FAIR ISLE
FEBRUARY
Station Number
Elevation (Barometer)
Elevation (Raingauge)
Daily Weather Diary
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9
2002
03.008
61.0
56.7
metres
metres
Grid ref
HZ 210712
Lat.
Long.
59° 31.61' North
1° 37.74' West
59.527° North
1.629° West
Some overnight light rain, cloud well broken by dawn to give a sunny start to the morning. AS
then thickening, the F5 S'ly wind, increasing F6 overnight, backing SE'ly and strengthening gale
F8 0945z. Rain from 1005z soon becoming moderate as gale increases F9 1100 (43kt mean) F8 1125 - F7 1135 - F8 1205 - F9 1240 - F8 - F71305z as wind veers S'ly and later F5-6
SSW'ly. Rain becoming intermittent, moderate at times, later in the afternoon ceased 1510z
with NS edge approaching from west. Cloud well broken 16-1700z but clouding over again with
further moderate rain from 1820z turning showery with moderate rain and hail shower 1955205z. Further rain showers, some moderate, during the evening with lightning flashes as
shower cleared east 2140z. SSW'ly wind increasing gale F8 2120-2130z.
Occasional light rain showers overnight becoming frequent for a time around the middle of the
day as a line of CBs approached from the west. The F7 to gale F8 S to SSE'ly wind veering
SSW'ly and increasing severe gale F9 1310 until 1400z when it eased gale F8. A dry, sunny
but windy end to the afternoon with a clear evening following, the gale easing F7 at 1825z.
Dry overnight and during the morning, the F7 SSW'ly wind easing F3 by 0900z. Variable
amounts SC, generally small, with AS thickening and lowering during the morning, the wind
backing ESE'ly by midday. Rain commenced 1355z, soon becoming moderate or heavy and
persistent and, for a time around 1800z, of rain and snow - though there was little snow
content. (12.6mm 12-1800z). Visibility falling from 20km to 3000m in the heavy precipitation.
Some further rain or rain and drizzle during the evening - the wind, veering W to WNW'ly for a
time, becoming light and variable.
Overnight rain or drizzle turning showery by morning, F1 NE'ly wind becoming a F6 SW'ly.
Showers dying out during morning with clearing skies leading to a sunny end to the morning
and start to the afternoon, visibility improving from 20km to 35km. Sunshine limited during
afternoon by CI/CS thickening to AS, the wind backing SSE'ly. Rain from early evening, wind
backing SE'ly and increasing F7, visibility falling to 3500min rain. Moderate rain for much of
evening. Fair Isle sunniest (4.6hrs) in UK.
Rain dying out overnight as F4 SE'ly wind veers SW'ly and increases F6 to leave a fine sunny
day with variable amounts of CU/SC and at times CB. SW'ly winds easing F4 by the end of the
afternoon. Fine clear evening with strong aurora activity - ribbons from west across zenith to
east horizon plus rays to north. No colour observed 2100-2130z. Strong aurora glow at 2354z
- sky clear, wind calm.
Fine dry night with CU/CB developing during morning bringing showers shortly before midday.
Showers more frequent during afternoon, but generally light but a little heavier early evening.
Precipitation becoming very heavy after 2100z with 12.8mm in the three hours up to midnight.
Winds generally light at F3, W'ly during the morning, veering through NW to NE'ly by late
afternoon before backing NW'ly by evening. Fair Isle wettest (14.1mm) in UK.
Rain clearing overnight to leave a dry start to the morning with broken SC and AS overcast, the
F4 NW'ly wind backing S'ly and SE'ly and increasing F7 later in the morning. Rain from 0925
soon becoming moderate with rain and snow (little snow content) 1100. Precipitation becoming
light and intermittent after midday, the wind veering SSW'ly increasing gale F8 1205-1215z.
Early visibility of 30km falling to 2800m in morning precipitation. Turning showery from mid
afternoon with cloud well broken by 1600z, the wind, veering WSW'ly increasing from F7 to
gale F8 1630-1730z. Further rain showers with variable cloud amounts during the evening,
with gale F8 from 1940z, increasing severe gale F9 briefly at times later.
