SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL READINGS FOR 2003

Location: Tawfield, (Wooden Hill), Great Hollands, in the SW part of Bracknell.

( NGR: SU 854 667; Lat=51^o 23' 30" North: Long=00^o 46' 28" West )
Altitude 80 m
(temperatures degC; rainfall/melted snowfall mm; snow depths cm)
Readings based on climatological day 0900 to 0900 UTC
IMPORTANT: SEE NOTE RE: THERMOMETERS ON INDEX PAGE FOR READINGS AUGUST 2002 ONWARDS - average maxima, minima & 24hr means are emulated from nearby station readings: HOWEVER, FROM 4TH AUGUST, FULLY CERTIFIED THERMOMETERS BACK IN USE! [ August figures below calculations will be slightly in error, but not grossly - mean values entered in brackets. ]

Notes on individual months:
January: WET START, WINTRY 4TH-13TH & END; MILD, WET/BREEZY OTHERWISE: Notes (re: precipitation): 2nd: r, ocnl R from early hours, accounting for bulk of 12.5mm read at 02/0900Z - further r(slight)/r thereafter, finally dying out evening 2nd; 4th: s(slight), temporarily s from 07Z to 09Z, then phs(slight), before dying out 09-10Z; 7th: s/phs (slight) 04-0630Z; 8th: 0923Z ps(slight) becoming s(temporarily S) by 1015Z then s(slight)/phs(slight) by 1215Z (almost ceased .. mean depth at this point 3.7cm) - 1254Z s(slight)/ocnl s becoming by 1345Z s(slight)/phs(slight), ceased by 1426Z .. mean depth at 08/1430Z=4.5cm (rounded to 5cm); 18th/19th: r(slight)/r from dusk 18th, with r(R) overnight to 19/0900Z=15.6mm; 19th: further r from 09Z to ~12Z; 20th: rain until 16Z=5.2mm; 21st: pr/r late afternoon/evening=~12mm; 30th: 0555Z r(slight) soon becoming r/rs, then s(slight) by 0640Z, which ceased by 0745Z, further is(slight) until 09Z; 30th: 1004 to 1011Z, phs(slight), kq - wind rose from BF2 to BF6 briefly; 31st/1stFeb rainday: snow event entered in February 'account', but following sequence:... s(slight)/ocnl s from 03Z to 04Z, then rs(slight), soon r(R) until 01/0900Z: additional 1 or 1.5cm fresh snow, before melting began (rising air temperatures & intensifying rainfall): most of the 12.8mm credited to the rain-day of the 31st was due to the rain, rather than the initial snowfall. Notes (re: thunder events):1st: tlr 0830Z, thunder ceased by 0850Z; Additional comments on the weather in January, 2003 The rain event early hours 2nd (see above), proved to be critical for local flooding, though not here of course; 4th: snow-cover irregular and not-continuous, but covering >half of ground - 1.5cm max.; 5th/6th: overnight F, dispersed on freshening breeze by 06/09Z; 7th & 8th: snow-cover not-continuous, <0.5cm; 9th: snow-depth from *previous* days fall noted as 3cm .. considerable settling during afternoon of 8th (the 5cm noted immediately after the fall on the 8th was the deepest snow-cover here since we started recording systematically in November, 1999; 19th to 22nd, after several days high rainfall, ground saturated again; 27th: heavy dewfall (plus drizzle previous morning)=0.2mm; 30th modal depth of fresh snow=5cm, varying from isolated minimum of 3.5cm and couple of maxima of 6cm - very 'fluffy'/high air/water content:- 7.5mm snow-water equivalent.
February: DRY OVERALL - COLD SPELL MIDMONTH; PLEASANTLY MILD END: Notes (re: precipitation): 1st: s(slight)/ocnl s from ~03Z to 04Z, then rain/snow mixed (slight), soon r(R) until late morning; 4th: phs(slight) late AM; 5th: is(slight) early hours; 9th: total rainfall (straddling 09Z)=9.6mm; 13th: v.light rs ~ 08Z; 28th: r(R), ocnl dr from late morning to early evening; Notes (re: thunder events): (none); Additional comments on the weather in February, 2003 1st: extra 1 to 1.5cm snowfall overnight 31st Jan/01st Feb contributed to the total 3cm at 09Z on 1st - but melting well at that time; Overnight f on nights 20/21, 21/22 & 23/24 - all thinned to mist by 09Z, hence no entry above.
