November 2018 weather blog

November 2018

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
LL = Long Lawford
CL = Church Lawford
CC = Capel Curig
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire
COL = Climatological Observers Link
PWS = Personal weather station


Rather cool start turned mild and more unsettled:

Tue 6th Scolton Park, Pembs 20.6mm wettest in UK from frontal rain

Mild unsettled to mid month:

Thu 15th mild to very mild; sunny much of WW, Midlands sunny intervals.. (Trawsgoed 17.3c, CC 15.5c, Lwn, Mona & Pershore15.1c, MH 13.8c, Shobdon 12.9c). Aberporth officially sunniest in UK with 7.2 hrs, while at nearby Llanwnnen the estimate 7.5 hrs.

Fri 16th very mild again and bright, minima high (Pembrey 12.1c, Persore 12.0c, Lwn 11.4c, CL 11.1c), maxima Lwn 15.6c, Mona 15.4c, Trawsgoed 15.2c, Aberporth 15.1c, Hereford 13.7c, Nottingham & Shawbury 12.9c, Aberdaron 12.8c)

Short cold snap:

Tue 20th cold with some showers, a little sleet or snow for some high ground such as Brecon Beacons (max Tirabad 4.7c, Lwn 6.4c, Valley 8.3c, CITE 5.1c, Nottingham 5.2c, Pershore 6.6c)

Wed 21st cold/ rather cold, many areas dry, a few showers, wintry in places (max CC 3.7c, Lwn & Aberdaron 5.5c, MH 7.4c, Shobdon 4.2c, Market Bosworth 4.3c, Pershore 7.0c, Wellesbourne 7.3c)

Thu 22nd widespread frost, quite hard locally (minima Shawbury -3.7c, CL -3.1, Hereford -0.3c, Tirabad -0.7c, Lwn +0.7c, Aberdaron & MH 4.7c). Another cold day but dry and WW sunny (Valley 7 hrs, Lwn est 6.5 hrs, Shobdon 5.6 hrs) but cloudy/ misty Midlands away from Herefordshire and where very cold in places (maxima Shawbury 3.7c, Hereford 4.7c, CC 4.0c, Lwn 5.4c, Valley 7.8c)

Mild, windy unsettled end to the month, plentiful rain Wales:

Tue 27th Scolton CP, Pembs 31.8mm = wettest in UK (frontal rain); Llanwnnen 17mm (these 2100), Bablake, Coventry 15.4mm, CL 5.0mm (these 0900 28th Nov)

Wed 28th very mild and windy, severe gales parts of WW..gusts 87mph CC and over 70 mph for exposed coasts (Lwn 58mph). Maxima Shawbury 15.5c, Trawsgoed 15.4c, Lwn 13.6c, Aberdaron 13.2c.


Nature notes

19th plentiful gorse bloom coast road and Aberystwyth, November mild and sunny so far..


November 2018 summary:

Mild/ rather mild
Rather dry much of Midlands, rather wet much of WW
Generally quite sunny

Rainfall totals:

Valley 139.2mm (135%)
CC 224.0mm (76%)
Aberdaron 187.6mm (162%)
Bwllch-llan 153.0mm
Aberporth 156.0mm (144%)
Llanwnnen 198.3mm (133%)
Pembrey Sands 154.4mm (126%)
Mumbles 119.2mm (106%)

Nottingham 34.8mm
Shawbury 34.8mm (57%)
Coleshill 47.0mm (68%)
Coventry, Bablake school 50.4mm (81%)
Church Lawford 39.2mm (65%)
Note: no Long Lawford data as garden renovations so gauge removed
Pershore 39.8mm (70%)
Hereford 67.8mm (106%)


PWS

Llangeitho 141mm
Abermeurig Bont, Talsarn 128mm
Llanelli 120.1mm
Lawrenny, Pembs 180.3mm

Longford, Coventry 36.1mm
Bulkington 34.5mm
Dunchurch 32.5mm
Crick 33.5mm
Radford Semele, Leamington Spa 44.2mm
Daventry c 40mm
Shirley, Solihull 66.3mm
Alvechurch 58.7mm
Harborne, Bham 71.9mm
Edgbaston, Bham 43.7mm

Sunshine totals:

Valley 69.1 hrs (119%)
Aberdaron 66.8 hrs
Llanwnnen 71 hrs estimated (134%)
Aberporth 81.8 hrs (133%)

Nottingham 52 hrs
Shawbury 50.2 hrs
Coventry, Bablake school 63.7 hrs (81%)
Shobdon 50.8 hrs

Weather log October 2018

Weather log October 2018

Key

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
LL = Long Lawford
CL = Church Lawford
CC = Capel Curig
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands 
COL = Climatological Observers Link
PWS = Personal weather station

Fairly dry start to the month:

Sat 6th very cool rain at times Midlands, many places max below 10c; WW and Marches rain cleared early to sunny spells (max CL 9.2c, Shawbury 11.2c, CC 10.0c, Llanwnnen 12.4c, Pembrey 14.0c)..

Sun 7th widespread frost (Llanwnnen -2.8c, Swyddfynnon -1.9c, Pershore -1.6c, CL 0c)

Tue 9th Wellesbourne 10.1 hours sunniest in UK, Wellesbourne 20.6c max, Midlands having a warm day

Wed 10th unseasonable warmth and near unbroken sunshine: Pershore max 24.2c, Mona 24.0c, Trawsgoed 22.8c, Lwn 22.2c, Milford Haven 19.0c. Here at Llanwnnen it was the highest reading so far into October (cf though 26.4c 01/10/11 and 19.9c 01/11/15).  At Bablake max 23.2c was the latest 23c since 1892 (cf 22.8c 13/10/1990)

Thu 11th warm night, minima Valley 15.8c, Pershore 14.9c, Lwn 13.3c, Nottingham 12.1c; Pembrey 36mm wettest in UK.

Fri 12th very wet much of Wales, radar suggested over 200mm for some high ground such as Brecon Beacons. Libanus, Powys 138.6mm wettest in UK, with approx 67mm for the 24 hours to midnight at Lwn. Gales also for Wales, 63mph gust Lwn was strongest recorded here (srb 2013).

Sat 13th minima above 19c parts of SE and almost a UK October record night, Coventry and CL min about 17c. More very wet weather as fronts lingered WW with extensive flooding: 24 hour totals to 0900 Libanus 167.2mm (190.4mm in 48 hours), Tredegar 102.6mm and Tirabad 85.2mm (all in Powys). Friday 12th was easily the wettest day on record here at Llanwnnen with a total c. 80.6mm (beating 55.5mm 16th July 2009). 24 hour totals to 2100 Capel Curig 80mm, Trawsgoed 59mm, Pembrey 50mm. Severe flooding reported across SW Wales, such as Lampeter and Carmarthen. In stark contrast a warm bright day for much of the Midlands after some early rain, max 22 to 24c (Donna Nook, Lincs max 26.5c, Wellesbourne 23.4c, Coventry and Rugby c 23c)

Sun 14th many parts of SW Wales ended up with over 100mm in the past two days, and radar suggested over 400mm for some hills such as Brecon Beacons. At Llanwnnen a staggering 3 days total of 150.8mm for the 72 hours to 0900, with 126mm or 5 inches of this falling between 0300 12th and 1400 13th or within a 36 hour period. Thankfully the floods and receded for our drive home from Coventry and the day ended up dry and bright in Wales! Midlands saw some wet weather as Wales cleared up, with 20mm or so in places..(LL 17.3mm)

Sun 21st back to a mostly dry week: today bright and warm much of Midlands; cooler, cloudier, some drizzle WW (Pershore 19.0c, Coleshill & Shobdon 18.3c, Shawbury 15.9c, Mumbles 15.7c, Lwn 13.8c, Aberdaron 13.1c)

Cool/ cold end to month with notable frosts:

Fri 26th very cool and showery, some wintry showers high ground; plentiful rain and hail showers WW; central and east Mids mostly dry (max Tirabad 7.6c,  Coleshill 8.9c, Lwn 9.3c, Pembrey 10.8c, Pershore 11.1c)

Sat 27th wintry showers in places, parts of W Midlands in particular seeing snow showers early in the day..very cold day for October, particularly Midlands where some places did not exceed 5c, Bablake high 5.2c suggests it was the coldest October day since 1950 (5.0c) Other max Coleshill & Tirabad 5.3c, Shobdon 6.7c, Lwn 7.6c, Milford Haven & Pembrey 8.8c, Porthmadog 9.3c

Mon 29th widespread frost was sharp in places, here at Llanwnnen min -6.1c was the coldest on record for October (beating -5.6c 25/10/10). Other minima Pershore -4.9c,  CC -4.7c, Trawsgoed -4c. Another very cool/ cold late October day in spite of plentiful sunshine, maxima Tirabad 5.4c, Lwn 6.7c, Pershore 8.6c, Pembrey 9.2c, Porthmadog 9.9c; Wellesbourne 8.8 hrs sun; Aberporth 8.6 hrs, Lwn est 8.5 hrs)

Tue 30th another widespread frost, this severe over much of Wales, Llanwnnen min -8.0c smashing yesterdays record. Other minima Tirabad -7.3c, Trawsgoed -5.3c, Newport, Salop & Pembrey -3.9c, Shawbury -3.7c, Mumbles +1.2c, Nottingham 1.5c (Midlands clouded over). Derek Brockway said min -8c at St Harmon was the lowest in October in Wales for 21 years; checked in COL Presteign had -8.1c 29/10/97. Checking further online the St Harmon site stated in fact was min -8.6c which is lower than in 1997. Also a PWS Davis Vantage Pro near New Radnor had min -8.7c, Another lovely sunny day..

Wed 31st another widespread, in places sharp frost (min Shobdon -5.6c, Llanwnnen -4.9c, Aberdaron & MH 6.0c). A milder day.. generally 11 to 13c (MH 12.7c, Pershore 12.6c, Lwn 12.4c, Mona 10.0c). Thundery downpours over Wales during the evening in contrast!  Fair bit of lightning aand a rumble of thunder here at Llanwnnen..

Nature notes:

Fieldfare and Redwing arrived mid month

Decent late blooms of Red Campion this month (since late September?) particularly where hedgebanks had an Autumn trim.

