Max (Celsius)

Min (Celsius)

Rainfall (mm)

AIRHEAD

27.9

20.0

1.9

TRAVELLERS

29.3

19.1

8.0

RESIDENCY

23.9

15.0

26.3

GEORGETOWN

29.9

21.1

0.3

ST. HELENA

19.4

14.1

18.4

FALKLANDS

15.5

0.8

15.6

UK (Brize Norton)

13.3

-3.0

88.8

Past Week’s Weather

UK

A wet and windy week for much of the UK with slow moving areas of rain affecting most of the country up to Tuesday.  Persistent rain continued across the majority of England through the second half of the week with totals of 70mm in some areas on Saturday.  This combined fell onto already saturated ground and swollen rivers leading to widespread flooding. 

Falklands

First half of the week was mainly dry but with strong gusty northerly winds.  Thursday onwards a series of rain bands followed by showers brought a mixture of snow, hail and even the occasional thunderstorm.  These were accompanied by strong to gale force southwesterly winds.

Ascension

Another showery week with plenty of low cloud around and light to moderate southeasterly winds.  Drier over the weekend, especially on Sunday which had some long sunny periods.

St. Helena

Cloudy with frequent showers through the week on a moderate, occasionally gust southeasterly breeze.  Temperatures steadily climbing with a maximum of 19.4C on Thursday.

Swell compiled by Cyril Cumulus

Swell is defined as a wave that has moved away from it area of origin.  Swell waves usually start life as waves generated by the wind due to some a storm.  The swell that we see breaking onto the shore at English Bay is usually generated by north Atlantic hurricanes and by low pressure systems carried towards the British Isles. 

Once the swell has been generated it will continue across the globe until it meets the shore. Some of the biggest swells are found in the Pacific where waves can travel for thousands of miles without hitting land.  As the swell approaches the shore it will slow down and be pushed upwards.  When the wave cannot push upwards any further it will break.

Generally swells coming from the north Atlantic take about a week to reach Ascension, so next time you hear of a big storm further north, keep an eye out for the large waves hitting Ascension a week later.

Crown Copyright 2012. Met Office.

Met Office  Ascension Island Base