UK Weather review: Oct 2017

October was rather mild on the whole and unusually warm at times, with a mean temperature of 11.3°C, 1.8°C above the 1981-2010 average. It was also cloudier yet drier than average in many places, especially the south-east, with <25% of the average rainfall in some areas. Some parts of north and western Scotland, north-western England and Northern Ireland were, however, above average due to ex-hurricane Ophelia and Storm Brian, the second storm of the season. Ophelia also bought unusually high temperatures on the 16th as warm air was dragged up from the continent. The storm also resulted in a plume of dust and smoke reaching the UK from the Iberian Peninsula, which turned the sun red. The month ended on a colder, brighter note with widespread ground frost.

UK Weather Averages: Oct 2017 (Source: Met Office)