Late month Starling flocks numbering 100-200 low flying above my head over Llanwnnen fields


October 2018 summary:

Average to quite cool temperatures: SW Wales average to rather wet excepting dry Swansea area; NW Wales and Midlands generally rather dry; sunshine near to rather above average


Rainfall totals:

Capel Curig 197.4mm (66%)
Valley 99.0mm (98%)
Aberdaron 96.8mm (91%)
Trawsgoed 138.0mm (95%)
Aberporth 132.8mm (119%)
Llanwnnen 203.2mm (142%) note: 75% in just 3 days 11th to 13th 
Milford Haven 92.4mm
Mumbles, Swansea 67.6mm (55%)

Nottingham 39.4mm 
Coventry, Bablake 41.2mm (59%)
Long Lawford 42.5mm (75%)
Church Lawford c 43mm
Shawbury, Salop 51.2mm (75%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 66.6mm (76%)
Hereford 55.8mm (71%)


PWS:

Bont Godolfan, Powys (near Machylleth) 47.8mm

Llangeitho 154.7mm
Abermeurig Bont, Talsarn 144.8mm
Llanelli 72.9mm
Lawrenny, Pembs 68.6mm

Longford, Coventry 39.1mm
Bulkington 36.1mm
Dunchurch 35.1mm
Crick, Northants 44.2mm
Daventry 38.6mm
Radford Semele 52.1mm
Shirley, Solihull 47.8mm
Alvechurch 48.3mm
Harborne, Brum 42.4mm
Edgebaston, Brum 48.8mm
Malvern Wells 59.4mm


Sunshine totals Oct 2018:

Llanwnnen estimated from webcam captures 99 hours (111%)

Valley 96.3 hrs (96%)
Aberdaron 104.5 hrs 
Aberporth 97.9 hrs (95%)

Nottingham 111.0 hrs 
Coventry, Bablake school 128.1 hrs
Shawbury, Salop 98.1 hrs (108%)
Shobdon 115.4 hrs 

Weather log September 2018

Weather log September 2018

Warm start to September soon cooled off especially WW, still noit a lot of rain early in the month:

Sun 9th Capel Curig 24.0mm wettest in UK..

Tue 11th very mild/ warm night (minima Pershore 16.6c, Mumbles 16.4c, Lwn 14.1c, Ashawbury 13.0c, Capel Curig [CC] 11.2c)

Relatively dry start to September, with parts of the Midlands very dry til past mid month (Long Lawford only 8.0mm to 18th. Midlands also warm past week (up to 24c) whereas WW below 20c. Wales turned appreciably wetter mid month with Midlands wet too from 19th:

Thu 20th copious rainfall Wales and Marches..here at Llanwnnen (Lwn) it was the wettest September day on record as about 37mm had fallen since the morning reading and c 48mm in the 24 hours to midnight (previous 29.7mm 23/09/07) and wettest day this year (beating 35.7mm March 14th).

Other rainfall amounts (24 hrs to midnight): wettest Tirabad 74.0mm, CC 63.4mm, Shawbury 52mm, Pembrey 46mm, Mumbles 45mm, Hereford 43mm, and selected Trawsgoed 32mm, Aberporth 31mm, Church Lawford [CL] 18mm

Thu 20th the wettest September day at Llanwnnen with 46.6mm, 100mm for some hills (24 hour totals to 2245)

Fri 21st Lwn 24 hour total 46.6mm the third wettest day recorded (after 47.3mm 14/05/13 and 55.5mm 16/07/09). Showery day, hail and thunder in a few places such as Lwn morning thunder

18th - 21st saw strong to gale winds at times bringing down quite a few trees with gusts above 60mph to exposed Wales (Capel Curig 74mph, Lwn 44mph 19th)..

Sat 22nd very cool for September as well as damp/ wet. Here at Lwn max 10.7c notably low for September being the lowest such reading since 25/09/12 (max 10.5c). Other maxima Tirabad 9.1c, Aberporth 10.7c,  Shobdon 11.0c,  Wellesbourne 12.4c, Porthmadog 13.0c

Settled, often sunny end to September came as a relief in Wales at least:

Mon 24th atmospheric pressure close to September record highs, 1040mbar reached midday Lwn, 1041mbar for more southern Wales..

Tue 25th widesprerad frost, the lowest September readings for anumber of years in places, at Coventry the low of 1.5c was the coldest September night since 1987 (min 0.7c)  while here at Lwn min -1.7c was the second lowest in September (-1.8c 26/09/10). Other minima CC -1.2c, Shobdon -0.7c, Coton-in-the-Elms 1.0c)

Sat 29th another widespread early Season frost, here at Llanwnnen we broke the September record with a low of -1.9c. Other minima (to 0600) Tirabad -1.8c, Shobdon -0.5c, Pembrey -0.2c, Nottingham 4.7c, Mumbles 8.0c). Sunny periods if only rather cool to average (Hereford 17.7c, MH 17.5c, Lwn 16.3c, Aberdaron 14.7c; Wellesbourne 11 hrs sunniest in UK)

Nature notes:

Mid month still seeing some Swallow and Martin occasionally but most of the time absent from our skies. Hardly any sighting by the last few days when most seem to have migrated.

Chiffchaff heard as a subsong a couple of times in last week.

September 2018 summary

Rather cool to average temperatures; Average to wet WW and NW Midlands, with rest of Midlands average to dry; rather dull WW; Midlands an average to quite sunny month

Rainfall amounts:

Capel Curig  c 255mm
Aberdaron c 83mm
Trawsgoed c 121mm
Aberporth c 94mm
Llanwnnen 126.7mm (111%)
Pembrey c 87mm
Milford Haven c 70mm

Nottingham c 57mm
Coleshill c 42mm

Coventry, Bablake school 40.2mm (68%)

Long Lawford 35.2mm (68%)
Pershore c 45mm
Shobdon, Herefordshire 60.6mm

Personal weather stations:

Machynlleth, Powys 160.5mm
Llangeitho 97.5mm
Abermeurig Bont, Talsarn 96mm
Llanelli 75.2mm
Lawrenny, Pembs 65mm

Longford, Coventry 36.6mm
Bulkington 36.6mm
Dunchurch 26.9mm
Crick 32.8mm
Radford Semele, Leamington Spa 36.1mm
Daventry 23.9mm
Shirley, Solihull 47.5mm
Alvechurch 47mm
Harborne, Bham 53.8mm
Edgebaston, Bham 45.2mm

Sunshine:

Valley 123.8 hrs (96%)
Aberport 127.5 hrs (89%)
Llanwnnen estimated 104 hours (83%)

Nottingham 119.9 hrs
Shawbury, Salop 115.8 hrs (98%)
Coventry, Babalake school 146.2 hrs (106%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 115.5 hrs (99%)

Weather log August 2018

Weather log August 2018

Thu 2nd min 15.6c Llanwnnen (Lwn) warmest night of the year to date (Mumbles & Pembrey 17.3c, Shawbury 15.9c, Hereford 13.0c. Quite hot sunny spells much of Midlands, WW and SW Midlands rather cloudy with a little drizzle but quite warm and humid  (Newport, Salop 27.7c, Coleshill 27.6c, Shobdon 24.0c, Trawsgoed 22.2c, Aberdaron 17.8c)

Fri 3rd again warmest night of the year Lwn min 17.0c (in top 6 of warmest nights recorded here). Also Shobdon 18.0c,  Pembrey 17.8c, Hereford 14.0c, Pershore 13.9c.

Sun 5th Midlands has had a mini heatwave past few days, today hottest so far this month Midlands, and parts of Wales hot with Lwn 27.9c an August record (Wellesbourne 29.6c, Church Lawford {CL} 28.9c, Hereford 28.8c, Nottingham 28.2c, Trawsgoed 27.3c, Valley 21.4c)

Mon 6th quite hot and sunny again much of Midlands (Wellesbourne 28.3c, CL 28.2c, Shobdon 25.8c), more cloud and less warm or average WW (Lwn 25.2c, Trawsgoed 22.3c, Aberdaron 17.8c)

Tue 7th last day of the current heat and sunshine for the Midlands, already cooler and rather cloudy WW with some drizzle (Coleshill 28.3c, Nottingham 28.0c, Pembrey 20.4c, Lwn 18.9c, Aberporth 16.7c)

Wed 8th cooler air to all, still rather warm though Midlands (Hereford 23.0c, CL & Coleshill 22.4c, Pembrey 19.6c, Aberporth 17.0c), heavy showers locally (thunder Brum area), but mainly dry still..

Thu 9th a few well scattered showers with isolated thunder (as Rugby early evening) temperatures average at best to rather cool (Newport, Salop 22.1c, Milford Haven {MH} 19.9c, Lwn 19.8c, Nottingham 19.0c, Aberdaron 16.8c)

Fri 10th cool night for more rural areas with the first touch of grass frost of the Season here at Llanwnnen which seems to have been highly localised (air min 3.3c, grass min -0.5c; also Shobdon 4.2c, Tirabad  6.7c, Mumbles 12.6c). More widespread showers today, especially Midlands, again thunder locally (as Coventry and Rugby mid afternoon; average to cool, but very cool central Midlands (Hereford 20.6c, Pembrey 19.4c, Lwn 18.1c, Aberdaron 16.7c, CL max 15.8c, Shawbury 15.7c).

Sat 11th a very cool August night widely with very localised grass frost. Air min 1.6c at Llanwnnen was the lowest in August since 2010 (1.3c 31/08/10), grass min -1.5c. Other minima Shobdon 3.0c, Capel Curig (CC) 4.1c, Pembrey 5.1c, Nottingham 8.6c, Aberdaron 12.1c..and grass min Shawbury 0c, CC 2c (Pembrey 19mm wettest in UK to 2100)

Sun 12th a good drop of rain overnight in most areas..radar suggests over 2 inches parts of S Wales..(Pembrey Sands 31.8mm 0600, Llanwnnen 24.5mm 0900). Actually 86mm from a station in the Valleys and with several sites above 70mm around Rhondda. In contrast to yesterday rather a warm night (min Pembrey 17.0c, Lwn 16.1c, Shawbury 16.0c, Coleshill & Nottingham 14.9c). Thundery showers affected Marches pm

Wed 15th warm night (Pembrey Sands 17.3c, Hereford 16.0c, Lwn 15.5c, Nottingham 14.0c). Capel Curig 53mm wettest in UK

Fri 17th generally rather cool/ cool (Aberdaron max 14.7c, Pembrey & Mumbles 17.8c, Pershore College 21.5c, Nottingham 18.4c)

Sun 19th Warm night (min Shawbury 17.7c, Hereford, Pembrey & Shobdon 17.0c, Lwn 15.8c, Aberdaron 15.0c). Warm by day Midlands, nearer average WW (Pershore 25.9c, CL 24.1c, Pembrey 20.1c, Lwn 19.9c, Aberdaron & Mona 18.4c)

Thu 23rd very dull of late especially WW, here at Lwn just 6 hours sun past week..yet another  dull August here, fourth successive!

