across S UK during the day that seemed closely associated with the storms. The line of storms became more organised, as a cold front, as it moved E and by midnight was lying down the E coast of Scotland and England, and on into France and Spain. During the night here another frontal system crossed the Irish Sea and gave light to moderate rain from 0330 GMT. [Rain 7.6 mm; Max 20.3C; Min 12.8C; Grass 10.8C]
 "Sferics recorded 00 - 09 GMT on 3 June 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
 "Click for NOAA 12 image at 1334 GMT on 3 June 2002 showing W UK clear after morning cloud and rain had moved E to affect much of England. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
3rd: It was still raining at 0900 GMT and was misty with poor visibility. The slow-moving occluded front was lying down the W coast with low (1001 mb) off the Western Isles of Scotland. Here pressure 1008 mb was falling very slowly indicating nothing much was moving. There was little or no wind just an occasional puff from the SW. The morning remained wet with the rain turning to heavy drizzle. By the afternoon with the rain band moving E to affect England the sky cleared leaving fair-weather cumulus clouds and spells of sunshine with a maximum of 15.8C. Painted lady and red admiral butterflies were seen in the garden, these probably hitched a lift on the same flow of air from N Africa that brought yesterday's dust deposit. Later the sky almost cleared but by 18 GMT was becoming cloudier. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 15.8C; Min 9.7C; Grass 9.8C]
4th: Patchy cloud at dawn with cumulus clouds developing threatening showers especially over Snowdonia. Pressure 1003 mb was still falling slowly with deepening pressure (994 mb) Western Isles. Pressure was low to the SW and France that suggested continuing unsettled weather. The morning was bright and sunny, but there was a fresh SW'ly wind making the 12.5C at 0900 GMT feel rather cool and kept the day's maximum to 15.5C. By afternoon it was cloudier as cumulus drifted over from Snowdonia, but the sky cleared again later giving a sunny evening and largely clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.5C; Min 9.2C; Grass 7.5C]
 "Met Office analysis for 06 GMT on 5 June 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
 "Convergence front over the Menai Strait and Anglesey on 5 June 2002. Viewed from the creche and nurses accomodatiuon at Ysbyty Gwynedd (Hospital) in Bangor."){kind=small}
 "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1312 GMT on 5 June 2002 showing low over N France and Channel and clear skies in the west. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
5th: A heavy dew overnight made the grass glisten looking across the fields soon after dawn. But no ground frost to check the plants as the grass minimum was 4.0C and in the screen 7.3C, both the lowest of the month. Clear at first there was a little more cloud, with cumulus over Snowdonia and Lleyn, at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1003 mb had bottomed and had returned to yesterday's reading. The old low to the NW (1002 mb) was being absorbed into low pressure (989 mb) over France. Associated fronts were giving rain in the Channel and up the E coast to Scotland. Kenley near London had {21 mm} rain, the largest in the UK. It was dry in the W where here it was a sunny morning with a light NNE'ly breeze. The wind strengthened in the afternoon but came up against warmer air from the S and a convergence front was formed over the Menai Strait and Anglesey. By evening it was generally cloudier but stayed dry until 1930 GMT when there was slight rain until 21 GMT. Further rain from 03 - 07 GMT contributed most to the 4.7 mm rainfall total. There was a further deposition of light-coloured dust in the rain probably of N African origin. [Rain 4.7 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 7.3C; Grass 4.0C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1301 GMT on 6 June 2002 deep convection over France, Switzerland and Italy with cold front E of Sardinia."){kind=small}
6th: A very murky start to the day with light rain ceasing at 07 GMT but conditions did not improved by 0900 GMT. Very poor visibility in the mist with 100% relative humidity. Pressure 1003 mb unchanged with low (999 mb) Thames estuary and (997 mb) N Italy. Cloud cover remained over the UK, France and much of Europe but Scandinavia was clear! Deep convection storms, more common in the spring and autumn, led to heavy rain in SE Europe. In the mountainous Département Isère of SE France, near Grenoble, storms caused flash floods and mud slides that flooded roads, carried away vehicles and wrecked houses. One life was lost and 300 made homeless. In NE Italy a state of emergency was called and in Venice St. Mark's Square was flooded over 1 m during a tidal surge. Here the morning remained murky but it brightened in the afternoon with a maximum of 19.5C but it remained very humid and hazy at 86% (dewpoint 17.1C). By 17 GMT it was murky again and there was slight rain before dusk. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 19.5C; Min 11.3C; Grass 11.0C]
 "Click for map of significant weather at 06 GMT on 20 May 2002. Courtesy of the University of Cologne."){kind=small}
 "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1249 GMT on 7 June 2002 showing Scottish Isles on a clear day. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
 "Click for NOAA 16 image at 1249 GMT on 7 June 2002 showing clear skies over Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltic. Courtesy of Bernard Burton."){kind=small}
7th: A warm night with the temperature hovering around 15C. At dawn it was still dull but with an E'ly breeze the visibility was good but hazy. Pressure 1000 mb was little changed with low 999 mb over the Irish Sea. Pressure was also low (994 mb) over Europe and the Mediterranean giving further unsettled weather there. Over 100 mm rain in Germany caused basements to flood in the village of Diedorf where divers found 3 people drowned. In the Alps the precipitation was of snow that accumulated 60 cm. Nearer home the Scottish Isles had the best weather with clear skies and Lusa (Isle of Skye) reporting a maximum of {25.5C} and Lerwick (Shetland) {16.2h} sunshine. It was clear over the countries surrounding the Baltic as well. Here the morning remained dull but dry although there was patchy rain to the SW, Ireland and South Wales. By afternoon the drizzle and then light rain arrived and with poor visibility meant a miserable end to the day. Later in night it was drier but remained overcast. [Rain 1.3 mm; Max 15.5C; Min 12.2C; Grass 12.5C]
 "Hedgerow flowers near the weather station on 8 June 2002. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), red campion (Silene dioca) and cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)."){kind=small}
 "Close-up of the red campion (Silene dioica) in a hedgerow near the weather station on 8 June 2002."){kind=small}
8th: A damp and grey start to the day but pressure 1004 mb had risen a touch as the complex low-pressure over the UK filled. A low (988 mb) W of Rockall was moving E. By 0900 GMT there was a little brightness but it did not last. The morning was mainly cloudy and calm, or had very light variable winds, with good but hazy visibility. During the afternoon there was a little drizzle at times. Along the hedgerows near the weather station the pink foxgloves and red campions were in full-flower contrasting with the white umbelliferous cow parsley. Lusa again had the top temperature {22C} and Lerwick the most sunshine {16.9h} but unlucky Aberdeen unusually, being on the drier E side of Scotland, was the wettest with {17 mm}. [Rain 1.5 mm; Max 15.7C; Min 11.1C; Grass 10.8C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1409 GMT on 9 June 2002 showing low N Ireland, clear slot Wales and SW with frontal rain to the E."){kind=small}
 "Solar UV image at 1319 GMT on 9 June 2002."){kind=small}
9th: At midnight the Atlantic-low was W of Malin Head and deepening (983 mb). An associated broad front (occluded) brought some early spells of rain that were sweeping in across the W from Scotland as far as Brittany. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 998 mb and the S'ly wind had strengthened to force 5 - 6. During the morning there were blustery showers but by the afternoon in a clear slot there were long sunny spells before re-entering a very showery airflow arrived at 19 GMT. The frontal rain went on to affect most of the UK and France during the day. North of the Border had all the weather extremes for the day in the UK: Lerwick (Shetland) {14.6h} sunshine; Kinloss (Moray) {19C} highest; Inverbervie (Aberdeenshire) {12C} lowest and Tulloch Bridge (Highland) {23 mm} wettest. Here we entered a very showery airflow On the sun a giant bubble of gas (50 earth diameters wide) lifted off at 1319 GMT. The image was captured by a UV telescope aboard the NASA Solar and Helioscope Observatory. It was a wet 24-h in North Wales with {33.2 mm} at Lake Vyrnwy and {54.0 mm} at Capel Curig. [Rain 8.8 mm; Max 15.5C; Min 10.1C; Grass 9.2C]
10th: Showers overnight were still ongoing with he SW'ly wind force 6 and a cool 10.7C at 0900 GMT with poor visibility; it was not very pleasant out-of-doors. Pressure 1000 mb was was rising slowly (it was 995 mb at 01 GMT) with the low (990 mb), now filling, still near Malin Head with the bad weather rotating around it. It was a morning of blustery showers and spells of light rain that went on into the afternoon before clearing up to give some sunshine by 15 GMT and into the evening. It was a dry night. [Rain 2.4 mm; Max 14.3C; Min 9.3C; Grass 7.8C]
11th: A cooler night and a bright start to the Day. Pressure 1009 mb continued to rise with low (995 mb) still to the NW continued giving a showery airflow across the UK. There was a developing wave depression on a front to the SW promising more unsettled weather later. Pressure was building, however, over N Africa and Spain (1024 mb) and could bring more settled weather to the Mediterranean at last, but could lead to more Atlantic-lows passing our way. The morning had some bright spells but the SW'ly wind was moderate to fresh at times. In the afternoon the sky cleared over Anglesey and it was sunny until dusk. A dry night with some cloud by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.9C; Min 8.3C; Grass 5.9C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1336 GMT on 12 June 2002 showing a clearer central UK and S Ireland with convective trough to the N."){kind=small}
12th: A bright start to the day but there were towering cumulus cloud in the vicinity. Pressure was still low (998 mb) to the NW and little changed here at 1011 mb. The SW'ly wind was force 2 at first and during the morning the cumulus stopped towering but it became windier and by afternoon when it was force 6. It kept dry although it was moderately cloudy. To the N a convective trough N of Ireland worked its way across into Scotland by evening. Here it became overcast later and there was a light shower at midnight. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 15.8C; Min 8.0C; Grass 6.2C]
13th: A dull and grey start to the day with pressure 1012 mb little changed. The low pressure (1004 mb) to the N had filled and it was less windy. Pressure was high (1024 mb) Biscay and the Mediterranean but Atlantic-low (982 mb) was to the W and threatens more unsettled weather. An associated warm front was moving NE'wards over the SW. By 0900 GMT with the temperature on 12.6C it was beginning to brighten up and there was a brief glimpse of the sun. The wind was WSW'ly force 3 and turned SW'ly later. During the morning the cloud began to thicken, but it stayed dry, the rain that brought some early rain around the Bristol Channel reached here about 1430 GMT. The day's highest temperature was 14.0C. The rain band was slow-moving and there was intermittent rain or drizzle through the night until morning with the temperature rising. [Rain 5.1 mm; Max 15.3C; Min 10.1C; Grass 9.2C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1314 GMT on 14 June 2002 showing the cold front that brought rain."){kind=small}
14th: The slow-moving warm front was positioned on the chart over Anglesey at midnight and the Isle of Man at 06 GMT. We were in warm sector air, the cold front being to the SW, and the temperature was rising and at 0900 GMT was 15.3C exceeding yesterday's highest. There had been a fall of light-coloured Saharan-type dust during the night. It was a gloomy morning with low cloud and mist on high ground and a little light rain or drizzle. Pressure was 1009 mb with Atlantic-low (992 mb) W of Ireland and the wind was a moderate S'ly. There was a large area of rain over Scotland and more patchy rain in the Irish Sea and SW. The following cold front was over the W Ireland coast but had reached the W coast of Wales by noon. During the afternoon it was windier with spells of moderate to heavy rain that had accumulated 16.5 mm by 1700 GMT bringing the total for the month to 50.2 mm some 70% of the June average. Total rain on the day was 16.7 mm, the largest fall in the month. The cold front was weak here but some thunder and lightning was reported as it moved E. There was a little more drizzle at first in the evening before turning drier overnight but it remained overcast. [Rain 16.7 mm; Max 15.7C; Min 10.3C; Grass 10.0C]
 "The sky cleared near Malltraeth leaving cumulus clouds over Snowdonia. View is from the cob looking NE."){kind=small}
15th: Another grey start to the day with the pressure 1010 mb little changed. There was a SW'ly breeze but humidity was 92% and while concrete was dry vegetation and soil were very wet. Yesterday's front had moved out over the North Sea and N France by midnight, but there is more bad weather in the Atlantic heading our way and it will remain unsettled. But by 0945 GMT the sky was starting to brighten and there was a glimpse of the sun. The day was mainly cloudy but was bright at times. On the W coast near Malltraeth and as far as Llangefni the sky partially cleared to give some sunshine. Towards the mountains it remained cloudy. It was windy, especially along the exposed coast, the SW'ly force 6 - 7. Later it became cloudy again everywhere and there was a little rain near midnight as fronts passed over. Anglesey was near a triple point, the meeting of an occluded front to the N, warm front to the SE and cold front to the SW. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 16.2C; Min 11.8C; Grass 11.5C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1433 GMT on 16 June 2002 showing cyclogenesis SW of Ireland, with trailing Atlantic cold front and sea fog in the Bay of Biscay."){kind=small}
16th: It was overcast at dawn but the cloud was clearing leaving a veil of cirrostratus overhead at 0900 GMT. It was bright and with the sun behind the cloud an almost complete 22 deg halo was seen. It was warm with the temperature 14.8C going on to reach a maximum of 18.0C by noon. During the morning the cloud thickened and by afternoon it was dull with a little drizzle at first with rain by 1430 GMT. A complex of lows was the W of Ireland, the lowest (987 mb) on a wave deepened rapidly, and showed strengthening cyclonic circulation, as it moved NE and at midnight was (971 mb). During the evening the S'ly wind became strong to gale-force and became very gusty. From 2130 -2230 GMT it was a noisy gale force 8, tearing leaves and twigs from trees, only moderating slowly after midnight. [Rain 3.2 mm; Max 18.0C; Min 11.8C; Grass 11.5C]
 "Met Office chart at 0000 GMT on 17 June 2002."){kind=small}
17th: A showery and windy start to the day with the sky beginning to clear towards 0900 GMT. The overnight minimum was 13.8C, the warmest of the month. The low (964 mb) at 06 GMT was NW of Malin Head but pressure 1010 mb here was rising. The blustery wind was a warm (15.6C) and S'ly force 5 - 6. The day was mainly cloudy, but there were sunny spells in the afternoon with lessening wind. It was a dry night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.8C; Min 13.8C; Grass 12.9C]
 "Sferics recorded 00 - 09 GMT on 18 June 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
 "Across Porth Eilian towards Point Lynas lighthouse altocumulus clouds were forming as the sky cleared on 18 June 2002. © Donald Perkins."){kind=small}
 "Some lee-wave clouds formed off Point Lynas in the lee of Mynydd Eilian on 18th June 2002. © Donald Perkins."){kind=small}
 "Sea Pink (Armeria maritima) in flower at Point Lynas on 18 June 2002. © Donald Perkins."){kind=small}
18th: At midnight the low (974 mb) was SE of Iceland and the activated cold front stretching across the UK near London from S Norway to Brest and beyond. This produced thunderstorms and downpours of rain in the SE early in the day. Here it was a cloudy start to the day but it soon brightened up to give sunny spells in the morning although there were towering cumulus clouds in the vicinity. At 0900 GMT pressure was 1013 mb but with the isobars still closely packed it was still windy (SSW force 5 - 6). In the afternoon the sky cleared over the station as a clear slot developed in the lee of the Snowdonia Mountains. Central Anglesey remained cloudy but at Point Lynas on the NE tip of the island the headland was clearer being in the lee of Mynydd Eilian 177 m. At one point some small lee-waves clouds formed just off the point. Later in the afternoon into the evening the sky cleared over most of the island leaving towering cumulus over the mainland mountains. Patchy cloud drifted across overnight but it remained dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.7C; Min 12.3C; Grass 11.0C]
19th: With the low (988 mb) between Iceland and Cape Wrath continuing to fill, and the increasing influence of the continental-high (1025 mb) Paris, pressure here 1021 mb at 0900 GMT was rising. The cloud was dispersing and forming altocumulus and it was a sunny morning. Even the wind (SW'ly force 4) had moderated! The afternoon was sunny with cumulus clouds mainly confined to the mountains some of which drifted over the S of the island from time to time. On the continent there were storms during the afternoon over the Pyrenees and Alps into Switzerland and Germany. Here the evening was clear and night were clear at first. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 18.5C; Min 10.7C; Grass 9.8C]
 "Cumulus clouds seen over the castle walls at Beaumaris on 20 June 2002. © Donald Perkins."){kind=small}
 "It was sunny in the streets of Beaumaris on 20 June 2002. View is between the Old Court House and the White Lion Hotel. © Donald Perkins."){kind=small}
20th: With clear skies at first minimum temperatures were lower than of late and there was dew on the grass. Pressure 1021 mb at 0900 GMT was the same as yesterday. Pressure was high (1025 mb) in the Bay of Biscay but troughs of low pressure were circulating nearby and over the continent giving the threat of more storms. At Beaumaris it was bright and sunny in the town but cumulus clouds were already beginning to build. There was a slight shower at the weather station at 10 GMT but later the sky began to clear. In the afternoon the air turned clear and visibility was excellent across Anglesey and towards the mountains and Lleyn. The sunny conditions lasted into the evening before frontal cloud encroaching from the W brought rain by 04 -07 GMT before turning to drizzle. [Rain 2.0 mm; Max 18.5C; Min 8.8C; Grass 6.7C]
21st: A misty start to the day but the drizzle had become intermittent by 0900 GMT and the lower slopes of the Snowdonia Mountains were beginning to clear. Pressure 1017 mb had fallen as low (1002 mb) was NW of Malin Head. Several fronts and troughs were in it's circulation and had given patchy bands of rain crossing the UK from the SW. The drizzle ceased during the morning but the sky did not clear and there was some more in the afternoon and night. As with drizzle the whole day is miserable but the amount of precipitation is small. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 15.2C; Min 10.6C; Grass 9.0C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1334 GMT on 22 June 2002 showing low-pressure cloud swirls N of the UK, a cloudy Scandinavia and cold front affecting the SW, S and Brittany."){kind=small}
22nd: A grey start to the day but the cloud was thinning at 0900 GMT and blue sky was soon seen on the horizon to the W and reached here by 10 GMT. Low (1005 mb) was still to the NW with fronts and troughs in it's circulation. Pressure 1016 mb was little changed and there was a moderate SW'ly wind. The day saw the skies gradually clearing, especially on the west coast of the island where it was also very windy, to give good sunny spells. By evening a band of light showery rain moved across from the W. Most of N Europe was cloud covered but in France S of the Loire, Spain, the Med and N Africa it was wall-to-wall sunshine. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 17.5C; Min 12.1C; Grass 11.0C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1323 GMT on 23 June 2002 showing low near Greenland that would bring cloud and rain to the NW the next day."){kind=small}
 "A mainly cloudy afternoon on Anglesey. Looking N towards Llansadwrn village at 1326 GMT."){kind=small}