March: DRY OVERALL, AFTER DAMP START: NOTABLY SUNNY: Notes (re: precipitation): 1st: rainfall of 1.7mm apportioned from accumulated total over 2 days; 5th: r PM=10mm; 7th: r(R) 11Z to 17Z; Notes (re: thunder events): (none). Additional comments on the weather in March, 2003 from 22nd onwards .. polluted/hazy atmosphere .. often acrid/smelly .. flushed away by air-mass change overnight 29th/30th. Only 0.2mm (12th/shower) of rainfall from 08/1800Z until end-month. [ two-month rainfall February and March=49.6 mm, or approx. 50% of LTA ]
April: DRY: CHILLY START; VERY WARM MID-MONTH - UNSETTLED/DAMP END: Notes (re: precipitation):1st: r(slight)/ocnl r 10Z to early afternoon; 9th: slight shower snow pellets 1205Z and ~14Z; 10th: 0550Z to 0610Z is(slight), 0650Z to 0745Z s(slight) - no settling; 20th: slight r from about 18Z; 24th: ir/pr from circa 0930Z to 13Z; 25th: ir(slight) AM, r(slight)/ocnl r from ~13Z to ~2130Z; 27th/28th: overnight r; 29th: pr/r afternoon / early evening; 30th/1st: r (isol R) overnight & 05-0630Z 1st. Notes (re: thunder events):(none); Additional comments on the weather in April, 2003 up to 25/09Z .. total rainfall=7.7mm in 48 days (0.16mm/day): [ previous driest spell in our short record (started August 1999)=5.2mm in 36 days (0.14mm/day) to 25/09Z April 2002 ] Of the total monthly rainfall of 33.6 mm, 27.2 mm (81%) fell in the last 7 days, including 7.5mm falling on the 1st May!
May: CLOUDY/UNSETTLED EARLY & 10TH TO 22ND; LATE HEAT-WAVE: Notes (re: precipitation): 1st ocnl r early hours, and 05-0630Z is credited to *April* rainfall; 2nd: pr(slight)/r during day, with r(slight)/r late afternoon/early evening; 10th: pr/r 09Z to 18Z approx; 12th: pr(slight)/pr from late morning to mid-afternoon; 13th: frequent showers / thunder from 1145Z to early evening: see thunder section below; 16th/17th: rain (mostly slight, ocnl moderate) off and on for 24hr from 16/0900Z; 17th: id(slight)r(slight)/r(slight) from 09Z to 1415Z, then r(R) to 1545Z, then d(slight)r(slight), becoming bc/dry by 1630Z; 19th: 1130 pRhq (small hail) becoming 1232-1243Z tlr(R) .. total 6.5mm: then 1800Z pr(R)q becoming 1825-1835Z tlr(slight); 25th: pr off and on through day; Notes (re: thunder events): 12th: tlr(slight) 1108Z to 1125Z, CC/CA lightning - no CG seen; 13th: tl(slight)r ~ 1145Z (less than 5 mins. thunder heard), tl(slight)r(slight) ~ 1435Z, tlr ~ 1500Z, tlr/R ~ 1545Z, tlhr 1550Z .. temperature dropped to 5degC (from day maximum of 13/ degC): slight covering of hail (within 2 mins of fall initiation) - general diameters 0.5 to 0.8 cm, with maximum diameter 1.0 cm: hail very 'snow-like' & 'soft', however some 'bounce' indicating solid-ice content, tlr(slight) ~ 1600Z ... tl ceased by 1635Z but sky still full of unstable cloud, TCU/CB & mamma; (The tl activity up to here from multiple/daughter cell activity, rather than a single, slow-moving cell .. lightning equally CC/CA and CG, roughly equal parts.) ph(slight/small hail) 1710Z became pr(slight) by 1712Z, ceased by 1720Z, (total rainfall up to this point=6 mm). tl(slight)r(slight) 1845Z .. tl(slight) ceased by 1910Z - still raining slightly. All shower activity ceased for this day (13th) by 20Z. 19th: tlr(R) 1232Z to 1243Z, tl(slight)r(slight) 1825-1835Z. Additional comments on the weather in May, 2003 8th: light grey deposit found on car, plastic gauge etc., after v. light rain between 12Z and 13Z:
June: WARM OVERALL. HOT MID-MONTH; HEAVY RAIN EVENT 22ND/23RD. :Notes (re: precipitation): 4th: r(slight)/r from dawn to ~ 11Z; 6th: r(slight)/ocnl r much of day; 7th: 2035Z to ~08Z/8th, rain much of time; 8th: 1340Z .. ph(slight)r, ocnl mod. rain showers during the afternoon; 17th: ir(slight) from Ac ~1150Z, pr(slight), short moderate burst afternoon; 22nd: 0612Z to 0945Z thunder/r/R (see below); 22nd/23rd (night): thunder/r/R .. most of 27.9mm in 24hr from 22/09Z actually fell in this night period - activity ceasing by 07Z; 29th/30th (night) .. r/R began ~ 2052Z, with tlr 2330Z to just before 24Z, r(R) for a couple of hours thereafter; 30th: r(slight)/r morning to early afternoon & showers overnight 30th/1st. Notes (re: thunder events): 22nd: 0610Z t, 0612Z tl(slight)r/tl(slight)R to 0710Z(thunder ceased, rain continued to 0945Z); 22nd: 2215Z tl(slight)R - thunder soon ceased; 23rd: 0115Z tl(slight)r/R - thunder rest of night irregular/medium level and not a major feature. All activity ceased by 07Z. 29th: 2330Z to just before midnight - tlr (vivid CC/CA with sharp crack thunder.); Additional comments on the weather in June, 2003 Light grey dust (after overnight rain) deposit morning of 14th; Although the total rainfall represented roughly 110% of eLTA, around three-quarters of this came in either short-lived events, or overnight: the heaviest rainfall falling night 22nd/23rd.
July: LONG DRY/WARM SPELL TO MID-MONTH: SUMMER DOWNPOURS FROM 24TH.: Notes (re: precipitation): 16th: ir(slight) 0745-0810Z, then r(slight)>r from about 0910Z, further r/ocnl R afternoon 16th (with isol. thunder) & overnight 16th/17th (without thunder); 24th/25th (overnight): ocnl r .. continuing into afternoon 25th=total 7.5mm; 26th: r(slight), soon r from ~ 1415Z; 26th/27th: rain off/on through afternoon & night; 29th: r PM; 31st/1st Aug: overnight r=2.0mm. Notes (re: thunder events): 2nd: tl 1610Z, tlr/R 1625Z, t csd ~ 1635Z; 16th: 'high-level' CC rumbles around 12Z & 14Z, but not a major feature of the rain event; Additional comments on the weather in July, 2003 16th: dust deposits after slight rain (from Ac) noted around 0930Z;
August: HOT SPELL 3RD TO 11TH - GENERALLY WARM/VERY DRY: BREAK 28TH. : Notes (re: precipitation): (5th: ~06Z pr [car-park wet at Met Office] from Ac/cast reported very close-by, but none here); 18th: r(slight)/ocnl r 15 to 1630Z; 23rd: v.light d ~ 06Z, pr(slight) fm high-base Cu early evening; 28th: (end of 'drought') ir(slight) from ~11Z, r(slight)/periods r from 14Z through to 29th ~11Z=12.2mm; Notes (re: thunder events): (none); Additional comments on the weather in August, 2003 [ NB: 'proper' thermometers back in use from PM 4th ] Total rainfall of 14.2mm primarily from rainfall of 12.2mm (86% of month's total) in period 28/11Z to 29/11Z, with most of that from short-lived moderate bursts afternoon/early evening 28th, and early hours 29th; Using nearby Beaufort Park (our records within 4% of that station's total), this represents circa 25% of eLTA.
OTHER NOTES ON AUGUST AND 2003 RAINFALL: In the Beaufort Park record (very close by), the driest Augusts in the record since 1971 were: 4mm (1995), 14mm (1991) and 20mm (1976): so, we have had drier Augusts in the last 30 years, but this one just gone probably in the top 2 or 3 of such dry events (our rainfall amounts roughly within 4% of BP records). The total rainfall for July and August=53mm, which represents about half the local long-term average (61-90). The total rainfall for the year so far (to end August)=334mm, or about 80% of local LTA. The rainfall of 28th/29th had little or no discernible effect - much of it evaporated off and soil surface now dry as before rain fell.