Fri 24th very cool and showery, hail and thunder locally. One of the coolest recorded August days here at Lwn (14.5c 19/08/07) and the coolest day since May 16th (also 14.7c). Other maxima Tirabad 13.0c, CC 14.2c, Trawsgoed 14.8c, Valley 17.0c, Hereford 16.3c, CL 17.7c, Wellesbourne 17.8c

Sun 26th spells of rain, S Wales especially wet, Mumbles 40.2mm wettest in UK (Lwn 13mm, Watnall 17.8mm, Hereford 13.2mm)

Largely cool towards month end as well but mainly dry but warmer and sunnier very end:

Fri 31st local grass frost, here at Llanwnnen min 1.2c was the coldest August night recorded (previous 1.3c 31/08/10)..other minima Tirabad 1.7c, CC 2.4c, Trawsgoed 3.1c, Pembrey 4.1c, Shobdon 2.6c, Mumbles 11.6c)

Nature notes

Thu 2nd still the odd Swift flying over, still one or two nests with chicks audible Lwn hall.
Lawns reverting gradually to green again.

Thu 9th last Swift sighting Aberduar Chapel going seen going in and out at dusk, just the one, so evidence of delayed breeding due to having been blocked out for a week in early June

Tue 21st cut back lawn for first time in over 2 months! Front lawn not yet attended to (now quite long and lush) have nt the heart to disrupt what has became a Grasshopper and other insect safari park.

Sat 25th cut front lawn with minimal Grasshopper collateral (hopefully most hopping clear)

Late Aug good show of secondary blooming Red Campion along some lanes

Lawns lush and green and growing fast month end

August 2018 summary

Temperatures near or a little above average
Rainfall varied from quite dry to rather wet.
Sunshine generally dull; very dull parts of WW, closer to average much of Midlands

August rainfall totals

Valley 37.8mm
Capel Curig 172.8mm
Trawsgoed 121.8mm
Aberporth 63.8mm (93%)
Llanwnnen 93.0mm (86%)
Milford Haven 100.8mm
Mumbles 104.2mm

Shawbury 44.0mm (74%)
Coleshill 50.8mm
Coventry, Bablake School 56.2mm (89%)
Church Lawford 52.7mm (85%)
Long Lawford 46.0mm (67%)
Pershore 64.4mm
Hereford 66.6mm

Personal weather stations:

Machynlleth, Powys 162.8mm
Llangeitho 83.3mm
Abermeurig Bont, Talsarn 62.7mm
Llanelli 74.2mm
Lawrenny, Pembs 107.2mm

Longford, Coventry 58.2mm
Bulkington 46mm
Dunchurch 37.8mm
Crick 52.8mm
Radford Semele 72.4mm
Alvechurch 39.1mm
Harborne, Bham 39.9mm
Edgbaston, Bham 41.4mm
Shirley, Solihull 44.7mm


Sunshine

Valley 131.8 hrs (79%)
Aberdaron 142.6 hrs
Llanwnnen 93 hrs (56%)

Nottingham 157.4 hrs
Coventry 168.9 hrs (91%)
Shobdon (Herefordshire) 136.8 hrs 

Summer 2018 summary

A good Summer for all, and very good much of Midlands, although August was a disappointment especially WW. It has been the fifth warmest Summer on record for the CET (central zone) of England (records back to 1659).
After the heat and drought of much of June and July Summer 2018 finished on a rather dull and damp note.
Parts of the Midlands had an exceptionally dry Summer such as Long Lawford just 37% of average for the three months. Everywhere had a drier than average Summer. For much of the Midlands it was the driest Summer since 1995.
Everywhere had a sunny Summer thanks to June and July. Eevn a very dull August could not bring it down towards average at Llanwnnen.
At Coventry Summer 2018 was equal hottest with 2006 (both mean temp of 18.0c).


Rainfall totals Summer 2018

Llanwnnen 152.1mm (55%)

Coventry, Bablake School 99.2mm (55%)
Church Lawford 73.3mm (41%)
Long Lawford 66.0mm (37%)


Summer 2018 sunshine

Llanwnnen 574 hrs (113%)

Coventry 688.0 hrs (sunniest since 1996, 699.5 hrs)

Weather log July 2018

Weather log July 2018

Lwn Llanwnnen
LL Long Lawford
CL Church Lawford
CC Capel Curig
MH MIlford Haven
CITE Coton-in-the-Elms

Sun 1st warm night much of Wales (Mumbles min 18.9c, Aberdaron 17.1c, Capel Curig 9.6c, Coventry 12.2c, Shobdon 9.3c). Very or hot, clouded over Wales and Marches with showers in places (Porthmadog 31c.., Llanwnnen 29.2c, Gogerddan 29c, Trawsgoed 28.1c, Aberporth 22.2c, Hereford 29.9c, Nottingham 27.5c)

Mon 2nd widely hot and sunny again. Minima Mumbles 19.0c, Hereford & Shawbury 16.5c, Church Lawford (CL) & Coleshill 12.4c. Maxima Llanwnnen (Lwn) 30.9c, Porthmadog 30.7c, Pembrey 29.3c, Gogerddan 29c, Trawsgoed 28.9c, Coton-in-the-Elms {CITE} & Hereford 28.2c, Aberdaron 22.6c)

Tue 3rd warm to hot again, warmth tempered over much of the Midlands by a fresh east wind, but WW had another hot one Porthmadog max 30.1c hottest in UK (Lwn 29.3, Pembrey 28.4c, Gogerddan 28c, Hereford 26.4c, Mona 23.1c, Nottingham 22.6c)

Thu 5th Midlands turn for the heat, dry and sunny again virtually everywhere, a few isolated showers affected Wales and Marches (CITE 31.2c hottest in UK, Pershore 30.8c, Shawbury 26.8c, Mumbles 26.0c, Lwn 25.7c, Aberdaron 18.0c)

Continuation of the very warm/ hot spell into second week of the month:

Maxima Midlands 28 -30c and WW generally 23 -26c , cooler some coasts/ hotter some inland spots e.g.Lwn 28.8c Sat 7th while Aberporth had some mist for a time max 20.2c (CITE 30.0c, Pershore 29.9c)

Sun 8th hot sunny (Pershore 31.2c, CL 30.0c, Lwn 30.3c, Porthmadog 29c, Pembrey 27.9c, Aberporth 22.1c)

Tue 10th heatwave eased but still warm with some sunshine (Lwn 26.1c, MH 24.6c, Newport, Salop 25.9c, Pershore 24.6c, Aberporth 20.0c)

Thu 12th drought broken locally by a scattering of showers over Wales and Marches (Swydffynnon 6.8mm), still pretty warm (generally 21 -25c (CITE 26.5c warmest in UK)

Fri 13th showers and thunderstorms more widespread, especially West Midlands (Hereford 14.0mm), Worcester also had a deluge..

Warm to quite hot still mid month and mostly dry...Sat 14th Wellesbourne 27.5c, Lwn 26.8c, Shobdon 26.1c, Trawsgoed 23.6c, Aberdaron 18.5c and Sun 15th (CL & Pershore 27.6c, Lwn 25.8c, Trawsgoed 25.1c, Aberporth 23.7c, Aberdaron 19.1c; Shawbury & Shobdon 26.8c)

Mon 16th very warm Midlands, turned much cooler after weak cold front WW. Some rain or showers, isolated thunder, most places getting little if any rain (Aberporth 19.6mm, wettest in UK, Lwn 1.7mm). Drought continues Coventry and Rugby in spite of a shower giving a few mm over E Coventry afternoon (Pershore 27.4c, Shobdon 23.3c, Lwn & Trawsgoed 22.2c, Aberdaron max 15.7c)

Thu 19th absolute drought goes on much of Midlands, at Coventry its now 28 days long and Long Lawford 33 days! The past (non calendar) month has seen 320.2 hrs sun at Coventry - the sunniest calendar month there being 284.6 hrs in July 1990. Past few days though less warm. Cool minima much of Wales (Llanwnnen 4.1c, Tirabad 5.5c, Shobdon 9.6c, Mumbles 14.7c, Nottingham 14.8c)..Warming up again though today especially Midlands (Pershore 27.4c, CL & Coventry 27.2c, Lwn 25.0c, Trawsgoed 22.8c, Mona 22.6c, Aberporth 18.4c)

Fri 20th much of Midlands still very warm, cold front introduced cooler air with some rain to Wales, some of this rain affected Midlands later, while parts of East Midlands caught a downpour by evening. Llanwnnen 2.7mm here enough to end/ postpone the original partial drought here as we have now had all of 11.3mm since June 10th (40 days). However with only 8.4mm since June 16th that would mean a new shorter 35 day partial drought is still running. Bablake and LL/ CL had a drop of rain but not measurable so drought continue there (35 days LL). A PWS near Wellingborough, Northants had 28.7mm during the evening, much in one hour (CL 27.5c, Shawbury 22.0c, Lwn 22.6c, MH 22.1c, Aberdaron 15.3c; Valley 9.4mm)

Sun 22nd heat back Midlands, warm for WW (Pershore 29.8c warmest in UK, CITE 28.5c, Lwn 26.1c, Trawsgoed 24.6c)

Mon 23rd hot, plenty of sun Midlands, rather cloudy but warm WW (CITE 31.0c, Coventry 30.5c, CL 30.0c, Hereford 26.8c, Trawsgoed 24.6c, Aberdaron max 17.2c)

Thu 26th Varied temps last night from very cool at some rural inland Wales locations to warm for some coasts (min Lwn 4.4c, Tirabad 5.0c, Mumbles 15.1c, Coventry & Nottingham 14.7c, Shobdon 8.0c). Another heatwave, especially inland Wales and Midlands, very hot much of Midlands, cooler but still warm for most coasts..(Wellesbourne 32.6c, CL 32.3c, Coventry 32.1c, Shobdon 28.9c,  Lwn 29.8c [suspect its reading a couple of degrees over this Summer on hot days due to concrete like baked lawn], Trawsgoed 27.0c, Aberdaron 21.8c). Long Lawford drought now 40 days!.