Early gale, increasing gale F9 at times 0100-0215z, easing F7 0322z and F5 by 0600z by
which time winds had veered W'ly. Showers dying out, dry after 0900z with variable amounts
CU/SC. CI/AS thickening late morning as wind backs F4 S'ly by early afternoon when a little
light rain fell. AS thickening to NS mid afternoon with rain from 1500z, the wind backing SSESE'ly and increasing F7. Visibility also falling from 15km to 5000m by 1800z.Intermittent rain
turning to light rain showers later in evening the wind veering SSW'ly and easing F4.
Overnight rain turning showery after 0700z, F4 SW'ly wind veering WSW/WNW'ly by 0600z and
increasing F5-6 by 0900z. Showers becoming moderate with hail as well as rain and snow
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early afternoon (little snow content) despite temperatures remaining between 5° and 7° Celsius.
"5km visibility falling to 8km in showers. Evening becoming mostly dry with well broken cloud faint aurora glow visible 2050z.
Continuing showery, the showers tending to become more wintry as temperatures fell from
around 4° or 5° Celsius overnight to around 3° Celsius by the end of the afternoon. The
WSW'ly F5 overnight wind easing F4 by 0900z becoming a rather gusty F4-5 (gust 42kt) SW to
W'ly during the morning but easing during the afternoon and veering NW'ly F1 during the
evening.
Pressure falling very rapidly overnight, 9.0mb/3hr at 0600z. Rain, moderate at times with some
snow content, continuing overnight. Calm at first but with a F5 E'ly wind developing backing
NE'ly by 0900z. Heavy rain between 0600-0800z (11.5mm in the two hours) leading to flooding
of low-lying areas with slow drainage. Rain becoming light and intermittent between 09001000z, as NE'ly wind eases F2. Showers, some moderate, after 1000z wind becoming SW to
W'ly and increasing F5. Another period of moderate rain around midday, the wind veering NNE
to NW'ly early afternoon and increasing F6. Rain turning showery mid afternoon, the showers
then becoming less frequent and heavy late afternoon as winds backed NW'ly and eased F4.
Pressure, reaching its lowest at about 968mb late morning, rising very rapidly (7.7mb/3hr at
1500z) during the afternoon. Showers dying out and NW'ly wind falling light late evening with
skies clearing. Moderate aurora glow 2351z.
A few showers of rain and snow overnight, but a mainly clear night with F4 N'ly winds leading to
a frozen ground service. A sunny day, mostly dry day - light rain shower early and late
afternoon and light rain and snow shower late evening. The F4 wind, initially backing NW'ly
during the morning, veering NNE'ly by the late afternoon. Excellent visibility of 50km, strong
aurora glow 2350z.
Apart from a light rain and snow shower during the early hours another dry, sunny day with a
F5 NNE'ly winds bringing excellent visibility. The wind, easing F2 by late afternoon, backing
WSW to SW'ly early evening then increasing F4 by midnight.
A mostly clear night resulting in a ground frost. AS encroaching by dawn progressively
thickening and lowering during the day, the F4 wind backing from WSW to SSW and increasing
F6 by dawn and steadily increasing to be F7 by afternoon. Remaining dry until 1650z when,
with increasing amounts of ST/SC rain commenced. Good visibility steadily falling, decreasing
to 15km as the precipitation started. Some moderate rain during the early evening, the wind
gusting to 45kt at 1922z. Wind then veering W'ly and easing F5-6 by 2100z as skies cleared to
broken SC, becoming cloudless by midnight.
CU/SC cloud, increasing overnight, breaking to reveal AS overcast by 0700z. The early W'ly F5
backing SW'ly and increasing F6 during the morning. Variable amounts of CU/SC during the
morning, the AS/AC thinning to CS (slight partial halo) with lower cloud increasing during
afternoon. Visibility falling from 25km to 15km. Some light intermittent drizzle around 15001600z. A cloudy evening (SC) with some early drizzle then dry.