 "Wild roses (Rosa sp.) were in flower in an untrimmed hedgerow in Llansadwrn."){kind=small}
23rd: A bright start to the day although there were a lot of cumulus clouds in the vicinity it was keeping dry. Pressure at 0900 GMT 1021 mb had risen under the influence of a ridge from Azores high (1034 mb). But low (991 mb) near S Greenland moving E will be a subsequent threat in the NW. The day kept dry with sunny spells but the sky did not clear until late in the afternoon and evening. This is the month to see wild roses and honeysuckle in bloom in the hedgerows. They can be found growing best on old uncut hedges; they do not develop well on those that are mechanically trimmed every year. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.8C; Min 10.4C; Grass 8.5C]
 "Meadowsweet was in flower along lanes near the weather station on 24 June 2002.."){kind=small}
24th: A dry 24-h but there was moderate dew after the clear evening sky of yesterday. Cloud had moved across from the W and, although bright at first, as 0900 GMT approached it was becoming thicker. Pressure 1027 mb had risen with Azores high (1036 mb) and low (990 mb) between Greenland and Iceland moving E With cloud brushing the NW there was some rain over Scotland early in the day. The day remained dry and mostly cloudy but occasionally there were some brighter spells. Along nearby lanes meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria is in flower. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.2C; Min 9.8C; Grass 7.0C]
 "With the sky clearing during the afternoon of 25 June 2002 a yacht takes the ebb tide towards Puffin Sound from Beaumaris."){kind=small}
25th: At midnight low (993 mb) was on the E coast of Iceland and there was a weak occluded front lying across N England, Wales and out into the SW approaches. There were some spots of drizzle reported in some places but it remained dry here. With the Atlantic-high (1037 mb) intensifying the SE was, as was most of Europe, enjoying clear skies and early morning sunshine. But the increasingly weakened front was slipping S, and pressure 1028 mb at 0900 GMT had risen a little, and some breaks appeared in the cloud during the morning. The wind had veered W'ly and was light. In the afternoon it became sunny as cloud dispersed to give a clear evening and night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.8C; Min 11.0C; Grass 9.8C]
26th: With low (998 mb) over the Norwegian Sea associated fronts moved in from the NW overnight. These brought some rain to Scotland in the morning but the warm front weakening all the time in the S. Pressure remains high to the S. It was a cloudy start here with the cloud thickening by 0900 GMT. Pressure was 1025 mb and it was a mild 14.5C in the light W'ly breeze only rising during the day in thick cloud to 15.5C. As a weak cold front passed S'wards there was a spell of light rain from 19 - 2030 GMT and it became cooler as the wind veered NW'ly. [Rain 1.2 mm; Max 15.5C; Min 10.0C; Grass 8.2C]
27th: A cooler NW'ly airstream introduced lower temperatures overnight dropping on the grass to 4.5C. At 0900 GMT there were a few breaks in the cloud but with a NW'ly flow we can expect the clouds to be piling up against the Snowdonia Mountains. Pressure was little changed at 1022 mb with Atlantic-high (1032 mb) still in position. The cloud thickened enough to give some spots of rain at 1020 GMT and there was some drizzle later. In the afternoon the sky began to clear in the W eventually to give a sunny end to the day. [Rain trace; Max 16.3C; Min 7.5C; Grass 4.5C]
28th: High (1033 mb) was SW of Ireland and pressure here was 1025 mb at 0900 GMT. It was cloudy again, but dry, with a cool N'ly breeze. It got a little warmer in the afternoon with some bright, even short-lived sunny spells when the maximum rose to 17.3C. It was sunnier in the N and W of the island, proximity of the Snowdonia Mountains making the S side cloudier. The night was mainly cloudy as well. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.3C; Min 9.7C; Grass 7.8C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1351 GMT on 29 June 2002."){kind=small}
29th: Remaining dry up to 0900 GMT but cloudy with a little brightness in thinner patches. Pressure 1023 mb was little changed with Atlantic-high (1035 mb) slipping S allowing incursion of low-pressure systems in the N. A succession of 6 fronts and troughs are to the W of the UK with an area of rain affecting Scotland and showery rain over Ireland and W Wales. The morning was dry but there were spots of rain and periods of drizzle from 12 GMT; there was light rain around 21 GMT. Because of the generally high-pressure amounts of rainfall tend to be small and were so on this occasion. [Rain 0.7 mm; Max 14.8C; Min 8.6C; Grass 5.4C]
30th: A murky start to the day with low cloud, mist and heavy drizzle just before 0900 GMT. The temperature 13.3C was warmest of the next 24-h and lowest of the month. Visibility was only just moderate having been poor at first. Shallow-low (1001 mb) Sweden had an associated warm front over Scotland. Pressure 1016 mb had fallen with a another low (987 mb) between Greenland and Iceland threatening more autumnal-like weather to come. After a dry morning it became windier with the arrival of a cold front with rain at 1225 GMT. The rain was continuous light to moderate until 2000 GMT before turning showery. With the front the temperature fell over 3 h to the minimum of 9.8C at 15 GMT. It rose again to 13C by midnight before falling again by morning. [Rain 10.7 mm; Max 13.3C; Min 11.2C; Grass 8.1C]
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 "Met Office chart at 0000 GMT on 3 July 2002."){kind=small}
 "Lands around the Irish Sea enjoy a mainly sunny day on 3 July 2002. NOAA 16 image at 1307 GMT."){kind=small}
3rd: Overcast and grey at dawn but it was soon brightening-up. Remnants of the overnight rain were still affecting the SE. Pressure 997 mb had risen a little and by 0900 GMT there were some sunny spells. There were towering cumulus clouds nearby that gave a few spots of rain later in the morning. But the sky cleared to give a very sunny afternoon and evening. A warmer day with the maximum reaching 18.6C, warmest of 12 days since 20th June. It was a better day for the NW where lands surrounding the Irish Sea with the Isle of Man having {9.1 h) sunshine and Anglesey {6.2 h). Glasgow was the warmest with {20C}. The S got the cloud and rain today with the Isle of Wight receiving {42.2 mm} rain and tennis at Wimbledon late to start and interrupted. [Rain trace; Max 18.6C; Min 9.0C; Grass 7.5C] "Low centred in the Irish Sea with thick cloud and cold front to the SW: NOAA 14 image at 1735 GMT on 4 July 2002."){kind=small}
4th: Cloud had encroached from the W before midnight so preventing the air temperature falling below 10.0C. Pressure 1016 mb was still relatively high in the ridge over the UK but a shallow-low (1004 mb), and associated fronts to the W, brought our sunny weather of yesterday to an abrupt end. At first it was fairly bright with cloud high and clear of the Snowdonia Mountains. By afternoon cloud thickened and there was light rain from 1710 GMT turning moderate to heavy later. The wind became cyclonic the WSW'ly at 0900 GMT backed S'ly, as the low approached over Ireland, and by midnight was SE'ly. Pressure was lowest 1004 mb around 04 GMT. Rainfall of 13.8 mm was the largest fall in the month. [Rain 13.8 mm; Max 15.1C; Min 10.0C; Grass 7.8C] "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 5 July 2002."){kind=small}
5th: At 06 GMT the low was centred over Wales and it was still raining but eased by 0830 GMT. Pressure 1006 mb was rising slowly at 0900 GMT when there were some small breaks appearing in the low and ragged clouds. The wind was NE'ly. During the morning cloud hung over the Snowdonia Mountains, where it was still raining, giving hill fog on the lower slopes. There was no more rain here and the sky gradually cleared in the afternoon. Towering cumulus clouds remained over Snowdonia and a cumulonimbus was seen later. The clearer sky led to lower temperatures overnight and moderate dew on the grass. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.5C; Min C; Grass C] "Low to NW with cold front approaching. Clear over France and the Med but storms raising dust over N Africa. NOAA 12 image at 1610 GMT on 7 July 2002."){kind=small}
7th: A rather pleasant start to the day the gentle SW'ly making the 15.1C at 0900 GMT feel warm in occasional sunshine. The cloud kept high and in the afternoon cleared to give sunshine for about 2h, when the temperature reached 19.0C. The low S of Iceland was tracking SE and brought with it a cold front and an overcast evening and 7h light rain from 2130 GMT. [Rain 4.7 mm; Max 19.0C; Min 11.5C; Grass 10.3C] "Low near Rockall and front clearing away S. NOAA 16 image at 1351 GMT on 8 July 2002."){kind=small}
8th: Overnight rain had stopped at 05 GMT and it was a damp start to the day with little cloud clearance by 0900 GMT. Low (990 mb) near Rockall with associated fronts (clearly seen on the satellite image) was responsible but these were clearing away to the SE. Pressure 1005 mb was rising and there were one or two breaks appearing in the low ragged clouds. The day kept mainly cloudy and it was bright in the afternoon, as the cloud thinned, but it was windy (SSW'ly force 5 to 6) and clear sunshine was again at a premium. During the day there were convective storms over the Pyrenees in France and Spain. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.3C; Min 12.0C; Grass 11.7C] "Persistent cloud forming streets over Anglesey and mountains became more active further E. NOAA 16 image at 1319 GMT on 11 July 2002."){kind=small}
11th: Pressure remained low (1003 mb) to the N of the UK but pressure here 1013 mb was rising. We were into a showery NW'ly airflow and from the start there were frequent showers. In Bangor at 0945 GMT there was a heavy shower that made the lower High Street awash with water running-off the pedestrianised upper section. By the afternoon, with the wind backing SW'ly, coastal areas and W Anglesey were cloud-free but the mainland mountains and E Anglesey, as frequently happens, remained mainly cloudy. The cloud was forming lines, or streets, and exhibited greater convection from W to E. The same pattern was shown across Ireland but the cloud was dispersing over the Irish Sea only to reform again on reaching land. At night there was a thin veil of cloud but it was cool enough for dew to form on the grass. [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 18.8C; Min 10.6C; Grass 7.2C] "Fair weather over Wales with low in Biscay affecting the S. NOAA 16 image at 1308 GMT on 12 July 2002."){kind=small}
12th: Pressure was low (994 mb) in the Norwegian Sea and a trough was affecting W parts. Cumulus clouds had formed again and there was an early thunderstorm on the Isle of Man. Here it was a bright and sunny morning, between the cumulus clouds, with pressure on 1018 mb. A shallow-low in the Bay of Biscay brought cloud and rain up the Channel to S England and Brittany. A few spots of rain here around noon but then the clouds gradually dispersed to give a mainly sunny afternoon and evening. [Rain trace; Max 19.0C; Min 10.0C; Grass 7.9C] "Fast-moving high clouds and contrail timed at 08:59:13 GMT on 13 July 2002.."){kind=small}
 "Fast-moving high clouds and contrail timed at 09:00:04 GMT on 13 July 2002."){kind=small}
 "Fast-moving high clouds and contrail timed at 09:00:28 GMT on 13 July 2002."){kind=small}
 "View across Malltraeth Bay towards Llanddwyn Island on 13 July 2002."){kind=small}
13th: Clear sky overnight led to heavy dew with the grass minimum on 5.2C, 1 of the 2 lowest of the month. A sunny start to the day with little or no wind. Cumulus clouds soon started to develop as the day began to warm. Pressure was high 1022 mb, centred in the Irish Sea, but low to the NW had weak fronts just to the W of Ireland. Cumulus clouds in the vicinity were almost stationary but upper cirrus clouds and contrails were moving quickly in a SSW'ly direction (see timed photos; time from 1st to 3rd photo was 75 seconds). The day remained mostly cloudy but there were sunny spells when the temperature reached 17.5C. At evening the sky cleared giving a clear night with dew on the grass. The view across Malltraeth Bay to Llanddwyn Island shows cumulus clouds over Snowdonia and the Lleyn that persisted well into the afternoon. A large black cumulus cloud towered almost stationary over Malltraeth only to disperse around 17 GMT. Low-pressure in the Mediterranean led to thunderstorms and torrential rain in the afternoon on the Balearic Islands including Menorca. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.7C; Min 9.5C; Grass 5.2C] "Mean temperature graph."){kind=small}
; "Sferics recorded 00 - 23 GMT on 13 July 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
14th: A bright start to the day with thin high cloud and occasional glimpses of the sun. At 0900 GMT pressure was steady on 1028 mb and the temperature of 17.7C had just exceeded the highest of yesterday. Low (995 mb) was W of Iceland with weak fronts over W Scotland and the Irish Sea. The cloud thinned during the day and cleared in the afternoon to give the warmest day (22.4C) since 2 June. Until now mean temperatures have been below average so it was a change to have them near the average on what is the warmest time in the year. A narrow band of cloud crossed over in the evening before the sky cleared again. There was thick fog (<100 m) at 1030 GMT that turned to mist after midnight. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 22.4C; Min 10.6C; Grass 5.8C] "The Mediterranean storm with a cloudy N Britain but the S and N France was clear. NOAA 16 image at 1235 GMT on 15 July 2002."){kind=small}
15th: The mist had cleared but it was cloudy again by dawn. It was bright, the cloud was thin and high, and it was a warm 18.0C at 0900 GMT. Pressure was little changed at 1028 mb and there was a light SW'ly wind. The afternoon was sunny for a while, when the temperature reached 23.0C the warmest of the month, but the cloud soon thickened and later there were spells of fine drizzle. These continued in the evening but, despite feeling wet on the face, did not wet the ground or the raingauge. The weather remained unseasonable in the central Mediterranean where it was cloudy with thunderstorms, strong winds and rain still affecting Menorca, Sardinia, S France and Alps. [Rain trace; Max 23.0C; Min 12.7C; Grass 10.8C] "Cloud drifting in from Liverpool Bay with a line of clouds formed at 2000 ft in the Menai Strait on the morning of 18 July 2002. View from Llansadwrn village."){kind=small}
18th: With clear overnight skies there was heavy dew with the temperature on the grass down to 6.0C. The minimum air temperature had been 8.3C the coldest of the month. By 07 GMT cloud was drifting across from Liverpool Bay spoiling the hazy sunshine. Later, in the Menai Strait, a line of clouds formed about 2000 ft and lasted for about 30 minutes before dispersing. Pressure was 1023 mb with high (1025 mb) N Ireland. But the Atlantic-low to the W had already brought a warm front with rain on it to the W coast of Ireland. Some mist and fog patches were being blown in around the coasts before dispersing to give a mainly sunny morning. By afternoon the cloud thickened for a while but it remained mainly bright. Later the sun was just visible through the thin cloud and haze. It remained dry until morning. [Rain trace; Max 18.7C; Min 8.3C; Grass 6.0C] "Low over the UK. NOAA 16 image at 1321 GMT on 20 July 2002."){kind=small}
20th: Thunderstorms had moved along the North Wales coast, on a trough, to affect Cheshire by 07 GMT bit no thunder was heard here. It was overcast at first with a few spots of rain before 1 or 2 bright spells by 0900 GMT. Low 1007 mb was over the UK moving out into the N Sea. Pressure here was 1017 mb with little (NW'ly) or no wind and a temperature of 13.2C only rising to 15.3C during the day. The morning remained showery with a short but heavy one at 1020 GMT. Some brighter spells developed, with a glimpse of the sun, from 1330 GMT. There are 2 large sunspots at the moment, the larger one 15 times earth's diameter. On the 18th there was an ejection of matter from near the larger spot, but it was overcast by evening and there was no chance of seeing the forecast aurora. [Rain 2.5 mm; Max 15.3C; Min 11.1C; Grass 10.5C] "Cloud hanging over the mountaintops. View of Cwm Idwal from the Nant Ffrancon Pass on 24 July 2002. The 'slabs' are centre picture with the 'Devil's Kitchen' on the right."){kind=small}
24th: Overnight the temperature on the grass was 5.2C, 1 of the 2 lowest of the month. A dull start to the day with moderate visibility. Pressure 1018 mb had risen, with a ridge of high-pressure across the UK, but there were warm fronts to the W of Ireland and it was to remain a cloudy but dry day. In the afternoon there were 1 of 2 breaks in the cloud that gave some occasional brightness. In Snowdonia the cloud hung around the mountaintops all day. The evening and night remained cloudy. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 9.8C; Grass 5.2C] "NOAA 17 image at 1146 GMT on 25 July 2002. Low near Iceland with warm frontal cloud over the UK moving E."){kind=small}
25th: Overcast at first it was beginning to brighten at 0900 GMT as the cloud thinned a little. Pressure was 1014 mb with a weak warm front over Anglesey, associated with Icelandic-low (978 mb), just clearing to the E gave no rain here. It was a warm 16.0C, the highest of the past 24-h. The day remained cloudy but was bright at times in the morning and early afternoon. The front produced a band of rain over N Scotland that cleared the E coast by 15 GMT. Here the cloud thickened again by 16 GMT giving a rather dark end to the day. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 19.0C; Min 12.0C; Grass 10.2C] "Low cloud and fog envelops the W but the E including Manchester was clear. NOAA 16 image at 1355 GMT on 26 July 2002."){kind=small}
26th: A dull and rather misty start to the day with some brightness struggling to break through the cloud at 0900 GMT. Mild overnight with the minimum not falling below 13.6C. The day remained cloudy with occasional brightness (no sunshine) as the coastal fog and low cloud enveloped Wales and the SW (see satellite image). Frontal cloud affected Scotland but to the E, including Manchester for the first day of the Commonwealth Games. Temperatures in the W stayed cool with 18C at Valley (Holyhead) but 20.1C was reached here in the afternoon as the cloud thinned. In the E they were much higher with 23C in Manchester and 29C at Honington (Suffolk) being the warmest in the UK. By evening it was very gloomy as any brightness disappeared when the low cloud and mist closed in and visibility became poor. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 20.1C; Min 13.6C; Grass 11.8C] "Frontal cloud to the NW with low cloud and fog affecting W areas and S Bay of Biscay. Convective clouds over Sweden and Italy. NOAA 16 image at 1334 GMT on 28 July 2002."){kind=small}
28th: A cloudy but bright start to the day with a little sunshine. There was a warm (17.8C) moderate S'ly wind and visibility was good and clear. Pressure 1016 mb was unchanged with frontal cloud bringing rain to Ireland and W Scotland. The rain band fragmented and hardly moved SE'wards at all during day and gave Lusa (Isle of Skye) {37 mm} but ensured that we had a dry day. The low cloud and sea fog hung around but the day remained bright with a few sunny spells with the temperature reaching a warm 22.0C. In the SE it was hot with Herne Bay (Kent) reporting 32C. By evening it was murky again and there was rain and drizzle around 05 GMT when it was also misty. [Rain trace; Max 22.0C; Min 14.3C; Grass 13.9C] "Frontal cloud to the W with early convective storms breaking out in France and Suffolk. NOAA 176 image at 1016 GMT on 29 July 2002."){kind=small}
29th: A warm night with a minimum of 16.6C and 15.4C on the grass, both the warmest of the month. It was a murky start with moderate visibility and little or no wind. At 0900 GMT pressure was 1019 mb with a temperature of 18.2C (RH 93%; dewpoint 17.1C). Low point on the front (1017 mb) was lying near Valentia (S Ireland) at 06 GMT; to the N was the warm front near the Isle of Man and S the cold front into the Atlantic. The morning was overcast but brightened a little as the cloud thinned with the sun breaking through weakly within the hour. There were to be only the occasional glimpse of the sun through the day that again was warm with the temperature reaching 21.6C. But it was hot again in the S with Northolt reporting 32.7C. Thunderstorms were widespread in Europe and broke out early in the day in Suffolk {Wattisham 31 mm} and these spread N'wards through eastern counties reaching Leeds the next morning. The band of rain to the W of here was very slow moving in the Irish Sea and Scotland. [Rain 4.1 mm; Max 21.6C; Min 16.6C; Grass 15.4C] "NOAA 12 image at 1518 GMT on 30 July 2002."){kind=small}
 "Cloudtop temperatures from NOAA 12 at 1518 GMT on 30 July 2002."){kind=small}
; "Sferics recorded 00 - 23 GMT on 30 July 2002. Courtesy of Georg Mueller at Top Karten."){kind=small}