September: VERY DRY/SUNNY SUMMER EXTENSION; AUTUMNAL LAST THIRD: Notes (re: precipitation): 5th: r(slight), ocnl r 17Z to 1735Z; 6th: r(slight) 0640Z to 07Z .. from medium level instability; further pr after 09Z & during first-half of afternoon; 10th: r(slight)/ocnl r early hours - csd by 08Z, rain off-and-on from 16Z to late evening; 11th: ocnl rain / drizzle (mainly slight) 10Z to 14Z; 22nd: pr(slight) late AM to early PM, then r(slight)/ocnl r to early evening; 26th: v.slight rain ~19Z (frontal passage); 28th pr ~ 13Z; Notes (re: thunder events):(none) See daily data here: 03_09sep.htm
Note:
1. September rainfall .. 8.0mm (13% eLTA7100) easily the DRIEST September for our short record (began Aug 1999); previous driest 2002 with 26mm. Of more significance, comparing with BP record (with which we seem to be closely tied/within 4% by monthly rainfall), it would be DRIEST September since *at least* 1971 (11.5mm).
2. The DRIEST any-month in that same short record; driest was last month (August 2003) with 14.2mm. For the BP record, this is the driest *any-month* since Feb 1998 when BP also had just: 8.0mm. Of more significance, in the BP record from 1971, only 11 months have recorded less than 10mm of rain.
3. August and September rainfall (combined). As at 01/0900Z (Oct), total rainfall Aug/Sep=14.2+8.0=22.2mm (19% eLTA): Looking at the Beaufort Park record (since 1971), cannot find a similar pairing of such-named months with less rainfall. The nearest I can find is the August+September pairing in 1972 (another dry year), with 53mm.
October: LONG DRY SPELL; MILD FIRST-HALF, THEN COLDER. WET END: Notes relating to temperature & allied observations: 5th: max of 12.0degC occurred overnight 5th/6th with frontal passage; 6th: min credited actually occurred 05/0900Z; 9th: max of 16.5degC occurred at 10/0900Z; 29th: min of 2.9degC occurred at 28/09Z; 30th: 24hr max of 8.5degC (lowest of month) occurred at 31/09Z due air-mass change .. day maximum on 30th actually around 7degC at best; 31st: min of 3.8degC occurred at 30/09Z; Overall monthly mean roughly -1.3degC on eLTA, the first significantly below-average month in 2003. Notes relating to precipitation & allied observations: 1st: r(slight)/ocnl r from ~1545Z to 21Z, then dr (slight) overnight 1st/2nd, then r(slight)/ocnl r from about 0850Z on to 1030Z on 2nd; 4th: mainly light pr during day from shallow/sub-zero Cu; 21st/22nd: r(slight)/ ocnl r overnight - csd by 22/0630Z; 22nd: ocnl r(mainly slight) late morning to early afternoon; 23rd: slight pr ~07Z; 25th/26th: ocnl mod r evening/early hours; 28th/29th: r(slight)/ocnl r late evening 28th to 29th ~10Z; 29th: r(slight)/r from ~1930Z to 23Z; 30th/31st: light rain/drizzle off and on during day 30th, then r (ocnl R) from evening 30th through night, becoming dr(light) by dawn; Additional comments on the weather in October, 2003 (Data 24th/max to 26th/min inferred due to absence) also, see bottom of this file for Aug/Sep/Oct rainfall) Total rainfall this month (42.4mm) represents ~ 59% of eLTA; however, 26.2mm (three-fifths) of this fell in period 28/18Z to 30/09Z. Overall monthly mean roughly -1.3degC on eLTA, the first significantly below-average month in 2003. see daily data here: 03_10oct.htm