Fri 27th parts of East Midlands caught a shower or thunderstorm overnight into morning, generally a warm night but locally cool (minima Mumbles 17.7c, Coventry 17.6c, Nottingham 17.5c, Lwn 10.9c, Shobdon 8.0c). Hot again much of Midlands...thunderstorms affected parts of East Midlands 
pm, thunder heard LL; cooler with some rain or showers WW (Nottingham 29.4c, CL 29.3c, Shobdon 28.4c, Aberporth & Trawsgoed 23.2c, Lwn 20.7c, Aberdaron 18.8c)

Sat July 28th end of second instalment of the Lwn partial drought (41 days since June 16th) with a thunderstorm in the early hours and further showers totalling 7.1mm overnight.
End of LL and CL 41 day absolute drought after showers this morning and with the Coventry one ending with showers and longer spells of rain afternoon, at 37 days here it was second only to Summer 1976 which was 39 days long. A much cooler, fresher, windy and unsettled interlude this weekend! Plenty of blustery showers, hail and thunder in places..(Cov both), and longer spells of wet weather too so parts of Wales ended up with over two inches judging by the radar (Wellesbourne 21.8c, Pershore 20.8c, Mumbles 18.4c, Shobdon 18.7c, Aberdaron 16.1c; Mumbles 29.2mm)

Sun 29th  24 hours totals to 0900 Lwn 23.8mm, Bablake 13.2mm, LL 6.2mm (Capel Curig 51.2mm 24 hrs to 2100 wettest in UK)

Nature notes

Bird song greatly diminished by first week of July, just the occasional Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap and Chiffchaff

Some trees and shrubs being affected by heat/ drought stress, and losing leaves or having them go brown. One of the Apple trees in our garden lost many of its leaves at the start of the month, a severe prune and since then regular watering has let it recover with fresh shoots and leaves by mid month.
Have seen Silver Birch in stress and also an Oak as well as various unknown shrubs such as in the Morrison car park in Carmarthen.

Demise of most Foxgloves early in the month.

Mid July: very few slugs or snails evident since mid June now

Mid July: lawns not cut since mid June!

Wed July 19th one to watch I was told by someone working there that major renovations of Lampeter Old Building due starting this Winter. Sureveyed Swifts there tonight and evidence of at least 17 nests (or at least holes being used by the Swifts) with 25 - 30 screaming above the building..what a loss to the town without this phenomenon in future Summers :(

Grannell river little more than a half width trickle much of its course, in places you could walk across without getting your shoes wet as the depth is below 2 inches at some points, at others with ponding its still perhaps 6 inches deep. Surprised close to month end before the rains came that the streams on the flanks of Mynydd Pencarreg were still though barely in flow (trickle) obviously still water present deep underground.

End of July lawns still not cut since mid June in spite of plenty of rain of late!

Swift chicks still calling from nests Lwn as of 31st, few adult birds around though and no longer screaming as were a week ago.


July 2018 summary

A dry, very warm and sunny month!

Nationally look slike its been the third warmest July on record.

Only a few spots attained average rainfall, most places dry/ very dry in spite of a wet end to the month. The rain at the end of the month broke prolonged dry spell/ droughts in many areas, parts of the Midlands having gone over 40 days without measurable rain! All areas saw well above average temperatures and above average sunshine.

Rainfall totals

Valley 49.6mm (91%)
Aberdaron 47.4mm (84%)
Trawsgoed 42.8mm (51%)
Aberporth 57.8mm (93%)
Llanwnnen 44.8mm (44%)
Milford Haven 69.4mm
Pembrey Sands 37.2mm (50%)
Mumbles 62.4mm (87%)


Nottingham 32.6mm
Shawbury 21.0mm (39%)
Coleshill 25.8mm (53%)
Coventry, Bablake school 35.2mm (60%)
Long Lawford 18.4mm (33%)
Church Lawford 19.2mm (32%)
Pershore 26.6mm (53%)
Hereford 31.2mm (69%)

Personal weather stations:

Bulkington 44.7mm
Coventry, Earlson 43.2mm
Dunchurch 21.3mm
Crick, Northants 15.5mm
Daventry 21.4mm
Banbury 24.4mm
Radford Semele, Leamington Spa 31.5mm
Alvechurch 24.7mm (40%)
Edgbaston, Brum 15.2mm
Harborne, Brum 33.8mm
Stourbridge, Worc 14.2mm

Machynlleth, Powys 53.1mm
Llangeitho 37.8mm
Abermeurig Bont, Talsarn 33.8mm
Llanelli 32.8mm
Lawrenny, Pembs 110.2mm


Sunshine:

Valley 256.5 hrs (147%)
Aberdaron 273.7 hrs
Aberporth 238.9 hrs (126%)
Llanwnnen 222 hours estimated (123%)

Shawbury 248.5 hours
Coventry 265.4 hours

June 2018 weather log

June 2018 weather log

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
CL = Church Lawford
LL = Long Lawford
CC = Capel Curig
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms
MH = Milford Haven

Fri 1st warm night, Lwn min 15.2c the highest min recorded so early in the year..(Pershore 16.6c, Valley 15.4c, Aberporth 12.3c)

Sun 3rd virtually unbroken sunshine much of WW (Lwn est 15 hrs, Aberporth 14.9 hrs

Mon 4th warm night parts of S Wales and Midlands (Mumbles min 17.1c, Bablake 14.7c, Capel Curig {CC) 6.8c, Lwn 7.3c). Isolated showers and thunderstorms pm, rumbles heard Lwn 1400 from storm over Brechfa forest 8 miles south this then affected Carmarthen area..Also a tornado over Neyland area of Pembrokeshire early afternoon:

https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/44777/mini-tornado-seen-over-pembrokeshire/

Warm sunny spells WW, rather cloudy much cooler central & E Midlands. Porthmadog max 26.6c warmest in UK (Lwn 25.2c, MH 24.3c, Aberporth 19.2c, Newport, Salop 21.7c, Hereford & Shawbury 20.9c, Nottingham 16.0c)

Tue 5th again disappointingly cool and cloudy much of the Midlands, while WW eventually saw bright rather warm conditions (Porthmadog 22.4c, Lwn 21.8c, Shawbury 19.0c, Coventry 16.8c, Mona 16.1c)

Wed 6th sunny for many and warm although parts of E Mids cloudy and cool once more (Porthmadog 24.3c warmest in UK, Newport, Salop 22.4c, Hereford 21.7c, Lwn 21.6c, Trawsgoed 21.1c, Pembrey 17.1c)

Thu 7th very warm, fair amount of sunshine WW, quite hot Porthmadog max 27.5c yet again UK hot spot; more average Midlands (Lwn 25.9c, Trawsgoed 24.0c, Shawbury 21.2c, Coventry 18.6c, Mumbles 17.7c)

Sat 8th another day of marked regional variation, warm WW to rather cool parts of Midlands (Porthmadog 23.6c, Lwn 23.3c, Newport, Salop 21.0c, Aberporth 18.1c, Coventry 17.2c). Localised downpours pm, chiefly Wales (MH 15.8mm)

Sun 9th many places warm sunny periods, Porthmadog max 25.5c warmest in UK (Lwn 24.7c, Trawsgoed 23.1c, Coton-in-the-Elms {CITE} 23.1c, Newport, Salp 22.9c, Coleshill 22.8c, Aberporth 20.1c)

Cool down mid month, especially WW as westerlies attempted a return and it was dull with a little drizzle. It has however been generally a dry, warm and sunny first half of June

Fri 15th cooler Wellesbourne 20.1c, Trawsgoed 17.4c, Lwn 17.3c, Shawbury 17.3c, Aberdaron max 14.4c

Rain totals to June 15th:

LL 1.6mm
CL 1.4mm
Shawbury 28.4mm

Trawsgoed 3.4mm
Lwn 12.3mm
MH 33.0mm

Tue 19th warm, humid night, min Pershore 16.1c, Mona 7.1c

Thu 21st cooler, fresher NNW flow (Pershore 20.9c, Mumbles 17.7c, Shawbury 16.5c, Lwn 15.7c, Aberporth 14.0c)

Fri 22nd local frost Wales, min -0.2c reported by UKWW observer Brecon Beacons (Swyddfynnon & Tirabad min +0.2c, Trawsgoed 1.2c, Llanwnnen 5.6c, Mona 10.2c). Sunny day generally, average to warm (Coton-in-the-Elms {CITE} 22.8c, Pershore 22.5c, Mumbles 22.0c, although Aberdaron max 13.9c)

Sat 23rd generally quite warm (Hereford max 24.1c)

Hot, continuing dry end to June:

Mon 25th very warm/ hot (CITE 29.6c, Pershore 29.0c, Coleshill 28.2c, Shawbury 26.8c, Lwn 28.4c, Tirabad 27.7c, Aberporth 22.1c) virtually unbroken sun as yesterday (widely 13 to 15 hours)

Tue 26th fairly cool night again inland but warm some coasts (Mumbles min 17.3c, Lwn 6.8c, Shobdon 8.4c). Hot to very hot by day, highest readings for Wales. Llanwnnen max 31.4c a new June record (30.6c June 2017), also greatest diurnal range of 24.6c and lowest RH of 26%. Porthmadog 30.6c, Trawsgoed 29.7c, Aberporth 27.3c, CITE 30c, Newport, Salop 29c, Shawbury 28.7c, Coventry 26.9c, Aberdaron, Milford Haven & Mumbles 26.1c.

Wed 27th again overnight was refreshingly cool inland but warm for coasts (Mumbles 17.6c, Aberdaron 17.5c, Lwn 7.1c, Pershore 12.3c, Shobdon 8.0c). Hot or very hot again WW, Midlands very warm to hot after a cloudy start in places here: Porthmadog hottest in UK max 31.9c (Llanwnnen 30.8c, Trawsgoed 29.9c, CITE 27.4c, Pershore 27.2c, Nottingham 24.7c, Aberporth 23.8c). Very low humidity also a blessing so the heat not so oppressive, Llanwnnen again having a record low RH today of 25%.

