October continued the trend for above average
temperatures that had resumed in September following the only below par month of the year in this respect.  In many ways there was a similarity  between both September and October this year and last concerning
rainfall and temperature. In terms of rainfall, a dry September was followed by a wet October. This year’s total was 123.8mm which is above average, but pale in comparison with the drenching total last year and
comes  about midway between two other rather wet Octobers, 2012 and 2008. Although the overall total was down this year, measurable rainfall (over 0.2mm) was recorded on 23 days, with only three days near to the
end of the month being completely dry. Last year managed six days in the dry category. This year, I recorded three significant rainfall totals, the highest of which occured on the 5th with 25.8mm. This  followed the coldest night of the month, with a low of 2.3C.

October turned out to be a warm month in various respects. The highest temperature was recorded appropriately on the 1stwith a reading of 22.5C. A cool spell from the 12th-14th, with highs more akin to temperatures in November, was followed by another peak of warmth on the 19th with a maximum of over 21C. Last year, the record had been broken in this respect on the 17th. This year’s figure followed
a particularly mild night on the 17th-18th with a minimum of 15.9C. I discovered that this was the fourth highest night temperature of the ‘summer’. The next record to be broken was a maximum of 20C on 31st.
This is the latest date in the year that I have recorded this figure.  However, last October’s average daytime high was 0.2C higher than this year’s 17.5C, and whilst my average night time temperatures were higher this year, I have to bear in mind that until May this year, my minimum temperature records were low due to a faulty thermometer. Even so, I reckon that the mean temperature of 13.5+ is about 2C higher than what
might be considered ‘average’.

As is usual at this time of year, scare stories
concerning the severity of the forthcoming winter are published in certain papers. Whilst nothing can still be predicted with any real certainty, there seems to be a reasonable consistency which shows that mildish winters follow warm summers.  We shall see whether this is borne out this year.

Peter at Pottlelake