30th: Another warm night (minimum 15.5C) with fog at times during the night. It was murky at dawn with very poor visibility and the showery rain reached here at 0730 GMT with a short heavy burst at 0755 GMT. At 0900 GMT pressure was 1015 mb, the temperature 16.6C was the maximum for the next 24-h. Heavy rain was also occurring around Belfast in N Ireland, where the Airport Met Office was flooded, and thunderstorms around Merseyside. With higher temperatures to the E and lower temperatures to the W a trough lying down the spine of the UK set off further thunderstorms during the day. Satellite images at 1518 GMT show the locations of the thunderclouds, with temperatures on the tops as low as -60C indicative of deep convection. Storms were widespread in Europe as well. Heavy rain in many of the storms led to flooding in several places including Nottingham, where the river Leen burst it's banks, and Glasgow later in the day. Train services were disrupted in Scotland. In Milton Keynes lightning struck 15 homes and caused fires during a 5-h storm that resulted in 500 emergency calls. Here the day remained quiet and murky with light rain or drizzle but there was a continuous period of moderate rain from 16 - 22 GMT. Spells of drizzle continued into the night. The day here was sunless but Cromer (Norfolk) reported {10.6 h}. The wettest place was Marham (also Norfolk) with {46.5 mm} while Honnington (Suffolk) was the warmest with {29C}. [Rain 6.3 mm; Max 16.6C; Min 15.5C; Grass 13.2C]
 "Early shallow fog across the fields, with thick fog just visible in the Menai Strait between treetops and Snowdonia Mountains, on 1 August 2002."){kind=small}
 "Water droplets deposited by overnight fog had made cobwebs visible on 1 August 2002."){kind=small}
 "Low centred near Brest with rotating frontal cloud that brought the heavy rain. NOAA 12 image at 1609 GMT on 1 August 2002."){kind=small}
 "Autographic rainfall record on 1 -2 August 2002 (09 - 09 GMT)."){kind=small}
1st: At 0530 GMT the sky was clearing and left shallow fog across the fields from the weather station. Fog was still thick in the Menai Strait. Hundreds of cobwebs, in and around the garden, were made visible by water droplets deposited by the overnight fog. At 0900 GMT the temperature had risen to 15.9C, the maximum for the past 24-h. It was to soon reach 16.7C before starting to fall through the day. Valley reported a daily maximum of only 15C, the lowest in the UK. Pressure was 1011 mb with low (1007 mb) near Brest. This had cloud and rain circulating within it and a large patch moved westwards through central England into Wales during the morning. Soon after 10 GMT it began to rain. By 13 GMT rainfall was moderate over most of Wales and the Midlands and was heavy over the Snowdonia Mountains and surrounding areas including here. By 15 GMT 14 mm of rain had accumulated and, with more heavy rain, reached 19.7 mm (10.1-h duration) by 21 GMT. After a short lull a further spell from 23 GMT accumulated 16.8 mm (9.9-h duration). The total for the 24-h period (09 - 09 GMT) was 36.5 mm (20.0-h duration) the most so far this year. Needless to say but it was a sunless day. [Rain 36.5 mm; Max 16.7C; Min 12.4C; Grass 10.2C]
 "Sailing off Beaumaris during a Menai Strait Regatta when there was some wind."){kind=small}
2nd: It was still raining moderately at 0900 GMT but visibility was moderate and improving and it had stopped within an hour. The temperature was 12.5C the coldest of the past 24-h. It remained overcast and it was another sunless day. It was warmer around noon at 14.8C but with little or no wind again another dismal day for sailing. The regatta fortnight has suffered, unusually this year, from a lack of wind. From 14 GMT there was light rain until 1630 GMT. About 20 GMT the cloud began to disperse patchily and shallow fog to form on the fields and low-lying areas. During the night fog formation continued as the sky cleared. [Rain 1.4 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 12.5C; Grass 12.5C]
 "Low in Dover Strait with frontal cloud over Scotland and sea fog in the Irish Sea. NOAA 17 image at 1005 GMT on 3 August 2002."){kind=small}
3rd: At 05 GMT fog was thick (<100 m) but soon began to disperse. Patchy cloud too soon dispersed (6 oktas at 09 GMT and only 1 at 1100 GMT) but some cumulus could be seen far to the S. The temperature was 16.0C, warmest of the past 24-h and with the sunshine reached 19.5C. Pressure was 1014 mb with low (1010 mb) in the Dover Strait still in control. During the day there were thundery showers in the SE and later the Welsh Border. Here the morning was sunny, the temperature rising to 21.2C. Some cumulus clouds formed overhead around noon, due to convergence of a W'ly airflow across the island meeting cool NE'ly air from Liverpool Bay, but dispersed again later. Sea fog, that retreated during the day, returned in the evening to envelop the island by 21 GMT and was so dense between 01 - 03 GMT that 0.1+ mm deposited in the raingauges. [Fog 0.1 mm; Max 21.2C; Min 11.5C; Grass 7.6C]
4th: Thick fog at 06 GMT began to disperse but was still evident with very poor visibility at 0900 GMT. The sun was trying to break through but it was a cool 14.0C with 100% relative humidity with pressure 1014 mb unchanged. During the morning the sun began to burn-off the mist and and it was a mainly sunny day with the maximum reaching 20.0C. With a light ENE'ly breeze yachts were able to make spinnaker runs from Conwy across Beaumaris Bay towards Puffin Island. Showers clouds formed over the Welsh Borders in late afternoon and there was a short downpour in Chester at 1800 GMT when thunder was heard. [Trace; Max 20.0C; Min 11.4C; Grass 11.2C]
5th: With cloud clearing over Anglesey it was a sunny start to the day. Thick smoke haze was seen in Liverpool Bay and around Anglesey. Low (1012 mb) had moved to be over the Netherlands and pressure here 1016 mb had risen a little. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 18.1C with the humidity down to 81% but the heavy dew on the grass took a long time to dry off. A sunny day with Anglesey (Valley) reporting the most {13.4 h}. Some cirrus clouds appeared late in the day. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 20.8C; Min 13.8C; Grass 11.2C]
 "Decaying front W UK with deep convection giving storms in Scotland. Low Holland with clouds circulating and rain clouds over Germany and Bosnia. NOAA 12 image at 1549 GMT on 6 August 2002."){kind=small}
6th: The day started with hazy sunshine and a few high cirrus clouds. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 18.8C and within an hour had risen to 21.0C. There was little or no wind with pressure 1019 mb and the low (1010 mb), with circulating clouds, W Holland. During the morning the sky became overcast with thin high cloud but it remained warm and dry. Fronts to the W were edging closer and decaying the rain over Ireland was dying out in the S but in Belfast it was again very wet. Later convection increased in the E and there were storms in Scotland. There was heavy rain in Germany, for the start of the European Games, and Bosnia (see satellite image). Here in the afternoon the cloud thinned a little and a maximum of 21.5C was reached. Later the cloud thickened again and there was a little rain around 01 GMT. [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 21.5C; Min 12.1C; Grass 10.1C]
 "Not for the squeamish! Large slugs inside hollowed out potato on 8 August 2002."){kind=small}
7th: A warm night with the temperature not falling below 15.7C but it was a murky start to the day with intermittent light rain in the morning. Again there was little or no wind, with pressure 1019 mb unchanged at 0900 GMT, and the temperature rose from 17.5C to 18.5C despite the rain. The afternoon was drier but remained overcast. The evening was brighter and a few breaks in the cloud in the W resulted in some weak crepuscular rays. There were heavy thunderstorms during the day in England, 63 mm of rain fell in 2h at Olney, Buckinghamshire, and several railway and tube stations were flooded in London. The damp weather has suited the slugs in the garden this year. They have been eating their way through our potato crop that we have just started lifting. Quite large potatoes have been almost completely hollowed out, by the large slugs inside them, making many of them useless. This is the worst year I have known for slug damage in 40 years' gardening. [Rain 1.4 mm; Max 18.5C; Min 15.7C; Grass 14.6C]
 "Low S Ireland with fronts over the UK. Deep convection in SE England and E Spain and the Med. NOAA 16 image at 1313 GMT on 8 August 2002."){kind=small}
8th: With low (1014 mb) over S Ireland pressure here 1013 mb was falling. Visibility was good at first under overcast skies. Again there has been little or no wind, so far, for the 2nd week of the Menai Strait Regattas. The morning was dry under high cloud but heavy rain over Ireland and the S Irish Sea was approaching Anglesey and the W on a warm front. It was slow to arrive but, as the cloud thickened and lowered, the first drops reached here at 14 GMT. Drizzly and light at first it became heavier by 18 GMT and continued through the night in common with most parts of the UK. [Rain 7.4 mm; Max 15.6C; Min 12.2C; Grass 11.8C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 9 August 2002."){kind=small}
 "Funnel cloud photographed by Dave Jordon at Frampton Cotterell at 1205 GMT on 9 August 2002."){kind=small}
9th: A wet and dismal start to the day with the light N'ly wind bringing down the browned beech leaves damaged by salt-laden winds earlier in the year. The ground was strewn with leaves, and they were collecting in the raingauges, a sight more typical of autumn than August! The slow-moving low (1001 mb) was centred near Weymouth and here was steady on 1005 mb. Cloud was low and visibility very poor but the rain was easing as the main area was around Manchester. There had also been heavy rain in NE Scotland. Rain continued to fall in N Italy, Switzerland and Austria where several areas near Vienna were flooded. A state of emergency was declared in N Italy following violent storms this week, from Tuscany to Piedmont, that included damage to vineyards. Rain storms as far away as the Black Sea also caused flooding, loss of life (50) and much damage. These storms this summer, along with others around Europe and the Mediterranean, have been caused by the absence of stable Azores high-pressure that normally gives good weather in these regions. There was some interesting weather around in S England where funnel clouds were seen around Bracknell and several waterspouts off the coast at Bournemouth. A tornado touched down briefly near the Dorset village of Burton Bradstock and a funnel cloud at Frampton Cotterell (near Bristol) was photographed by David Jordon
outside his home at 1205 GMT during a thunderstorm that produced 25 mm rain. Here, it remained damp and grey with intermittent rain; the little brightness in the morning was short-lived with a cool maximum of 14.2C. The afternoon darkened again with drizzle before a spell of light rain in the evening. Rain 0.8 mm; Max 14.2C; Min 11.8C; Grass 11.8C]
 "Fleeting clear skies in the W before frontal cloud encroached. NOAA 16 image at 1251 GMT on 10 August 2002."){kind=small}
10th: A grey start to the day with low cloud and mist on the lower slopes of the Snowdonia Mountains. Pressure 1008 mb was rising with a small ridge of high-pressure nudging in from the W before yet more frontal rain to come. The low (1001 mb) in the Dover Strait was unchanged but expected to fill. Skies cleared over W Anglesey, with bright spells and fleeting weak sunshine here, that gave way to overcast skies later in the afternoon and evening. Serious flooding has occurred following heavy rain in Filey, North Yorkshire, where several houses were inundated. [Rain trace; Max 17.3C; Min 12.6C; Grass 12.4C]
 "Thistles were still in flower but campions and grasses have set seed. Barley-straw bales have yet to be collected on 11 August 2002."){kind=small}
11th: A dry but overcast start to the day but windier. There was a little light drizzle around 07 GMT but then some patches of blue sky appeared by 0900 GMT. Pressure 1004 mb had fallen with Atlantic-low (997 mb) approaching Malin Head with attendant fronts over Ireland. The morning was bright with some sunny spells but there was some light drizzle around noon before a dry but cloudy afternoon. There was moderate rain NW of Edinburgh in the afternoon with a few scattered showers elsewhere. Around the lanes, near the weather station, thistles were still flowering but campions and grasses had set seed. One barley fields has been harvested but the straw bales have yet to be collected. Some grass has not yet been cut where 2 are normal, this is a problem all over Wales where the wet and cloudy weather has restricted cutting and drying. The drizzle returned here about 17 GMT and turned to light rain until 19 GMT but there was further rain around midnight. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 18.5C; Min 11.3C; Grass 8.4C]
 "Low NW of Ireland with Atlantic fronts approaching the W. Ridge of high-pressure in Biscay and low 995 mb Austria. NOAA 16 image at 1228 GMT on 12 August 2002."){kind=small}
12th:With pressure 1016 mb rising with a ridge of high-pressure moving across the Irish Sea it was a bright start with some sunny spells. Visibility was good and cloud was lifting from the mountains. With a light N'ly breeze at 0900 GMT it was keeping fairly cool at 15.2C. The sky partially cleared during the day leaving many cumulus clouds to spoil the sunshine, but it kept dry with a maximum of 19.7C. Towards evening the sky did clear for a while but by dusk (2130 GMT) it was overcast again so that there was no chance of seeing the start of the Perseid meteor shower. Wet and stormy weather continued in Europe and, with water levels still rising, the Danube was closed to shipping and threatened to flood Vienna. Parts of Salzburg and Dresden are under water and in Prague 50,000 people have been moved from low-lying areas as flood water approached and later flooded parts of the city. [Rain trace; Max 19.7C; Min 10.5C; Grass 7.1C]
13th: With warm sector air in the vicinity it was a warm night with a minimum of 14.5C. But it was a grey-skies to start the day with spells of light drizzle. It was windier (SSW force 4 - 5) with low (998 mb) S of Iceland and high-pressure (1023 mb) near Brest. Another dull and very damp day with low cloud and spells of drizzle in the afternoon becoming heavier with intermittent light rain from 00 - 07 GMT. With the very damp weather flowers on the runner beans in the garden have begun to rot. Some flowers were set by bees earlier, and have produced beans, but of late only a few bumblebees have been seen. Honey producers have reported low production here this season. [Rain 1.5 mm; Max 18.0C; Min 14.5C; Grass 13.3C]
14th: Pressure here 1017 mb was unchanged but low (993 mb), W of Ireland, was deepening and expected to move NE and bring strengthening winds to the NW. Frontal cloud over Ireland was giving rain there but was slow-moving. At 0900 GMT with a force 4 - 5 S'ly wind there were some breaks appearing in the clouds but were short-lived (as we were in the lee of the mountains). Visibility that had been very poor improved to good. The day was overcast and there were a few spots of drizzle at times. The night was dry but there were 2 spells of rain between 05 - 07 GMT. [Rain 1.1 mm; Max 19.0C; Min 15.4C; Grass 15.1C]
 "Decaying frontal cloud clearing Anglesey. Orographic waves over Scotland. NOAA 16 image at 1337 GMT on 15 August 2002."){kind=small}
 "Looking across the Menai Strait to Anglesey near high water on 15 August 2002. The view is from Caernarfon towards the Mermaid Inn and Brynseincyn."){kind=small}
15th: A misty and murky start to the day with poor visibility but the sky was soon showing signs clearing. Pressure was 1014 mb and rising with the wind SW'ly force 3. The decaying front took a long time to move away but did clear Anglesey by 13 GMT to give a mainly sunny afternoon with excellent visibility. Some cumulus clouds remained in bands across the S of the island, and the Snowdonia Mountains, until 17 GMT when they too cleared and the wind lessened. The evening was sunny and was followed by a clear starlit night (too late for the meteors) with heavy dew. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 19.9C; Min 13.9C; Grass 13.5C]
 "Developing low to SW Ireland but fine day S UK. Storm clouds forming over Spain and SW France. NOAA 16 image at 1326 GMT on 16 August 2002."){kind=small}
 "Floods on the river Elbe at Dresden. NOAA 17 image at 1015 GMT on 16 August 2002."){kind=small}
16th: By morning there was patchy cirrostratus cloud but being thin and high there was plenty of weak sunshine. Pressure was 1020 mb in high-pressure to the S and SE with low (991 mb) now to the SE of Iceland. But an Atlantic-low was moving towards SW Ireland bringing with it more cloud and stronger winds tomorrow. The day was mainly sunny with little or no wind and good visibility with the temperature reaching 20.7C. Some clear spells at night with a minimum of 12.5C at 0230 GMT before turning warmer. The flooding in Europe continued with the levels going down in Prague but reaching record levels in Dresden. Bernard Burton's enhanced image shows the swollen river Elbe between 2 and 3 km wide. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 21.2C; Min 10.0C; Grass 7.1C]
 "Low NW of Ireland making its way N with slow-moving front in the Irish Sea that brought heavy rain in the night. NOAA 16 image at 1315 GMT on 17 August 2002."){kind=small}
 "Holiday makers enjoying the surf on Aberffraw beach despite encroachment of frontal cloud at 1336 GMT on 17 August 2002."){kind=small}
 "Autumn gentian just starting to flower on Aberffraw dunes on 17 August 2002."){kind=small}
17th: Pressure 1010 mb had fallen with the low (978 mb) just W of Shannon and seemed to be moving N. Thicker cloud was encroaching from the W but, at 0900 GMT, it was warm 20.6C (dewpoint 15.4C) in a fresh S'ly wind. There were some breaks in the cloud (lee effect) and the maximum for the past 24-h was 21.2C just before. The morning remain dry and warm the temperature reaching 23.0C. There were rain showers on a front over the W of Ireland and a large patch over the Western Isles of Scotland. During the afternoon thicker cloud moving up the Irish Sea spoiled the sunshine. At Aberffraw beach, where a fresh SW'ly was bringing in breakers on a rising tide, family holiday makers were making the best of the afternoon despite the cloud. On the dune slacks water mint was in full flower while the autumn gentian was just starting. Slow-moving rain, making it's way up Irish Sea coasts, arrived at 20 GMT and for 11.5 h duration was moderate to heavy through the night accumulating 25.3 mm by morning. [Rain 25.3 mm; Max 23.0C; Min 12.5C; Grass 10.1C]
18th: Moderate rain and very poor visibility. With no change in pressure here the low (992 mb) was midway between Iceland and Cape Wrath at 06 GMT. After a lull for heavy drizzle around 07 GMT the rain was moderate again at 0900 GMT with little or no wind. The front was still lying along W coasts and there was no sign of any clearance on the way. It was a wet morning and rained, with spells of heavy drizzle, until 1730 GMT. Thereafter it brightened slowly with the sky clearing in the night. Rainfall for the 24-h 18 - 18 GMT was [32.5 mm} over 17.2 h. It was a wet day over W Wales as in the same period Valley reported {24.9 mm}, Colwyn Bay {23.1 mm}, Fishguard {36.6 mm} but Milford Haven (Pembrokeshire) topped the list with {64.5 mm} the largest fall in the UK on the day. [Rain 6.2 mm; Max 15.2C; Min 13.2C; Grass 13.2C]
 "Children enjoying the sunshine at the paddling pool at the Blue Peter Lifeboat Station in Beaumaris on 19 August 2002."){kind=small}
19th: Clear skies overnight and the temperature on the grass fell to 6.8C and was wetted by heavy dew as well as rain. There were mist and fog patches in low-lying areas by midnight. With cloud dispersing over Anglesey, leaving cumulus over Snowdonia, it was a sunny morning in Beaumaris. It became cloudier again in the afternoon. [Rain trace; Max 17.6C; Min 10.1C; Grass 6.8C]
20th: After a slight shower at 0700 GMT the sky began to clear. At 0900 GMT with pressure on 1016 mb visibility was improving after early mist but there was still fog in the Menai Strait. With the high altocumulus clouds dispersing over Anglesey it was a sunny morning and afternoon. Cumulus clouds remained over Snowdonia but by evening the sky was clear. As the temperature dropped heavy dew formed on the grass. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 19.4C; Min 11.5C; Grass 8.8C]