A mostly cloudy day, some breaks in lower SC during afternoon with early broken CI soon
replaced by AS overcast. Wind, SSW to SW'ly F5-6 at first increasing F6-7 during early
afternoon with gale 1217-1235z. Some light rain early evening, wind then veering W'ly and
easing F5 by 2100z. 20km visibility all day.
Dry overnight and during the morning, an AS overcast breaking to CI after 0600z and just well
broken CU/SC by midday, a F4 W'ly wind backing SW'ly. CI/AS increasing during the
afternoon with wintry showers developing by 1315z becoming more frequent and heavier after
1500z, the SW'ly wind increasing F5 and becoming rather squally with gusts to 47kt. Rain and
small hail showers continuing through the evening, though with well broken cloud between, the
wind veering W'ly and increasing F6. Visibility good at 25-30km.
Squally wintry showers of rain and small hail overnight, the W'ly F6 wind increasing F7 to gale
F8 0505-0510, 0545-0555, 0640-0652z, gusting to 55kt at 0543z. Snow in the showers with
visibility down to 800m at 0646z in moderate shower of hail and snow leaving ground >50%
covered at 0700z. Remnants of lying hail and snow finally thawing soon after midday. Many
large extensive CB9 cells during the morning. Temperature remaining more or less the same
at around 3° Celsius but dew point falling steadily all day to be around -7° Celsius late
afternoon. Wintry showers, becoming less frequent during the morning, but persisting through
the evening turning to snow - although skies were clear for much of the time. Winds, still
touching gale F8 0910-0915z and gusting 54kt veering W to NW'ly during the morning, steadily
easing through the afternoon falling calm by 2100z before increasing N'ly F4 by midnight.
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Visibility, initially reduced by adjacent showers to 10-15km, and considerably reduced within
showers, improving to 30km later.
A cold day with temperatures hardly above freezing and a F5-6 NW'ly wind producing a high
wind chill during the morning. Frequent snow, snow pellet and small hail showers with blowing
snow - reducing visibility at times to 400m - resulting in a 2cm snow depth 0900-1200z. The
wintry showers becoming less frequent during the afternoon with some thawing of the lying
snow in the sunshine as cloud became well broken the visibility improving to 30km. CI quickly
thickening to AS NW'ly winds, easing quickly, backed F4 SSE'ly by the end of the afternoon - at
the same time pressure beginning to fall very rapidly. Light snow from 2015z, the AS quickly
thickening to NS and ST with visibility falling to 4000m, the SE'ly wind increasing F6 by 2100z.
Moderate rain and snow by midnight, 2cm of slush covering the ground. Fair Isle lowest max
(3.0° C) in UK.
0255z ESE'ly F7, gusting 47kt, easing F4. 0300z wind veer from ESE to SW'ly by 0310z.
Calm 0400-0408z, then E'ly F3 with steady increase to F6 by 0525z. A very wet night with
19.4mm 00-06z. Impossible to measure 'snow depth' at 0600z as very wet slush. Pressure
kicked up at 0300z. E'ly wind increasing gale 0622-0655z. Dawn revealed heavy snow cover
on ward Hill above 400ft. ENE'ly gale from 0720, increasing F9 0725 with gust to 73kts at
0727z, easing F8 0828z. Moderate rain and snow easing off after 0700z with snow content
increasing after 0800z. Pressure rising extremely rapidly during the morning with rises of
10.5mb/3hrs recorded at 0955z, and 10.8mb/3hrs at 1050z. Pressure rises declining during the
afternoon, but still 5.7mb/3hrs at 1754z. Becoming brighter after 0900z with visibility improving
from 3000m to 15km. Gale ceased 1010 the F7 ENE'ly wind then steadily backing NNE'ly by
early afternoon. Showers less frequent for a time early afternoon but hail showers becoming
more frequent again after 1445z with increasing snow content to leave 1cm of lying snow by
2100z. NNE'ly wind easing F2 during early evening before backing W'ly by midnight.
Light overnight winds and relatively clear sky leading to a moderate ground frost. Wintry
showers overnight dying out as AS thickened and a W'ly wind backs SW'ly and increases F5-6.
