Mackerel skies
| 17:10 UK time, Wednesday, 6 July 2011
I'm back today from a couple of days filming Weatherman Walking on the north Pembrokeshire coast from Trefin to Pwllderi.
During filming on Monday I noticed a pattern in the clouds called a Mackerel Sky which resembles the scales of a fish. There is an old rhyme: "Mackerel sky, mackerel sky. Never long wet, never long dry"
Or for sailors: "Mare's tails and mackerel scales, make tall ships carry low sails.
If you see this pattern in the sky it can mean a change in the weather on the way normally in the next 12 to 24 hours.
I told the crew to expect rain the following day which we got but thankfully the rain cleared, the visibility improved and I didn't need my waterproofs during filming!
We could see for miles with wonderful views along the coast towards Carn Llidi, Strumble Head and inland towards the Preseli Hills.
Last month was sunnier and wetter than normal with 106.4mm of rain (average rainfall for Wales in June is 83.4mm).
July got off to a fine and warm start with temperatures last Monday soaring as high as 22 to 26 Celsius but since then it has turned cooler and fresher. Temperatures today only 16 to 20 Celsius.
shows a swirl of cloud over SW Ireland spinning around an area of low pressure with a band of rain spreading across Wales.
The next few days will continue unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain at times. Some heavy showers are likely with a risk of hail, thunder and gusty winds. However, the weather should improve over the weekend with fewer showers and some sunshine.
Derek
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