It was the most westerly October over the British Isles since
1986, and the ninth most westerly in 136 years of records. It was
therefore a changeable month with the usual contrast between
orographic rainfall on western upslopes and eastern rain-shadow
considerable enhanced. The second week was notable for a spell
of warm and sunny weather in southern, central and eastern
districts, and there was a brief Arctic outbreak of rare severity
(for October) towards the end of the month. The snowfall on
the 28th was quite possibly the heaviest and most widespread
such event in lowland Britain in October since 1880.

Mean pressure charts will soon be uploaded to:
Charts: http://www.climate-uk.com/monpre/0810.htm
The Monthly Review will be uploaded later today or Monday to:
http://www.climate-uk.com/monthly/0810.htm
Graphs: http://www.climate-uk.com/graphs/0810.htm and
http://www.climate-uk.com/graphs/200810.htm
Not The Long Range Forecast should be available by Nov 4 on:
http://www.climate-uk.com/page4.html

The sea-level pressure chart shows the Icelandic low much
deeper than usual and displaced well to the east with a centre
of 992mbar in the eastern Norwegian Sea at 69N 02E. The
Azores high is in situ, but more intense than usual at 1026mbar.
Pressure is also high over southern Russia and the Caucasus.
A rather steep W to SW gradient covers the British Isles,
Scandinavia, the Baltic and the North European Plain.

At the 500 mbar level the flow is zonal, but a broad, flat
trough is identifiable over Europe between 0 and 20degE.

The sea-level pressure anomaly field shows well below
normal pressure over Scandinavia, the Baltic, the
Norwegian Sea, northern Britain, and Iceland. Pressure
is generally above normal over the Atlantic from south of
the Azores to western Biscay, and also between Greenland
and Newfoundland.

The main anomaly centres we
-13mbar in the Norwegian Sea at 67N 04E
+ 6mbar just north of the Azores

Over the British Isles pressure anomaly ranges from -7mbar
over Shetland to +1mbar in Cornwall and southwest Ireland.
The anomalous flow is strongly WNW-ly.

CET (after Manley) 9.74°C (-0.7 degC wrt 1971-2000)
CET (after Hadley) prob 9.7 or 9.8°C
E&W Rain (provisional): 98.1mm (103% of 1971-2000 mean)
E&W Sunshine (prov): 132.1 hr (118% of 1971-2000 mean)

It was the coldest but also the sunniest October over England
and Wales since 2003; wetter than last year but not as
wet as 2006.

CScotT: 8.8°C (-0.8degC)
ScotRain: 155mm (135%)
ScotSun: 101hr (113%)

NIT: 9.6°C (-0.9degC)
NI Rain: 117mm (117%)
NI Sun: 105hr (113%)

Rainfall totals ranged from 646mm at Capel Curig
(Snowdonia) and 496mm at Inveruglas (above Loch Lomond)
to 31mm at Bramham and 33mm at Church Fenton (both
near York) and 35mm at Boulmer (Northumberland).

Percentages ranged from 269 at Shap (Cumbria) and
264 at Capel Curig (Snowdonia) to 57 at Boulmer.

Sunshine totals ranged from 153.2h at Royston (Herts) [R&D
sensor?], 146.2h at Brize Norton (Oxon) [CS recorder], and
146.0h at Eastbourne (Sussex)[CS recorder],
to 46.4h at Kinlochewe (Wester Ross) [KZ sensor, horizon
partly obscured], 61.8h at Threave (Kirkcudbrightshire)
[KZ sensor, horizon partly obscured], and 63.0h at
Eskdalemuir (Dumfriesshire) [KZ sensor].

Percentages ranged from 142 at Ross-on-Wye (Herefs)
to 82 at Eskdalemuir.

(c) Philip Eden

Sometimes, and every so often, its gems like below from Philip Eden, and
thank you, that make it worthwhile continuing to be subscribed
to this newsgroup as some can't fathom out why I stay here. Well there's one
reason.
DaveR
westLondon

"Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote in message
...
It was the most westerly October over the British Isles since
1986, and the ninth most westerly in 136 years of records. It was
therefore a changeable month with the usual contrast between
orographic rainfall on western upslopes and eastern rain-shadow
considerable enhanced. The second week was notable for a spell
of warm and sunny weather in southern, central and eastern
districts, and there was a brief Arctic outbreak of rare severity
(for October) towards the end of the month. The snowfall on
the 28th was quite possibly the heaviest and most widespread
such event in lowland Britain in October since 1880.

