Looks like this month will finish in the range 6.8 to 7.0°C, up to a few tenths above the 1991-2020 average.
An astonishing feat given where it was a third of the way in, almost 2.5°C below that average.
The mid-Feb SSW has produced a very blocked March with predominantly negative NAO, however it became too 'west-based' to sustain cold weather, in fact the extensive cloudiness on maritime winds has led to impressively mild nights since the end of the cold spell.
The days, not so much, tending to be near average at best. As such it hasn't felt nearly as mild as the overall means might imply.
I'm glad I was cautious regarding the magnitude and duration of March cold spell. Yet still I've been a little caught out by just how much milder it ended up being afterward. The cold weather didn't leave as much of a legacy in the terrain and seas (lowered temps) as anticipated.
Weather-wise, this has been my least favourite March that I can remember locally (so, back to the early 2000s, roughly), on course to be record dullest in a series back to 1957, with rainfall a fair bit above normal, nights overall well above the 1991-2020 average (by over 1°C!) but days slightly below.
Fair to say, I can't wait to see the back of it. April is showing signs of at least being more settled for a while, temperatures very uncertain though with e.g. the 00z and 06z GFS runs today being a lot chillier than the 00z ECM was. Good luck everyone!
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T-Max: 30.4°C 21st Jul | T-Min: -6.8°C New Years Day! | Wettest Day: 34.1mm 2nd Oct | Ice Days: 2 (27th Jan & 8th Feb)
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