Summary for August 2006

=======================

HEADLINE: DRY OVERALL. NEAR-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AFTER WARM START.

(last updated: 01/1300 SEPTEMBER)

Location: Tawfield/Wooden Hill area of SW Bracknell, Berkshire, UK

Altitude 80 m (other location details see elsewhere on web site.)

(temperatures [standard screen] degC; rainfall/melted snowfall mm; snow depths cm; )

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TEMPERATURES ETC.

Highest day maximum (date):... 28.2(06)

Highest 24hr maximum (date):.. 28.2(06)

Lowest night minimum (date):... 08.7(25)

Lowest 24hr minimum (date):... 08.7(25)

Lowest overnight grass minimum (date):... 06.4(25)

[ number of days grass minimum < 0degC: ... 00 ]

[ Lowest day maximum (date):... 19.2(12,14)]

[ Highest night minimum (date):... 18.1(07)]

A. Mean Day (09-18Z) maximum: ... 21.9

A. Mean Night (18-09Z) minimum: ... 13.2

A. Mean of Day Max & Night min: ... 17.5

B. Mean 24hr maximum:... 21.9

B. Mean 24hr minimum:... 13.1

B. Mean of 24hr max & min:... 17.5 [+0.3 anomaly on eLTA of 17.2degC]

(data below relate to 24 hr day beginning 09Z on date given)

Nr of days minimum at 09UTC <0.0degC:00

Nr of days maximum at 09UTC >=21degC:20

Nr of days maximum at 09UTC >=25degC:03

Nr of days maximum at 09UTC >=30degC:00

(Notes relating to temperature & allied observations:

1st/0900Z new mercury-in-glass thermometer brought into operation: old one relegated to 'back-up', but a short overlap since the 27th July shows good agreement between the two: I'll continue with the dual-monitoring for a few days: AS OF 4TH, dual-running check now complete – no sig. difference between units.)

7th: late max.(22.7); much of day not above 20degC.

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PRECIPITATION (PPN/mm)

Total rainfall/melted snow etc:... 27.6 [51% of eLTA of 54mm]

Highest 24hr total:............... 08.2(12)

No. days PPN total >= 0.2:13

No. days PPN total >= 1.0:07

No. days PPN total >=10.0:00

No. days PPN total >=25.0:00

(Notes relating to precipitation & allied observations:

1st: (showers early hours – see July report); pr(mostly very light) through day, but bulk of day dry;

2nd/3rd: ir/id (mainly slight) from 1845Z, through night, until at least 0830Z, dry thereafter;

7th: id(very light) from ~0810Z, csd by 0915Z; scrappy pr(very light) PM;

8th/9th: ir(slight, ocnl moderate) from late evening 8th, csd 0745Z/09th;

10th: pr(very light) from mid-afternoon to ~17Z;

12th/13th: r(slight)/r from ~23Z/12th, with r/R between 02 & 03Z, ceased by 13/0945Z;

13th: ocnl pr(slight) late morning & through afternoon, with thunder-heard 1653-1740Z (see note under 'thunder' below); pr(very slight) early evening;

14th: idr(slight) AM;

16th: pr(few spots only)~1517Z;

17th: ir(very light) ~01Z; r(slight), temporarily r, 1015-1105, with tl(slight) 1037-1050Z;

18th: r(slight)/ocnl r from ~00Z, with period r(R) just before dawn, before dying out by 0530Z; pr(slight/moderate) from mid-morning, with 'one-clap' thunderstorm ~1010Z;

19th: ir(slight/moderate) early hours; pr(slight/isol moderate) through day, but lengthy dry/fine spells; period slight, ocnl moderate r 1815-20Z;

20th: ocnl r(slight) early hours & again 0830-0930Z. Further very light rain PM;

21st: r(slight), tempo dr, 0745-0805Z; sporadic r(slight) AM, then few, very light pr PM;

23rd: period r 0530-0545Z: r(slight)/r (tempo dr/R) 1530-1655Z: periods r/dr (slight), ocnl moderate from 1745Z until the early hours of the 24th;

25th/26th: sporadic r(slight), ocnl r, from 25/21Z, csd ~26/0830Z;

26th: pr(very light/few drops) ~1205Z & 1735-1750Z; pr(slight/moderate) between 19 & 20Z;