Thu 28th Third day of the Welsh heatwave (much of the Midlands not hot enough to qualify as yet as it takes 5 days or more of at least 5c above average, so e.g. Coventry  5 days above 26c required and yesterday managed only 25.0c! Third successive day above 30c at Lwn which is most unusual here, max 31.0c..again record low RH of  just 17%. Porthmadog once more the UK hot spot at 33.0c (Gogerddan 29c, Trawsgoed 28.4c, CITE 28.1c, Newport, Salop 27.9c, Shawbury 27.3c, Pembrey 23.3c)

Fri 29th widely hot and sunny, Porthmadog 32.5c as usual hottest in the UK (Lwn 30.2c, Trawsgoed 28.4c, Aberporth 23.4c, Newprt, Salop 27.8c )

Sat 30th very warm to hot and virtually unbroken sunshine yet again! Lwn failed to reach 30c today ending that incredible run with max 29.2c (Porthmadog 29.1c, Trawsgoed 28.4c, CITE 27.7c)

Nature notes:

First few days June: plenty of Foxgloves in bloom

Mon 4th 18 -20 Swift Llanwnnen evening

Tue 5th Swift crisis Aberduar chapel Llanybydder, scaffolding and new soffit work obstructing colony from nests. Just a fortnight ago Swifts around the chapel and no scaffolding so this has been sudden!

Wed 6th reprieve of the Aberduar Swifts..

Thu 7th evening, Swifts driving back from Carmarthen: Gwyddgrug 6 (likely gap N side of chapel); 10 New Inn, 6 Llanllwnni Brook Bond Barn

Sun 25th driving home from Coventry, Swifts Llandovery (colony located Stone St, about 6 stains down wall) Also suspected nest in end of soffit in a hole above plaque at a Lampeter takeway where we were customers Swifts around at 9.45 one heard from within building)

Thu 28th first Swift chicks heard Lwn Ch hall

Month end lawns and countryside turning rapidy brown with heatwave and very dry  past two months


June summary: warm/ very warm, dry/very dry and sunny/ very sunny

Some places had no measurable rain at all.
It has been one of the warmest Junes on record.


Rain totals June 2018

Valley 14.2mm (27%)
Aberdaron 9.0mm (15%)
Machynlleth PWS 25.1mm
Trawsgoed 5.6mm (7%)
Aberporth 10.8mm (18%)
Talsarn, Abermeurig Bont PWS 10.2mm
Llanwnnen 14.3mm (21% of Lampeter 1916-50 average and 17% of the 2006 -2018 Llanwnnen average)
Llanelli PWS 16.0mm
Lawrenny PWS, Pembs 21.6mm
MH 38.8mm

Shawbury 31.6mm (59%)
Alvechurch PWS 5.5mm (9%)
Harborne PWS 3.8mm
Coventry, Bablake School 7.8mm (13%)
LL 1.6mm (3%)
CL 1.6mm (3%)
Dunchurch PWS 1.8mm
Crick PWS 0.8mm
Radford Semele PWS 1.0mm
Banbury PWS 0.8mm
Hereford 22.0mm (49%)

Sushine

Valley 291.8 hrs( 162%)
Aberdaron 270.2 hrs (138%)
Llanwnnen (estimated) 260 hrs (159%)

Shawbury, Salop 246.5 hrs (159%)
Coventry 254 hrs (136%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 246.2 hrs

May 2018 weather log

May 2018 weather log

Tue 1st widespread frost, at Lwn min -2.7c the second coldest May night on record (-2.9c 1/05/13). Also Trawsgoed -2c, Shobdon -2c

Wed 2nd Whitechurch 25.4mm wettest in UK (21-2100), Lwn 17.1mm (09 -0900); Coventry 18.8mm wettest in Midlands (21 -2100)

Sat 5th warm and sunny for many, west Wales coasts mist and low cloud and much cooler (Astwood Bank 23.0c, Lwn 20.8c, CL 21.4c, Trawsgoed 18.6c, Aberdaron 10.0c max

Sun 6th another warm sunny day, once more some coasts of west Wales {WW} plagued by low cloud and mist (Hereford & Pershore 24.0c, Lwn 23.8c, Trawsgoed 22.7c, Shobdon 23.1c, Valley 12.8c)

Mon 7th very localised touch of grass frost here at Lwn (grass min -0.4c, min 3.2c) no official station had one (Trawsgoed grass min +1c). Widely inland a very warm, sunny day..it was easily the hottest Early May Bank Holiday on record (since this began in 1978) with Northolt reaching 28.7c. Here at Lwn it was the highest reading so early in the year since 26.0c April 2007. However once again some West Wales coasts suffered sea mist at times  (Coton-in-the-Elms & Pershore 26.7c, Shawbury 25.7c, Trawsgoed 23.5c, Aberdaron 14.1c).

Wed 9th ground frost inland Wales and Marches (Lwn air min 0.0c, Trawsgoed 1.3c, Shobdon 2.3c, Nottingham & Valley 7.6c)

Thu 10th Aberdaron sunniest in UK 14.2 hrs (Lwn est 9 hrs)

Fri 11th fairly widespread grass frost mid/ E Wales and Midlands (Shobdon air min 1.7c, Tirabad 2.1c, Mumbles 8.9c, Lwn 5.4c ; grass min Hereford -2c, Tirabad -1c)

Sat 12th widespread ground frost and local air frost Wales and Marches (air min Lwn & Swyddfynnon -0.5c, Shawbury +0.4c, Valley 7.2c, Nottingham 8.7c). East Midlands presumably had a mostly cloudy night, in the west many areas also were foggy..

Mon 14th widespread frost Wales, rural ground frost Midlands (Tirabad -2.4c, Lwn -1.8c, Pembrey 0.3c, Shobdon +0.3c, Coventry 7.2c, Valley 8.8c). Unbroken sunshine in places (Shawbury 15.1 hrs, Aberdaron 14.4 hrs, Lwn 13 hrs est; Pershore max 21.5c warmest in UK)

Thu 17th widespread ground frost Midlands and N Wales (min Bala -0.3c, Shawbury +0.2c, CC 1.0c, Lwn 4.8c, Mumbles 9.2c; grass min Church Lawford {CL} & Shawbury -3c, Capel Curig {CC} -1c)

Fri 18th widespread ground frost (min Lwn 0.8c, CL 1.2c, CC 1.7c, Coventry 3.0c, Mumbles 9.4c, grass min CL -3, Aberdaron & CC -1c)

Sat 19th widespread frost inland Wales, more localised Midlands (Lwn -0.2c, Trawsgoed +0.7c, Shobdon 3.3c, Mumbles 8.7c). Warm and sunny, Lwn max 22.2c, large diurnal range of 22.4c (Trawsgoed 19.2c, Coton-in-the-Elms & Hereford 22.1c, Aberdaron 15.0c). Sunshine virtually unbroken in places Lwn 14.5 hrs est, Aberporth 14.0 hrs, Wellesbourne 13.8 hrs)

Sun 20th local touch of ground frost Wales (Lwn air min 1.1c, Tirabad 1.9c, Shobdon 3.9c, Valley 11.1c)

Warm end to May..

Mon 21st Pershore max 24.5c warmest in UK (Mumbles 21.1c, Lwn 20.9c, Shawbury 22.2c, Aberporth 16.1c)

Tue 22nd Porthmadog max 25.0c warmest in UK (Pershore 22.0c, Mumbles & Pembrey Sands 21.9c, Aberdaron14.8c, Aberporth max 13.8c)

Wed 23rd local touch of grass frost Wales (Lwn air min 1.9c, Tirabad 3.1c, Capel Curig 3.6c). Cloudy morning central & E Midlands sun later, cooler east breeze restricting temps, WW and Marches though warm  and sunny (Lwn 24.8c, Porthmadog 24.0c, Trawsgoed 22.7c, Pershore 21.3c, Nottingham 18.3c, Pembrey 16.3c). Porthmadog officially warmest in UK today, virtually unbroken sunshine much of Wales and Marches (Valley 14.9 hrs, Shawbury 14.5 hrs Lwn 14 hrs est)

Fri 25th dry spell came to an end, Coventry 25.0mm yesterday (all midnight to 10am) was the wettest day in May since 2013 (28.1mm). Longford PWS 33.7mm midnight to midday, Nuneaton area also above 30mm (Winterbourne, Bham 31mm wettest in UK, Coleshill 28mm both to 2100)

Sun 27th Warm night WW, min 14.2c Lwn was second highest in May after 14.9c exactly a year ago (Mumbles min 16.1c, CC 12.1c, Shawbury 12.3c, Nottingham 10.7c).
Thunderstorms affected much of the Midlands in particular, severe with flooding in places, parts of WW also affected. Lots of lightning visible from great distances as elevated storms. From Lwn storms over Brecon Beacons flashed brightly illuminating clouds, also visible way south over Bristol Channel towards Devon. Birmingham area badly hit early evening with over 3 inches locally in a couple of hours (Harbourne 103.9mm day total) there was much flooding. Large variations from place to place, Coventry had virtually no rain after morning storms while Birmingham and Rugby areas saw large totals (Winterbourne, B'ham 93.6mm officially wettest in UK). Also large hail in places caused damage such as Daventry.

24 hour rain radar accumulation to 1135 Mon 28th May

BH Mon 28th just isolated storms late in the day over Wales (one rumble Lwn 1815). Warm or very warm (Lwn 25.2c, MH 24.6c, Coton-in-the-Elms 24.1c, Newport, Salop 23.6c,  Aberporth 19.2c)

Tue 29th sunny periods and very warm, locally hot WW; Midlands rather cloudy, average to warm (Porthmadog 26.7c, Lwn 24.8c, Milford Haven {MH} 23.7c, Newport, Salop 22.6c, CL 18.5c)

Thu 31st Lwn min 14.7c second highest in May once more (after 14.9c 27/5/17). Shawbury min 14.7c, Pembrey 14.5c, Mona 12.8c. Thunderstorms in places especially south Midlands pm (TL Coventry and Rugby just before midnight but storms stayed to SW)

Nature log

Fri 4th First 3 Swift Lampeter evening, then 2 Lwn very briefly spotted. Lesser Whitethroats edge of Longwood; Hare Allt Goch; possible Spotted Flycather; Wood Warbler heard

Mon 7th first House Martin Lampter; 2 Cuckoo calling Tregaron Bog (not seen) also Redstarts and Garden Warbler seen and Grasshopper Warbler heard

Thu 10th Aberaeron large mixed flock mainly HM (20-30) and some Swift (4-10) and some Swallow (below 10)

Tue 15th still hardly any Swfts, this is concerning as same nationwide (could be bad weather on continent this month but weather in UK has been good). Lwn colony not seen as yet - usually here by end of first week of May..