Mean pressure charts will soon be uploaded to:
Charts: http://www.climate-uk.com/monpre/0810.htm
The Monthly Review will be uploaded later today or Monday to:
http://www.climate-uk.com/monthly/0810.htm
Graphs: http://www.climate-uk.com/graphs/0810.htm and
http://www.climate-uk.com/graphs/200810.htm
Not The Long Range Forecast should be available by Nov 4 on:
http://www.climate-uk.com/page4.html

The sea-level pressure chart shows the Icelandic low much
deeper than usual and displaced well to the east with a centre
of 992mbar in the eastern Norwegian Sea at 69N 02E. The
Azores high is in situ, but more intense than usual at 1026mbar.
Pressure is also high over southern Russia and the Caucasus.
A rather steep W to SW gradient covers the British Isles,
Scandinavia, the Baltic and the North European Plain.

At the 500 mbar level the flow is zonal, but a broad, flat
trough is identifiable over Europe between 0 and 20degE.

The sea-level pressure anomaly field shows well below
normal pressure over Scandinavia, the Baltic, the
Norwegian Sea, northern Britain, and Iceland. Pressure
is generally above normal over the Atlantic from south of
the Azores to western Biscay, and also between Greenland
and Newfoundland.

The main anomaly centres we
-13mbar in the Norwegian Sea at 67N 04E
+ 6mbar just north of the Azores

Over the British Isles pressure anomaly ranges from -7mbar
over Shetland to +1mbar in Cornwall and southwest Ireland.
The anomalous flow is strongly WNW-ly.

CET (after Manley) 9.74°C (-0.7 degC wrt 1971-2000)
CET (after Hadley) prob 9.7 or 9.8°C
E&W Rain (provisional): 98.1mm (103% of 1971-2000 mean)
E&W Sunshine (prov): 132.1 hr (118% of 1971-2000 mean)

It was the coldest but also the sunniest October over England
and Wales since 2003; wetter than last year but not as
wet as 2006.

CScotT: 8.8°C (-0.8degC)
ScotRain: 155mm (135%)
ScotSun: 101hr (113%)

NIT: 9.6°C (-0.9degC)
NI Rain: 117mm (117%)
NI Sun: 105hr (113%)

Rainfall totals ranged from 646mm at Capel Curig
(Snowdonia) and 496mm at Inveruglas (above Loch Lomond)
to 31mm at Bramham and 33mm at Church Fenton (both
near York) and 35mm at Boulmer (Northumberland).

Percentages ranged from 269 at Shap (Cumbria) and
264 at Capel Curig (Snowdonia) to 57 at Boulmer.

Sunshine totals ranged from 153.2h at Royston (Herts) [R&D
sensor?], 146.2h at Brize Norton (Oxon) [CS recorder], and
146.0h at Eastbourne (Sussex)[CS recorder],
to 46.4h at Kinlochewe (Wester Ross) [KZ sensor, horizon
partly obscured], 61.8h at Threave (Kirkcudbrightshire)
[KZ sensor, horizon partly obscured], and 63.0h at
Eskdalemuir (Dumfriesshire) [KZ sensor].

Percentages ranged from 142 at Ross-on-Wye (Herefs)
to 82 at Eskdalemuir.

(c) Philip Eden

On 2 Nov, 19:06, "Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote:
It was the most westerly October over the British Isles since
1986, and the ninth most westerly in 136 years of records. It was
therefore a changeable month with the usual contrast between
orographic rainfall on western upslopes and eastern rain-shadow
considerable enhanced. The second week was notable for a spell
of warm and sunny weather in southern, central and eastern
districts, and there was a brief Arctic outbreak of rare severity
(for October) towards the end of the month. The snowfall on
the 28th was quite possibly the heaviest and most widespread
such event in lowland Britain in October since 1880.

