Penzance - typical sea breeze sequence.

[Graham Easterling]

The general ENE flow was fairly light today, allowing the onset of an on ESE sea breeze to develop in Penzance. F3-4 late morning, holding the temperature to near 17C at my site, set back from the immediate sea front. Just enough for a few white horses.

The north coast sea breeze developed early afternoon, it's always later than on the south coast mainly due to the different aspect. This pushed the temperature well down at Camborne, whilst here in Penzance it had the normal affect of killing the onshore breeze. By 15:00 it was near calm, if anything a very light NE drift, and the temperature quickly rose to 20C.

This switch it direction is particularly noticeable in Marazion, which is backed by the marsh which allows the easy progress of a sea breeze from either coast. Holidaymakers find themselves on the wrong side of the windbreak as the wind reverses direction mid afternoon.

The models haven't cracked this typical sequence yet, typically showing the strongest sea breeze effect in Penzance during the afternoon, as with tomorrow. (Might be right of course, but it's typically not)

These post code forecasts still have some way to go, though the forecast maximum temperatures on sunny days in spring / early summer have been nearer the mark than in previous years.

Maximum of 20.9C near Lands End, where no sea breeze developed, though I notice there was a brief NW sea breeze at Sennen this afternoon. 

Lovely for a swim this afternoon, it felt rather more humid.

Graham

Penzance