Fri 18th 3 Swift Lwn afternoon; 8-12 Swift screaming party Llanybydder, saw Swift enter station building upsetting Sparrows; 3-4 Swift then Alltyblaca

Sat 19th Cuckoo heard again Tregaron Bog; Swift numbers seem to have increased during past few days..6 Tregaron this evening and 10-12 Llanddewi Brefi, one seen to enter rear apex of house adjacent to FP and corrugated community centre

Wed 23rd Cuckoo heard flanks of Mynydd Pencarreg; & Swift Lwn evening

Fri 25th 3 Swift Llwynhelyg, Alltyblaca; 6 Swift Gwyddgrug

Sat 26th 3 Swift as above Alltyblaca; 10 -15 Swift Llanybydder inc much activity about station; 12 -15 Swift Lwn (about as many as have seen here). Hobby went for Swifts at speed of light dusk!

Sun 27th first Foxglove in bloom



May 2018 summary

Rather warm/ warm and sunny with variable rainfall

Much of WW dry/ very dry and rather warm and quite sunny. Lwn driest May srb 2006 (2010 43.4mm), while thunderstorms and downpours during the final 8 days meant that most of the Midlands ended up with  quite a wet month, locally very wet. The Midlands was decidedly warm for May (almost 2c above average in places) and also sunny

Rainfall totals May 2018

Valley 26.4mm (55%)
Trawsgoed 36.0mm (52%)
Aberporth 32.8mm (61%)
Llanwnnen 39.8mm (51%)
Pembrey 47.6mm (69%)
MH 40.2mm (65%)
Mumbles 40.2mm (64%)

Shawbury 52.2mm
Coleshill c. 66mm
Coventry, Bablake School 65.4mm (117%)
Church Lawford 67.2mm (115%)
Long Lawford 75.8mm (130%)
Pershore 53.8mm (102%)
Hereford 63.4mm (124%)

Longford PWS 72.2mm
Bulkington PWS 85.5mm
Dunchurch PWS 58.9mm
Crick PWS 51.3mm
Daventry PWS c. 52mm
Radford Semele PWS 86.1mm
Harborne, Bham PWS 147.6mm
Alvechurch PWS 72.2mm (130%)
Fownhope, Hereford PWS 64.3mm
Malvern Wells PWS 74.9mm

Machynlleth PWS 47mm
Abermeurig Bont, Talsarn PWS 28.9mm
Talsarn 30.2mm
Llanelli PWS 33.3mm
Lawrenny, Pembs 25.7mm

Sunshine totals May 2018

Valley 231.6 hrs
Aberporth 219.4 hrs (101%)
Lwn 208 hrs (114%)

Shawbury 226.9 hrs
Coventry, Bablake School 252.1 hrs
Shobdon 219.9 hrs


Spring 2018 summary

Generally wet with near average temperatures and sunshine

Coventry had its wettest Spring since 1983, Llanwnnen only since 2013.

March cold and wet
April rather mild and wet
May rather warm/ warm; dry WW and rather wet Midlands


Rainfall totals Spring 2018

Valley 177.8mm
Aberporth 194.0mm
Llanwnnen 281.9mm (119%)
Milford Haven 229.0mm

Shawbury 207.8mm
Coventry, Bablake School 251.0mm (162%)
Church Lawford 208.4mm (137%)
Long Lawford 234.5mm (162%)

Sunshine totals Spring 2018

Llanwnnen 412 hrs (97%)

Coventry 456 hrs (100%)

April 2018 weather log

April 2018 weather log

Key: Lwn Llanwnnen, MH milford Haven, CC Capel Curig, CL Church Lawford, WW West Wales

Sun 1st rain turned to sleet or snow over parts of inland WW during the evening, temp here at Llanwnnen dropped from 7c 1700 to 2c 2100 when the rain turned sleety (maxima Nottingham 5.1c, Tirabad 5.6c, Lwn 8.7c, Hereford 7.8c)

Mon 2nd snow last night some of the hills of Wales and Peak District giving several inches, brief spell of wet snow lower down in places too such as Brum and Stoke, by day much milder reaching around average for many (Pershore 13.3c, Mona 11.5c, Aberdaron 8.1c). Plenty more rain today with localised flooding (Capel Curig 52.6mm). Many parts of Wales over an inch, much of Midlands over half an inch

Tue 3rd Countryside waterlogged with areas of standing water; scattered showers gave hail and thunder to parts of Midlands afternoon. Mild particularly Midlands, first 60f of the year at Cardiff (max 15.7c), also Hereford 15.4c, Trawsgoed 13.2c, Aberdaron 10.1c. In contrast snow in Scotland again today, mainly higher ground..

Fri 6th mild away from some exposed coasts, locally rather warm (Pershore 16.4c, Porthmadog 15.7c,  Aberporth 9.5c)

Sun 9th Scolton Country Park, Pembs, max 16.2c, mildest in UK, cooler and eventually damp Midlands (MH 14.9c, Newport, Salop, 12.6c, CL max 9.8c; Aberporth 9.0 hrs sunshine)

Mon 9th again contrasting fortunes: WW and Marches where some pleasantly warm sunhine for a time, and bulk of Midlands dull, cool and often damp (Lwn max 16.3c, Porthmadog 16.2c, Trawsgoed 15.2c, Shobdon 12.7c, Pembrey 11.6c, Astwood Bank 9.7c). Porthmadog officially warmest spot in UK..

Contrasts much of the week although by Friday WW cooler and Midlands less cool:

Thu 12th Porthmadog max 15.2c, Lwn 14.2c, Aberdaron 10.1c, Shobdon 8.9c,  Nottingham 7.3c

Fri 13th MH max 13.7c, mildest in UK, generally 10-12c

Sat 14th pleasantly warm sunny spells (Pershore College 18.4c, Trawsgoed 17.9c, Aberdaron 12.4c)

Wed 18th start of warm dry spell.. notably high minima, here at Lwn warmest April night since 2007 (11.5c 23rd) other minima: Pershore 12.9c min, Bablake 12.8c, Trawsgoed 12.4c, Hereford 11.9c, Aberdaron 8.7c). Warm/ very warm for mid April and sunny for most (max Pershore 23.6c, Coventry 22.9c, Porthmadog 22.6c, Lwn & Trawsgoed 21.6c, Shobdon 21.6c, Abedaron 17.2c).

Thu 19th very warm Midlands, warm plenty of sun inland WW but much cooler and cloudier many coastal districts. Coventry max 25.9c highest in April since 2011, London St James Park max 29.1c, hottest UK April temp since 1949 (Sutton Bonington 26.5c, Astwood Bank 26.1c, Shobdon 23.8c, Trawsgoed 18.4c, with Aberdaron 11.3c lowest max in UK). Sunshine unbroken today across Midlands (Shobdon 13.1 hrs)

Fri 20th generally warm and sunny again but once more some Welsh coasts plagued by cloud and mist where rather cool (Hereford 21.1c, Lwn 18.3c, MH 17.7c, Shawbury 18.0c, Aberporth 12.5c)

Sat 21st culmination of the notably warm spell (both 18th and 19th have been warmest CET for those days since 1772). Surprisingly a ground frost parts of Wales. Here at Lwn min 1.6c (CC air min 1.2c, grass min -1c). Then a sultry very warm day with plenty of hazy sunshine, max 24.8c, so a diurnal range of 23.2c, this though not as great as 8/04/17 when it was 24.3c (-3.2c to 21.1c)! Trawsgoed 24.7c, Pershore 22.9c, Aberdaron 17.8c.

Tue 24th Gogerddan 25.8mm wettest in UK (Lwn 16.4mm 00-00hr)

Sat 28th very and cool damp much of Midlands, temperatures barely rising from minima 5 or 6c to maxima 7 - 9c..Bright less cool WW with western coasts sunny (Porthmadog 13.7c, MH 13.6c, Shawbury 11.8c, Aberporth 10.4c, CL 8.1c, Aberporth 12.3 hrs sun, Lwn 4.5 hrs sun est)


April summary

Rather mild and wet, quite dull

Short very warm spell just after mid month other wise mediocre, unsettled

Rainfall totals:

Valley 65.0mm (118%)
Aberdaron 78.0mm (134%)
Aberporth 69.4mm (131%)
Talsarn PWS 72.7mm
Abermeurig, Talsarn PWS 71.4mm
Llanwnnen 98.7mm (162%)
Llanelli PWS 78.7mm
Pembrey Sands 100.8mm (149%)
Lawrenny PWS 69.6mm
Milford Haven 78.6mm

Shawbury 72.2mm (148%)
Alvechurch PWS 71.1mm (107%)
Harborne PWS 75.7mm
Coleshill 63.6mm (124%)
Longford PWS 79.8mm
Bulkington PWS 70.1mm
Coventry 72.0mm (138%)
Long Lawford 61.1mm (137%)
Church Lawford 59.0mm (118%)

Crick PWS 53.8mm
Daventry PWS c. 69mm
Radford Semele PWS 88.9mm

Pershore 61.2mm (128%)
Hereford 74.2mm (144%)
Fownhope, Hereford PWS 57.4mm


Sunshine:

Valley 140.6 hrs (87%)
Aberdaron 146.7 hrs
Aberporth 152.2 hrs (88%)
Llanwnnen 119 hrs (79%)

Shawbury 106.9 hrs (81%)
Coventry 111.7 hrs (78%)
Shobdon 105.0 hrs

Nature notes:

Tue 3rd Longwood and adjacent lanes: 2 Chiffchaff heard, a week or two later than usual, Treecreeper, many Mistle Thrush singing towards dusk.  Visited Longwood, the area adjacent to visitor centre out of bounds for felling as there was extensive damage from Storm Emma at the start of March. Walked along lanes and numerous conifers blown over recently and from the east. Storm Emma was on March 1st - 2nd and not 'February' as stated on the woodland noticeboard.

Thu 5th several Chiffchaff Lampeter, went down by Teifi but no WW or Sand Martin

Fri 6th first Llanwnnen Chiffchaff

Sun 8th 2 Pipistrelles above trees end of garden, did see one or two bats in March as well..

