Weather Weirding

 You can observe a lot by watching - Yogi Berra

November has been a strange month weatherwise. Katherine Hayhoe, the climate scientist, popularised  the term Global Weirding to emphasise the increase in extreme weather events (e.g. floods & droughts) that would arise from global warming. She made a number of videos on this topic which you can find here.

Photo 1: The Main Street through Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire (14th November 2025)

Storm Claudia, named by the Spanish Meteorological Agency, caused a lot of damage, including fatalities, when it hit the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal in mid-November. It hit the UK on Friday 14th November bringing heavy rain and floods. Figure 1 shows the daily precipitation recorded on my back garden Davis Weather Station. November had already seen plenty of rain before the 22 mm that fell on the 14th.

Figure 1: Daily Rainfall (Hereford) - November 2025

Although it rained all day on the 14th, it was never torrential. Other weather stations in the locality recorded one to four times as much rain as my Davis Weather Station.

Monmouthshire suffered some of the worst flooding with the county town, Monmouth, particularly affected (Photo 2).

Photo 2: Monmouth High Street flooded by Storm Claudia (Nov 2025)

Closer to home, this is one of the sites where I test as a citizen scientist before Storm Claudia ...

Photo 3: Yazor Brook at Three Elms (before Storm Claudia)

... and after Storm Claudia ...

Photo 4: Yazor Brook at Three Elms after Storm Claudia

Figure 2 shows the water level measured by the Environmental Agency at the Three Elms gauging station. The flow rate of the brook increased by a factor of 50 and, as Photo 4 illustrates, it washed a lot of soil (agricultural run-off) downstream towards the River Wye. The coffee colour of the brook is due to the characteristic fertile red soils of Herefordshire.

Figure 2: Water Level, Yazor Brook (23/10/25 to 20/1125)

Floods resulting from Storm Claudia is not the only example of weird weather in November. This month has been atypically warm. Not warm in a sunny pleasant way but overcast, dull and damp which has kept the nighttime temperatures high. As Figure 3 illustrates, there have been quite a few nights where the temperature did not drop below 10 ℃. Bear in mind that the average daily temperature for Central England in November is 6 - 7 ℃.

Figure 3: Min/Max Daily Temperatures (1/11/25 to 20/11/25)

I took this snapshot of the Central England Temperature (CET) on 12th November 2025. The anomalies are based on the 1961-1990 average for CET. At this point in time, the mean November temperatures were nearly 6 ℃ higher than normal. 

Figure 4: Monthy Central England Temperatures for 2025

As Figure 3 shows, we have seen some cooler temperatures and overnight frosts since then but we are still about 4 ℃ higher than normal as of the 19th November. There is a good chance 2025 will be the hottest year for the CET since records began in 1669!

Citizen Science - Volumetric Dilutions

 Be a physical chemist, an analytical chemist, an organic chemist, if you will; but above all, be a chemist - Ira Remsen

Photo 1: Yazor Brook, Hereford (polluted by soil run-off and shopping trolley)

As citizen scientists monitoring the health of the River Wye, we perform both qualitative and quantitative measurements. Qualitative measurements might include how the water looks (clarity, colour) and whether there is evidence for pollution (algae, foam, soil run-off, shopping trolleys, etc). You might be surprised how many shopping trolleys we have to extricate from brooks and streams!

Quantitative measurements would include the temperature, conductivity and pH of the water as well as the concentration of nutrients such as orthophosphates and ammonia. There is a third category which is semi-quantitative; this would include nitrates and nitrites when measured using a simple dip test. Most citizen scientists that are part of the Wye Alliance measure turbidity using a Secchi Tube, a semi-quantitative method, although some do use the quantitative nephelometer.

For quantitative and semi-quantitative analyses, it may be necessary to prepare standard solutions of known concentrations in order to check the equipment is working correctly (i.e. within specification). Occasionally, water samples may need to be diluted prior to measurement when the the concentration of the analyte (e.g. orthophosphate, ammonia, turbidity) falls outside the upper range of the method and/or instrument.

