October was the driest in Wales since 2007!
November has also started off dry and settled with high pressure bringing a mixture of glorious sunshine, thick fog and record temperatures in Ceredigion…
Sian Edwards, Llangollen
The weather station at Trawsgoed broke the record for the highest recorded UK temperature in November on Sunday with a high of 22.4°C beating the previous record of 21.7°C recorded in Prestatyn in 1946.
The reason for the record breaking temperature was mainly due to a low temperature inversion and some warm air from the Mediterranean. Normally the temperature drops the higher you go but with an inversion this is reversed with a layer of cold air held in place by a warmer "lid”.
Under high pressure the air sinks and warms and the colder air gets trapped underneath - This means it can be cold and foggy on low ground with smog and poor air quality but above the inversion it is clear, warm and sunny.
Pressure Diagram
In the case of Trawsgoed the warm air aloft warmed even further as it slipped down the side of the Cambrian Mountains and with plenty of sunshine and little wind it became unusually warm for the time of year.
Where it stayed foggy it was much colder - only 10°C in Welshpool last Monday. As the high pressure has moved away, the weather pattern has now changed, and our weather is now coming in from the Atlantic with a strong jet stream steering areas of low pressure towards the UK.
Andrew Walker, Pen y Fan
This means it’s going to be wet and windy at times over the weekend with spells of heavy rain and strong winds. However, there will be drier, brighter interludes as well and Saturday night should be dry and calmer; good news if you’re going to a firework display!
On Sunday it looks like there’s more rain and stronger winds on the way; most of the rain on the hills in the west and north west on the Snowdonia Mountains. The next few days will also stay mild or very mild for the time of year with winds from the south or south west.
Met Office - Pressure Chart for Saturday 7th November
Next week will continue mild and often windy with further spells of rain, drizzle and strong to gale force winds.
Have a good weekend everyone!
- Derek