Mean pressure charts will soon be uploaded to:
Charts: *http://www.climate-uk.com/monpre/0810.htm
The Monthly Review will be uploaded later today or Monday to:http://www.climate-uk.com/monthly/0810.htm
Graphs: *http://www.climate-uk.com/graphs/0810.htm*and
* * * * * * *http://www.climate-uk.com/graphs/200810.htm
Not The Long Range Forecast should be available by Nov 4 on:
* * * * * * *http://www.climate-uk.com/page4.html

The sea-level pressure chart shows the Icelandic low much
deeper than usual and displaced well to the east with a centre
of 992mbar in the eastern Norwegian Sea at 69N 02E. The
Azores high is in situ, but more intense than usual at 1026mbar.
Pressure is also high over southern Russia and the Caucasus.
A rather steep W to SW gradient covers the British Isles,
Scandinavia, the Baltic and the North European Plain.

At the 500 mbar level the flow is zonal, but a broad, flat
trough is identifiable over Europe between 0 and 20degE.

The sea-level pressure anomaly field shows well below
normal pressure over Scandinavia, the Baltic, the
Norwegian Sea, northern Britain, and Iceland. Pressure
is generally above normal over the Atlantic from south of
the Azores to western Biscay, and also between Greenland
and Newfoundland.

The main anomaly centres we
* *-13mbar in the Norwegian Sea at 67N 04E
* *+ 6mbar just north of the Azores

Over the British Isles pressure anomaly ranges from -7mbar
over Shetland to +1mbar in Cornwall and southwest Ireland.
The anomalous flow is strongly WNW-ly.

CET (after Manley) * 9.74°C *(-0.7 degC wrt 1971-2000)
CET (after Hadley) * *prob 9.7 or 9.8°C
E&W Rain (provisional): * *98.1mm *(103% of 1971-2000 mean)
E&W Sunshine (prov): * * 132.1 hr * (118% of 1971-2000 mean)

It was the coldest but also the sunniest October over England
and Wales since 2003; wetter than last year but not as
wet as 2006.

CScotT: * * * * 8.8°C *(-0.8degC)
ScotRain: * * 155mm *(135%)
ScotSun: * * *101hr * *(113%)

NIT: * * * * * *9.6°C *(-0.9degC)
NI Rain: * * 117mm (117%)
NI Sun: * * *105hr * (113%)

Rainfall totals ranged from 646mm at Capel Curig
(Snowdonia) and 496mm at Inveruglas (above Loch Lomond)
to 31mm at Bramham and 33mm at Church Fenton (both
near York) and 35mm at Boulmer (Northumberland).

Percentages ranged from 269 at Shap (Cumbria) and
264 at Capel Curig (Snowdonia) *to 57 at Boulmer.

Sunshine totals ranged from 153.2h at Royston (Herts) [R&D
sensor?], 146.2h at Brize Norton (Oxon) [CS recorder], and
146.0h at Eastbourne (Sussex)[CS recorder],
*to 46.4h at Kinlochewe (Wester Ross) [KZ sensor, horizon
partly obscured], 61.8h at Threave (Kirkcudbrightshire)
[KZ sensor, horizon partly obscured], and 63.0h at
Eskdalemuir (Dumfriesshire) [KZ sensor].

Percentages ranged from 142 at Ross-on-Wye (Herefs)
to 82 at Eskdalemuir.

(c) Philip Eden

Although I saw the snow in the Chilterns I was without the internet.
Did you get a figure for the lowest 1000-500mb thickness recorded over
Southern England? From the forecast charts a few days earlier I would
have thought 522 must have been recorded. If so, it must have been
close to the lowest ever thickness for October.....

"Pete L" wrote...
snip
Although I saw the snow in the Chilterns I was without the internet.
Did you get a figure for the lowest 1000-500mb thickness recorded
over
Southern England? From the forecast charts a few days earlier I
would
have thought 522 must have been recorded. If so, it must have been
close to the lowest ever thickness for October.....