Rain and snow from 0822, turning to rain 0930, moderate at times during the morning, as the
SSW'ly wind strengthening F7 and then gale F8 from 1052 lifted temperatures to 4° Celsius.
Pressure falling quickly all morning falling very rapidly during the afternoon with pressure falls of
9.8, 9.5, 9.1mb/3hrs 15-17z. A misty afternoon with visibility down to 1200m and extensive low
ST developing as temperatures continued to rise - reaching 8° Celsius by 1800z as the SSW'ly
gale, easing F6 1620z veers WSW to W'ly. Rain and drizzle dying out early evening with cloud
breaking by midnight.
Frequent rain showers turning wintry overnight as the temperature falls from 7.5° at midnight to
3.2° Celsius by morning. Temperature continuing to fall all day to be near freezing by late
afternoon - wintry showers turning more to snow with visibility falling to <1000m at times.
Extensive CB anvils. 1cm of lying snow from early afternoon. F7 W'ly wind increasing gale F8
0445-0500, 0622-0645, 0805-0825, 0850-0900, 1015-1035, 1120-1237, 1350-1415z. F7 W'ly
wind veering NW'ly during the evening, moderate
NW'ly F7, increasing gale F8 2355-0007z, easing F4 by morning. Wintry showers with small
hail, snow pellets and snow continue, though becoming generally light during the day with the
bulk of the showers passing to the northeast. Visibility varying between 1500m in the heavier
showers up to 40km in the clear. NW'ly winds veering NNW'ly during the afternoon and
increasing F6. Snow depth gradually reducing to 1cm during the afternoon.
A cold night followed by a cold day with a F5-6 NNW to NW'ly wind and air temperatures
remaining close to freezing for much of the time. Scattered snow showers continue,
occasionally moderate during the morning and early afternoon with the otherwise excellent
visibility reduced to <1000m for a time in the early afternoon. Net accumulation negligible though the snow surface dry with no thawing during the first half of the day. Snow showers
dying out during the evening as the CBs gradually decayed (around 1500z an aircraft in the
locality indicated cloud tops around 8000ft) and later the CU was replaced by a SC sheet.
A cold night with a hard ground frost under a thin CI/CS sheet as a F4 NNW'ly wind fell calm.
Temperature rising from 0710z as an ESE'ly wind slowly freshened. Visibility an excellent
60km during the morning. CS, initially with a strong halo, thickening to AS during the morning
with rain from 1240z, together with ice pellets from 1245z to 1250z when the precipitation
became rain and snow. ESE'ly wind increasing F6 by early afternoon. Precipitation moderate
at times during the afternoon - the AS continuing to lower as SC/ST spread in with ST overcast
by 1600z. Visibility by now down to 4000-5000m. E'ly gale F8 from 1730z - very little snow
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content by this time. Wind gusting 58kt at 1807z - probable funnelling effect off Sheep Rock to
the east. Misty evening with moderate rain/rain and drizzle, low ST and continuing E'ly gale.
E'ly gale easing F7 0015z and from F6 0210z to F3 by 0220z.
Moderate rain much of the night easing after 0600z by which time the F3 E'ly wind had backed
NE'ly and increased F5. Rain turning showery after 0700z as NS lifted to AS. The showers
then turning wintry with rain and snow after 0800z as AS thinned, the NE'ly wind increasing F7
with gale F8 0952-1100z. Showers dying out during the morning with a dry afternoon, the AS
breaking to CI to give a sunny afternoon. Visibility 15-25km. Fine, dry evening with well broken
CU/SC, the NE'ly F7 backing NNE'ly and easing F6.
A cold day with wintry showers developing overnight - a moderate snow/snow pellet shower at
about 0030z - as F6 NNE'ly winds backed N'ly. A thin snow cover of <0.5cm by 0600z, but
<50% by 0900z. Wintry showers of rain and hail and snow continuing through the day with well
broken CU/CB/SC allowing good amounts of sunshine. N'ly winds, easing F5 during the
afternoon, veering NNE'ly and increasing F5-6 during the evening. Visibility generally 40-50km
between showers, but falling to 6km in precipitation.
Dave Wheeler