Polar Continental

April 2006 Report. With westerly winds for the first few days, April begun typically with April showers and bright sunshine at times, by the 4th winds veered more north westerly bringing colder weather and the odd wintry shower to Burton, a couple of frosts were also noted during the overnight periods. This cold showery weather intensified and continued for the next week with frost by night and heavy hail, rain sleet and snow showers, these were particularly noticeable on the 9th, although the temperatures managed 8c during the morning, temperatures fell rapidly in the showers and for much of that afternoon, the temperature hovered around 1c or 2c as the showers were very frequent and heavy. By the 11th the temperature begun to pick up as winds backed more westerly, but this only herald the approach of low pressure from the Atlantic and a period of rain and strong westerly winds followed, the unsettled conditions continued until the 13th On the 14th (Good Friday) a weak ridge of high pressure gave Burton a beautiful sunny day, although the temperature only managed 13c, with lighter winds and strong sunshine it felt very pleasant indeed. The next couple of days through Easter were fairly quiet with bright periods and sunshine and average temperatures. Easter Monday saw a bright start, but a deterioration set in early with heavy showers moving in to Burton by mid morning, this a result of low pressure and its associated fronts moving through the area, this was to set the theme for the rest of the week which saw heavy rain at times. On the 22nd a ridge of high pressure pushed up from the Azores, this produced more settled conditions with a little sunshine and average temperatures. By the 25th temperatures were getting in to the warm category with the help of more good sunny periods, the temperature here in Burton managed a very pleasant 17c. The Azores high kept the fine weather going until the 29th when it moved away westward as pressure began to fall to the northwest, so the month ended rather cool and cloudy. Summary A typical start to April with showery conditions and bright sunshine, but also on the cold side with frost frequent during the first week, sleet hail and snow was also noted here in Burton on the 9th, although the mean temperature came in above average, daytime temperatures were only slightly above for short periods, infact most of April here felt decidedly cool, the above average figure was mainly a result of a long run of mild cloudy nights from the 13th. Average maximum temperature = 12.1c Average minimum temperature = 5.9c Mean temperature = 9.02c + 0.92 Above the CET average. Warmest day on the 25th = 17.3c Coldest day on the 4th = 7.2c Warmest night on the 25th = 11.1c Coldest night on the 5th = -2.8c Ground Frosts = 4 Air frost = 3 Days of snow = 1 Days of lying snow = 0 Rainfall total = 36 mm Paul

My mean for Burton, the centre of England has finished up at 9.02c, although slightly above average, this April has felt decidedly cool, the above average figure is mainly a result of a long run of mild cloudy nights from the 13th, as average daytime maximums have been if anything slightly below normal here. Paul

After a cloudy cool morning, the sun managed to burn off the cloud by around 2:30pm, lifting the temperature to a pleasant maximum of 14.2c. Currently in Burton Conditions… Cloudy. Temperature = 11.8c Wind Chill = 11.8c Dew Point = 9.4c Wet Bulb = 10.6c Wind, westerly, light. Rain today = 0 Barometer 1015mb falling slowly. Paul

Currently in Burton Conditions… Cloud lifting, brighter. Temperature = 10.9c Wind Chill = 10.9c Dew Point = 6.2c Wet Bulb = 8.7c Wind, S light. Rain today = 0 Barometer 1020mb falling slowly. Paul

Currently in Burton Conditions… Overcast, poor visibility. Temperature = 7.4c Wind Chill = 7.4c Dew Point = 4c Wet Bulb = 5.9c Wind, S light. Rain today = 0 Barometer 1023mb rising. Paul

Thanks for your report and update carinth, interesting to note the increase of 50% of sea ice in the Baltic compared this time last year, quite a turn around as that area was showing a warm anomaly this time last year which lasted all the way through to early winter. The main reason for much less sea ice between Greenland and Iceland this year is almost certainly due to a persistent warm anomaly which drifted in there around December. Interestingly the North Sea is much colder than average this year, it's going to be cold at Skegness this Easter, i certainly wouldn't fancy a dip in that at, 5c Paul

Hi djm, Would most likly have been a Brimstone, there are other yelow butterflies such as the clouded yelow, but they are not seen on the wing until mid summer. Brimstone Paul

March 2006 Report. With high pressure over Greenland and low pressure to the NE the first week in to March was very cold with some severe night frosts, although there was a good deal of sunshine here in Burton. On the 8th things turned milder as the winds turned south westerly, but this was to be short lived as by the 10th the winds veered more north westerly bringing cooler weather back with showers here in Burton. By the 11th winds had turned back in to the east as high pressure began to build over Scandinavia, it became much colder with frost returning and daytime temperatures very low for the time of year. On the 12th a complex situation developed as low pressure in the Atlantic came up against the high over Scandinavia, this gave Burton a period of frontal snow, which lasted most of the day. On the 14th temperatures recovered in to near normal briefly, but by the 15th the cold easterly wind was back lowering temperatures rapidly. Cold cloudy conditions with slight frost continued to affect the area for the next 7 days. On the 22nd high pressure took control, Burton saw some welcome sunshine for the first time in many days, but it remained cold and with clear skies overnight there was a moderate air frost. On 24th a significant change in weather patterns took place as the high over Greenland weakened its grip on the British Isles, this opened the door for low pressure to approach from the west, bringing with it south westerly winds, wet conditions and the mildest temperatures since Early November 2005. This mild wet unsettled weather then continued until the end of the month. Average maximum temperature = 7.2c Average minimum temperature = 2.2c Mean temperature = 4.7c – 1.53 below the CET average. Warmest day on the 26th = 14.9c Coldest day on the 3rd = 2.2c Warmest night on the 27th = 11.3c Coldest night on the 3rd = -5.5c Ground Frosts = 4 Air frost = 11 Days of snow = 6 Days of lying snow = 2 Deepest snow cover = 1cm Rainfall total = 37 mm Paul