21st: Overnight the minimum temperatures were lowest since 18th July with 9.8C and 6.0C on the grass. Pressure was high 1021 mb in a ridge (1022 mb) over the UK. It was a mostly clear and sunny start to the day but it became cloudier through the day. In the afternoon some dark cumulus clouds developed over W Anglesey but the coast remained sunny. Cirrostratus formed over the sea to the W and between 1440 - 1510 GMT a partial halo, with arc of contact and sundogs, was seen from Malltraeth Bay. The upper part of the ring and left-hand sundog showed strong coloration. Later the cloud dispersed and the sky cleared. From 21 GMT there was a display in the sky of sheets or bands of a pale-green colour, with some patches of red likely to have been aurora generated by a geomagnetic storm, overhead and to W and N viewed from Llansadwrn. The bright moon was low to the S and may have been lighting high cloud. Similar strongly banded coloration was observed in Cumbria. These were said to be moonlight on jetstream cirrus clouds, rather than noctilucent clouds, but I am not sure having seen neither before. Later mist formed across the fields and it was cloudy by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 19.5C; Min 9.8C; Grass 6.0C]
22nd: A cloudy start to the day but it was high and with the mist clearing visibility was good. Pressure 1021 mb remains high but a weak low (1012 mb) in the North Sea was expected to affect the E coasts of N England and Scotland and here later. There was little or no wind, but light SE'ly at times, and by 0900 GMT the cloud was beginning to disperse to give a mainly sunny morning at first. By noon threatening cumulus clouds built-up and just after 1300 GMT there was a short heavy shower that contained a few ice pellets. Hail in August here is rare with the only other occurrences, on 24-y records, being 1 in 1982 and 2 in 2000. The afternoon brightened up later with a little sunshine but clouded over again by nightfall. [Rain 2.7 mm; Max 20.5C; Min 10.6C; Grass 6.6C]
 "Cumulus building during the afternoon of 23 August 2002. View is looking E from the cob at Malltraeth Pool."){kind=small}
23rd: With pressure 1020 mb hardly changed there was a complex weather pattern over the UK with numerous fronts and troughs. It was a murky start with thick (smoke) haze starting to disperse by 0900 GMT as the cloud began to break- up. There was little or no wind, this time NNE'ly when there was some. Some good spells of sunshine during the morning but cumulus clouds began to build in the afternoon. There was a moderate shower around 21 GMT before clearing by 0130 GMT when there was bright moonlight. [Rain 2.8 mm; Max 19.9C; Min 12.2C; Grass 8.6C]
24th: It was overcast and murky by dawn with a spell of light rain and drizzle around 06 GMT. Pressure 1021 was still relatively high with (1028 mb) to the W of Ireland. But there was an occluded front in the Irish Sea. During a heavy shower in Upper Bangor at 1055 GMT the roads were awash bringing traffic to a crawl. Slow-moving showers affected North Wales and northwards from the Welsh Border to Scotland. The afternoon remained dull with light rain or drizzle. Some brightness appeared in the W by 15 GMT but the sky took a long time to clear before becoming overcast again by morning. [Rain 5.2 mm; Max 15.8C; Min 13.6C; Grass 11.1C]
25th: A misty start to the day with low cloud and very poor visibility. Pressure is low (1016 mb) in the North Sea (and bringing unseasonable weather to the E coast) but pressure here 1027 mb was rising as elongated Atlantic-high (1031 mb) moved across Ireland with the hint of better weather. Again the W of the island was bright with sunny spells but here the cloud lingered into the morning. In the afternoon the sky cleared and it was sunny until evening. Cumulus clouds remained over the Snowdonia Mountains into the evening. The night was mainly clear and there were more bands of moonlit jetstream cirrus clouds (almost N - S) seen at 0130 GMT. By dawn there was some low cloud and fog patches in low-lying areas with shallow mist on the fields locally. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 20.6C; Min 10.7C; Grass 6.8C]
 "Ridge over SW with frontal cloud to NW. Low cloud in North Sea affecting the E coast. Low NW France and unsettled in the Med with storm clouds over Italy. NOAA 16 image at 1316 GMT on 26 August 2002."){kind=small}
26th: After clearance of early mist it was a sunny morning. There was very heavy dew on the grass that contributed to the water collected in the lysimeter and positive water balance. Pressure 1027 mb was steady in an elongated high-pressure area from the Atlantic across Ireland, Scotland and North Wales. There was little (NE'ly force 1) or no wind and visibility was good. At 0900 GMT with a temperature of 15.5C (dewpoint 13.6C) it was becoming cloudier as cumulus clouds formed overhead. By afternoon the sky cleared and it became mainly sunny with a maximum of 18.3C. The night was clear with shallow mist forming on the fields. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 18.3C; Min 11.0C; Grass 6.7C]
27th: Heavy dew on the grass overnight but the mist had cleared and visibility was good although a little hazy. Pressure 1024 mb was hardly changed. With a light N'ly breeze it was becoming cloudier with cumulus forming during the morning that remained mostly sunny. The afternoon was clearer and the temperature rose to 21.2C. After 3 dry days the John, local farmer, was able to bale hay in the field next to the weather station. Although dew had been heavy frequent turning made it suitable to bale by late afternoon. Most, unusually these days, was put into small bales that are handy to put in a landrover. An excess was put into the now more common large round bales. By evening cloud encroached from the west but it remained dry. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 21.2C; Min 9.3C; Grass 7.8C]
28th: After dawn it became foggy with visibility below 100 m but began to clear at 06 GMT. There was a spell of heavy drizzle leading up to 0900 GMT when it had more or less stopped but visibility was still very poor. The morning was muggy (16.8C with 99% RH) and there was a further spell of light drizzle. After noon it was a little brighter and less muggy with a light SW'ly breeze. [Rain 4.5 mm; Max 19.0C; Min 14.2C; Grass 11.8C]
 "Met Office chart at 06 GMT on 29 August 2002."){kind=small}
29th: There was frontal rain from 01 - 05 GMT followed by dense fog at 0530 - 0615 GMT. After this began to clear there was more light rain or heavy drizzle before 0900 GMT. Pressure was 1017 mb with low (985 mb) SE Iceland and attendant slow-moving weak cold front in the Irish Sea but was high (1025 mb) N Spain.. The temperature was a muggy 16.0C with 100% humidity. Visibility had improved but remained very poor through the morning with further drizzle at times. Somewhat drier and brighter in the afternoon but it remained overcast. At night there were a few clearer spells but it was back to 8/8 oktas by morning with rain. [Rain 1.9 mm; Max 18.4C; Min 15.5C; Grass 15.2C]
 "Low Ireland brought heavy rain to the NW during the day. NOAA 17 image at 1143 GMT on 30 August 2002."){kind=small}
30th: With a developing low (1002 mb at 06 GMT) to the W of Ireland the scene was set for a blustery and wet day. Pressure here 1010 mb was falling at 0900 GMT and with tightening isobars the S'ly wind was force 5. There was a large area of rain over Scotland and during the morning there were some moderate downpours. The wind veering SW'ly rose to force 6 - 7 and a 30 mph speed restriction were in force on the Britannia Bridge. Around noon, in heavy rain, there were tailbacks both on and off the island. The afternoon was little better with any rain becoming light and showery. A sharply defined clearance of the cloud sheet was seen in the W at 1845 GMT, the bright evening light clearly illuminating the Lleyn Peninsular alongside the still dark Snowdonia Mountains. At the same time there was a fine display of crepuscular rays over Holyhead. As the sky cleared for a time and the temperature on the grass fell to 4.8C, the lowest since 27 June. [Rain 10.2 mm; Max C; Min 13.7C; Grass 10.5C]
31st: It was a cloudy dawn but it began to clear soon afterwards. With pressure 1025 mb rising, as Atlantic-high (1033 mb) rebuilt across the W, it was a sunny morning with a cool light NW'ly wind. The fronts of yesterday were well to the SE and it was a sunny afternoon and evening. There were some patches of cloud in the night but these had cleared by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 18.2C; Min 8.8C; Grass 4.8C]
With August drawn to a close, and another summer month with a positive water balance, soils continue to be near field water capacity. The total rainfall for the year to the end of August was 702.6 mm just 15.6 mm short of the 718.2 mm accumulated by the end of August 2000, the wettest year on record. Total PE (potential evapotranspiration) is 269.9 mm giving a water balance of 432.7 mm. If we have a wet autumn this could lead to river flooding following run-off on already saturated mountain soils. It is likely that reservoirs will be fairly full and may not be able to take a lot more water. We shall see!
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 "Met Office chart at 06 GMT GMT on 1 September 2002."){kind=small}
 "The common teasel (Dipsacus fullonen) in flower in the garden with a feeding small bumblebee on 1 September 2002."){kind=small}
1st: A sunny start to the day with pressure 1032 mb under the influence of a high (1034 mb) centred on South Wales. There were just some whisps of high cirrus clouds and a few small cumulus in the morning. There was little or no wind and the afternoon continued sunny with clearing skies. It was a day for the beaches with many families taking advantage of the day before the start of a new school term. In the garden teasel, marjoram and several different lavenders all in flower were being visited by bumblebees. By evening it was hazy and there was a peach coloured sunset that left the still clear sky coloured for a long while after. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 19.7C; Min 8.4C; Grass 3.8C]
 "NOAA 16 image at 1338 GMT on 2 September 2002."){kind=small}
2nd: The sun rose about 06 GMT to a clear sky. There was heavy dew on the grass where the minimum thermometer had read 4.1C far away from that first frost. Later the sky began to fill with cirrus clouds formed mainly as a result of contrails. There was little or no wind but the pressure had fallen a little. It was a sunny day with a gentle NE'ly breeze in the afternoon. By evening it became quite hazy and was cloudy by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 20.8C; Min 10.1C; Grass 4.1C]
3rd: A murky start to the day with only moderate visibility. Pressure 1020 mb was falling with frontal lows (1014 mb) to the W of Ireland and Scotland. The day was mainly cloudy but it did brighten from time to time and but it was warm with a maximum of 20.6C. By evening it was murky with poor visibility. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 20.6C; Min 11.3C; Grass 9.3C]
4th: Overnight the minimum temperature was 14.0C, the warmest of the month but was the lowest since the 13.8C seen in 1995. With fairly thin cloud it was a bright and hazy start to the day. At 0900 GMT the temperature was 17.4C and, although it was to rise only a little more to 18.9C, it felt warm in the light and variable winds. It was a cloudy but dry night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 18.9C; Min 14.0C; Grass 12.4C]
5th: A dull start to the day with the SW'ly wind picking up to force 4 by 0900 GMT. Pressure was 1011 mb was falling with deepening low (988 mb) S of Iceland and attendant fronts moving across from the W. The day remained cloudy and cool (maximum 16.0C) but rain in the form of a spell of drizzle did not reach here until the evening. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 12.1C; Grass 11.1C]
6th: At 00 GMT low (983 mb) was nearing NW Scotland and there was a slow-moving cold front over Wales. The day began overcast with pressure on 1011 mb at 0900 GMT. There was a spell of moderate rain from 13 - 16 GMT and with thick cloud it kept cool with a maximum of 15.2C. After the front cleared it was a clear night with bright stars. [Rain 5.3 mm; Max 15.2C; Min 11.1C; Grass 13.1C]
7th: Low (991 mb) was near the Western Isles of Scotland at 00 GMT. By 0900 GMT pressure here was 1002 mb but it was a bright start to the day and there were sunny spells at first. By afternoon it was cloudier and there was a shower of rain later as the filling low tracked towards the Isle of Man by midnight. [Rain 1.2 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 10.0C; Grass 7.7C]
8th: It was a sunny start to the day but the morning kept showery. Pressure 1004 mb was rising and by afternoon, with clearing skies over Anglesey, the temperature reached 18.0C. The day did not escape further showers with a heavy one at 18 GMT, that accounted for most of the accumulated 2.3 mm, before the sky cleared to give a fine starry night. It was a wet day in Scotland where heavy rain in the early hours brought flooding up to 5 ft deep in Inverness, left 200 people marooned in the Thistle Hotel, and later in Glasgow were 3 ft of water was reported. There were thunderstorms and hail in the morning around the Firth of Forth and Dundee in the afternoon. At Burntisland a road was blocked by a landslide following flash flooding. .[Rain 2.3 mm; Max 18.0C; Min 9.3C; Grass 7.3C]
9th: By morning it was cloudier and thickened during the day. By 15 GMT it was raining and became moderate to heavy by 1630 GMT only beginning to ease by after 21 GMT following a fall of large ice pellets. Later, after a further light shower, the sky began to clear. This was the wettest day of the month with 12.0 mm falling over 8.3 h. Heavy rain affected several parts of the country including the Midlands and Merseyside. Flooding occurred at Whiston Hospital where the casualty department was closed. In Swanage (Dorset) {121.4 mm} rain fell in 24-h and several homes and businesses in the seaside town were affected by up to 8 in of flood water. Eleven flood warnings were issued across England and Wales. [Rain 12.0 mm; Max 15.5C; Min 8.1C; Grass 6.5C]
 "Met Office chart at 0000 GMT on 10 September 2002."){kind=small}
10th: It was a bright start and with pressure 1016 mb rising and sky clearing it became sunny and warm with the temperature reaching 19.0C. It was a dry and clear night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 19.0C; Min 11.1C; Grass 11.0C]
11th: With the sky almost clear of cloud it was a sunny morning with the temperature at 0900 GMT already 17.0C. Pressure was 1016 mb and with a light SE'ly wind it was a dry and warm day reaching 22.0C around noon with relative humidity down to 56%, lowest of the month on the 1st of 2 occasions. The afternoon after 14 GMT was cooler with a breeze off the sea setting in. It was a clear and dry night. Cardiff was the warmest place in the UK with a temperature of {24C}. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 22.0C; Min 11.1C; Grass 9.2C]
12th: Pressure was high (1035 mb) over Norway and here it was 1027 mb. It was a very hazy start to the day with the sky obscured and very poor visibility. There was weak sunshine through the haze and the temperature rose to 23.5C, the warmest day of the month. Humidity, however, did not fall below 68%. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 23.5C; Min 12.5C; Grass 9.5C]
13th: The spell of fine weather continued as the high drifted towards N Scotland with no change. The day was sunny, with little or no cloud, but becoming a little less hazy but with pollution smoke seen in Liverpool Bay. Another dry day and a clear night. Cardiff was again the warmest with {26C}. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 21.7C; Min 13.0C; Grass 10.4C]
14th: By dawn it was overcast and visibility was poor in haze. At 0900 GMT with pressure on 1029 mb the temperature was a warm 15.1C. But it soon turned sunny in the morning to give another fine day. Anglesey (Valley) reported 9.1 h sunshine but Fishguard, with {12.0 h}, was the sunniest place. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 18.1C; Min 10.8C; Grass 7.9C]
15th: With pressure high to the W of Scotland cloud was encroaching from the E and it was a dull start to the day. As the morning progressed it became mainly sunny and there were good sunny spells in the afternoon. It was cooler than of late, with a maximum of 16.8C, and became cloudier by evening. [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 16.8C; Min 11.8C; Grass 10.1C]
16th: Light rain from 04 GMT, the first for 5 days. At 0900 GMT pressure 1025 mb was still high but it was overcast and dull. The cloud thickened during the morning and there was little or no wind. The maximum temperature of 14.9C, lowest of the month, was the least cold seen on any day in September on 24-y records. There was a slight shower in the afternoon and the day was sunless. [Rain trace; Max 14.9C; Min 11.9C; Grass 9.5C]
17th: Still cloudy, dull and calm. Pressure 1019 mb had fallen slightly but there was little change in the synoptic situation. The day was overcast and sunless but dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.2C; Min 11.5C; Grass 11.0C]
18th: Little change with a blanket of thick cloud and little or no wind. By 14 GMT it brightened and there was a glimpse of sunshine, when the temperature popped up to 20.5C, before it was back being overcast and dull. By nightfall there was a light breeze and it remained dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 20.5C; Min 11.1C; Grass 8.2C]
19th: High pressure (1022 mb) was being squeezed by low pressure to the n and S of the UK. Pressure here was 1019 mb and at 0630 GMT the sky was clear and dew formed on the grass. By 0900 GMT it was cloudy again and was to remain so all day although around the coast it was sunnier. The maximum temperature only reached 14.9C, lowest of the month for the 2nd time, and jointly least cold on 24-y records. It remained cloudy through the night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 14.9C; Min 11.9C; Grass 10.5C]
20th: Pressure 1022 mb was rising again as high pressure to the W re-established. There were fronts to the N and S but the cloud broke up in the afternoon to give some sunny spells. The night was partly cloudy with a light NE'ly breeze. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.9C; Min 11.7C; Grass 9.5C]
21st: After a rather dull start the day became sunny. There was light NE'ly breeze off the sea and this kept the maximum temperature to 17.5C. At Aberffraw it was warm enough for several people to enjoy late season sea swimming with the temperature of the water on 17C! During the night it became cloudy. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.5C; Min 10.9C; Grass 7.5C]
22nd: Dull at first but bright spells developed by 10 GMT. pressure 1023 mb remained high with a weak cold frontal to the N. With few bright spells and the wind a light cool N'ly through the day the temperature reached 16.8C. Around the coast near Llanddona there was some light drizzle at 1430 GMT. Later the sky cleared from Anglesey and the Snowdonia Mountains to give a colder night than of late. In heavy thunderstorms from 03 GMT parts of La Goulette, near Tunis (North Africa), were flooded with up to 1 ft of water. During the morning there were further thunderstorms, heavy rain and 10 mm diameter hail stones. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.8C; Min 11.0C; Grass 7.6C]
23rd: The sky was clear at dawn and the morning was sunny. The first air frost of the autumn occurred in parts of Scotland (Tulloch Bridge -3C). Here pressure 1027 mb had risen with high (1029 mb) N Scotland. The wind was a light E'ly and it was a cool 12.5C at 0900 GMT but was to rise to 16.8C during the day. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.8C; Min 8.2C; Grass 4.9C]
24th: With clear skies overnight the air temperature fell to 7.2C and 3.2C on the grass, both were the lowest of the month. Visibility was very good at 0900 GMT with clear views of the mountains and the Lleyn Peninsula. With little or no cloud it was another sunny day that led on to a clear and cool night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.2C; Min 7.2C; Grass 3.2C]
25th: Pressure 1024 mb had fallen a little with the high (1029 mb) at Shannon. It was a cloudy and dull morning but there were some bright and sunny spells in the afternoon. By evening it was overcast and became windier. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.7C; Min 7.5C; Grass 3.6C]
26th: A cloudy and misty start to the day. Drizzle began to fall at 0910 GMT, before turning showery, and broke the run of 9 days without rain. Visibility remained poor, or very poor, until 1430 GMT when it began to improve. It was a sunless day but there were some clear spells in the night. [Rain 1.0 mm; Max 15.0C; Min 10.8C; Grass 6.6C]
27th: The high pressure (1028 mb) was centred at Valentia (S Ireland) at 00 GMT. A cloudy and dull start to the day with poor visibility. There was no improvement through the day that remained sunless but dry. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.1C; Min 12.0C; Grass 11.1C]
28th: Another overcast and dull day with pressure 1028 mb remaining high but drifting eastwards. But it was a dry day with a maximum temperature of 18.6C and relative humidity was 56% for a time, lowest of the month for the second day. Towards evening it became brighter and there were some glimpses of sunshine. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 18.6C; Min 11.0C; Grass 9.1C]
29th: Pressure 1023 mb was declining slowly with the anticyclone (1032 mb) centred on Switzerland. Pressure (995 mb) was low in the Atlantic W of Ireland.