Approximate dilutions can be achieved using basic equipment such as measuring cylinders and syringes (Photo 2). Prepare a 1:10 dilution by syringing 1 ml of sample (e.g. river water) into a clean dry container before adding 9 ml purified water (distilled or de-ionised); gently swirl to mix the contents. Alternatively, add sample to the 10 ml measuring cylinder up to the 1 ml graduation mark and then add purified water up to the 10 ml graduation mark.

Photo 2: 10 ml Measuring Cylinder and 1 ml/10 ml Syringes

For more accurate dilutions you could calibrate your measuring cylinders and syringes. To do this you will need a cheap (£20) microbalance (Photo 3) capable of measuring to at least three decimal places (0.001 g). To calibrate the measuring cylinder, place the empty cylinder on the balance and tare; add purified water to the 1 ml graduation mark and record the weight; add more water to the 2 ml graduation mark and record the weight. Continue up to the 10 ml graduation mark. Water has a density of 0.998 g/ml at 20 ℃ so you should divide the recorded weights by 0.998 to give the corrected volumes for the measuring cylinder. The density of water changes with temperature so you may need to choose a different correction factor if the ambient temperature differs from 20 ℃.

Photo 3: Cheap Electronic Top Balance

Use the same procedure to calibrate your syringes. Alternatively, you can prepare the dilution directly using just the microbalance. Place a clean vessel on the balance and tare. Add the water sample and record the weight (W₁). Add purified water diluent and record the total weight (W₂). The dilution factor is W₂/W₁. This method only works when diluting a water sample with water.

Traditionally, volumetric dilutions were performed using glass pipettes (Photo 4) and volumetric flasks (Photo 5). Glass pipettes come in two forms (bulb and graduated); the former delivers an accurate single shot volume whereas the latter is more flexible and can deliver a range of volumes. Volumetric flasks (Photo 5) come in a wide range of sizes (e.g. 1 ml to 5000 ml). Class A (high accuracy) and Class B (lower but still good accuracy) pipettes and flasks are available.

Photo 4: Pipette Pump and Graduated 25 ml Pipette (Class A)

To prepare an accurate dilution, a known volume (e.g. 25 ml) would be pipetted into a volumetric flask (e.g. 250 ml) and made up to the mark with diluent. You can find more information on the accuracy and tolerances of volumetric glassware here. 

Photo 5: 250 ml (Class A) and 1000 ml (Class B) Volumetric Flasks

For rapid and repeat dilutions, most scientists now use an adjustable volume autopipette (Photo 6). A good quality autopipette can be bought for £30-40 although the disposable tips (ca 0.05p to 0.15p each) are consumable extras. The autopipette range covers volumes from as little as 0.1 μl to 10 ml; the two Onilab instruments I bought had volume ranges of 100 μl to 1 ml and 1 ml to 5 ml. Both autopipettes came with QC certificates.

Photo 6: 100-1000 μl and 1000-5000 μl Adjustable Volume Autopipettes

Autumn Colours at Queenswood Arboretum

The secret of getting ahead is getting started - Mark Twain

It is the time of year where we make our annual pilgrimage to Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum to see the autumn colours. Especially those in the Autumn Garden with its Japanese maple trees. Visits in previous years can be found here and here.

The end of October/beginning of November is usually the best time to go to see the Japanese maples. The colours are at their finest and you need to visit before the winter storms blow all the leaves off.

Photo 1: Mary in the The Autumn Garden, Queenswood (28th October 2025)

There is plenty of colour before you get to the Autumn Garden ...

Photo 2: Queenswood (28th October 2025)

... but this is the site that greets you as you approach the Autumn Garden ...

Photo 3: Autumn Garden, Queenswood (28th Oct 2025)

Just enjoy the riot of colour from the Japanese maples ...

