October sees over 102mm of rain and 237 hours of sunshine recorded
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Three thundery days, just over 102mm of rain, and cooler-than-average air temperatures, were recorded in October, the Met Office said today.
However, the islands still lived up to their sunny reputation as with over 237 hours of autumn sunshine recorded, October was brighter than expected. The month was less cloudy with a mean cloud cover that was 0.6 oktas less than climate norm of 3.6 oktas.
There was 19.2 hours more sun than expected at this time of year, with an average of 7.7 hours of daily sunshine recorded. The 11th of October was the brightest day when the sun shone for a full 10.5 hours.
The 2nd, 3rd, and 5th of October were marked by a total absence of sunshine. The second day of the month was also thundery and wet. Rainfall on that day accounted for 40 per cent of the total measured in October and almost equalled September’s total amount.
102.4mm, was the total precipitation for the month of October, which is 26.8mm more than expected at this time of year.
The Met Office remarked that meteorological data shows that October 1951 holds the record for being the wettest tenth month to date, producing more than 476mm of rain.
While the mean air temperature for October was 0.8°C lower than the climate norm of 21.5°C, at 23.6°C the mean sea temperature was 0.1°C higher than the norm.
Air temperatures reached a maximum of 25.8°C on the first day; a drop of 5.9°C from September’s maximum temperature. October temperatures dipped to a lowest minimum of 14.1°C three days before the month came to a close.
The Met Office noted that October’s mean wind speed was 1.5 knots higher than the norm of 7.2 knots.
It said that, the month’s windiest day was the 23rd of October, on which a maximum gust blowing at 41 knots from a north-westerly direction was recorded.