Overcast at first it gradually became brighter during the morning, a halo seen around the sun at 09 GMT, then visibility improved from poor to very good. There was a light S'ly breeze and the afternoon was sunny with the temperature reaching 20.0C. The evening and night was clear and became calm before turning cloudy later. [Rain trace; Max 20.0C; Min 10.8C; Grass 6.8C]
30th: A bright start to the day but it became cloudier towards 0900 GMT and there was a shower within 10 minutes. Pressure was 1018 mb with high pressure still to the E and fronts to the W. During the day it became sunny and warm and with a S'ly wind there were flotillas of lee-wave clouds along the North Wales coast in the afternoon. The maximum temperature was 21.8C, the 3rd warmest day of the month, not bad for the last day of September. There was a slight shower of rain at 20 GMT but the sky cleared later. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 21.8C; Min 13.0C; Grass 7.0C]
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 "A sunny Anglesey and North Wales coast: NOAA 16 image at 1321 GMT on 1 October 2002."){kind=small}
1st: Pressure was high (1030 mb) over Switzerland maintaining the spell of dry and mainly sunny weather. At 00 GMT low (974 mb) S of Greenland had slow-moving fronts to the W. Cloud associated with a weak low (1005 mb) W of the Gibraltar Strait covering the Iberian Peninsular and France extended into S Britain. A mild night with a minimum of 12.3C, the highest of the month. At 0900 GMT pressure here was 1018 mb and with slack isobars there was little or no wind, what there was was S'ly. With a little mainly high cirrus cloud, and some early lee-waves clouds over the Menai Strait, it was a sunny day with Anglesey (Valley) reporting {8.6 h} of sunshine. The temperature rose from 16.0 C to 22.2C during the day, the warmest day of the month, but along the North Wales coast Prestatyn, for the second day, topped the UK temperatures with 24C. By nightfall it was cloudier. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 22.2C; Min 6.5C; Grass 7.0C]
2nd: A clear spell before dawn led to dew on the grass and a golden sunrise but it was becoming cloudier by 0900 GMT. With little or no wind again it was a pleasant 15.0C. Pressure was 1017 mb and visibility was good although hazy. Before noon the temperature had reached 19.0C, but Prestatyn with 21C again was the warmest place in the UK. By noon it was becoming murky and there was some drizzle on a warm front moving in from the W. In the afternoon it was windier (SW'ly force 4 - 5), as a following weak cold front passed over, and there was a spell of moderate rain from 15 - 19 GMT that accumulated 5.7 mm. The frontal cloud moved away in the night to give a clear slot with bright stars. [Rain 5.7 mm; Max 19.0C; Min 11.2C; Grass 8.8C]
 "A clearing sky over Anglesey. View is from Caernarfon across the Menai Strait near low water with Traeth Gwyllt showing at 1342 GMT on 3 October 2002."){kind=small}
3rd: The sky was clear at dawn with some mist across the fields. After a clear sunrise cumulus clouds began to form and by 0900 GMT cover was 5 oktas. Over the mountains it was showery with well-developed cumulus but Anglesey remained mostly sunny. With yesterday's cold front lying from Kent to Brest pressure 1021 mb was rising with a ridge of high pressure (1027 mb) over the SW approaches. Showery troughs were lying to the NW but the day remained sunny with clouds reducing through the day. It was cloudier in the evening but clear enough to see the bright ISS (International Space Station) cross the sky from WSW to ESE for 4 minutes starting at 1917 GMT. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 18.1C; Min C; Grass C]
4th: With some clear spells and no wind overnight there was dew on the grass with the grass minimum reading 5.7C. It was a bright start to the day with the sun showing through moderately thin high cloud. Pressure 1029 mb had risen with high (1032 mb) building to the SW. The morning was bright with a light S'ly breeze. With the cloud clearing over Anglesey it was another sunny afternoon and evening. It was partially cloudy at night at first but frontal cloud edged down from the NW later. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 17.0C; Min 8.1C; Grass 5.7C]
5th: After a mild night, with the temperature around 13C, it was a murky start to the day with heavy drizzle then a spell of light rain at 0900 GMT. Pressure was high at 1028 mb with high (1032 mb) near Lands End. Visibility remained poor through the day with occasional drizzle. By evening it was drier and clearance of cloud was seen in the W at 19 GMT but progress was very slow. There was a shower of rain at 23 GMT and it remained cloudy. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 15.3C; Min 10.8C; Grass 10.4C]
6th: Soon after dawn the sky began to clear and by 0900 GMT cover was 3 oktas. Pressure 1024 mb was falling slowly with low pressure moving S in the North Sea. In sunshine it was 12.9C in a light N'ly breeze and went on to reach 16.7C by the afternoon. It was a fine evening but became partly cloudy later. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 16.7C; Min 12.2C; Grass 10.7C]
 "Ynys Gored Goch's sea defences were tested on 7 October 2002."){kind=small}
 "High tide at Malltraeth on 7 October 2002."){kind=small}
7th: Bright at first with a glimpse of the rising sun before it turned cloudier. Pressure 1018 mb was falling, with further decline of the high pressure, and a warm front was hovering to the W of Anglesey. On the west coast there was drizzle from 10 GMT and a spell of light rain, here it was minimal and that died out by the afternoon that remained dull but dry. With the moon's orbit close to the earth there were some of the highest tides seen for 20 years. In the Menai Strait the sea defences at Ynys Gored Goch and west coast Malltraeth were tested by tides up to 10.5 m. Although predicted to be 0.6 m higher than on the 1 - 2 February no flooding occurred because, this time, there was no low-pressure tidal surge. In February a surge, together with rivers swollen by heavy rain, caused flooding in several places. By 21 GMT there were some patches of clear sky but it became overcast later. [Rain trace; Max 14.3C; Min 9.6C; Grass 7.0C]
 "Light cloud over Anglesey and line of cumulus clouds from Lleyn to the Conwy Valley with frontal cloud to the SW. NOAA 17 image at 1031 GMT on 8 October 2002."){kind=small}
8th: Dry overnight with relative humidity at 66% at 05 GMT so the grass was dry in the morning. At 0900 GMT pressure 1008 mb had fallen and with pressure high (1032 mb ) over Norway and low (988 mb) SW of Iceland isobars were being squeezed over in the W with freshening S'ly winds. Here, in the lee of the Snowdonia Mountains there was little or no wind, leaves on the trees hardly moving. At Valley (Holyhead) the SSE'ly wind was force 5 -6! The sky was overcast, with moderately thick high cloud, but cumulus clouds were forming over the summits of the mountains. During the day the cloud broke up here, forming lee-waves, to give some sunny spells and the temperature rose to 17.2C. The wind increased a little to force 2 before dying down again by late afternoon. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 17.2C; Min 10.9C; Grass 8.0C]
 "Lee-wave clouds viewed from Ysbyty Gwynedd on 9 October 2002."){kind=small}
9th: Mainly cloudy and dry overnight breaks appeared after dawn to give a bright but hazy start to the day. The wind was a drying light E'ly and again there were several lenticular lee-wave clouds near the weather station. At 0900 GMT pressure was steady on 1005 mb and the temperature 10.8C (dewpoint 7.0C). There were fronts to the SW, with a developing low near the Bristol Channel, brought rain to SW England and Ireland but it did not reach here. The day was mainly sunny with lee-waves clouds persisting near the Snowdonia Mountains. Another dry day with some cloudiness at night.[Rain 0.0 mm; Max 15.8C; Min 10.0C; Grass 8.3C]
 "A sunny west Wales and Anglesey. NOAA 16 image at 1321 GMT on 10 October 2002."){kind=small}
10th: Cooler overnight and some dew on the grass by morning. With altocumulus cloud dispersing it was a sunny but hazy morning. The wind was a light ENE'ly and pressure 1009 mb but low (978 mb) SW of Greenland, with Atlantic-fronts W of Ireland, were making slow progress eastwards. The day with clear skies was sunny and Anglesey (Valley) with {8.0 h} sunshine topped the UK list and, on this occasion, doing better than the North Wales coast and Cheshire that was almost sunless. The evening clear at first became cloudy later as the fronts approached. [Rain trace; Max 16.2C; Min 8.5C; Grass 4.6C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 11 October 2002."){kind=small}
11th: A dull and hazy start with a shower at 0610 GMT. There was a large area of rain in the Irish Sea and affecting N Ireland and SW Scotland. Winds were strong in N Scotland and the North Sea but at 09 GMT it was calm here with pressure 1010 mb. By 10 GMT the rain arrived and was light to moderate through the day to become showery in the night. Rainfall here was 21.6 mm but was heaviest to the N with Dundrennan reporting 73.0 mm, Macrihanish 62.0 mm and the Isle of Man 52.0 mm. To the S and E it was less with Capel Curig 19.0 mm, Hawarden 16.0 mm Mumbles 13.0 mm, Plymouth 7.0 mm and Manston 2.0 mm. By 03 GMT the rain had stopped but was still overcast by dawn. [Rain 21.6 mm; Max 12.6C; Min 8.8C; Grass 5.4C]
12th: The sky cleared soon after dawn leaving frontal cloud to the NE, where it was still raining and along with Scotland had a wet day, and some cumulus over the Snowdonia Mountains. Pressure 1010 mb was rising and we were into a showery W'ly airstream. The day was sunny with some cumulus clouds appearing overhead in the afternoon. From 19 GMT there were moderately heavy showers of rain but later the sky cleared again for a time during the night. [Rain 6.0 mm; Max 16.0C; Min 8.1C; Grass 5.6C]
13th: It had been cold overnight with the minimum 5.2C and 2.2C on the grass both lowest since 12 May. Pressure was 1008 mb with low (995 mb) in the SW approaches that brought heavy rain and strong winds to South Wales, the West and Channel coasts in the morning. Some 30,000 homes were without electricity as the 70 mph winds brought down cables and trees causing damage to property. Here there was little or no wind but it was overcast and very dull with a hint of rain. With a maximum of 10.5C it was the coldest day since 18 April (8.8C). Rain started at 1800 GMT and became moderate or heavy at times before stopping at 0330 GMT. A further spell from 08 - 09 GMT brought the 24-h total to 19.6 mm. South Wales had the most with Pembrey reporting 74 mm, Mumbles 71 mm and Cardiff 60 mm. There was some minor flooding and 12 rivers in Wales were on alert of flooding. [Rain 19.6 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 5.2C; Grass 2.2C]
 "Deepening low approaching the SW: NOAA 12 image at 1628 GMT on 14 October 2002."){kind=small}
14th: With a showery trough over Wales pressure on 1008 mb was rising as low (993 mb) in The Wash continued eastwards The day was dull and with poor visibility the mountains remained obscured. Towards evening there was a little brightness and even a glimpse of sunshine. Later the sky cleared by 21 GMT but it soon clouded over again as another deepening low approached the SW. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 0.3C; Min 7.3C; Grass 6.5C]
15th: Deep low (983 mb) was just W of Brest at 06 GMT. Pressure here at 0900 GMT was falling at 1003 mb and there was a moderate E'ly wind. It was overcast and felt colder than the 8.6C in the screen. The temperature on the summit of Snowdon was 2.3C in a fresh wind gusting to 40 mph. With temperatures overnight around 1C there was a possibility of snow falling but none was seen on partially obscured tops. The day was dull with a little light rain in the morning but heavy rain again affected South Wales and the West (Cardiff 27 mm, Milford Haven 23 mm) but Holbeach 60 mm and Cottesmore 53 mm (nr. Peterborough) were wettest. In Torquay (Devon) a tornado damaged houses. Winds reached 76 mph in Alderney and 58 mph in Mumbles but here it was a lot quieter with a maximum gust of only 34 mph at Bangor Harbour. [Rain 0.5 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 7.8C; Grass 4.9C]
 "Winter snowfall in Scandinavia: NOAA 17 image at 1052 GMT on 16 October 2002."){kind=small}
16th: Pressure 1003 mb was rising with yesterday's low in the S North sea but with another complex low (996 mb) at Brest there was heavy rain in the Bristol and English Channels. In the N it continued a lot drier with just a few light showers around but heavier ones over the mountains. Cloud, and crepuscular rays in the Nant Ffrancon Pass, obscured most mountaintops where with temperatures around 0.5C showers were wintry. The cloud lifted over Anglesey during the day but it remained overcast and sunless here. During the evening and night there were prolonged heavy showers with ice pellets after midnight that fell as snow on the mountaintops of Snowdonia. [Rain 6.2 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 7.6C; Grass 6.2C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 17 October 2002."){kind=small}
 "Shades of autumn reflected in the moat at the castle in Beaumaris on 17 October 2002."){kind=small}
17th: Cold overnight with the minimum down to 3.7C and on the grass 0.3C that was nearly a frost. There was a sprinkling of snow lying at 3000 ft on the Carneddau, Crib Goch and Yr Wyddfa but you had to be early to catch sight of it because the tops were soon enveloped in further showers. Pressure was 1005 mb with complex low pressure (988 mb) S Baltic. Winter has certainly arrived in Scandinavia where the N saw temperatures as low as -12C overnight with further snow. Here we were in a cool N'ly and showery airflow and there were further showers during the day. Several places on the island caught showers, at Malltraeth there were ice pellets in a heavy shower at 14 GMT, and they were frequent and heavy over Snowdonia. Showers continued through the night with sferics reported along the North Wales coast to Anglesey, but there were some clear spells as well. [Rain 14.5 mm; Max C; Min 3.7C; Grass 0.3C]
18th: A heavy shower at 0520 GMT contained large ice pellets (up to 5 mm) diameter but they soon melted. Towards 0900 GMT the sky was clearing but there were still well-developed cumulus clouds over the mountains. Snow was seen lying as low as 2500 ft on the NE-facing side of the Llanberis Pass. Pressure 1009 mb was rising and with a moderate N'ly wind the 7.2C felt very cold. Pressure was still low (993 mb) in the Baltic with high pressure (1024 mb) over Spain. But a deep low (983 mb) in mid-Atlantic is heading our way! A mainly sunny day with most of the mountain snow melting by late afternoon. Cloudier in the evening with light showers between 19 - 20 GMT before the sky cleared again.[Rain 0.2 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 3.9C; Grass 1.0C]
19th: The first ground frost of the autumn, with the temperature on the grass down to -1.4C. The last frost was on the 4 May (-0.2C). It was a mainly cloudy and showery start to the day with snow showers on the mountains. The area around Snowdon again had the most lying snow down to 2300 ft. Pressure 1017 mb was rising and there was little or no wind being in a slack area between continental high pressure (1021 mb France) and the deepening (966 mb) Atlantic-low W of Iberia. The morning was showery with rain and small ice pellets here and moderate snow showers on the mountains. By afternoon the sky was clearer here with some sunny spells in which the temperature rose to 13.5C, the warmest for a week. Overnight it was mainly cloudy but dry. [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 13.5C; Min 2.5C; Grass -1.4C]
 "Weather chart at 12 GMT on 20 October 2002."){kind=small}
 "Low SW of Ireland: NOAA 16 image at 1724 GMT on 20 October 2002."){kind=small}
20th: A dull start to the day with an E'ly breeze. The snowline on NE slopes of Snowdon was at 2700 ft but there was much less on the Carneddau with sparse snow at 3000 ft. Pressure 1012 mb was falling with the still deepening Atlantic-low (960 mb) heading our way. At the moment it seems to be moving towards the Bristol Channel, with the possibility of a tidal surge on Irish Sea coasts tomorrow when 9.5 m tides were expected. The morning was dull with cloud thickening as a large area of rain to the SW, that was wintry on mountains at first, moved closer. By 1200 GMT it was raining moderately with falling temperature (minimum 4.8C 15 - 22 GMT) before it started to get warmer through the night. Rainfall over 12.5 h was 27.3 mm (24-h total 06 -06 GMT). After a lull there was a further spell from 0600 - 0800 GMT giving another 5.9 mm. In all 33.2 mm fell over 14.5 h. Rain seems to have been heaviest over Ireland (St. Angelo 40 mm and Ballypatrick 37 mm (06-06 GMT) and North Wales (Capel Curig 32 mm, Lake Vyrnwy 31, and here 27 mm). [Rain 33.2 mm; Max C; Min 4.9C; Grass 1.6C]
21st: Towards 0900 GMT, with some breaks appeared in the clouds, the temperature rose to it's maximum of 11.6C for the past 24-h. This temperature was to be the minimum over the next 24-h within warm sector air. Pressure 0990 mb was falling with the low (968 mb) slowed and now filling still SW of Ireland. With the occluded front to the N, near the Isle of Man, the rain was now heaviest in Scotland and N Ireland (Eskdalemuir 61 mm, Ballypatrick 43 mm 06 - 06 GMT). The Isle of Man had 100 mm rain in 24-h and the town of Peel was threatened by the swollen river Neb. Flood warnings were issued for York where the Ouse was running 12 ft above normal and in Scotland rail services were disrupted. Here the wind had turned S'ly and was light and there were soon some sunny spells with the temperature reaching a warm 16.3C. But there were well-developed cumulus clouds in the vicinity especially over the mountains that were obscured. Showery rain set in by 15 GMT, showers became less frequent from 21 GMT with 1 or 2 later in the night. [Rain 6.0 mm; Max 16.3C; Min 4.8C; Grass 4.3C]