Photo 4: Autumn Garden, Queenswood (28th Oct 2025)

Photo 5: Autumn Garden, Queenswood (28th Oct 2025)

Photo 6: Autumn Garden, Queenswood (28th Oct 2025)

Photo 7: Autumn Garden, Queenswood (28th Oct 2025)

This scene was being painted by Richard Bavin, resident artist with the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust who care for and maintain Queenswood.

Photo 8: Autumn Garden, Queenswood (28th Oct 2025)

One last look at the reds, browns, pinks, oranges and greens before departing ...

Photo 9: Queenswood (28th October 2025)

There is an excellent cafe at Queenswood but we had taken sandwiches and hot drinks so we could sit quietly among the autumn hues and soak up the beauty of an English autumn. 

Leaves change colour in autumn as the days shorten and the temperatures drop. The tree stops producing chlorophyll, the green pigment used for photosynthesis. As the chlorophyll breaks down it reveals the ever present yellow and orange carotenoids and xanthophylls. Some trees, such as the Japanese maples, produce red & purple anthocyanins which help the tree capture the last bit of energy from the sun before the leaves drop. The intensity of the reds and purples is higher when high sunshine levels combine with dry conditions to increase sugar levels in the tree sap.

Photo 10: Panorama from the Viewpoint at Queenswood (28th Oct 2025)

This photo of the Skirrid, near Abergavenny, was taken from the Queenswood viewpoint with the Pixel 10 Pro. The Skirrid is roughly 18 miles (30 kilometres) away as the crow flies.

Photo 11: The Skirrid from Queenswood Viewpoint (28th Oct 2025)

A Day Out in Tewkesbury

 If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything - Mark Twain

Tewkesbury is a mid-sized town (population ~ 20,000) approximately 30 miles from Hereford. Travelling by car is, by far, the quickest (~ 40 minutes) and most convenient means of getting there. It is possible to get a train (journey time 100 - 150 minutes) from Hereford to Ashchurch which is 3 miles from the centre of Tewkesbury. Alternatively, several buses/coaches run between these two locations with a change at Gloucester (travel time ~ 120 minutes).

Tewkesbury Abbey was exhibiting Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' and it had been recommended to us.

Photo 1: Museum of the Moon at Tewkesbury Abbey (27th October 2025)

This inflated (helium) balloon is a 1:500,000 scale model of our nearest astronomical neighbour. The sphere can be lit internally though we only saw it in its non-illuminated form. An impressive piece of art. So impressive, in fact, that there are a few more pictures ...

Photo 2: Museum of the Moon

Photo 3: The Dark Side of the Moon

Photo 4: Museum of the Moon

While Tewkesbury Abbey does not have the status of a cathedral, its size and grandeur certainly put it on a par with other cathedrals. It is roughly the same size as Hereford Cathedral, the current church is slightly older (mostly built by 1121) than Hereford Cathedral (mostly built by 1140) and it features the largest Norman tower in existence. Tewkesbury Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery and, probably, the finest and best example of Norman architecture in Britain. 

Photo 5: Approaching Tewkesbury Abbey

If you like stained glass windows, there is plenty to see here ...

Photo 6: Tewkesbury Abbey (October 2025)

Photo 7: Tewkesbury Abbey (October 2025)

Photo 8: Tewkesbury Abbey (October 2025)

Photo 9: Tewkesbury Abbey (October 2025)

Photo 10: Tewkesbury Abbey (October 2025)

Photo 11: Tewkesbury Abbey (October 2025)

Photo 12: Tewkesbury Abbey (October 2025)

Tewkesbury has a long history with many fine medieval and Tudor buildings (Photo 13) ...

Photo 13: The Berkeley Arms, Church Street, Tewkesbury

... and runs the largest free Medieval Festival in Europe where you can watch a re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury (1471). We attended the festival a decade or so ago when we had a blacksmith student (Tom) who was also a re-enactor. An exciting (and somewhat noisy) day where you get to see all aspects of a medieval life. If you are the market for a new suit of armour, you could possibly find a supplier here!!