November: WET START, THEN MAINLY DRY/MILD: CYCLONIC/WET LAST THIRD: (Notes relating to temperature & allied observations: 1st: maximum (11.4) occurred at 02/09Z; 2nd: minimum (5.9) occurred early evening 1st; 5th: 24hr min of 8.5degC occurred during 4th/daytime; 9th: max (9.4) occurred at 10/09Z - 9th a chilly, dull day; 17th: max (13.0) occurred at 18/09Z; 18th: min (7.7) occurred at 17/09Z - actual night min 17th/18th=11.9degC; 22nd: thoroughly miserable/wet day, an early max of 7.8degC, falling gently through day; 23rd: another wet/depressing day with day max. just 6.7degC; 29th: min (1.8) occurred 28/09Z; (Notes relating to precipitation & allied observations: 1st/2nd: rain, often moderate (with strong winds) much of night 01/02 - rain ceased by 02/12Z; 2nd/3rd (overnight): r/R & strong winds; 9th: light r off/on 1145Z to 17Z; 11th/12th: rain, ocnl moderate mid-evening 11th to 12/08Z; 13th/14th: ocnl r (and BF 5-6 winds) overnight; 17th: r(slight) ocnl r afternoon & early evening, then d(slight) overnight; 20th: r(slight), ocnl r/dr early hours; 20th/21st: r(slight)/r much of night, then ocnl dr(slight) much of day/early evening; 21st/22nd: r(slight)/r much of night, continuing through day/early evening 22nd; 22nd/23rd: r/R all night, then continuing all day 23rd, finally ceasing early evening; 25th:d/r(slight) from ~13Z bec. r(slight)/r, ocnl R 1430 to 1915Z; 25th/26th: r/R, squally winds overnight; 29th: r/d from early hours to late AM; 30th: short-lived rain ~ 07Z; 30th: r(R) 16Z - ~1930Z, ~8mm; 30th/1st (overnight): ocnl r/(R) ~ 5mm; Additional comments on the weather in November, 2003 Running total rainfall Jan-Nov c.f. mean for that period: Total to 01/0900Z=537.7mm Mean to end Nov=634mm (eLTA) Annual Mean=704mm (eLTA) % anomaly (to end Nov.)=85% % anomaly (of year mean)=76% (Driest calendar year in BP 1971-2002 record=487mm/1990) Rainday 22nd: 30.0mm in 24hr to 23/09Z; highest 'standard' rain-day total since August 2002 (7th: thunderstorms); 22nd/23rd ('raindays'): total=57.1mm, highest such 48hr since end July/early August 2002 (but that due to TS); 03_11nov.htm
December: EARLY WET SPELL. DRY, COLDER MID-MONTH; MILD/DAMP CHRISTMAS: (Notes relating to temperature & allied observations: 1st: min recorded actually occurred 30/09Z DEC; 9th: min recorded actually occurred 08/09Z; 10th: max recorded (9.1) occurred 11/09Z; 11th: min recorded (0.5) occurred 10/09Z; 12th: max recorded (13.0) occurred 13/09Z; 19th: min recorded (-0.3) occurred 18/09Z, temperature rose through night; 19th: max recorded occurred at 20/09Z; 22nd: maximum (4.7) occurred at 23/09Z, day-max on 22nd 1.5degC; 23rd: minimum (-0.2) occurred at 22/09Z; 23rd: maximum (8.8) occurred 24/09Z; 31st: maximum (4.8) occurred at 01/09Z Jan; ) (Notes relating to precipitation & allied observations: 1st: r bec r(slight) csd by ~11Z; pr in afternoon; 2nd/3rd: light dr overnight; 5th/6th: dr, ocnl moderate, overnight & through morning 6th; 9th/10th: 'wet' fog overnight brought 0.1mm (actually just over that figure); 12th: r from 0845Z to ~1130Z, further r(slight)/ocnl r thereafter, with r(R) during night 12th/13th, rain csd by about 13/11Z; 20th: r from ~ 0745Z to ~10Z, then dr with pr ~13Z; 21st: ir(slight) ~ 0730-0800Z; 23rd: r(slight)/r from ~0545Z; 26th: ocnl r late aftn & during eve; 27th: r(slight)/r from about 19Z; 28th: prs(slight) ~1150Z; 29th: rain from at least 0530Z .. becoming moderate rain/rain-snow mixed from 0910 to ~11Z, then r(slight) thereafter; 30th: dr(slight) from 1030Z; 31st/1stJan: ocnl r (accompanied by gusty winds) early hours of the 1st January; ) Additional comments on the weather in December, 2003 30th/31st: dense fog for a short time overnight - dispersed by morning; 03_12dec.htm

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