MIKE BYFORD's GARDEN

Rainfall was well above average across the north-west, with some areas recording over double the average. Mean temperatures were below average, but with above average sunshine.

1st to 6th: The month started unsettled, as a north-westerly airflow brought below average temperatures. Weather fronts and troughs pushed down from the north-west on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd, bringing showers or longer spells of rain at times. A brief ridge early on the 4th was followed by a complex, active frontal system later on the 4th and early on the 5th. This gave a 24-hour rainfall total of 53.0 mm at Shap (Cumbria) on the 4th. This was followed by a ridge of high pressure on the 6th.

7th to 15th: The ridge of high pressure moved away eastwards on the 7th as Atlantic fronts spread outbreaks of rain across from the west. A southerly airflow developed and this introduced a spell of generally milder than average temperatures. On subsequent days during this period the airflow tended to favour a south-westerly direction. Weather fronts and troughs brought occasional rain, but interspersed with brief ridges of high pressure which brought drier and brighter interludes. Shap recorded a 24-hour rainfall total of 47.4 mm on the 10th. Gravesend (Kent) recorded a maximum temperature of 22.9 °C on 12th.

16th to 26th: A cold front cleared away south-eastwards early on the 16th introducing a colder north-westerly airflow. On subsequent days during this spell the airflow varied between north-westerly and south-westerly, bringing both mild and cool conditions, along with further spells of locally heavy rain and showers interspersed with drier, brighter intervals. Active Atlantic frontal systems and troughs brought further large rainfall totals during this period, with the last of these clearing away south-eastwards during the 26th. St. Mary's Airport (Isle of Scilly) recorded an hourly total of 20.8 mm on 20th. High 24-hour rainfall totals in Cumbria on 25th, with 79.8 mm at Shap (60.8 mm also recorded on 23rd), 68.6 mm at Levens Hall and 66.0 mm at Keswick.

27th to 31st: The 27th had a mixture of sunshine and showers, with a cold northerly airflow starting to introduce much colder conditions. The 28th and 29th were particularly cold and wintry for the time of year, with scattered showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow moving in from the north-west during the 28th. There were slight accumulations of snow in the south-east during the evening of the 28th, and snow settled in the London area for the first time in October since 1934. This was followed by a widespread frost overnight, with a minimum of -6.6 °C recorded at Topcliffe (North Yorkshire). The day of the 29th was also exceptionally cold, with Leek, Thorncliffe (Staffordshire) recording a maximum temperature of 3.1 °C. Some areas had their coldest daily maximum or minimum October temperatures for over 50 years. The 29th was also notable for an area of low pressure moving southwards across western areas. This contributed to a torrential hailstorm in the Ottery St. Mary area of east Devon during the early hours of the 30th. It is estimated that around 100 mm of rain/hail fell in just a few hours, causing major flooding problems.