22nd: With the low centred in the Irish Sea pressure was 998 mb at 0900 GMT. Dull and dry at first the wind was S'ly, with a maximum temperature of 13.7C by noon. Showers later in the morning became heavier and more prolonged by afternoon with the wind veering NW'ly. The temperature began to fall as colder air was brought in around Scotland from Scandinavia. [Rain 7.3 mm; Max 13.7C; Min 11.6C; Grass 9.5C]
 "Low in North Sea brings cold air from Scandinavia: Weather chart at 06 GMT on 23 October 2002."){kind=small}
23rd: Partly cloudy at night after dawn it soon brightened up with good sunny spells in the morning. Pressure 999 mb was rising with the low (965 mb) now in the North Sea off S Norway. It felt cold in the fresh NW'ly as cumulus clouds scudded by. Over the mountain cumulus were well-developed and there were wintery showers across the tops as the temperature fell to 0.6C by 1100 GMT. By afternoon there were frequent showers of rain and ice pellets across Anglesey and of snow on the mountaintops. With some very dark clouds in the vicinity at 1445 GMT there was a moderate fall of 'pea' sized hail at Four Crosses in Menai Bridge. At 1605 GMT there was a shower here that contained 6 mm diameter hail. Hail stones the size of 'marbles' were reported having fallen in Newtown (Powys). Overnight the showers eased and there were some clear spells. [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 10.2C; Min 4.5C; Grass 1.6C]
 "The Square in Menai Bridge taken over for the day by annual Ffair Borth on 24 October 2002."){kind=small}
 "From the Square the road leading up to the Suspension Bridge is crowded on a sunny morning for the fair on 24 October 2002."){kind=small}
24th: It was a cold night, with the minimum down to 2.0C and with frost on the grass -1.8C, ice had formed on grass and water in the garden. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 6.3C and was the coldest of the next 24-h. Pressure was 1004 mb with the old low (970 mb) now in the Norwegian Sea. But pressure was low to the W and fronts not far away in the Atlantic. It was a sunny start to the day, as remaining cloud quickly cleared away, except over the mountains and to the W and NE. It was blue skies in the morning for the annual Ffair Borth Menai Bridge Fair held for centuries and originally a 'hiring and horse fair'. By afternoon it was cloudier and, with freshening winds, there were 1 or 2 light showers before dusk. During the night there were frequent showers followed by a spell of moderate to heavy frontal rain from 03 - 06 GMT with the day's maximum of 12.2C at 05 GMT. [Rain 14.2 mm; Max 12.2C; Min 2.0C; Grass -1.8C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 25 October 2002."){kind=small}
25th: At 06 GMT low (976 mb) was near Malin Head with a frontal triple point was near the Isle of Man. Pressure here had bottomed at 981 mb at 0900 GMT and the band of rain had moved eastwards into England. There were 1 or 2 breaks in the ragged low cloud and the wind was WSW'ly force 5 while on the mountaintops was gusting to 50 - 60 mph. Visibility was just good but misty. During the morning there were a few sunny spells before a heavy squally shower at 1130 GMT with a moderate fall of 5 mm ice pellets. After that the sky cleared again over Anglesey before cloud returning once more later on. The night was mostly cloudy with a showery spell of rain between 0530 -0730 GMT. It was wet in parts with Lake Vyrnwy having {45 mm}, Milford Haven {23 mm}, Capel Curig {22 mm} while Valley {14 mm} and Rhyl {11 mm} had much less. [Rain 4.6 mm; Max 13.1C; Min 6.3C; Grass 3.5C]
 "The storm approaching from the W: NOAA 16 image at 1346 GMT on 26 October 2002."){kind=small}
26th: A bright start with the partially sky clearing except over the mountains that remained obscured in low cloud and mist. We were still in a W'ly airflow between complex low pressure (971 mb) off the Norwegian coast and approaching Atlantic-low (979 mb) to the SW of Ireland. The morning was mainly sunny but became cloudy in the afternoon as the storm clouds approached. Winds were freshening in the evening as the barometer plunged. The Oregon storm alarm sounded just before midnight with pressure down to 976 mb. The temperature that had reached a maximum of 13.5C in warm air began to fall to 7.5C by morning in colder. It was a 'slate-rattling' night with winds speed rising towards 06 GMT. [Rain 10.5 mm; Max 13.5C; Min 6.8C; Grass 4.1C]
 "Low Scottish Borders with very strong winds in Irish Sea and Channel: Weather chart at 06 GMT on 27 October 2002."){kind=small}
27th: Pressure at 0900 GMT 985 mb was rising with the wind NW'ly at force 8. Valley reported mean wind speeds of force 9 gusting to 82 mph while Holyhead Port Authority measured a gust of 104 mph. I did the obs wearing my hard hat as there was a lot of debris flying about. Soon after a severe squall, that raised leaves in a small whirlwind 20 ft high, also blew over a sycamore tree in the wood pulling up a large root bole. Electricity supplies around Gaerwen were disrupted overnight and were not restored until afternoon. Others were not so lucky and it was several days before power was restored. Several trees and branches were down including the across the roads at Bethel (Anglesey) and on Red Hill leading to Beaumaris. In all Anglesey Council received 30 reports of trees on the roads. There was much structural damage over the island with 5 schools having to close. The storm affected Wales southwards (a man was killed by a falling tree on the A40 near Brecon) and conditions were bad all around the coasts with nearly all ferries cancelled. The Severn Bridges were closed and the Britannia Bridge closed to high-vehicles. Sandettie Light Vessel in the Channel reported a gust of 96 mph and Mumbles 97 mph. Rainfall was heavy over Wales, Capel Curig reported {68 mm}, and there were reports of flooded roads in Sussex and several flood warnings were issued for rivers Over the UK 7 persons were killed as a result of the storm. By afternoon it was quieter and later it was bright with a little sunshine. The night was mostly cloudy and dry with some clear spells. [Rain 2.8 mm; Max C; Min 7.2C; Grass 5.5C]
 "Large sycamore tree in the wood blown over during the storm on 27 October 2002."){kind=small}
28th: A bright start to the day over Anglesey with thin high cloud. It was cloudy over Snowdonia with mist obscuring the summits. Pressure 1024 mb had risen and there was a gentle SW'ly breeze. With the low well out of the way a high (1035 mb) S France was bringing, temporarily, a warmer S - SW'ly air flow. The day was bright and sunny becoming cloudier late in the afternoon. Yesterday's storm left considerable work for power suppliers in North Wales where 50,000 homes were still without a supply. Such was the damage done to overhead cables and poles, that for many, it was several days before supplies were restored. Extra engineers were brought in from Ireland and Scotland to help in the work. There was a spell of light rain from 18 - 21 GMT then more from 03 GMT. [Rain 3.5 mm; Max 12.0C; Min 5.6C; Grass 0.8C]
29th: Pressure 1014 mb was falling slowly as a weak tongue of low-pressure (1001 mb) moved NE into the UK. Pressure remains high over the Mediterranean, that is enjoying fine and warm weather, free of the thundery conditions at times during the late summer and autumn. Here, and to the N, rain on warm fronts continued until 16 GMT. There had been a deposition of light-orange coloured Saharan-type dust in the past 24-h and more was deposited in the rain through the day. The evening and night were cloud but dry. Capel Curig {18 mm}and Lake Vyrnwy {12 mm}had the most rainfall. Here we had {8.6 mm} [Rain 5.1 mm; Max 8.9C; Min 6.6C; Grass 5.8C]
 "A clearing sky over Anglesey on 30 October 2002. The view is of the Menai Suspension Bridge, and the Swellies, with part of the Britannia Bridge in the distance."){kind=small}
 "Well-developed autumn colours on a horse chestnut tree in our garden on 30 October 2002."){kind=small}
30th: A dull start to the day with cloud and mist hanging over the mountaintops. There was little or no wind with the temperature on 7.5C (93% RH). Pressure was 1014 mb in a ridge of high pressure W -E across the middle of the UK. Weak fronts to the S brought rain to central Wales eastwards in the morning. The morning was dull with 1 or 2 light showers but the sky cleared in the afternoon over Anglesey to give some sunshine. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 12.0C; Min 6.0C; Grass 4.0C]
31st: With some clear spells at night the temperature on the grass went down to 0.8C and there was heavy dew. Pressure was hardly changed on 1016 mb with low (992 mb) Norwegian Sea and (968 mb) S of Greenland. Fronts were lining up W of Ireland the first over SW England. After a fairly bright start the morning turned sunny with little or no wind. By afternoon cloud had encroached from the W and brought light rain to Caernarfon but here just a few spots. The night was cloudy, mild (minimum 12C) and dry. [Rain trace; Max 14.5C; Min 4.8C; Grass 0.8C]
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1st: A dull start to the day and soon after 0900 GMT moderate rain had set in on fronts over Wales and the west. Pressure 1006 mb had fallen with low (964 mb) slow-moving S of Greenland. It was a mild but wet morning with rain, moderate at times, well into the afternoon. At 1600 GMT there was a heavy burst of rain before a little clearance of the sky gave a glimpse of the sun before nightfall. The night was overcast. [Rain 14.2 mm; Max 13.2C; Min 8.6C; Grass 8.8C]
2nd: A dull and damp start with pressure 1006 mb unchanged and little or no wind. A large area of rain moved in from the SW giving light rain through the day. On the tip of the Lleyn Peninsular at 08 GMT it was raining here at 1015 GMT and had reached Llandudno by 11 GMT. It was almost continuous, light or drizzle, until 2200 GMT but the total was only 9.8 mm over 9.5h. Milford Haven had {39.6 mm}, Lake Vyrnwy {25.0 mm}, Capel Curig {23.0 mm} but here only {6.7 mm}. In warm-sector air the temperature rose through the day from 8.8C to 15.0C at 1900 GMT, before falling to morning, giving the warmest 24-h of the month. [Rain 9.8 mm; Max 15.0C; Min 8.0C; Grass 4.6C]
3rd: Deep low (958 mb) was near Rockall and pressure here had just risen from a low of 994 mb to 998 mb at 0900 GMT. Pressure was high (1026 mb) W of Iberia. It was bright and sunny at first but there were some cumulus clouds around and in the afternoon a cumulonimbus was seen to the SE. At 1612 GMT there was a shower of rain that had very large drops indicative of quite high convection taking place. The night was generally overcast. [Rain 1.7 mm; Max 13.5C; Min 8.8C; Grass 4.5C]
4th: Pressure 1015 mb had risen in a ridge of high pressure over the UK. After a shower of rain at 07 GMT the cloud had began to break up giving a little sunshine during the morning. The afternoon was cloudier, with rain-bearing fronts approaching from the SW, but apart from a few spots the rain did not arrive until 1900 GMT. It was light, or drizzle, and although it went on until 06 GMT the amount was only 1.9 mm [Rain 1.9 mm; Max 13.2C; Min 6.6C; Grass 2.2C]
 "Sparsely-leafed beech tree in autumn colours on 5 November 2002."){kind=small}
 "Closeup of backlit beech leaves with autumn colours on 5 November 2002."){kind=small}
5th: After the rain the sky cleared it became cooler and shallow mist formed on nearby fields and fog in some low lying areas. The sun, at this time in the year, rose over the Carneddau Mountains and it was a sunny start to the day. Although there are not many leaves left on trees, early salt-laden gales damaged many, those remaining that survived the recent storm (27 October) are a beautiful autumn colour. Pressure at 0900 GMT was 1017 mb with the old low (983 mb) now N of Iceland another (1003 mb) was developing on a frontal system W of Ireland. The clear sky did not last long as cumulus clouds formed by 0930 GMT and it was overcast by 1030 GMT. The afternoon was cloudy but remained dry the rain not arriving until 2100 GMT. It was light for 1h then moderate to heavy from 0000 - 0630 GMT. Rain 15.9 mm; Max 14.0C; Min 8.9C; Grass 6.9C]
 "Frontal cloud had moved E leaving a clear slot in the W. Showers developing W Ireland arrived later in the day. NOAA 17 image at 1122 GMT on 6 November 2002."){kind=small}
6th: With the rain clearing away there were breaks in the cloud at 0900 GMT. The temperature 9.6C was at it's lowest of the past 24-h. Pressure was 1011 mb with low pressure in the N North Sea and high pressure W of Iberia. The morning became sunny in a clear slot as the front cleared eastwards leaving some cumulus cloud over Snowdonia. The afternoon was sunny at first and we caught one of the showers that had moved across from Ireland at 1630 GMT. The evening and night remained dry with some clear spells. [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 13.0C; Min 9.6C; Grass 8.0C]
){kind=small}
7th: Cloudy before dawn but then with a partially clearing sky the temperature fell to 4.8C (0.8C on the grass). At 0900 GMT it was 6.1C with 89% relative humidity in the light NW'ly wind. Cumulus clouds hung over the mountaintops where it was just cold enough for some wintry showers. Pressure was 1016 mb with high W of Iberia (1036 mb) extending a ridge W of Ireland. The sky partially cleared during the morning revealing jet stream cirrus and there were some good sunny spells that lasted into early afternoon. Later, with frontal cloud encroaching from the W, it was dull with showers at dusk. There was moderate rain from 01 GMT lasting until morning. [Rain 17.8 mm; Max 10.8C; Min 4.8C; Grass 0.8C]
 "Autographic rainfall chart for 7th and 8th November 2002."){kind=small}
 "The Afon Braint (source in Llansadwrn) burst it's bank and flooded fields at Pont y Crug (near Bryncelli Ddu) on 8th November 2002."){kind=small}
8th: Continuous moderate rain and very poor visibility. With saturated soil pools of water were forming on nearby fields and these got larger as the rain continued. A large area of rain covered most of the UK and was heaviest over Wales. Only the N of Scotland was dry. At 0900 GMT pressure 1004 mb was falling and the temperature 10.8C, the maximum for the past 24-h. Pressure remained high to the S (1033 mb Spain) and low (997 mb) to the N (Shetland). The day remained rather wet with warm fronts associated with low (962 mb) S of Greenland crossing the UK. Rain continued to fall moderately but was heavy at times. A heavy burst between 1850 - 1900 GMT marked the cold front and soon after the temperature began to fall and the rain cease. There was clear sky for a while before it became cloudier again with a shower around midnight. Rainfall totalling 42.8 mm fell continuously for 20 h from 01 - 2100 GMT. This led to flooding of many rural roads and fields. The Afon Braint (source is in Llansadwrn) burst it's bank at Pont y Crug, near Llanddaniel, during the afternoon and there was a lot of water standing on Malltraeth Marsh Cors Ddyga. Water flowing down the river Cefni, that runs through the marsh, was held back by the 9.5 m high tide at Malltraeth at 1330 GMT but passed without flooding (tide was highest 10.1 m on the 7th!). Rainfall was 25.5 mm, the wettest day of the month, but was {40.0 mm} (fell in the 24-h 18 - 18 GMT), Valley (Holyhead) had only {24.0 mm}. Capel Curig with {51.0 mm}, had the largest fall in the UK. Other heavy falls were Sennybridge {42.0 mm}, Trawscoed [36.0 mm} and Lake Vyrnwy {29.0 mm}. Along the North Wales coast it was a little drier with Rhyl on {17.0 mm} and Hawarden {10.2 mm}. [Rain 25.5 mm; Max 12.8C; Min 6.0C; Grass 2.9C]
9th: A dry start to the day with a few small breaks in the high cloud. It was calm at 0900 GMT with pressure 1006 mb rising slowly and a temperature of 7.1C. Visibility was very good; being mild there was no snow on the Snowdonia Mountains. The day remained mainly cloudy but bright and dry with a maximum of 10.2C in the morning cooling to 9.0C at dusk. There was a period of rain from 2230 -0630 GMT when it became warmer with the 24-h maximum of 12.6C at 08 GMT on the 10th. [Rain 11.0 mm; Max 12.6C; Min 6.2C; Grass 2.5C]
 "Low W of Faeroes with comma shaped frontal cloud: NOAA 17 image at 1133 GMT on 10 November2002."){kind=small}
 "Frontal clearance gave a sunny day for Anglesey along with Ireland the Isle of Man and SW Scotland: Larger view of NOAA 17 image at 1133 GMT on 10 November 2002."){kind=small}
 "Edge of frontal cloud and cumulus clouds over Snowdonia. View S from near the weather station on 10 November 2002."){kind=small}
10th: Cloudy and dull at first with poor visibility but it soon brightened up with the frontal cloud mass moving away eastwards. Pressure was 999 mb with low (966 mb) W of the Faeroes. The day became sunny across Anglesey (maximum 13.3C) with most cloud being confined to the higher ground of Snowdonia to the S and E. Valley reported {5.0 h} sunshine but the Isle of Man had {606 h} the most in the UK. Mumbles was wettest with {16.8 mm}.After a shower at 0030 GMT the night was dry and led to a bright dawn. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 13.3C; Min 7.1C; Grass 7.6C]
