The depression in question is now depressing the good folks of East Anglia and will soon vanish near its point of origin in sea area German Bight. The sun is shining now in Aberdeenshire, and it will soon be time to wheel out the "Black Orb" referred to occasionally in another thread!
I cannot exactly answer langleybaston's question about how prepared were the RAF for the climate in theatre in GW1; but, having spent 22 years in that neck of the woods, albeit further south, I can confirm that it is certainly not always warm and dry in the desert, particularly at night and in winter. However, in summer, I would say the climate is just right for bondhu boots and tee shirts.