South West Coast Path : Branksome to Swanage or Corfe Castle walk

Met Office Forecast

South West England

Cloudy and wet start to the weekend, then fine later.

This Evening and Tonight:

Dry at first, though a band of cloud and rain will soon arrive in Cornwall and spread to all areas overnight, giving persistent rainfall. Feeling cold, partly due to strengthening winds. Minimum Temperature 1C.

Saturday:

The rain will continue for a time, before clearing to the east by midday. Dry through the afternoon with sunny spells and winds easing. Feeling mild. Maximum Temperature 11C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Dry with some sunny spells Sunday and for much of Monday. Cloud, outbreaks of rain and stronger winds arrive from the west on Monday afternoon and continue through Tuesday.

Day 6-7 and Week 2:

Rain and strong winds clear from the southeast during Wednesday. Most areas will see bright and mostly dry conditions following, but showers will affect the north and northwest. From Thursday onwards rather cold and unsettled conditions look likely for most of the UK, northwesterly winds will bring frequent showers, particularly to north and west-facing coasts, falling as snow over high ground and also down to lower levels at times. Atlantic low-pressure systems are expected to cross the south of the county at times, bringing rainfall and periods of slightly milder temperatures, and there will be a risk of snowfall on the boundary between the mild and cold airmasses. Northern and central areas are more likely to be affected by wintry hazards during this period.

Week 3 and 4:

Confidence for this period is low, though there is a signal for weaker than average westerly winds and for Atlantic low-pressure systems to track further south than normal. This will bring below-average temperatures to the north of the UK, as well as a higher likelihood of wintry precipitation. Further south, there is a continued risk of unsettled conditions, with above-average rainfall and periods of slightly above average temperatures. There remains the potential for significant snowfall along the boundary between colder air to the north and the milder air in the south, with the greatest risk across central and northern areas. Through this period there is a greater than average chance of cold spells spreading across the whole UK at times with the associated risk of wintry hazards

Met Office : South West England : 2021-01-15T14:52:10

Daylight : Dorset

Day length is dusk to dawn. Times will vary a little if there is a hill on the horizon.

It should still be light enough to read at dawn and dusk, so there will be enough light for walking even earlier (later).

Moonlight : Dorset

Notes

• The moon's phase or fracillum (percentage of the moon illuminated) doesn't vary much with location.
• A full moon is not just bigger, its much brighter. A half moon ('50%') give less than 5% of the illumination of a full moon. You can walk with a half moon if its high in the sky (after dusk for a growing moon, before dawn for a shrinking moon).
• Sky glow (light reflected by air or clouds) from nearby cities, and especially snow on the ground also effect light levels.
• Times will vary a few minutes, as (i) these figures are for the centre of the county the walk is in, (ii) if there are hills on the horizon, and (iii) if you are on a hill
• Of course, you need a cloudless night as well!