Forget spring, it was more like autumn last night with Wales buffeted by strong to severe gale force winds!
The north and north west of the country bore the brunt of the gales.
A 1200 year old oak tree - The Pontfadog Oak, thought to be the oldest and one of the largest in Britain was toppled by the strong winds in Wrexham. The oak which has been growing near Chirk since the year 802 was blown down overnight.
At Aberdaron on the end of the Llyn Peninsula, the wind reached storm force 10 with a gust of 84mph recorded. But even inland it was very windy with gusts of 60mph or more - 67mph at Hawarden in Flintshire.
The reason for the gales was a deep area of low pressure that moved in from the Atlantic. It is now moving away towards Norway so the wind will slowly ease in the next 24 hours.
Tomorrow will be a much calmer day and much drier too and brightening-up with some sunshine.
Pressure will rise into the weekend so Saturday promises to be a nice day; dry and bright with sunny spells. Mind you, if you're a gardener watch out for ground frost.
Sunday will start dry but rain will spread from the north-west during the day. The rain will probably reach the southeast in the afternoon. Top temperatures on Sunday will be 9 to 11 Celsius with a SW breeze.
So Saturday wil be the best day of the weekend, ideal weather for Ras y Moelwyn in Blaenau Ffestiniog and the RHS Spring Flower Show in Cardiff
If you're running in the London Marathon on Sunday, conditions will be perfect, dry and bright with increasing clouds and not too warm.
After a cold start temperatures will rise from 3 to 13 Celsius in the afternoon with a light breeze and not too humid.
Derek
