OCTOBER was very mild during the first week. Soil temperatures were at their highest in October for at least 15 years. Not surprisingly, it didn't continue, unlike a year ago. Then, we had the warmest October over England as a whole for more than 300 years.

It turned much cooler, with the mercury struggling above average on only one more day. Ultimately, it ended up the coldest October for nine years. It was still appreciably milder than that October in 1993, by 1.5C (3F), and over 2C (4F) warmer than October 1992, but it was 4C (7F) cooler than last year's.

The first ten days were also sunny and virtually dry, but after this it became wet. Here at Carlton, near Stokesley, we received about a third more rainfall than usual in the end, but in some places, totals approached double the norm.

High pressure that had dominated September was still very much in evidence at the start of October. As one cell migrated east to the Continent, another arrived from the south-west to be over the Channel by the first weekend. This gave a light westerly flow and a very warm start to the month.

After the passage of a weak front from the north-west, the high transferred rapidly north-east to become centred over northern Scandinavia. However, it intensified further, so continuing to govern our weather. This allowed a fresh north-easterly breeze to pick up and a daily decline in temperatures over the next week.

Gradually, towards the second weekend, the high started to lose its grip as an Atlantic frontal system made headway into western districts. Eventually, this crossed our region on Saturday the 12th, giving a wet day - the first significant rain for over a month. A deep depression hurried across the South late on Sunday and into Monday, followed by another on the Tuesday. To the north of these, winds swung back into the north-east. There were periods of rain or showers, though with modest amounts, especially when compared to the drenching that parts of the South and West received.

As the second low ran away into the Continent, a blast of northerlies brought a cold, showery spell for a few days. With clearing skies and as the wind fell calm, temperatures plunged during the evenings of Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th, giving the first widespread air frost of the autumn. It was particularly cold early on the Saturday. Here at Carlton, I've recorded just two colder October minima in my 20 years of data, also on the 17th and 18th, in 1993, and then only fractionally lower. Many of those with dahlias will have had them blackened in one fell swoop.

The rest of the day was beautifully sunny, but already by the Sunday, an intense depression was advancing towards the South-West Approaches. This pushed very warm air from the southern North Atlantic against the cold air-mass sitting over the country. The resulting clash produced a lot of heavy rain at times from later on the Sunday until the Tuesday, as the low moved slowly north-east towards Northern England, fortunately losing some of its vigour on its way.

Here at Carlton, almost 25mm (1ins) poured down in 12 hours from about 6pm on the Sunday. There was sleet over the hills at first, with even snow lying on the very highest moors, but by the Tuesday, temperatures had climbed to more than 15C (about 60F). As the low drifted north into the Norwegian Sea, it introduced a cold north-westerly with showers, though there were few to the east of the Pennines. Later in the week further fronts brought more belts of rain from the west.

The final Sunday saw a very vicious depression charge rapidly across North-East England to the north of the Tees, over the North Sea and into northern Europe. This brought a severe gale to southern Britain causing damage to buildings, blowing down many trees and, unfortunately, causing some deaths. Because we were nearer the centre of the low, it was nowhere near as stormy here.

Pressure then rose very rapidly. Even so, another front ambled north, bringing another wet day on the Tuesday, trying to bring warmer air with it. This was driven back southwards, so the month ended on a cool note, too, but at least with a couple of sunny days.

Let's hope the weather patterns of October don't repeat themselves in January or February, as most have been classic situations for distinctly wintry conditions. The early easterly and northerly spells would have brought icy blasts from Siberia and the Arctic. Then, with the unsettled regime that followed, as we kept on the cold, north side of many of the depressions, we could expect heavy snow at times and even blizzards.

OCTOBER TEMPERATURES &

RAINFALL at CARLTON in CLEVELAND

Mean max 12.2C, 54F (-1.0C, -1.8F)

Mean min 5.7C, 42F (-1.3C, -2.3F)

Highest max 20.4C, 68.5F, 1st

Lowest min -3.2C, 26F, 20th

Total rainfall 81mm, 3.2ins, (+19mm, +0.75ins)

Wettest day 24mm, 0.95ins, 20th

No of rain days, with 0.2mm (0.01ins) or more 17 (+1)

(Figures in brackets show the difference from the 20-year mean, 1983-2002