WEATHER WATCH: Warm summer in Wick, whatever the moon's influence
Weather Watch by Keith Banks
The Moon is the Earth's nearest celestial neighbour. However, in terms of the direct influence of the Moon on the Earth's weather, research has not provided a satisfactory explanation.
Nevertheless, it is known that the Moon's tidal attraction is not strong enough to cause significantly strong changes in air pressure to impact on weather conditions.
The often quoted suggestion that there is a connection between the waxing Moon and clear skies is based upon a premise that is fundamentally flawed. The same is true of the relationship between the Moon and frost. A clear sky in winter is one of the factors that may facilitate a night frost, and with no cloud present, the Moon is visible.
The popular hypotheses that a waxing Moon will result in fine weather, a full Moon portends a change in the weather, and that a waning Moon heralds bad weather are without foundation.
There is no direct relationship between weather conditions and the Moon alone. However, optical phenomena associated with the Moon – for example haloes and coronas – provide meaningful information about conditions that can be used to make accurate forecasts.
Lastly, the colour of the moonlight is determined by the atmospheric conditions, and from this, changes in the weather can be predicted.
A review of Wick's historic record for mean air temperature for August showed that August 2022 was the most warm since that of 2019, and that it is currently the 12th equal warmest in a series stretching back to 1910. The town's mean air temperature was identical in August 1933.
In terms of precipitation, August 2022 was the most wet since that of 2020. However, closer scrutiny of the rainfall archive for a series of Augusts commencing from 1910 revealed that it is presently the 41st equal driest. The royal burgh's precipitation total was equal in August 2012.
Summer 2022 was Wick's warmest since that of 2003. Mean air temperature was 13.54C (56.37F). Wick's mean air temperature for summer, in terms of the averaging period 1991-2020, is 12.57C (54.63F).
Summer 2022 was Wick's wettest since that of 2020. The precipitation total was 138.60mm (5.46 inches). The long-term average quantity for summer is presently 186.52mm (7.34 inches).
Wick's mean air temperature for August 2022 was 13.84C (56.91F). The long-term average for August, in terms of the averaging period 1991-2020, is 13.33C (55.99F).
Wick's average daytime maximum air temperature for August 2022 was 16.80C (62.24F). The current long-term average value for this variable is 16.29C (61.32F). The highest maximum was 24.2C (75.6F), recorded on August 10. Maximums of 22.6C (72.7F), and 23.8C (74.8F), witnessed on August 2 and 9 respectively, were also outstanding for the town. Lowest maximum was 11.6C (52.9F), noted on August 17.
Wick's average overnight minimum air temperature for the month was 10.88C (51.6F), The long-term average for August, in terms of the current 30-year averaging period, is 10.36C (50.6F). Highest overnight minimum was 14.1C (57.4F), recorded on August 10 and 23 respectively. Lowest minimum air temperature was 5.2C (41.4F), observed on August 5. Lowest temperature recorded at 5cm over the grass was 3.0C (37.4F), also on August 5.
Precipitation was measurable on 25 dates. The total for the month was 56.8mm (2.24 inches).
Wettest day was August 15. The amount for the 24 hours commencing 9am (GMT) was 11.4mm (0.49 of an inch).
August 2022 hosted no "days of gale". However, the wind velocity reached gale force 8 (39.0mph/33.9knots) on one date. On August 2 a force 4 to 5 south-westerly wind gusted up to 39.0mph/33.9knots, gale force 8 on the Beaufort scale.
Thunder was audible in the Wick during the early evening of August 14.