11th: Pressure 997 mb was little changed with complex low (965 mb) S of Iceland with a cold front to the W. With 5 oktas cloud cover, at 0900 GMT, it was sunny at first but by 1015 GMT the sky darkened and there was blustery rain. This was probably a weak cold front or trough passing as later the sky lightened again to give a reasonable and dry day with the sun behind thin cloud. As the sun set the sky cleared a little. In the evening it was windier (force 6 - 7), there was short spell of rain around 20 GMT and by 2200 GMT the wind had eased. [Rain 18.6 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 7.9C; Grass 4.4C]
 "A Llansadwrn lane covered with runoff water following heavy rain on 2002 on 12 November 2002."){kind=small}
12th: There was a spell of moderate rain from 06 - 08 GMT and was heavy between 0700 - 0715 GMT with small ice pellets. There was thunder and lightning at Malltraeth and Valley. Water was standing on fields and around the garden; local roads were awash. Pressure 990 mb was falling with slow-moving deep low (966 mb) approaching Rockall off W Scotland. A front was lying down the English Channel with thundery troughs over Wales and the Irish Sea. The morning had frequent blustery showers at first but then turned mainly sunny by afternoon. Showers returned from 21 GMT through the night. [Rain 3.3 mm; Max 10.4C; Min 6.0C; Grass 2.1C]
13th: Recent showers had cleared away making it a bright and sunny start to the day. But cumulus clouds were well-developed to the W and more showers could be expected. Pressure 985 mb was still falling slowly with low (971 mb) near Shannon. It was a cool 7.5C at 0900 GMT, the wind S'ly at first backed SE to E'ly later. The morning remained mainly sunny but cumulonimbus clouds seen to the NW looked very dark from time to time. The afternoon was cloudier but it remained dry here until about 18 GMT when there was a slight shower. The wind S'ly at first backed SE the E'ly later. There was then continuous light rain from 00 - 0630 GMT. Rainfall was heaviest in SW England {Swanage, Dorset 33 mm}. At St Ives (Cornwall), where the River Stennac burst it's banks, the Inshore Lifeboat was called into service to rescue 12 people from their flooded homes. [Rain 2.2 mm; Max 11.6 C; Min 6.8C; Grass 4.9C]
 "Low over Wales with rain moving N: Weather chart at 06 GMT on 14 November 2002."){kind=small}
14th: With rain just stopped it was a misty and dull start with a light E'ly wind. Pressure had fallen to 965 mb with a complex low anchored over Wales and the Midlands. There had been little change in pressure since 05 GMT with the low hardly moving. The rain on fronts circulating around it had moved N with strong winds in the Channel and S North Sea. The morning here remained dull and damp, and being in the centre of the low, with very light wind. There was a short spell of light rain in the morning, before a dry but cloudy afternoon, before showers towards dusk and into the evening. Cloudy at first at night but skies cleared before dawn. Total rain here was only 4.5 mm, being on this occasion advantageously in the lee of the mountains, but it was much wetter in some parts. Pembrey Sands had {49.0 mm}, Hawarden {19.0 mm} even Valley also {19.0 mm} while Rhyl had {8.0 mm}. [Rain 4.5 mm; Max 9.4C; Min 7.4C; Grass 4.6C]
 "Sunny and no wind (note limp flags and no tourists) at Beaumaris Castle on the morning of 15 November 2002."){kind=small}
15th: A fine start to the day with the sun rising over the Carneddau Mountains. Pressure 981 mb had risen but was still low with a complex 'dumbbell' shaped system NE - SW over the UK, we were in the centre. There were cumulus clouds on the horizon, and there were thin bands of rain to the N and S, but the morning here was sunny, with a little S'ly breeze or none at all in Beaumaris. The afternoon was similar with a lot of sunshine and a maximum of 13.9C. Valley reported {6.6 h} sunshine while Colwyn Bay had {6.9 h} but were beaten by Bournemouth with {7.4 h}. At night the sky was clear at first with a touch of ground frost (-0.2C) but became cloudier with a shower of rain around midnight. [Rain 1.4 mm; Max 13.9C; Min 6.7C; Grass 1.8C]
16th: A bright start to the day, with a little weak sunshine, but as the morning went on the cloud thickened but it remained dry. It was foggy in some parts E and S of here including Chester. Pressure 999 mb was still rising with the wind a light N'ly. The situation was similar to yesterday (dumbbell still to be seen over the UK and now Biscay) but a ridge from Icelandic high (1018 mb) was beginning to affect the W. The day was mainly overcast but dry, with the maximum of 8.5C the lowest of the month, but we got a look at the sun just before sunset. There were some nice backlit clouds but no coloration. Sunrises and sunsets have not been very colourful lately, perhaps lacking high enough concentrations of dust or pollutants. Heavy rains in NE Scotland the last 48-h led to severe flooding in parts of Sutherland, Caithness and the Grampian region. At Elgin, where the River Lossie burst it's banks 80 people had to be rescued by boat. Communications between Aberdeen and Inverness were cut when roads and rail links became impassable. Here we had the first dry day since the 9th October! [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 8.5C; Min 4.8C; Grass -0.2C]
17th: The sky began to clear just after 03 GMT and was almost clear at dawn. This allowed the temperature on the grass to fall to -1.8C, the lowest of the month, that froze dew formed. The minimum of 3.2C was also the lowest of the month. The day started sunny with the sun rising clearly over the Carneddau Mountains where temperatures were just below freezing. Pressure 1005 mb had continued to rise and it was a calm morning. Some cumulus clouds were seen far to the W and NE where there were some showers. The mountains tops, except Yr Wyddfa, were almost clear of cloud but showers were reported to the S. The morning and most of the afternoon was sunny and cloud-free. Cloud encroached from the W by dusk and there was a light shower of rain just before 2100 GMT with some clearer spells later. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 10.7C; Min 3.2C; Grass -1.8C]
18th: A touch of ground frost overnight and a red sky over Conwy at 0730 GMT before the sun rose over the mountains at 0815 GMT. A bright start with high cloud enabling a clear view of the mountaintops. There was no snow but a little frost on the highest peaks. Pressure 1008 mb had edged a little higher but expected to soon decline. There was a very light SE'ly wind and, although visibility was good, smoke haze could be seen in the Menai Strait. There was low lying mist across the Malltraeth Marsh but fog was affecting many other parts of the UK. It was a bright day, with the cloud in the lee of the mountains breaking up but not clearing, and a little sunshine from time to time. On this occasion we and the North Wales coast, Colwyn Bay {6.4 h}, did better than Valley that reported only {0.8 h} and the Isle of Man {0.0 h} sunshine. There were good clear patches at night and a lucky local person saw a few Leonid meteors about 0415 GMT. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 11.6C; Min 3.7C; Grass -0.8C]
 "Colourful sunrise over the Carneddau Mountains: 19 November 2002."){kind=small}
19th: A bright start with a colourful sky and glimpses of the sun. The grass was dry except for dew drops at the ends of the leaves. By 0900 GMT it was cloudier with the pressure down a little at 1005 mb and a ESE'ly breeze. With high (1026 mb) over Scandinavia, low (976 mb) SE Greenland has fronts over Ireland and Irish Sea. The morning was bright at times and although the cloud thickened in the afternoon it remained dry. There was light rain from 2000 GMT and was almost continuous until 0600 GMT. [Rain 6.7 mm; Max 9.7C; Min 5.4C; Grass 0.2C]
 "Frontal cloud moving slowly E with clear slot developing over Anglesey and the W: NOAA 16 image at 1108 GMT on 20 November 2002."){kind=small}
 "Front clearing E leaving cumulus clouds over Snowdonia. View from near the weather station towards Penmaenmawr on 20 November 2002."){kind=small}
20th: A dull and damp start to the day with low cloud and mist on the lower slopes of the mountains. Pressure 998 mb continued to fall slowly as low (960 mb) W of Ireland approached. There was a light SE'ly breeze and a slight shower just after 09 GMT before the day turned dry with the front moving E. The sky did not clear until afternoon when there was a clear slot before the next front appeared. Cumulus clouds remained over the mountains of Snowdonia and to the NE (Cumbria). The wind veered S/SSW before backing SE'ly again and freshening In the night. [Rain trace; Max 10.1C; Min 6.6C; Grass 4.8C]
21st: At midnight the large complex low (962 mb) was just W of Ireland with an occluded front near Valentia. There had been no rain and the grass was dry with 1.6 ml evaporated from the Piche evaporimeter. At 0900 GMT with a temperature of 10.1C relative humidity was 76%. Pressure 979 mb had fallen more rapidly, but then no further; the SE'ly was force 3 - 4. It was overcast, with layered ragged clouds that hung low on the mountains; visibility was good but hazy. The day remained cloudy with a slight shower around 15 GMT. The night was dry and mainly cloudy. [Rain 0.4 mm; Max 12.0C; Min 5.9C; Grass 1.8C]
22nd: From dawn the sky cleared to 5 oktas by 0900 GMT. Pressure remained 979 mb with anchored low (968 mb) still W of Ireland. The temperature was 10.0C (dewpoint 4.4C; RH 68%) with the wind a light S'ly. The morning was mainly sunny but became overcast by noon and there was a prolonged shower around 14 - 15 GMT. There were some clear spells at night, with a ground frost, before further showers before dawn. [Rain 1.4 mm; Max 12.4C; Min 5.9C; Grass 1.8C]
 "Low W of Ireland with thundery trough approaching the W. A narrow weak band of showers was over Wales and the Isle of Man: NOAA 16 image at 1337 GMT on 23 November 2002."){kind=small}
 "A shower passes to the SE of the weather station towards Penmaenmawr at 1329 GMT on 23 November 2002."){kind=small}
23rd: Early showers gave way to brighter weather by 0900 GMT. Pressure 992 mb had risen with low (974 mb) slowly filling still anchored W of Ireland. The wind was a light SE'ly and visibility was good, with cloud touching the mountaintops. There was a narrow band of rain just to the S across the Midlands to the Isle of Wight. The morning remained bright with a few sunny spells developing. Some deep convection developed, on a slow-moving trough to the S and W, and spherics were reported on the Irish Sea and the SW. At Hawkes Point (Cornwall) a woman's life was saved after she and 3 other surfers were struck by lightning on the beach. Lightning struck a tree on the cliff-top and followed the cliff down to the beach. The woman had stopped breathing but was resuscitated by a local Doctor and paramedic before being flown to hospital in Truro. It was cloudier here by noon with a shower passing to the SE at 1329 GMT. There was a moderate shower when the trough arrived around 1820 GMT but no thunder was heard. After a slight shower near 03 GMT the sky began to clear. [Rain 3.5 mm; Max 11.1C; Min 4.2C; Grass -1.5C]
24th: A mainly sunny start to the day as pressure 996 mb continued to rise slowly with low (980 mb) still to the W but beginning to edge N. The day remained mostly sunny and dry. Valley (Anglesey) reported {5.3 h} and Colwyn Bay {6.4 h} sunshine. Highest was Jersey (Channel islands) {6.8 h}. With the mild weather the grass had grown a lot; it was necessary to mow it today on the weather plot and some lawns in the garden. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 12.6C; Min 6.8C; Grass 3.7C]
 "The sun about to rise over the Carneddau Mountains on 25 November 2002."){kind=small}
 "Three cumulonimbus clouds seen to the SW at 1104 GMT on 25 November 2002."){kind=small}
 "CB's in Irish Sea seen in Llansadwrn and extensive fog and low cloud in England: NOAA 17 image at 1056 GMT on 25 November 2002."){kind=small}
 "Large cumulonimbus cloud strays across NW Anglesey at 1558 GMT on 25 November 2002."){kind=small}
25th: Another fine start to the day with the sun rising over the Carneddau Mountains at 0820 GMT. Just a light SE'ly with 2 or 3 lee-wave clouds just S of the weather station, some cap clouds on the mountains with some cirrus and cirrostratus low to the SW. The temperature was 7.9C (dewpoint 5.2C) and there was heavy dew on the grass. Pressure was 1000 mb. By 1100 GMT cumulonimbus clouds seen in the SW were tracking up the Irish Sea (see satellite image). The day kept dry and sunny here but there were showers over the sea. Later in the afternoon a cumulonimbus made it's way across NW Anglesey. There were light showers of rain at 2000 GMT and midnight. [Rain 0.5 mm; Max 12.3C; Min 6.7C; Grass 3.0C]
 "Lows to NW Britain and in the E Mediterranean: NOAA 16 image at 1303 GMT on 26 November 2002."){kind=small}
26th: A bright and breezy start to the day with the wind SSW'ly force 4. Mostly cloudy with the sun just visible behind thin cloud that was low on the Snowdonia Mountains. Pressure was 1004 mb with the large complex low (967 mb) in the Atlantic NW of Ireland and another (995 mb) in the E Mediterranean. The temperature was 9.9C and this was the minimum for the next 24-h. By noon the cloud had thickened, with the approach of occluded frontal cloud from the W, it became dull but remained dry. There was a little rain from just before 2300 GMT that ceased by 0100 GMT. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 12.5C; Min 7.5C; Grass 3.5C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 27 November 2002."){kind=small}
27th: In warm sector air the temperature had risen during the past 24-h to 12.9C just before 0900 GMT. The minimum of 9.9C was the warmest of the month. After a slight shower there were spots of rain on the S'ly wind that was strong (force 6 - 7). Pressure was 0995 mb with pressure high (1021 mb) near Denmark and complex low (968 mb) W of Ireland. Isobars were squeezed over the UK with strong to gale-force winds. There was heavy rain over Ireland and the SW that soon arrived here but became intermittent. The day was sunless and frequent showers, sometimes squally early on, with longer spells of rain. Showers continued through the night with some clear intervals in between. Rain 19.2 mm; Max 12.4C; Min 9.9C; Grass 8.5C]
 "Cumulonimbus cloud in the Irish Sea heading for Anglesey: NOAA 16 image at 1240 GMT on 28 November 2002."){kind=small}
 "Temperature profile of the storm clouds at 1501 and 1641 GMT on 28 November 2002."){kind=small}
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28th: A heavy shower with ice pellets about 03 GMT and more rain led to waterlogged soils and standing water by morning. There were towering cumulus clouds in the vicinity at 0900 GMT, it was cooler on 7.1C with a recent minimum of 7.0C and there were a few spots of rain. Pressure was 887 mb with slowly filling low (970 mb) to the NW and thundery troughs to the SW. There were some sunny spells during the morning but convection increased by 1300 GMT when several cumulonimbus clouds were seen. At 1430 GMT there was heavy rain and large ice pellets in Caernarfon that caused flash flooding in some parts. It was so dark, in the heavy rain, that all traffic were using headlights in the town and on the road to Bangor. From 1545 GMT for about an hour there was thunder and lightning, heavy rain and ice pellets in Llansadwrn. Passage of the storm clouds are well depicted on the cloud temperature profiles from NOAA 16 at 1501 GMT and NOAA 12 at 1641 GMT. Cloud-top temperatures were down to -50C. By 1800 GMT 14.0 mm rain had accumulated. In the 24-h to 18 GMT the rainfall was {30.9 mm} making here the wettest place (Aberdaron (Gwynedd) reported {21.3 mm}). [Rain 14.8 mm; Max C; Min 7.0C; Grass 5.2C]
29th: Dry since midnight apart from a slight shower near 05 GMT, but it was a dull, damp and misty start to the day with relative humidity on 99%. There were breaks appearing in the thick cloud at 0900 GMT and by 1030 GMT it was brighter. Pressure 1009 mb was rising in a weak ridge of high pressure over the UK. The SSE'ly surface wind here was very light with the cloud moving across from the W. The morning was bright with the wind veering WNW'ly later. By noon it was cloudier but remained dry. There were some clear patches at night. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 6.5C; Grass 4.3C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT GMT on 30 November 2002."){kind=small}
30th: Pressure 1016 mb was falling with lows (964 mb) S Greenland and (989 mb) mid-Atlantic W of Ireland. An attendant warm front over Ireland early had crossed the Irish Sea and brought rain before 0900 GMT. The band of rain affected the whole of the W. Pressure remains high (1055 mb) N Finland blocking advance of lows to the N. As a result they have been passing over or close to the UK before moving SE into S Europe. Temperature in E Europe have been low (-30C) with snow falling in Scandinavia and the Alps. Here the morning was dull, misty with light rain that continued into the afternoon. The night was drier, but windier, with showers before dawn. [Rain 8.0 mm; Max 11.7C; Min 7.2C; Grass 4.5C]
The first 13 days of the month were mild with the mean maximum 12.6C and minimum 7.3C. While these, especially the maximum, compare favourably with the the monthly means (30 days) of the warmest November on record in 1994 (max 12.4C and min 7.9C), the first 13 days were warmer with a mean maximum of 13.3C and minimum of 8.2C. To the 24th, that include 3 sub-10C maximums, the mean maximum was 11.9C and minimum 6.5C.
The period 11 October to 11 November was particularly wet. Total rainfall was 275 mm and this just behind the same period in 2000, the wettest year on record, that had 285 mm.