.... I've gone through the ascents and archive TTHK charts (ex GFS via
wetter3.de), and put up the following page regarding thickness values
during the 28th October, 2008

http://freespace.virgin.net/martin.r...008_OCT_28.htm

we must have been getting close to 522 across the Chilterns at the end
of the day, but as you can see, by 29/00Z, the cold tongue was warming
out, and being eroded from the NW, so whether 522 _as such_ was
recorded *in the south* is a moot point - it *was* further north of
course (see table of data). 6 hr later (29/06Z), the cold tongue was
no colder than ~525/526 dam passing 03882, so a little way away from
the 'extreme' values there.

The extremes were taken from tables that were in the old NMC (behind
the Dep. Chief if you remember them Peter), and aren't exhaustive by
any means. However, presumably they capture the October 1974 events,
another cold such-named month with snow.

Martin.


--
Martin Rowley
West Moors, East Dorset (UK): 17m (56ft) amsl
Lat: 50.82N Long: 01.88W
NGR: SU 082 023

On 3 Nov, 16:10, "Martin Rowley"
wrote:
"Pete L" wrote...

snip

Although I saw the snow in the Chilterns I was without the internet.
Did you get a figure for the lowest 1000-500mb thickness recorded
over
Southern England? From the forecast charts a few days earlier I
would
have thought 522 must have been recorded. If so, it must have been
close to the lowest ever thickness for October.....

... I've gone through the ascents and archive TTHK charts (ex GFS via
wetter3.de), and put up the following page regarding thickness values
during the 28th October, 2008

http://freespace.virgin.net/martin.r...008_OCT_28.htm

we must have been getting close to 522 across the Chilterns at the end
of the day, but as you can see, by 29/00Z, the cold tongue was warming
out, and being eroded from the NW, so whether 522 _as such_ was
recorded *in the south* is a moot point - it *was* further north of
course (see table of data). 6 hr later (29/06Z), the cold tongue was
no colder than ~525/526 dam passing 03882, so a little way away from
the 'extreme' values there.

The extremes were taken from tables that were in the old NMC (behind
the Dep. Chief if you remember them Peter), *and aren't exhaustive by
any means. However, presumably they capture the October 1974 events,
another cold such-named month with snow.

Martin.

--
Martin Rowley
West Moors, East Dorset (UK): 17m (56ft) amsl
Lat: 50.82N * Long: 01.88W
NGR: SU 082 023

Excellent! Thanks for that, Martin. It was an exciting weather event
and nobody believed me when I said, 'We'll probably see our first snow
of the winter soon'.......

On Nov 3, 8:06*am, "Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom
wrote:
It was the most westerly October over the British Isles since
1986, and the ninth most westerly in 136 years of records. It was
therefore a changeable month with the usual contrast between
orographic rainfall on western upslopes and eastern rain-shadow
considerable enhanced. The second week was notable for a spell
of warm and sunny weather in southern, central and eastern
districts, and there was a brief Arctic outbreak of rare severity
(for October) towards the end of the month. The snowfall on
the 28th was quite possibly the heaviest and most widespread
such event in lowland Britain in October since 1880.

Mean pressure charts will soon be uploaded to:
Charts: *http://www.climate-uk.com/monpre/0810.htm
The Monthly Review will be uploaded later today or Monday to:http://www.climate-uk.com/monthly/0810.htm
Graphs: *http://www.climate-uk.com/graphs/0810.htm*and
* * * * * * *http://www.climate-uk.com/graphs/200810.htm
Not The Long Range Forecast should be available by Nov 4 on:
* * * * * * *http://www.climate-uk.com/page4.html

The sea-level pressure chart shows the Icelandic low much
deeper than usual and displaced well to the east with a centre
of 992mbar in the eastern Norwegian Sea at 69N 02E. The
Azores high is in situ, but more intense than usual at 1026mbar.
Pressure is also high over southern Russia and the Caucasus.
A rather steep W to SW gradient covers the British Isles,
Scandinavia, the Baltic and the North European Plain.

At the 500 mbar level the flow is zonal, but a broad, flat
trough is identifiable over Europe between 0 and 20degE.

The sea-level pressure anomaly field shows well below
normal pressure over Scandinavia, the Baltic, the
Norwegian Sea, northern Britain, and Iceland. Pressure
is generally above normal over the Atlantic from south of
the Azores to western Biscay, and also between Greenland
and Newfoundland.