Mon 9th First Willow Warbler briefly heard Lampeter University behind Sports Hall

Tue 10th first Bluebells out garden

Wed 11th 4 larger bats along AW lane, Noctules?

Sat 14th Willow Tit (?) observed and singing top of conifer end of garden

Sun 15th first Swallow Lwn!

Mon 16th Blackcaps top of garden singing

Wed 18th warm spell started, plenty of Swallow Lampeter, WW Parc-y-Rhos, many Chiffchaff.
Stitchwort and Violets, much Celandine, many Daffs on turn now

April 20th first UK Swift sightings (one at Bristol another Cwrtnewydd). There have also been some House Martin sightings - none spotted here yet its still at least a week too early for many..

Gwarfynnon bats (a few) back during last week, also new owner says he is Bat friendly

December 2017 weather log

Weather log December 2017

Sat Dec 1st sunny periods, rather cold after frost (Trawsgoed -4.9c). LLanwnnen equal sunniest day since August 31st (9.5 hrs) with October 30th (7 hrs) also Nottingham 6.1 hrs, Valley 5.8 hrs but Aberporth 2.3 hrs

Thu 7th very mild  windy night, wet WW, temps widely above 10c but fell by dawn WW heralding start of a colder potentially wintry spell..?  Capel Curig 54mm overnight.

Fri 8th wintry showers, streamers gace accumulations in places such as higher ground of Wales and parts of West Midlands..reported 20cm in Powys and  Shropshire, a cold windy day (Shawbury max 1.0c, Capel Curig 2.6c, Shobdon 3.5c, Mumbles 5.9c)

Sat 9th very cold wintry showers in places, 20cm lay in Brecon Beacons this morning after overnight snow showers. Max Tirabad +0.2c, Llanwnnen 3.0c, MH 6.1c, Shawbury 1.4c, Coleshill 3.1c)..

Sun 10th widespread persistent snowfalls as 'slider low crosses south Wales (crossed Ceredigion early morning min pressure 974mbar). Much of Midlands over 10cm, locally 20cm little lying snow for coastal areas of Wales, but inland widely over 5cm with over 30cm for some hilly areas such as Brecon Beacons.

Snow depth reports:

Coventry, Bablake 0900 10cm

Coventry FB reports AM 7 -13cm

Leamington 11cm

Long Lawford 7cm 0900

Evesham 5cm 0900

Alvechurch 11cm 0900

Llanwnnen 4cm slushy 0900

Over 30cm Brecon Beacons

25cm Herefordshire

Widely 15-20cm West Midlands

PM: Coventry 12cm, FB Cov 12-15cm

Merthyr Tydfyl John Mason UKWW had reliable report of 35-40cm

Sennybridge (Tirabad) most snow in UK officially 33cm

Very cold away from south coast of Wales where it was mild first thing (Tirabad max -0.8c, Aberdaron +0.8c, Llanwnnen 1.1c, MH 8.9c; Shawbury 0.0c, Pershore 0.9c). Aberporth 32mm, Llanwnnen c. 30mm (24 hours to 1800)

Mon 11th cold to very cold day away from Pembrokeshire, an ice day locally (Shawbury max 0.0c, CL +0.2c, Shobdon 2.0c; Tirabad 0.9c, Llanwnnen 1.8c, MH 6.5c

Tue 12th severe frost (Shawbury & Shobdon -13c, Pershore -11.2c, Llanwnnen -8.9c, CL -9.1c, Bablake -6.7c,

Mon 18th slight frost and thick fog in places; inversion locally cold by day, generally sunny and rather mild though (CL max 3.7c, Llanwnnen 4.9c, Trawsgoed 9.7c, Whitechurch 11.3c, Shobdon 9.7c)

Very mild run up to Christmas, fairly dry..

Thu 21st very mild (minima MH 10.5c, Llanwnnen 9.7c, Coventry 9.1c, Hereford & Shobdon 7.4c). Hereford max 12.1c

Christmas Day (Mon) mild/ very mild, windy with rain at times WW spreading to Midlands evening

(Shobdon 12.2c, Valley 11.8c, Pembrey Sands 11.6c, Aberdaron & Llanwnnen 10.2c

Boxing Day/ Wed 27th frontal system advected rather cold air on northern flank there was sleet and snow in many places, this was a very marginal wet snow event but in areas where precipitatuion was heavy and the snow settled. Parts of the East Midlands were worst hit, up to 6 inches in Northamptonshire, Long Lawford had about 2 inches while there was only a thin tempoorary covering at Coventry. 40.3mm? in the gauge measured at Long Lawford so this would have been an extreme snow event had it been just a degree or two colder!

Very mild end to the year though:

Sat 30th from sleet in the evening, 4c at midnight a sharp warm frontal rise ensued uo to max 11.5c 0300 here at Llanwnnen. Temperatures peaked afternoon for the Midlands highest Pershore 13.7c.

Sun 31st again an overnight peak in temperatures (e.g. 13.1c 0300 CL,11.8c 0130 Llanwnnen)

Nature notes

Gorse seen in flower early month

Sat 9th in spite of cold (though no hard frosts yet) still a few slugs about and Spiders in the house still.

Mon 18th Snowdrops spikes emerged Fish & Anchor

Fri 22nd dusk Blackbird cacophany inc pleasant subsong

Christmas Eve Mistle thrushes singing after dawn

Some Gorse in flower throughout the month

Hint of Great Tit "teacher" around Christmas




December 2017 summary

Generally rather wet, locally wet; average temperatures; sunshine dull to average WW; generally quite a sunny month Midlands


Rainfall totals

Llanwnnen 164.8mm (114%)

Bablake 97.6mm (158%)
Daventry PWS c. 77mm

Dec sunshine:

Valley 34.5 hrs (67%)
Aberdaron 33.1 hrs
Llanwnnen 41 hrs (111%)
Aberporth 32.4 hrs (61%)

Shawbury 55.2 hrs (122%)
Shobdon 63.8 hrs
Nottingham 59.2 hrs (120%)
Bablake, Coventry 59.2 hrs (106%)


2017 Summary


Mild with around average rainfall; dull WW, rather dull to average Midlands


Rainfall totals

Llanwnnen 1343.0mm (102%)

Bablake 702.6mm (102%)
Long Lawford 650.9mm (102%)
Church Lawford 642.6mm (95%)

March 2018 weather log

Daily log (where significant weather)

Thu 1st exceptionally cold: min -7.3c coldest March night since 1965 (-9.4c) at Coventry, at Llanwnnen (Lwn) min -8.2c only the coldest since 2012 (-10.2c). Minima Tirabad -9.0c, MH (Milford Haven) -6.7c, Aberporth -6.3c, Valley -4.8c,; CL -7.3c, Shawbury -5.9c. Ice day virtually everywhere including coasts, one of the coldest March days ever recorded.. max -2.3c Lwn easily beat the record (1.1c 24/3/13). Perishingly cold with the fresh to strong NE wind too. Maxima Tirabad -4.6c, Aberporth & MH -2.0c, Valley -0.2c; Shobdon -3.2c, CL -3.0c, Coventry -2.9c, Shawbury -2.3c. UK low max record for March may have gone, max Tredegar -5.2c to 2100 beating record set in 1965. Also this was the coldest March day CET since 1878.. http://www.xmetman.com/wp/2018/03/02/coldest-march-day-since-1878/

Fri 2nd localised heavy snowfalls brought about by Storm Emma overnight, level amounts in most areas modest/ negligible but drifting severe. St Athan reported to have had 53cm level snow, SE Wales hardest hit; Ceredigion in the lee of the hills to the east largely escaped, here at Lwn no more than light flurries amounting to nothing while parts of Pembs were also hard hit. Officially Tredegar max was -4.7c (to 0900 presumably) and so a March record. Parts of Midlands 15cm snowfall today, Coventry reports 8-15cm (again drifting).

Sat 3rd Lwn 1630 Feb 27th went sub zero, above zero 0800 March 3rd, 3 successive ice days and latest such run (no ice days recorded after January until this spell srb 2006). CL sub zero late afternoon Feb 26th to midday March 3rd almost 5 days. Further slight snowfalls locally later in the day (as Lwn and Warwickshire). Temps barely above freezing Midlands..

Tue 5th wet WW, not so much most of Midlands, Whitechurch (Pembs) 28.6mm wettest in UK

Sat 10th mild, max 12.5c 0900 Lwn highest reading since Nov 22nd (Pershore College 14.6c, Trawsgoed 14.3c, Aberdaron 10.4c)

Sun 11th mild or very mild (Trawsgoed 14.4c, Lwn 13.8c, Pershore Coll 13.7c)

Thu 15th  Wet much of WW, 35.7mm 14th Lwn the wettest March day since 5/03/07) (37.7mm). Very mild locally (Porthmadog 15.8c, Mona 14.6c)

Sun 18th 'mini beat from the east' second cold blast in a few weeks! This was the coldest March 18th CET since 1853 (-0.8c against -1.3c). Latest Spring ice day at Bablake for 126 years (previous -1.6c 6/03/42). Widespread snowfalls especially Midlands where widely 5- 10cm and large drifts. Coventry, Aldermans Green 8- 10cm on lawns. Minima with the cloud and snow were widely -2 or -3c (MH -1.8c, Pembrey -1.3c). Day maxima to 1800 Tirabad -2.6c, Coventry -1.4c, Aberporth -0.2c, Lwn +0.1c

Tue 20th sunny WW, Valley 11.5 hrs, Aberporth 11 hrs, Lwn 9 hrs est

Wed 21st sharp frosts, min Lwn -4.8c, Pembrey & Pershore -4.7c



Nature notes

Severe weather first few days brought many Starlings into garden they drilled into the lawn to find insects leavibg hundreds of little circles and holes, they focused on softer areas where growth longer or sheltered under shrubs.
Daffs, Snowdrops and Primroses seem badly affected being flattened and wilted with drooping flowers, escaped this where well sheltered.
Countryside has that brown stripped down look with much new growth curtailed or withered inc Celandines and ferns
3rd Female Peregrine alighted on the holly tree sussing out prey though they had already left, really good view. Bullfinch in garden, had a good view of one feeding on seeds in along front boundary in Dec and just 10 feet away and for 10 minutes or so.

Mid month still profuse areas of Snowdrop (mainly recovered from cold), profuse Daffs now (also recovered to upright), also plentiful Celandine and Primrose bloom.

