AS the days become shorter and the nights longer, both the day time and night time average temperature lowers. All plant life shuts down in readiness for the onset of the winter season, which runs from about the 21st December up until the end of February. Some animals hibernate, others are busy providing for the colder months that lie ahead by storing food in various locations, stocking up food supplies for the long winter season.

Through the autumn period gardeners are extremely busy tidying up gardens and allotments, its a time for harvesting and the farming community are out ploughing the fields ready for the next plantings. Some winter and spring crops are sown, and deciduous trees and shrubs are stripped of their foliage by squally cold autumn gales.

During some years the summer warmth lingers well into the autumn period, the leaves on the trees hang on longer with a delay in the strong winds and frost. Many plant species flower out of season and the bird, insect and animal kingdom is dramatically put out of sync.

During most autumns, the first frost of the season can be expected by mid or late November, snow is very rare in an English autumn, although snow can fall in some years by late October or mid November. Snow was logged across some parts of England and Wales in October and November 2008 with some sharp frost.

The weather during the autumn has no significance to the on coming winter. Very cold wintry weather do not indicate a cold severe winter, often it turns out to be mild. Due to climate change, our autumn weather often resembles late summer with fine warm days, autumn 2009 was one of those autumns.

Next Week: Onset of Winter.

Glossary: Beaufort Scale: A scale that indicates wind speed by the effect wind has on familiar objects.

Weather for the coming week Monday 9th November-Friday 13th November

Low pressure in command over the coming week.

Monday varied cloud with some sunshine, dry. Rain later in the night.

Tuesday some rain at times, ground frost mist and fog overnight.

Wednesday set fair by day, rain and wind overnight.

Thursday and Friday rain or showers at times, some brightness, turning milder.

Maximum temperature range 10-14c

Minimum temperature range 8-10c but 3c on Monday Night and 1c on Tuesday Night.

Last Week's Observations (Monday-Sunday)

Highest day temperature..........16.5c on Monday 2nd November

Lowest night temperature...........1.1c on Sunday 8th November

Wettest day..................................4.4 mm on Monday 2nd November