The main anomaly centres we
* *-13mbar in the Norwegian Sea at 67N 04E
* *+ 6mbar just north of the Azores

Over the British Isles pressure anomaly ranges from -7mbar
over Shetland to +1mbar in Cornwall and southwest Ireland.
The anomalous flow is strongly WNW-ly.

CET (after Manley) * 9.74°C *(-0.7 degC wrt 1971-2000)
CET (after Hadley) * *prob 9.7 or 9.8°C
E&W Rain (provisional): * *98.1mm *(103% of 1971-2000 mean)
E&W Sunshine (prov): * * 132.1 hr * (118% of 1971-2000 mean)

It was the coldest but also the sunniest October over England
and Wales since 2003; wetter than last year but not as
wet as 2006.

CScotT: * * * * 8.8°C *(-0.8degC)
ScotRain: * * 155mm *(135%)
ScotSun: * * *101hr * *(113%)

NIT: * * * * * *9.6°C *(-0.9degC)
NI Rain: * * 117mm (117%)
NI Sun: * * *105hr * (113%)

Rainfall totals ranged from 646mm at Capel Curig
(Snowdonia) and 496mm at Inveruglas (above Loch Lomond)
to 31mm at Bramham and 33mm at Church Fenton (both
near York) and 35mm at Boulmer (Northumberland).

Percentages ranged from 269 at Shap (Cumbria) and
264 at Capel Curig (Snowdonia) *to 57 at Boulmer.

Sunshine totals ranged from 153.2h at Royston (Herts) [R&D
sensor?], 146.2h at Brize Norton (Oxon) [CS recorder], and
146.0h at Eastbourne (Sussex)[CS recorder],
*to 46.4h at Kinlochewe (Wester Ross) [KZ sensor, horizon
partly obscured], 61.8h at Threave (Kirkcudbrightshire)
[KZ sensor, horizon partly obscured], and 63.0h at
Eskdalemuir (Dumfriesshire) [KZ sensor].

Percentages ranged from 142 at Ross-on-Wye (Herefs)
to 82 at Eskdalemuir.

(c) Philip Eden

Always appreciated, thanks Philip.

"Martin Rowley" wrote in message
...

... I've gone through the ascents and archive TTHK charts (ex GFS via
wetter3.de), and put up the following page regarding thickness values
during the 28th October, 2008

http://freespace.virgin.net/martin.r...008_OCT_28.htm


Thanks Martin. Interesting info... and for the link to the MetO hailstorm at
Ottery St Mary. Its great that the MetO have responded so quickly. I look
forward to the article in 'Weather' in due course. Quite a spectacular
event.
whats more didnt Jon say he slept through it all ??!!
I'm looking forward to his 30 hr TAFs from Thursday...

Phil

"Phil Layton" wrote in message
...
I'm looking forward to his 30 hr TAFs from Thursday...

Or even Wednesday the 5th!!

"Phil Layton" wrote in message
...

whats more didnt Jon say he slept through it all ??!!

I watched the storm for several hours, Phil, but mum and sister who were
visiting slept through it all. As did at least one forecaster in the
vicinity of Ottery St Mary - he's now undergoing re-training. One of the
guys on duty at the time actually went out to investigate and took one or
two interesting pictures. I suggested he was lucky to make it back alive..

I'm looking forward to his 30 hr TAFs from Thursday...

The first ones will go out at 23Z tomorrow evening valid from 00Z to 06Z on
the 6th. Will be interesting to see what happens around the rest of the
world in terms of the new times and formatting.

Jon.

"Phil Layton" wrote in message
...

whats more didnt Jon say he slept through it all ??!!

I watched the storm for several hours, Phil, but my mum and sister who were
visiting slept through it all. As did at least one forecaster in the
vicinity of Ottery St Mary - he's now undergoing re-training. One of the
guys on duty at the time actually went out to investigate and took one or
two interesting pictures. I suggested he was lucky to make it back alive..

I'm looking forward to his 30 hr TAFs from Thursday...

The first ones will go out at 23Z tomorrow evening valid from 00Z to 06Z on
the 6th. Will be interesting to see what happens around the rest of the
world in terms of the new times and formatting.

Jon.