1st and 2nd: A weak cold front pushed east early on the 1st, bringing a little rain and a fresh and rather cool west to north-west flow developed in its wake. The wind carried showers across from the west with some of the showers heavy, blustery and locally thundery but conversely some places enjoyed prolonged sunshine (Torquay 10.1 hours). Overnight as the wind veered more north-westerly the showers became largely confined to East Anglia, north-east England and exposed western fringes. However, a build of pressure from the west killed off the showers early on the 2nd leaving the bulk of England and Wales dry with sunny periods. Despite the sunshine temperatures were close to normal and it was rather cold in the south-east.
3rd to 7th: Under the influence of a high pressure cell there was a ground frost and local air frost early on the 3rd (Redhill Airfield -0.5 °C) along with fog patches. However, as the high cell drifted away eastwards, the south to south-west flow engendered brought rather cloudy conditions to most parts with these maintained through the following days. The cloud cover was not homogenous with some enjoying sunny periods. Clear periods by night allowed fog patches to develop. It was rather warm in the sunnier spots and the nights were generally mild after the 3rd.
8th to 10th: A band of rain pushed south-east on the 8th but weakened before reaching south-east England and it was largely dry across England and Wales on the 9th and 10th. It was very warm across southern parts with temperatures reaching 23.6 °C at Herne Bay on the 10th.
11th to 13th: A weather front moved in and became slow moving across western parts on the 11th producing some locally very heavy rain. Carlisle (Cumbria) recording 109.2 mm, Milford Haven (Pembrokeshire) 99.0 mm and Keswick (Cumbria) 91.0 mm in the 24 hours to 0900 UTC on the 12th. The weather front drifted further east on the 12th producing some heavy rain across central England. Winterbourne (near Birmingham) recorded 55.2 mm in six hours, with a tornado reported nearby during the evening. A contributing factor in the development of the heavy rain was the temperature contrast across the country with values ranging from 10 °C in Carlisle and across the Pennines, to 23 °C in Cambridge. It was mild across most parts. The evening of the 12th saw further pulses of heavy rain run northwards along the front into southern England. By the morning of the 13th the front had become less active but lingered across eastern counties for much of the day.
14th to 16th: A build of pressure brought a more settled if rather cloudy spell of weather to most parts. However, later on the 16th a band of rain edged northwards across south-west England with the rain becoming heavy and thundery and extending as far east as the Solent.
17th and 18th: High pressure maintained fine weather across eastern parts but weather fronts brought rain to Wales and western parts of England. Later on the 18th rain drifted northwards from the continent into central-southern England and the Midlands.
19th to 25th: Low pressure became dominant through this period bringing unsettled weather with showers or longer spells of rain. Northern and western parts bore the brunt with Capel Curig (Gwynedd) recording 70.6 mm in the 24 hours to 1800 UTC on the 24th. Some of the showers were heavy and thundery on the 25th, particularly in the north. It was also windy on the 24th and 25th with gales in places. There were gusts to 57 knots at Capel Curig on the 24th and 54 knots at Aberdaron (Gwynedd) on the 25th.
26th and 27th: A further Atlantic depression approach the UK on the 26th with an associated warm front pushing northwards across the country. This introduced a very warm southerly flow. Most parts enjoyed a sunny day on the 27th and also recorded exceptionally warm temperatures for late October. In Central London temperatures reached 21.5 °C. It was also very mild by night.
28th to 31st: A weather front pushed eastwards on the 28th and the weather remained unsettled through the rest of the month. Western parts again bore the brunt of the heavier rain with Cardinham (Cornwall) recording 35.6 mm (1.4 inches) in the 24 hours to 1800 UTC on the 28th. On the 30th, Keswick (Cumbria) recorded 20.4 mm in two hours, and Waddington (Lincolnshire) 10.4 mm in one hour. Despite the unsettled nature of the weather it remained warm or rather warm through this period and it was locally exceptionally warm on the 30th with Gravesend recording 21.3 °C. It was also very mild by night.
