In Galloway, September proved to be drier than usual, with records indicating lower levels of rainfall than the average for the month. Meteorologist Geoff Monk has shared insights into the weather patterns observed during the month. Laurieston experienced just 63mm (2.5 inches) of rainfall over the 30 days, which is significantly below the long-term average. A notable feature of the weather in September was the considerable temperature difference between night and day, reaching almost 10 degrees Celsius.
According to Monk, the distinct temperature variations were a result of cold, clear nights, particularly evident in the middle of the month when temperatures dropped below zero to -0.8 degrees Celsius on the 13th. The mean minimum temperature for September stood at 7.5 degrees Celsius, while the mean maximum temperature was a warm 17.0 degrees Celsius, resulting in an overall mean temperature of 12.2 degrees Celsius, closely aligned with the long-term average.
Monk also highlighted an unusual occurrence during September – the month witnessed the highest temperature of the year, reaching 24.7 degrees Celsius. This surpassed the previous record of 24.4 degrees Celsius recorded on May 18. Despite a cooler-than-average summer, with temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius on rare occasions over the entire three months, September stood out as an anomaly with both high temperatures and lower rainfall.
The month also saw a prevalence of frosts, with one air frost and six ground frosts recorded. Towards the end of the month, there were consecutive cool days, with the coolest maximum temperature of 13.1 degrees Celsius observed on the 30th, 1.8 degrees Celsius lower than the warmest night recorded on the 2nd. This weather trend in Galloway paints a unique picture of September, departing from the typical expectations for autumn weather.
In conclusion, Galloway experienced a comparatively dry and unusually warm September, deviating from the anticipated autumnal weather patterns. Meteorologist Geoff Monk’s analysis sheds light on the distinct weather phenomena observed in the region during the month, providing valuable insights into the local climate trends.