28th: r(R), near-continuous, 01-0430Z; pr~0730Z; a few very light showers (rain) from late morning – midafternoon;

29th: r(slight)/r between 1450 & 1510Z, with tl(slight/two-rumbles) 1454-1505Z;

30th/31st: id(very light) for a time overnight; )

1st September:(credited to August rainfall): short period r between 0415 & 0430Z, ir(few drops/medium-level thereafter;

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OTHER TOTALS

Number of days thunder heard: (dates).. 05 (13,16,17,18,29)

Number of days hail < 0.5cm diameter:.. 00

Number of days hail >=0.5cm diameter:.. 00

Number of days snow/rain & snow:....... 00

Number of days snow lying at 09UTC:.... 00

Deepest snow cover (date,s):........... -

Number of days fog (visibility < 1km @ 09UTC).. 00

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Additional comments on the weather in August, 2006

[thunder]

13th: t (thunder heard .. infrequent .. 1 discharge per 5 mins or more) 1653-1740Z, activity to east & southeast (several cells). [ Local reports from Virginia Water / Wentworth down to Chobham, Guildford etc., speak of 'torrential' rain late afternoon / early evening, with two reports of over 100mm in 3 or 4 hours: much flooding of roads, properties etc., which was still causing problems for traffic the following morning.]

16th: t (thunder heard .. infrequent .. 1 discharge / distant per 3 or 4 mins at most) 1625-1700Z.

17th: tl(slight) .. few 'medium-level' rumbles only .. 1037-1050Z, with slight rain, temporarily moderate.

18th: tl(slight/'one-clap' wonder!) ~1010Z, accompanied by light/moderate rain.

29th: tl(slight/two-rumbles from mid-level activity) 1454-1505Z, accompanied by moderate rain & temporary squall (as rain began ~1450Z).

[snow]

NIL

... these data can also be viewed at:-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/metinfo/wxdata/climintro.htm

Tn Tx Tg RR Tn Tx RR RR24hr Remark code (below)

(09Z) (09Z) (09Z)(18-09Z) (18Z) (18Z) (09-18Z) (from 09Z today)