Tewkesbury, like Abergavenny, seems like a great place to live with plenty of activities and events. Lots of independent shops, a theatre and museum, and a nice atmosphere. The M5 motorway is close by with fast road links to London, Cardiff, Birmingham and beyond. As noted earlier, there is a railway station at Ashchurch, about 3 miles from the town centre. However, perhaps the biggest drawback arises from the location of Tewkesbury at the confluence of two rivers, the Severn and the Avon, and the enormous flooding risk this entails. Drone footage of the January 2024 floods is shown in Video 2.

Video 2: Tewkesbury Floods, January 2024

The floods of 2007 were the worst in recent times, partly because they occurred in July rather than the usual winter months.

Video 3: Tewkesbury Floods, July 2007

Before travelling home we thought we would visit the newly opened Cotswold Designer Outlet situated just outside Tewkesbury and close to the M5 motorway and Ashchurch railway station. This shopping centre is a clone of Bicester Village which we visited last year.

Photo 14: Cotswold Designer Outlet (October 2025)

They had made a bit of an effort for Halloween but the shopping experience seemed soulless albeit the staff were very friendly (and young). Not really our 'scene' so no purchases made either here or at Bicester village.

Photo 15: Cotswold Designer Outlet (October 2025)

Dobbies Garden Centre (Photo 16) is very close to the Cotswold Designer Outlet so we popped in for a cup of tea and a piece of cake before heading home.

Photo 16: Dobbies Garden Centre, Tewkesbury

Halloween hadn't even passed but Christmas was just around the corner!

Photo 17: Only 58 Shopping Days to Xmas!

A Day Out in Abergavenny

 Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter - Mark Twain

Photo 1: Sunset on the way home (25th October 2025)

We haven't been to Abergavenny for a while; a shame because it is a really nice town just over the border in Wales. You can catch a direct train (journey time 20-25 minutes) from Hereford to Abergavenny but there is a 15 minute walk at both ends of the journey. This time we went by car (24 miles) which takes about 40 minutes and would, in theory, have given us an 'extra' hour to look around. However, we took the opportunity to return home using a more scenic route via Hay Bluff so that the overall travel times (rail versus road) were about the same.

First stop in Abergavenny was the Priory Church of St Mary's because it was adjacent to the car park. There are many fine artefacts in this church with pride of place going to the Jesse figure and window (Photo 2).

Photo 2: The Jesse, Priory Church, Abergavenny (25th Oct 2025)

Here is a short YouTube video showing the Jesse window in more detail ...

Video 1: The Jesse Window (with accompanying organ music)

... with a few more details about the Jesse figure here.

The grade II listed Tithe Barn is across the courtyard from the Priory Church. The Abergavenny Millenium Tapestry is housed here but, unfortunately, is not currently open to the public due to repair and renovation work on the building itself. There is a Community Cafe downstairs where you will also find the studio of Jeremy Thomas, Artist-in-Residence.

We headed for the town centre hoping to find something to eat and rest our feet. The lively Abergavenny Market Hall is always worth a visit. Remember to look upwards to see the seasonal displays hanging from the ceiling ...

Photo 3: Abergavenny Market Hall (25th October 2025)

Market days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with occasional markets on some Thursdays.

The main shopping area is full of independent shops and, unusually for a small town, it has its own department store, Nicholls. We had hoped to get a bite to eat at Nicholls' Botanical Cafe but it was very busy with a queue waiting to be seated. Instead, we had to make do with the local Wetherspoons, The Coliseum, where the veggie brunch was very good (and, as always, excellent value). We wandered around a few more shops and bought a book from Waterstones (my birthday present) before heading back to the car.

Abergavenny is a small town (population: ca 14,000) with a good shopping centre and market. We might have considered moving here when we relocated from London 20+ years ago. It has a good theatre, which we have visited on a number of occasions, plenty of clubs and societies, and is surrounded by some wonderful countryside and places to visit. The town has excellent transport links by train (on the Cardiff to Manchester/Liverpool line) and road (Heads of the Valley road). When we did move away from London, we had three school-age children so probably did not seriously consider Wales because it would have required attending a Welsh-speaking school. 