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 "Met Office chart at 06 GMT on 1 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "Low with 1 centre to the NW: NOAA 17 image at 1202 GMT on 1 December 2002."){kind=small}
1st: It was warm at 0630 GMT with a temperature of 11.7C, this was the maximum for the past 24-h and because the period is 09 - 09 GMT got credited to the 30th November. Pressure 994 mb had fallen in the night with low (968 mb) approaching Northern Ireland. After some early showers of rain with the fronts passed the sky was beginning to clear at 0900 GMT. Yesterday's rain bad was along the E coast of Scotland and England, but another patch closely associated with the low, was over NW Ireland. Visibility was good although low cloud and mist hung on the lower slopes of the Snowdonia Mountains. The wind was a fresh (force 5) SW'ly that rose to gale force 8 during the afternoon. There were spells of light rain as patches circulated around the low that was over the Firth of Clyde (975 mb) at midnight. [Rain 3.3 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 6.0C; Grass 2.9C]
 "Low split into 2 centres straddles the UK: NOAA 17 image at 1139 GMT on 2 December 2002."){kind=small}
2nd: As the filling low moved SE it split into 2 centres, one (983 mb) near Malin Head to the NW the other (979 mb) to be near Whitby (E coast of N England) by 06 GMT; pressure here was 996 mb at 0900 GMT had risen. The wind from the NW was strong around the coasts; the Irish Sea was rough. It was overcast with just good visibility. There was low cloud and mist on the mountains. On the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) the temperature was 2.3C but in the strong wind the wind chill was -10C. Dry at first but then frequent showers that became heavier but less frequent in the night. The temperature range was small being only 0.9C. It was wet on the Mountains of Snowdonia with Capel Curig reporting {52 mm}.[Rain 6.2 mm; Max 8.4C; Min 7.5C; Grass 5.3C]
3rd: Overcast at first there were small breaks appearing by 0900 GMT but the sky did not clear. Pressure 1006 mb had risen and with little (NW) or no wind it was a damp start, with 99% relative humidity, with little change in temperature (7.4C). Low (1002 mb) near Whitby was weakened while another (954 mb) SE Greenland was bringing fronts to the W. A warm front had already brought rain to W Ireland but it took all day to reach here. Showers from 20 GMT and a spell of light rain from 02 - 05 GMT. [Rain 6.7 mm; Max 9.6C; Min 7.2C; Grass 5.0C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 4 December 2002."){kind=small}
4th: As frontal rain had passed just before dawn the clearing sky, and falling temperature, brought a bright start to the day. Some mist made visibility towards the mountains only moderate. Pressure 1010 mb had risen a little as low pressure over the UK was being absorbed by a Scandinavian high (1038 mb) and Azores high (1031 mb). Pressure was low (998 mb) in the Mediterranean. The frontal rain was lying from Scotland through the Midlands to the Isle of Wight. Here the day was bright and partly cloudy, with cumulus clouds in the vicinity in the afternoon, with a glimpse of the sun from time to time and before sunset. In the evening there were showers of rain and ice pellets at 2030 GMT. It was dry later but mainly cloudy until before dawn. [Rain 1.6 mm; Max 8.0C; Min 5.6C; Grass 2.1C]
 "A partly cloudy but sunny morning in Beaumaris. View is SW from Chimney Corner across the Bay, near high tide, to Gallow Point. The boats, that are moored here in summer, are on the hard on 5 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "Crepuscurlar rays and backlit decaying cumulus clouds seen at 1546 GMT from Caernarfon on 5 December 2002."){kind=small}
5th: A clearing sky at dawn led to frost on car windscreens but not on the ground, that being very wet, the temperature fell to just 0.6C. It was a sunny start to the day but cumulus clouds kept over the mountains and horizons to the W and NE. Descent of very cold air led to freezing conditions on the summit of Yr Wyddfa from 0645 to 1130 GMT. Pressure 1027 mb was rising with high pressure (1033 mb) Azores and (1044 mb) building over Lapland. The day was mainly sunny {Valley 4.9 h} with a cool N'ly breeze. In the afternoon, with the sun setting below decaying cumulus clouds, there was a good display of upward crepuscular rays seen in Caernarfon. The night was calm. [Rain trace; Max 9.2C; Min 3.9C; Grass 0.6C]
6th: Some clear patches overnight led to heavy dew and frost on the grass (-0.5C). It was a dull and misty start to the day with light air from the NE. Pressure 1035 mb was high in a ridge extended from Finnish high (1055 mb). Some blue patches appeared in the thinning high cloud at 0900 GMT but there was no sunshine. The cloud thickened later but it remained dry throughout. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 7.5C; Min 3.4C; Grass -0.5C]
7th: An overcast start to the day with an ENE'ly wind. The temperature at 0900 GMT was 5.5C but there had been no frost overnight. On the mountaintops, obscured in cloud and haze, temperatures were below freezing (-2C). Pressure 1031 mb had fallen slightly with the Finnish high (1057 mb at 00 GMT). The morning remained grey and dull; the afternoon was a little brighter and I did catch sight of the sun for a few minutes. The night was mostly cloudy. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 6.0C; Min 4.0C; Grass 1.1C]
8th: Some small breaks in the cloud just after dawn had closed overhead by 0900 GMT, but crepuscular rays were seen in the Nant Ffrancon Pass. Pressure 1027 mb continued to decline very slowly as the ridge of high pressure moved N with the high (1051 mb) S Sweden still blocking Atlantic-lows. The morning was mainly dull with a force 3 E'ly wind and a little sunshine from 1040 GMT. Most places were sunless, the exceptions were here that due to lee-effects would be more than {Valley 1.4 h}, and Aspatria (Cumbria) most {3.7 h} together with Falmouth (Cornwall) {1.5 h}. Some snow was reported falling on Dartmoor, and a few flakes elsewhere, but amounts of precipitation were very small. The night continued dry but was windier by morning. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 6.2C; Min 4.0C; Grass 1.6C]
 "Frost on the Snowdonia mountaintops remained all day on 9 December 2002."){kind=small}
9th: A cold E'ly wind (force 6) and several lee-wave clouds almost overhead since dawn. These disappeared by 0900 GMT when the sky had almost cleared giving hazy sunshine. The haze was pollution smoke visible just above the mountains, the Menai Straits and Liverpool Bay and became enhanced through the day. Pressure was steady on 1025 mb and the temperature 2.3C (dewpoint -1.1C). Dew on the grass was frozen only melting in the sun and remained in shady places all day. A sunny day, with the wind moderating slightly around noon before rising again later, and a maximum of 4.4C. The mountaintops were covered in frost (above 2500 ft even in sunshine in the afternoon and lower in places in shadow such as Ysgolion Duon. With temperatures well below freezing conditions would be icy. There was a clear peach-coloured sky after sunset. Mostly clear at night. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 4.6C; Min 2.1C; Grass 0.3C]
10th: Overnight ground frost had frozen earlier dew leaving some white patches on mosses within grass and fallen leaves; the soil surface was frozen as well as water in bird baths. The sky was mostly clear with large cap clouds over the mountains and lee-wave clouds to the S of here. Pressure was 1023 mb with high S Norway (1043 mb) and Norwegian Sea (1041 mb). Pressure was low (997 mb) Iberia. The wind, still E'ly force 5 - 6, freshened during the day to force 7 to near gale-force at times, The temperature of 2.0C (dewpoint -1.7C) at 0900 GMT rose to 4.1C in sunshine later but in the wind it felt very cold; the wind chill temperature keeping below freezing all day. The mountaintops were covered with frost, and possibly a little snow; precipitation moved into Cornwall and fell as snow on high ground and gave flurries in places such as Bristol and Cardiff. But measured amounts of precipitation anywhere were very small, the largest was only {1 mm} in Aberdeen. During the afternoon snow flurries around Snowdonia summits added to the frosty ground made the E side of Carnedd Llywelyn look quite white. There was no let up in the wind during the night that was partly cloudy. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 4.1C; Min 1.5C; Grass -1.7C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 11 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "Low S of Brest with associated cloud in the SW and Irish Sea: NOAA 16 image at 1337 GMT on 11 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "Thick cloud SW and South Wales with orographic waves over the Irish Sea and Snowdonia: NOAA 16 image at 1337 GMT on 11 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "Thick cloud E Scotland with lee effect over the Western Isles and orographic waves: NOAA 16 image at 1337 GMT on 11 December 2002."){kind=small}
11th: The temperature at 0900 GMT was 1.5C (dewpoint -2.6C) and soon was 1.2C with the relentless E'ly wind feeling even colder. In smoke (pollution) haze there had been a peach-coloured sky, followed by golden lee-wave clouds, before the sun rose above the mountains. The tops (2800 ft in places) were white with ice and or a sprinkling of snow. Pressure was 1019 mb with Scandinavian high (1024 mb) and low (1000 mb) Biscay. Fronts associated with the low were moving up from the S through the Irish Sea and brought a little precipitation to S Lleyn and S Snowdonia in the morning. The day here remained cold, windy and mainly sunny with lee clouds persisting all day here and the W end of the Menai Strait.. The maximum of 2.6C was the coldest of the month. By evening the slow-moving area of precipitation reached here about 1930 GMT with showers of snow grains and snow pellets, and with flurries of snow but amounts were small. The rest of the night was cloudy and dry. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 2.6C; Min 1.5C; Grass -0.3C]
12th: Precipitation fell as rain on the W coast of Anglesey from 04 GMT but was still dry here at 0900 GMT. Pressure (1015 mb) was falling very slowly with complex low (1004 mb) in the SW approaches. Occluded fronts were across South Wales - S England and mid Wales - Midlands. The E'ly wind had moderated to force 3 and the morning temperature 2.4C felt warmer with less wind-chill. Overcast but dry in the morning the wind continuing to lessen. Intermittent light rain in the afternoon before a dry, calm and partly cloudy night. [Rain 0.9 mm; Max 3.6C; Min 1.2C; Grass -0.4C]
13th: With the sky clearing at dawn the temperature dropped giving frost on the grass (-3.2). A bright and sunny start with the sun just risen over the Carneddau Mountains at 0900 GMT. There was a light covering of snow as low as 1000 ft in places. Pressure 1019 mb had risen a touch with high (1035 mb) Norway intensifying. There was moderate inversion in the Menai Strait, with the temperature in Llanberis 2.5C and here 1.6C, with smoke up to 800 ft it was clearer above. There was early fog at Malltraeth that soon cleared. The morning bright at first became more overcast with cirrostratus cloud before clearing by midmorning. There was patchy rain in the London area and around Portsmouth while it was foggy in the Midlands. The day was sunny with Valley reporting {4.9h} the sunniest place along with Fishguard and Newquay. With clear sky in the evening the temperature on the ground fell to -3.8C with a heavy white frost and slippery untreated surfaces. Later cloud encroached and it became warmer melting the frost before morning. [Rain 0.1 mm( frost); Max 7.1C; Min 0.8C; Grass -3.2C]
14th: A damp and misty start to the day and warmer at 4.6C. Pressure 1017 mb was little changed with the high over Norway losing it's identity as pressure (1040 mb) built over Russia where it remains very cold (-22C). Another low (992 mb) just N of Cape Finisterre was tracking towards Brittany. The day was murky, with very poor visibility and just a hint of an E'ly wind, but remained dry until 0315 GMT when light rain started. [Rain 1.5 mm; Max 5.2C; Min 1.0C; Grass -3.8C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 15 December 2002."){kind=small}
15th: Visibility was poor and it was raining lightly at 0900 GMT. Pressure was 1012 mb and the wind NE'ly and fresher at force 2 - 3. Low (995 mb) Normandy and associated fronts brought rain to most of the S. The day was wet with almost continuous slight rain as the rain moved N. It seemed to be raining all the time but there was a lull of nearly 6 h in the evening when amounts were too small to record. There was further continuous light rain from 0330 GMT that brought the duration to 18.0 h but the amount was only 6.6 mm. [Rain 6.6 mm; Max 5.5C; Min 4.5C; Grass 3.6C]
16th: It was still raining slightly at 0900 GMT. Pressure 1015 mb had risen a touch with a ridge of high pressure (1021 mb) extending from Norway to W of Scotland. The filling low (1005 mb) had moved on to the Netherlands. A large patch of rain covered from Norwich to most of N England and North Wales. There was light rain until 1400 GMT with the afternoon very dull under thick cloud. At 1545 GMT there was a 5-minute glimpse of a blood-red sun setting under the cloud sheet. It was not enough to record on sunshine recorders so the day would be reported as sunless. The sunniest place was to the S at Tenby (Pembrokeshire) with {6.5 h}. There was further rain from 18 - 20 GMT that fell as snow on the mountaintops of Snowdonia. [Rain 3.7 mm; Max 5.0C; Min 4.0C; Grass 3.4C]
 "A sunny morning in Llandudno. View of the beach and the Great Ormes Head on 17 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "A view of distant Anglesey, across Beaumaris Bay, from West Shore in Llandudno on 17 December 2002."){kind=small}
17th: High pressure to the N was extending S and the sky began to clear at dawn. The clearance was just enough to give a ground frost (-0.9C) before the sun got up. Pressure 1027 mb had risen and the cloud was dispersing forming some altocumulus overhead. Light snow was lying at 2000 ft but it looked heavier in 1 or 2 places at higher levels. In Llandudno the day was increasingly sunny but it remained cold on the sea front in the light NE'ly breeze. It was sunny here too. After a peach-coloured sunset the night was clear. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 5.4C; Min 2.9C; Grass -0.9C]
 "Sunrise over the Carneddau Mountains at 0854 GMT, with snow lying at 2000 ft, on 18 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "Frost had frozen heavy dew, and some hoar frost had deposited, on plants in the garden on 18 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "Light snow on mountains in N Wales, Lake District and Scotland; the low sun angle depicts topography. NOAA 17 image at 1040 GMT on 18 December 2002."){kind=small}
18th: The first air frost (-0.7C) of the winter and a moderate ground frost overnight had frozen heavy dew on grass (-5.4C on the grass) , fallen leaves and vegetation in the garden. There was some hoar frost deposition as well. Some surfaces were icy and water was frozen. Both minimums were lowest of the month. The snowline on the Carneddau was still at 2000 ft. Pressure was 1032 mb at 0900 GMT with the temperature on 0.5C (dewpoint -1.8C). With hardly a cloud in the sky the day started and continued sunny. It was a clear night with another airfrost (-0.7C) just after midnight. Then it got warmer, with a SE'ly Föhn-like wind off the mountains, the temperature rose to 4.3C (RH 56%) at 0430 GMT. When the wind direction changed it cooled before rising again to reach a similar temperature at 0715 GMT. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 4.9C; Min -0.7C; Grass -5.4C]
 "View of the Snowdonia Mountains as seen from Brynsiencyn at noon on 19 December 2002. A pity about the power lines in the picture!"){kind=small}
19th: A cloudier start to the day with pink coloration as the sun rose. Visibility was very good with relative humidity at 77%. The temperature had cooled to 1.1C with the wind backed ENE but had just veered to ESE. Pressure had fallen to 1027 mb with the continental-high (1034 mb) edging to the SE. Low (998 mb) to the SW of Ireland was making slow progress with fronts just off the S Brittany coast at noon. Here the day turned mostly sunny (maximum 7.8C at 14 GMT with 50% relative humidity the lowest of the month) and some fine views of the snow-clad mountain summits from Brynsiencyn. The afternoon was clearer with a maximum of 7.8C at 1300 GMT. At dusk it got rapidly colder and there was frost on the ground by 1800 GMT. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 7.8C; Min -0.3C; Grass -4.8C]
20th: A fairly bright start with the cloud thinning breaking up at 0900 GMT. Pressure was 1015 mb with continental-high (1030 mb) moved SE to Turkey. Atlantic-fronts were over the SW and were over Wales by noon bringing a cloudier, but dry afternoon. A clearer spell in the evening brought a touch of frost on the grass (-1.2C) around 2100 GMT. Later it was cloudier again and temperatures rose. [Rain 0.0 mm; Max 6.5C; Min 1.1C; Grass -2.9C]
21st: The thin and patchy cloud gave a bright start with a light NE'ly wind. Pressure was 1014 mb with the temperature 5.0C (RH 95%) that was the coolest of the next 24-h. The maximum temperature for the past 24-h of 6.5C was between 06 -08 GMT. On the summit of Yr Wyddfa at 06 GMT it was 10.0C and brought a rapid thaw of the lying snow. There was snow left on some N slopes but it became patchy on Carnedd Llewelyn. The morning was overcast and dry, but a band of rain on an Atlantic-front was already affecting Cornwall and SW Ireland. The afternoon became murky but was dry until 1800 GMT when there was moderate rain, the first since the 16th, until 2145 GMT. There was more intermittent light rain from 0130 GMT. [Rain 9.9 mm; Max 10.5C; Min 2.1C; Grass -1.2C]
22nd: Yesterday's maximum of 10.5C, warmest since 30 November, was at 0130 GMT. Currently 9.1C, with 100% relative humidity, it was a misty start to the day with poor visibility. Pressure 1005 mb had risen, in a weak ridge in the W, with low (999 mb) near Birmingham. Fronts and rain were affecting the E coast of Scotland and East Anglia. Winds were strong in the North Sea. The day here was dull and misty with drizzle at times in the afternoon. As the front approached it became foggy later and at 1600 GMT it was thick at less than 100 m (code 1). There was a spell of moderate rain on the front from 0215 - 0500 GMT amounting to 4.8 mm. [Rain 5.8 mm; Max 14.3C; Min 5.0C; Grass 2.8C]
23rd: Just before 0900 GMT, with the wind SSE'ly, the temperature in a Föhn-like wind was a remarkable 14.3C, the highest in December (rank 2) since 14.5C on the 2nd in 1994. The 14.3C was also the warmest on this date in the year. Pressure 1000 mb was falling slowly with Atlantic-low (965 mb) W of Ireland, tracking N, with warm sector airflow across the UK and slightly enhanced temperatures along the North Wales coast. Cloud was high and thin in patches, with a hint of blue sky, and was hanging on to the summits of Snowdonia. Visibility was good, revealing small snow patches in many gullies on N-facing cliffs, but it was windy with the SSE'ly a force 5 -6. Soon after 0900 GMT the temperature rose to 15.2C, the warmest on record at this station in December. (Relative humidity was 72%; I would have expected lower if the Föhn-effect had been greater). At Pentraeth the temperature was 15.5C, in excess of the {15C UK highest} reported by Llanbedr (Gwynedd), but the Llanberis AWS reported 15.9C at 0930 GMT. The morning, although overcast, remained bright but it darkened in the afternoon with the arrival of a rain-bearing front. The night became windy with the S'ly reaching near gale force 7 by morning. [Rain 7.3 mm; Max 15.2C; Min 5.3C; Grass 1.3C]
 "Weather chart at 06 GMT on 24 December 2002."){kind=small}
24th: A wet start with moderate rain since 06 GMT with standing water on the garden and surrounding fields. It was a mild 11.0C with an overnight minimum of 10.3C, the warmest of the month. Pressure was 993 mb with the low (961 mb) now just S of Iceland. A frontal trough was still giving rain here and in many other parts; there were gale-force N'ly winds in the North Sea. The rain eased during the morning but visibility during the day was poor in mist and occasional light drizzle. It was partly cloudy at night with the temperature remaining above 10C even in clearer spells. [Rain 3.6 mm; Max 11.0C; Min 10.3C; Grass 8.3C]
 "Mostly clear sky over Anglesey with frontal cloud to the SW: NOAA 12 image at 1647 GMT on 25 December 2002."){kind=small}
25th: Christmas Day dawned cloudy but the morning was bright with 1 or 2 sunny spells between slight showers. After a light shower at 1400 GMT the afternoon was sunny until dusk. A frontal cloud band, seen to the SW at dusk, encroached later after the temperature on the grass had fallen to 0.5C. [Rain 13.2 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 8.5C; Grass 6.2C]
 "Lows SW Ireland and N England: NOAA 17 image at 1101 GMT on 26 December 2002."){kind=small}
26th: A band of rain, heavy at times, from 0530 GMT accounted for most of the 13.2 mm rain accumulated by 0900 GMT. Pressure 991 mb was falling near low (986 mb) N England and (983 mb) SW of Ireland (see sat image). Pressure was high N (1033 mb) and E (1036 mb) of the Black Sea. The rain soon eased but left Boxing Day morning misty with very poor visibility. It was a little cooler with the temperature on 8.0C with 100% relative humidity. The afternoon was mainly dull but there was some brightness before dusk. The night was showery with the heaviest 0200 - 0230 GMT. The maximum temperature of 9.6C was around 05 GMT before the sky cleared that led to the minimum near 0900 GMT. [Rain 6.1 mm; Max 9.6C; Min 6.0C; Grass 0.5C]
27th: A clearing sky at dawn gave a mostly clear start. Low (978 mb) was over the Irish Sea at 06 GMT and pressure here at 0900 GMT was 981 mb. The N England low of yesterday was (985 mb) off Aberdeen. The temperature was still falling and reached 5.7C before the sun rose above cloud hugging the tops of the Carneddau Mountains. The morning was sunny, with little of no wind, but by afternoon it was cloudy but dry until evening when there was some light rain. [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 6.1C; Grass 0.7C]
¤
28th: The sky was clearing at dawn and with the temperature on the grass at 1.1C there was moderate deposition of dew. Still clear at 0900 GMT pressure 1001 mb was rising under the influence of a ridge in the W. But low (960 mb) S of Greenland had an associated warm front approaching behind the ridge to the SW. With the wind NW'ly cloud hung at 2000 ft on the Snowdonia Mountains and Anglesey became overcast later in the morning. The afternoon remained cloudy but dry until c. 03 GMT when the band of rain arrived. . [Rain 9.1 mm; Max 8.0C; Min 5.7C; Grass 1.1C]
29th: The continuous moderate rain accumulated 9.1 mm by 0900 GMT. The large area of rain covered the Midlands, N Ireland and Wales where it was heaviest. Pressure 995 mb continued to fall slowly, it was misty with poor visibility and a very light E'ly wind. The rain fell continuously until 2200 GMT before becoming showery. In the period 18 - 18 GMT the total rain was {28.6 mm}. Valley and Hawarden (Flintshire) saw {19 mm}, Cardiff {23 mm}, Mumbles {28 mm}, Lake Vyrnwy {33 mm}, Capel Curig {35 mm} while Trawscoed (Ceredigion) had the most {41 mm}. Total rainfall 09 - 09 GMT was 22.8 mm and was most in any day of the month. [Rain 22.8 mm; Max 11.0C; Min 4.2C; Grass 0.4C]
 "Cloud spilling over the Carneddau Mountains, in a E'ly wind, filling the valleys on 30 December 2002."){kind=small}
 "Some water standing on the marsh near Malltraeth on 30 December 2002. The view is from one of the dykes, along the River Cefni, looking towards Yr Eifl on the Lleyn Peninsula"){kind=small}
30th: It was clear with some cloud at 08 GMT when a close encounter between the old crescent moon and Venus could be seen to the SSW. Soon after it became foggy (<200 m code 2 at 0830 GMT) but by 0900 GMT it moderate fog (<500 m code 3). The temperature was at the minimum 6.0C for the past 24-h and humidity was on 100%. Pressure was 997 mb with occluded front Anglesey - Midlands on low (974 mb) to the S of Greenland with triple point and rain over the Netherlands. Following the heavy rain Malltraeth Marsh again has a lot of water standing on it near Malltraeth. On the high tide, near 08 GMT, water was flowing on to the marsh and into the fresh water lake the tidal gates apparently not working properly. The morning became bright, as the fog cleared revealing patchy cloud, but became cloudier by noon with drizzle at times from 1300 GMT. After a light shower at 1930 GMT the night was dry but kept cloudy. [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 8.0C; Min 6.0C; Grass 5.0C]
31st: Pressure was 1012 mb under the influence of high (1022 mb) Oslo (S Sweden). With an occluded front over the Irish Sea it was a cloudy morning and somewhat cooler than of late at 4.5C (dewpoint 2.3C) in a light E'ly breeze. The day was sunless and with high cloud remained dry and cool with a daytime maximum 6.5C falling to the minimum 3.5C by 19 GMT before it became warmer through the night. A little snow was reported on high ground from N England to Scotland. Light showers began at 17 GMT and there was a spell of rain from 0315 - 0430 GMT accounting for most of the 4.0 mm accumulated. Parts of the SW, S Wales and the Midlands have the risk of flooding as river levels rise. The year ended on a wet note with some 70 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency. [Rain 4.0 mm; Max 10.0C; Min 4.4C; Grass 3.2C]
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Last updated: 31 December 2002. This page is maintained at http://www.llansadwrn-wx.co.uk
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