Royston (Iceni) Weather Station

Daily Weather Observations - March 2006

(All Times GMT)

Differences from average:

Differences from average shown in red. Reference periods used are as follows: Temperature 30 Years 1976/2005; rainfall 30 Years 1971/2000; sunshine 30 Years 1971/2000.

(*The differences from average quoted during the course of the month relate to the cumulative daily averages up to the date of the last observation, not the averages for the month as a whole)

Additional Data:

Rainfall Duration  30.3 hours

Air Frost Duration  112.8 hours

Graphs and Charts:

Click on the following links to view this month's graphs and charts.....

1. Daily Maximum, Minimum & Grass Minimum Temperatures

2. Daily Maximum & Minimum Temperatures (with 30 Year Comparative Means)

3. Daily Earth (30 cms Depth) Temperature @ 0900 GMT  4. Daily Rainfall  5.  Daily Sunshine

6. Daily Maximum Gust & Mean Wind Speed  7. Daily Wind Direction @ 0900 GMT

8. Daily Mean MSL Air Pressure  9.  Daily Mean Relative Humidity   10. Thermograph 

11.  Barograph  12.  Hygrograph  13. Anemograph  14. Wind Direction

15.  Sunshine Duration  16. Rainfall Intensity & Duration

March 2006 Weather Review:

......and click on the link below for a text report of the March 2006 weather in Royston

March 2006 Weather Review

March (since 1973) at Royston (Iceni) Weather Station:

Mean day maximum temperature (30 years 1976/2005) 10.4°C

Mean night minimum temperature (30 years 1976/2005) 3.5°C

Highest temperature 21.6°C (17th March 1990); lowest temperature -6.6°C (3rd March 1986)

Lowest grass minimum temperature -13.7°C (3rd March 1986)

Warmest March 1997 (Mean temperature 9.1°C); coldest March 1987 (Mean temperature 4.3°C)

Average March rainfall (30 years 1971/2000) 42.5 mm

Wettest March 1979 (Rainfall 97.8 mm); driest March 1997 (Rainfall 8.1 mm)

Wettest Day 2nd March 1995 (Rainfall 30.1 mm);

Highest number of "rain days" (0.2 mm or more) 25 (1981); lowest number of "rain days" 3 (2003)

Highest number of days with thunder 2 (1986, 1995)

Highest number of air frosts 15 (1987)

Highest number of ground frosts 21 (1987)

Highest number of days with snow falling 11 (1979)

Highest number of days with snow lying (ground with more than 50% snow cover @ 0900 GMT) 4 (1986)

In this picture the east face of the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist in Royston is viewed from the Priory Gardens (at 1006 GMT on 2nd March 2006). The building  dates from the 12th Century, being a surviving part of an Augustinian priory established on the site at this time. Various changes have taken place over the ensuing centuries, most notably in the 19th century. As can be seen the Church and Gardens are bathed in bright early Spring sunshine but the temperature is only 1.3°C, after an overnight minimum temperature of -3.1°C. A WSW wind of 6 knots gusting to 14 knots is mitigating the warming effect of the sun, which shone for 6.9 hours that day.	This wide tract of arable land viewed from the crest of the East Anglian Heights between the villages of Barkway and Reed sweeps down a more gently graded part of the north facing chalk escarpment towards the town of Royston which nestles on the far side of the distant ridge. This picture was taken on 23rd March 2006 (at 1529 GMT), a notable feature being the dryness of the soil reflecting the dry nature of March to date. Only 16 millimetres of rainfall had been recorded up to 22nd, about half the 1976/2005 average for this period. March had been notably cold until 23rd, this being the last such day before milder air edged across the country from the Atlantic Ocean.	According to Greek legend the pasque flower sprang from the tears of Venus, this specimen (pulsatilla vulgaris) having been spotted on Therfield Heath, Royston  in the afternoon of 31st March 2006. The pasque flower survives in England on chalk and limestone grassland in the counties of Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The dry chalk grassland of Therfield Heath is a favoured habitat for the pasque flower and in the flowering period (March/May) some fine examples are to be found particularly in the Pen Hills at the western margin of the Heath. Protection is required from rabbit and sheep grazing, however! (Photograph: Ian Hirst)

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(This page last updated 12th April 2006 1940 GMT)