Solent weather analysis

Libby goes through the charts from the weekend

Analysis of 29th-30th March.

As forecast a change pressure systems from low to high pressure produced a change in the weather conditions but not as significant as expected. A ridge of high pressure dominated the country from Saturday afternoon onwards producing light wind conditions with a mixture of cloud and sunny spells. With no rain over the weekend temperatures remained above average for the month with maximum air temperatures reaching up to 16˚C.

Saturday saw very light winds with Calshot and Hayling Island weather stations reporting wind strengths between 0 and 6 knots from the north across the day. The forecast was for the wind strength to be north to northeasterly between 6-10 knots. There was no sign of sea breeze as the morning started overcast and the day remained very hazy, not allowing the land to heat up and the sea breeze cell to be generated. The wind direction remained northerly as the high pressure centre pushed northwards over the Atlantic.

The high pressure centre did not push as far north as expected and the wind direction on the Sunday remained around 020. The wind was expected to be around 050 but actually started the day around 010 similar to that of Saturday, veering as far as 040 by early afternoon. The gradient wind strength was as forecast (8-10 knots), with an average of roughly 8 knots in a range of 6-12 knots across the day.

The forecast clear skies materialised but the forecast sea breeze or thermal enhancement similar to that seen last weekend did not feature. The absence of this effect is due to the morning beginning overcast reducing the time for the land to heat up. By 0900 the clouds had begun to break but the day again remained fairly hazy. Temperatures only reached a maximum of 16C and not until late in the day at 1600 hours, unlike last weekend when air temperatures were as high as 18C at 1400 hours and the thermal enhancement could be seen.

Today is a prime example of a sea breeze effect with the gradient 5-10 knot north easterly wind building to 15 knots and the direction veering to the southeast. If you log on to www.chimet.co.uk and click on the wind section you will see the direction has veered with time since about 0900 this morning and on average the wind strength has increased. Later on today you will see the wind slowly back from the towards the north and the strength decrease as the temperature drops, before the low pressure turns the wind to the southwest.

Outlook
Saturday will again see a high pressure dominated situation with northerly winds stronger than wind strength of this weekend of around 10 knots. There will again be a chance of a sea breeze dependant on temperatures and cloud cover conditions. Sunday will continue with the fair weather high pressure and a similar wind strength and direction of around 020 and 10 knots.

TOP TIP
Website of the week: check out www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/United_Kingdom.shtm l for real time weather at various offshore buoys around the UK.