01 13.7 20.4 12.2 01.7 17.9 21.5 tr tr -

02 12.8 20.0 11.3 - 18.5 22.4 - 00.7

03 14.4 19.1 13.9 00.7 14.8 21.6 - -

04 11.3 21.1 09.3 - 16.8 22.2 - -

05 12.7 21.3 10.6 - 19.9 27.9 - -

06 17.0 25.9 14.5 - 23.4 28.2 - tr

07 18.1 26.5 18.0 tr 18.1 22.7 tr tr A

08 10.1 22.5 06.9 - 17.4 26.4 - 00.3 B

09 15.4 (20.4) 14.5 00.3 16.8 22.3 - - B

10 12.0 20.4 09.6 - 16.6 21.4 tr tr

11 11.9 18.7 09.8 - 15.4 20.4 - -

12 14.4 19.3 13.5 - 15.7 19.2 - 08.2

13 11.9 18.1 11.7 08.2 13.3 19.3 01.2 01.2 C

14 13.6 18.6 11.6 tr 15.8 19.2 tr tr

15 12.1 18.9 09.8 - 16.9 21.4 - -

16 12.2 18.9 10.2 - 17.7 21.9 tr tr

17 14.1 20.5 12.7 tr 17.8 22.5 00.3 03.1

18 14.5 20.9 12.8 02.8 16.9 20.4 02.0 02.2

19 14.0 18.2 12.6 00.2 18.2 21.9 tr 01.3 D

20 14.8 19.3 12.7 01.3 16.8 20.8 tr tr

21 12.9 18.2 11.8 tr 17.6 22.4 tr tr

22 10.1 19.8 08.0 - 15.8 21.3 - 00.3

23 15.6 19.6 13.0 00.3 15.9 20.0 02.4 03.1 E

24 14.1 15.9 13.7 00.7 15.1 20.7 - -

25 08.7 19.2 06.4 - 15.4 22.5 - 00.8

26 14.5 19.9 13.3 00.8 17.2 22.0 tr 00.3

27 12.1 20.5 10.4 00.3 16.3 22.0 - 05.5

28 13.5 20.1 12.7 05.5 15.7 19.7 tr tr

29 11.3 18.1 09.8 - 14.6 20.0 00.6 00.6

30 09.2 15.4 07.6 - 14.4 20.1 - tr F

31 15.2 18.9 14.6 tr 18.9 23.2 - tr

Readings taken at 0900 and 1800 UTC. Where the NIGHT maximum or DAY minimum are significantly different from 24hr values, this will be noted in the listing against a 'Remarks' letter. There are two mean temperatures shown: the first is the mean of the average day maximum and average night minimum (A), and the second is the average of the 24hr maximum and 24hr minimum (B) .. the anomalies are shown for this latter figure from 1971-2000 estimated Long Term Averages. Rainfall is credited to the 24hr day beginning 0900 UTC.

Remarks:

A. night min.(18.1) occurred 09Z

B. (in Poole: observation ~21Z: accredited 18Z data will be correct, as will the night min on the 9th: the night max. is the temperature recorded at 08/21Z)

C. night min.(13.3), also 24hr min 14th, occurred 13/09Z

D. night max.(18.2) occurred 19/09Z

E. day min.(15.9) occurred 18Z

F. day min.(14.4), also 24hr min 31st, occurred 30/09Z

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Number of occasions (24hr periods) THIS YEAR (2006)

maximum temperature >= 21degC (70degF) = 78

minimum temperature >= 16degC (61degF) = 19

Rolling 12 month temperature anomaly: +0.9 (was +0.8 end last month)

Rolling 12 month rainfall: 86% of eLTA (was 91% end last month)

Rolling 24 month rainfall: 83% of eLTA (was 86% end last month)

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Total rainfall for this year (2006) so far: 349.6 mm, representing 82% of the 'average' that we should have by the end of August (426mm).

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NOTES RE: PERIODS WITH MAXIMA >=25DEGC FOR THREE OR MORE DAYS (FOR ME, A 'HOT' SPELL).

(2006 ONLY – FOR OTHERS, SEE THE 2006 JUNE FILE)

[2006/INCOMPLETE]

07JUN-12JUN (6 DAYS): 26.9,26.9,26.5,28.9,26.9,31.5

16JUN-18JUN (3 DAYS): 25.0,28.3,25.1

29JUN-04JUL (6 DAYS): 25.9,28.5,29.9,31.5,31.4,31.0

15JUL-30JUL (16 DAYS): 25.9,30.1,32.0,33.5,35.7,30.5,31.5,28.7,26.1,29.5,33.4,31.1,28.5,28.6,25.2,25.0

[SEASONAL NOTES]

MnTx MnTn Mn24 HiTx LoTn TotRR

JUNE: 23.5 12.1 17.8 31.5 5.1 15.4

[+3.4] [+1.5][+2.5] [28%]

JULY: 27.6 15.5 21.5 35.7 11.0 41.9

[+5.0] [+2.8][+3.9] [93%]

AUGUST: 21.9 13.1 17.5 28.2 8.7 27.6

[ 0.0] [+0.6][+0.3] [51%]

OVERALL: 24.3 13.6 18.9 35.7 5.1 84.9

[+2.8] [+1.7][+2.2] [55%]

[TEMPERATURE]

The exceptional warmth of this summer was a feature of June & July only; after one final 'warm spell' ending 6th August, summer became "autumn" and temperatures bumbled along around average by day and a little above by night.

Using a 'best-construction' climatology based on Easthampstead Park (since 1971), then this summer, by mean 24 hr (i.e. ½ Tx + Tn) temperature, is the warmest in that series. The previous warmest was 2003 (this summer was 0.3degC warmer than 2003) and before that 1995 (this summer 0.5degC warmer than 1995).

Thanks to the excessive warmth of July, we are on course to have the warmest year in the 1971-2006 composite record, despite the indifferent August.

[RAINFALL]

Dry overall, with June & August notably so: however, in August we came a short bus ride from having some exceptional totals!

Driest summer (June, July & August total = 84.9mm/55% eLTA 1971-2000) since 1995 (45mm), which was the driest summer for this particular record [starts 1971]. In that series, there have been 4 drier summers (than this one): 1972, 1976, 1990 & 1995.

Martin.