Footnote: Y Fenni (the Welsh name for Abergavenny) is one of our favourite cheeses.

We decided to take a more scenic route home via Llanthony Priory and Hay Bluff. Leaving Abergavenny on the A465 (Abergavenny ⇆ Hereford road), we passed this well known feature (Photo 4) on Bryn Arw, a hill just outside Abergavenny.

Photo 4: Bryn Arw, near Abergavenny (October 2025)

The image shows the Welsh phrase 'DAW ETO DDAIL AR FRYN' which translates as ' There will be leaves on the mountain again'. The message refers to a tree-planting scheme by the project 

'Stump Up For Trees' aiming to plant 1,000,000 native trees in mid-Wales. Work started in 2020.

Before long, we turned off the A465 onto narrow minor roads heading towards Llanthony Priory. Unfortunately, we missed the left-hand turn to the Priory and  ended up at Capel-y-ffin where there is a small chapel dedicated to St Mary (Photo 5) ...

Photo 5: St Mary's Church, Capel-y-ffin (October 2025)

This small chapel (internal measurements 8 metres by 4 metres) was built in 1762, replacing an earlier one built in the 15th Century. The photo was taken 'on the fly' as we drove past so apologies for the poor quality.

We continued along the Gospel Pass, the highest in Wales, with magnificent views in all directions ...

Photo 6: Views from the Gospel Pass (October 2025)

... before arriving at the Hay Bluff car park for a brief stop.

Photo 7: Hay Bluff from the Car Park (October 2025)

There was a strong cooling breeze so we didn't stay long; just enough time to take a picture of Hay Bluff (Photo 7) and a short video (Video 1) of Twmpa (aka Lord Hereford's Knobbe).

Video 1: Twmpa viewed from the Hay Bluff car park (25th October 2025)

It was getting dark by the time we returned home but we'd had a great day out enjoying the last day of British Summer Time (BST). In a few hours (at 2.00 am on the 26th October 2025), the clocks would be going back and the days would appear much shorter.

View from the Rear Window - September 2025

Man can believe the impossible, but man can never believe the improbable - Oscar Wilde

September brought a welcome change in the form of rain. After a period of six dry months in 2025 (March, April, May, June, July, and August), I think everyone appreciated that feeling of 'soft' rain on the skin. Temperature and sunshine levels were typical for the first month of Autumn.

The garden photo for September (Photo 1) was taken as the month drew to a close. Leaves are still predominantly green with shades of autumn colouring beginning to appear.

Photo 1: View of the Rear Garden (27th September 2025)

Daily garden photos taken from a rear window are collated in Video 1.

Video 1: Daily Photos of the Rear Garden (September 2025)

Selected weather statistics for September 2025 are summarised in Table 1. The change in season from summer to autumn was very noticeable in terms of temperature; the maximum daily temperature for September (24 ℃) being a pleasant change from the summer months (June, July & August) where the maximum daily temperature exceeded 30 ℃. Nighttime temperatures were also much cooler.

Table 1: Summary Weather Statistics for September 2025
Weather Parameter	Value	Dates
Average Monthly Temperature	14 oC
Maximum Monthly Temperature	24 oC	6th
Minimum Monthly Temperature	2 oC	22nd
Number of Air Frost Days	0
Number of Hot Days (> 25 oC)	0
Monthly Precipitation	59.0 mm
Greatest 24 h Precipitation	14.0 mm	13th - 14th
Number of Dry Days	11
Monthly Sunshine Hours (estimated)	121
Highest Wind Speed	48 km/h	15th
Heating Degree Days	133.8
Cooling Degree Days	6.7

As Figure 1 illustrates, daytime temperatures held up well thanks to reasonable sunshine levels (Figure 2). However, in the last third of the month, those same sunny days meant much cooler overnight temperatures (Figure 1). Click on the Figure to enlarge.