Hi John, your butterflies would most likely have been peacocks or small tortoiseshells, possibly a comma. yes it’s been a great day to be out, mowed the lawns while the sun was out this afternoon, I too saw two peacock butterflies, one lady-bird and about twenty frogs + loads of spawn, after I had finished garding, a huge cumulonimbus cloud gathered and we had a short downpour. Butterflies Paul

hi, It looks as though the mean for my small area of the country will come out at 4.77c, amazingly for the first 24 days of the month my mean was standing at 2.7c :huh: Paul

The mean temperature for my area of Burton for the first 22 days is an amazing 2.8c, B) -3.5c below the March CET, that’s not counting the minimum last night of -2.1c. Although last night was probably the last sub-zero temp for a few days, so a gradual rise from now on.

Another bitterly cold overcast day here with occasional sleet and snow grains with a top temperature of only 3c :lol: Currently in Burton Conditions… Cold Overcast and dry. Temperature = 2.2c Wind Chill = -1.2c Dew Point = -2.0c Wet Bulb = 0.8c Wind, Easterly, fresh. Melted Snow / sleet today = 1mm Barometer 1028mb falling. Paul

Has been a beautiful day here in Burton, Sunny, blue skies, although cold, with a top temperature of only 6.6c. Currently in Burton Conditions… Cold Overcast and dry. Temperature = 1.3c Wind Chill = -2.1c Dew Point = -5.4c Wet Bulb = -1.0c Wind, Easterly, fresh. Rain today = 1mm Barometer 1029mb rising. Paul

Hi Rollo, I was only 10 in 1963, I can remember the winter very well, but not the warm-up afterwards, but with a CET of 6c compared to February 63 which gave –0.7c no wonder it felt like summer, even though it was still a little below the average. Yes if this March produces a CET under 3c, which is quite possible given the current model projections, there is really going to be some head-scratching going on. Paul

Hi Mr Data, yes have just been looking at the this Table, although March began cold in 63, it warmed up quite a bit later. I think at this rate and with the current model projections there is a possibility we could see one of the lowest CET's for March this century. Paul

Lets hope we do a little better for snow this time mate, as you say if this next cold spell does come off as shown, then we could see a ridiculously low CET, ‘even larger teapot’ :huh: Paul

Hi SMR, Thought i would reply in this thread for this one, yes this is quite amazing; i don't know what the official current CET is, but as I said my mean for Burton is running at 2.7c and looks to drop further , this would make it colder than March 1947 and March 63 :huh: Paul

Currently in Burton Conditions… Cold Overcast, light rain. Temperature = 2.9c Wind Chill = 2.9c Dew Point = -1.1c Wet Bulb = 1.5c Wind, light to moderate southerly Rain today = trace Barometer 1019mb falling slowly. Paul

Currently in Burton Conditions… Cold Overcast, one brief light snow shower this morning. Temperature = 3.1c Wind Chill = -0.1c Dew Point = -6.1c Wet Bulb = 0.2c Wind, Fresh SSE Rain today = 0mm Barometer 1026mb falling slowly. Paul

Currently in Burton Conditions… Overcast, light snow after a moderate fall this morning. Temperature = 0.6c Snow today = 2cm in patches

Currently in Burton Conditions… Overcast, light snow after a moderate fall this morning. Temperature = 0.6c Wind Chill = -2.0c Dew Point = -3.0c Wet Bulb = -0.7c Wind, moderate SE Snow today = 2cm in patches Barometer 1029mb steady. Paul

Cloudy dry overnight. Currently in Burton Conditions… Overcast, cold a few snow grains. Temperature = -0.4c Wind Chill = -3.7c Dew Point = -8.5c Wet Bulb = 2.8c Wind, moderate SE Rain today = 0 Barometer 1028mb steady. Paul

Currently in Burton Conditions… Overcast, cool. Temperature = 4.0c Wind Chill = 4.0c Dew Point = -0.5c Wet Bulb = 2.4c Wind, light easterly Rain today = trace Barometer 1019mb rising. Paul

Another rainy day after a brighter start, still on the mild side. Currently in Burton Conditions… Overcast, light rain. Temperature = 8.5c Wind Chill = 8.5c Dew Point = 7.0c Wet Bulb = 7.8c Wind, light westerly Rain today = trace Barometer 994 falling. Paul

Today again has been dull, overcast and with rain all day, but much warmer. Currently in Burton Conditions… Overcast, light rain. Temperature = 10.4c Wind Chill = 10.4c Dew Point = 10.1c Wet Bulb = 10.2c Wind, light westerly light. Rain today = 5mm Barometer 992 steady. Paul