Figure 1: Min/Max Daily Temperatures (September 2025)

Rain was restricted to the first 20 or so days of the month with most days experiencing some precipitation (Figure 2). The last ten days of September were much more settled with plenty of sunshine.

Figure 2: Daily Rain/Sunshine Data (September 2025)

Long-term trends, in a selection of Hereford weather parameters, for the month of September are shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4. The limited time series data suggests September may be getting a little cooler (Figure 3) though not without an anomaly here and there (i.e. 2021 & 2023).

Figure 3: September Temperature Data for Hereford (2020 - 2025)

Precipitation is highly variable (Figure 4). The number of dry days decreases from 2020 to 2025 indicating that September is starting to experience more unsettled weather (i.e. more showers and stronger winds).

Figure 4: September Wind, Rain & Sunshine Data for Hereford (2020 - 2025)

The next three figures are taken from the Met Office's monthly report for September 2025. Figure 5 shows the mean September temperature for the UK which was close to the average temperature for the 1991-2020 period. Since temperatures have increased over this 30-year period (due to climate change), this means September 2025 was cooler than expected for the UK generally and Herefordshire, in particular. This ties in nicely with the Hereford City data (Figure 3) from my Davis Weather Station which shows this month was the coolest September of the last six years. According to the nearby official Met Office weather station at Credenhill, the September mean temperature is 14.0 ℃, in excellent agreement with the value recorded by my back garden weather station (Table 1 and Figure 3).

Figure 5: UK Mean Temperature Anomalies (September 2025)

According to Figure 6, some parts of the UK (SW England, Northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland) had higher than normal precipitation while other regions (Scotland, Midlands, East Anglia and parts of Southern England) received a normal amount of rain. Herefordshire received close to its expected September rainfall, perhaps a little above normal. Historical data from the nearby Credenhill weather station reports a 30-average (1991-2020) September precipitation of 50.62 mm. Hence the 59.0 mm recorded by my Davis weather station (Table 1) was 116% of the typical September rainfall in good agreement with Figure 6.

Figure 6: UK Rainfall (relative) for September 2025

Eastern parts of Great Britain had the best of the sunshine during September 2025 (Figure 7). The remainder of the UK, including Herefordshire, had to make do with average sunshine levels (c.f. Figure 4).

Figure 7: Sunshine Hours (relative) for September 2025

Jobs in the Garden

• Harvesting vegetables: tomatoes, aubergines, bell peppers, onions, potatoes, chard, spinach, beetroot, turnips, celery, marrows
• Harvesting fruit: pears, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, apples
• Cut back raspberry canes, make a start on pruning the hedge, de-weed the drives
• Increasing composting throughput - now taking in garden waste from 10 extra gardens

Flora & Fauna in the Garden

• Blue Tit (x5)
• Collared Dove (x2)
• Crow (x1)
• Great Tit (x1)
• House Sparrow (x12)

Photo 2: Here's Looking at you, Kid (29th Sept 2025)

• Jackdaw (x2)
• Robin (x1)
• Starling (x10)
• Wood Pigeon (x2) - A pair of wood pigeons built a nest in the spring-flowering cherry tree. The third wood pigeon nest in the garden this year! After a month sitting on the nest, this pair produced no offspring so possibly  phantom pregnancy?

Photo 3: Brooding Wood Pigeon (19th Sept 2025)

And, finally, some photo from the garden ...

Photo 4: Some of the Pear Harvest

Photo 5: Grape and Pear Harvesting

Photo 6: Dahlia Flower

Photo 7: Cyclamen in the Mini-Wood (15th Sept 2025)

Photo 8: Cosmos (15th Sept 2025)

Photo 9: Honey Bee on Salvia

Photo 10: Cyclamen in the Mini-Wood (16th Sept 2025)

Photo 11: View from the Patio (20th Sept 2025)

Photo 12: Cosmos (30th Sept 2025)

Photo 13: Cosmos & Fuchsia in the Paradise Garden (30th Sept 2025)

Photo 14: Salvia (30th Sept 2025)