Late month pleased to see a Greenfinch on niger feeder (rarely seen past few years)

Month end still quite a few Daffs not yet opened to flower yet, still some Snowdrop in bloom, most over

Unusually yet to hear first Chiffchaff although they have been reported across Ceredigion since mid month here: http://ceredigionbirds33.blogspot.co.uk/


March 2018 summary

Cool and wet or very wet; sunshine genetrally below normal

Month contained two exceptionally cold early Spring spells of easterly winds and some snow.
It was a rare occurremce to see March ice days (the first here srb 2006) and record low March maxima in many areas.
Mean temperatures generally between 1 and 2c below the 1981-2010 averages.
Wettest March for England and Wales since 1981.
Wettest March Coventry since 1947 (126.6mm), while here at Llanwnnen March 2017 was wetter (153.9mm).
Below average sunshine everywhere, locally very dull such as Marches.

Rainfall totals:


Valley 86.4mm (138%)
Trawsgoed 104.2mm 107%)
Aberporth 91.8mm (147%)
Llanwnnen 143.4mm (173%)
MH 110.2mm
Mumbles 114.8mm (157%)

Coventry, Bablake School 113.6mm (240%)
Long Lawford
Church Lawford 82.2mm (163%)
Coleshill 94.8mm (187%)
Pershore 93.2mm (238%)
Shawbury 83.4mm (180%)

Sunshine:

Valley 108.3 hrs (95%)
Aberporth 100.6 hrs (85%)
Llanwnnen estimation 85 hrs (93%)

Nottingham 67.8 hrs (65%)
Coventry, Bablake School 92.2 hrs (81%)
Shawbury 59.9 hrs (62%)
Shobdon c. 75 hrs

Weather log February 2018

February 2018

Lwn = Llanwnnen
CC= Capel Curig
LL = Long Lawford
CL= Church Lawford
MH= Milford Haven
WW= West Wales
srb = since records began

Sat 3rd start of a cold spell..rain and sleet Midlands, some wintriness in showers parts of WW (max Nottingham 2.7c, CL 3.0c, Hereford 6.6c, CC 5.3c, Pembrey 8.1c)

Rather cold with milder interludes first 3 weeks; rather unsettled but drier interludes:

Proper mild spell just past mid month...max  Mon19th Shobdon 13.1c, Mumbles 12.5c, Aberporth 9.2c

Into final week, cold frosty nights, sunny days varying cold to average. Sunshine virtually unbroken WW and Marches Fri 23rd (Lwn est 9 hrs, Aberporth 8.8 hrs, Shobdon 8.0 hrs)

Sat 24th unbroken sun widely (Valley 9.7 hrs, Aberporth 9.6 hrs. Lwn 9.5 hrs, Wellesbourne 9.6 hrs). Coldest place in Wales overnight rather unusually Mona min -5.5c (Lwn -3.1c)

Sun 25th unbroken bright shine for many, Lwn 10 hours est (sunniest day since July 24th 2017 at 11 hours). Coventry sunniest Feb day (9.3 hrs) since 1995 (9.4 hrs). Elsewhere Aberdaron & Valley 10.1 hrs (sunniest in UK), Wellesbourne 10.o hrs, Nottingham & Shobdon 9.8 hrs.

Very cold 'Beast from the East' to end the month 850hpa temperatures as low as -17c across England 28th:

Tue 27th scattered snow showers, a longer spell of snow in the morning WW gave up to 10cm (Llanwnnen 6cm temporary covering midday). Very cold maxima CL 0.0c, CC 0.1c, Hereford 2.2c, Valley 3.5c

Wed 28th exceptionally cold for very end of Feb. Minima -8.6c, Tirabad, -7.8c CL, -7.6c Lwn, -4.4c MH, Mona-3.7c.  Further snow showers in places generally not amounting to much. Coventry max -1.6c had its coldest Feb day since 1991 (-2.7c). Lwn max -0.3c, Feb record srb 2006 (max 1.6c 22/2/13). Other maxima: Tirabad -2.9c, Aberporth -0.1c, Valley 1.3c, Nottingham -2.5c, Coleshill -1.7c, Pershore 0.0c.

Widely below -7c by mid evening with a breeze up to 20mph here at Lwn

Ice day Feb 28th 2018

Monthly summary Feb 2018

Rather cold, rather dry/ dry and sunny


UK wise Feb was second sunniest since 1929 see:
http://www.xmetman.com/wp/2018/03/06/second-sunniest-winter-and-february-since-1929/

Rainfall totals

Valley 57.2mm (105%)
Mach PWS 65.3mm
Abermeurig, Talsarn PWS 56.9mm
Llanwnnen 74.1mm (74%)
Llanelli PWS 52.3mm
Lawrenny PWS 43.7mm
MH 55.2mm

Coleshill 30.6mm (70%)
Bulkington PWS 26.7mm
Coventry, Bablake School 30.0mm
Long Lawford 24.4mm (60%)
CL 24.6mm (62%)
Dunchurch PWS 23mm
Crick PWS 20.8mm
Daventry PWS c. 22mm
Radford Semele PWS 30mm
Alvechurch PWS 28.1mm (53%)
Harborne PWS 34mm
Edgebaston PWS 27mm
Hereford 24.6mm (53%)

Sunshine totals:

Valley 115.4 hr (144%)
Aberdaron 111.0 hr
Aberporth 85.6 hr
Lwn 96 hr (150%)

Nottingham 80.5 hr
Shawbury 84.2 hr (126%)
Shobdon 100.0 hr
Coventry, Bablake 110.1 hr (140%)



Nature notes

Mid month quite a few Daffs and Celandine coming out.
17th splendid Song Thrush dusk chorus Llanybydder (mildest day of the month max 10.3c).
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming past few mornings.
Chaffinch singing mid month.

Severe cold end of month, Siskin and Goldfinch that feed on niger seeds and in a neighbours garden all disappeared just before the cold onset 26th.
28th exceptionally cold, many birds feeding along roadside verges and banks that caught sun including many Redwing, a few fatalities observed, these birds getting desperate..
Daffs been on hold past week and taking a battering with cold and snow some flattened. Most not yet in bloom

Winter 2017/18

Temperatures and rainfall generally quite close to average, sunny

Second sunniest UK Winter since 1929 (see above link) with 123% of average

Llanwnnen:

Temperatures and rainfall close to average; sunny thanks to February


Total rainfall 417.8mm, 107% of 1916-50 average for nearby Falcondale, Lampeter and 95% of the 2006-18 average here.
Mean temperature 4.6c exactly average (2006-18).
Estimated sun 202 hrs (139%).


Dec average rain, Jan rather wet, Feb rather dry
Dec mild, Jan rather mild, Feb rather cold

Dec and Jan slightly above ave sun; Feb sunny

Long Lawford 184.4mm (123%)
Church Lawford: 175.4mm (115%)

Coventry, Bablake School:

Mean temp 4.3c (-0.2c)
Rainfall: 194.0mm (117%)
Sunshine: 236.6 hr (119%)

Weather log January 2018

January 2018 LLanwnnen, Ceredigion, Wales

Wed 3rd storm Elinor wind damage locally max gusts Capel Curig 76mph, Pembrey 75mph, Coleshill 61mph (CL 54mph, Llanwnnen 46mph). Thunder and hail squall affected central MIdlands in early hours, Coventry residents awoken by hail bashing the windows and loud thunder

Mild unsettled start to the year colder by first weekend:

Sun 7th rare sunny day, 6 or 7 hrs widely, cold though (Aberporth 7.1 hrs, Llanwnnen 7 hrs est, Coventry 6.7 hrs)

Thu 18th the storm with no name or was it Ffion, David, Friederike or Georgina? Some damaging winds (Capel Curig 93mph, Little Rissington 67mph and selected Aberporth 74mph,  Coleshill 62mph, Coventry 58mph, CL 56mph, Trawsgoed 53mph, Llanwnnen 48mph)

Sat 20th recent rather cold spell; wide temp variation today with mild incursion into SW Wales, cold with some sleet and snow N Wales and Midlands (max Coventry, Bablake 1.8c, Coleshill 2.1c, Capel Curig 2.5c, Mumbles 11.2c)

Sun 21st swansong of the colder snap with temporary wet snow for much of the Midlands (local accumulations of several cms) before the milder air arrived; a wet mild day for WW with flooding in many areas (Gogerddan 46.4mm wettest in UK, Llanwnnen 36.7mm 24 hours to midnight, Hereford 18.6mm)

Tue 23rd very mild especially Midlands (Hereford & Wellesbourne 13.6c, Trawsgoed 11.8c, CL & Nottingham 12.8c, Mumbles 9.8c)

Wed 24th very mild during night into morning, 13c exceeded around dawn much of Midlands (day max Shobdon 13.5c, Trawsgoed 11.8c, Capel Curig 8.4c)

Thu 25th heavy showers with hail and thunder WW in particular, inc here at Llanwnnen (TL and hail 1130-1200 and possibly 1245 -1300..

Sun 28th very mild, exceptionally mild parts of Midlands (Pershore 14.8c, Trawsgoed 12.2c, Mumbles 9.3c)

Monthly summary

Rather mild and rather wet/ wet; sunshine average or rather above

Rainfall totals

Valley 85.6mm (113%)
Capel Curig 318.4mm = wettest place in UK
Aberdaron 92.6mm
Trawsgoed 155.7mm
Llangeitho PWS 176.5mm
Aberporth 117.2mm
Abermeurig, Talsarn PWS 133.6mm
Llanwnnen 178.7mm (124%)
Pembrey 132.6mm (123%)
Llanelli PWS 119.6mm
Mumbles 143.4mm (150%)
MH 134.4mm

Nottingham 73.4mm
Alvechurch PWS 86.2mm (127%)
Harborne PWS 77.2mm
Coleshill 68.1mm
Coventry, Bablake School 66.4mm (111%)
Long Lawford 60.6mm (112%)
Church Lawford 62.4mm (111%)
Dunchurch PWS 56.9mm
Crick PWS 54.4mm
Radford Semele PWS 80.5mm
Pershore 65.8mm
Hereford 75.4mm
Shawbury 65.8mm (117%)


Sunshine:

Valley 59.5 hrs
Aberdaron 70.6 hrs
Aberporth 52.5 hrs
Llanwnnen 52 hours (118%)

Nottingham 49.7 hrs
Coventry, Bablake School 67.3 hrs (106%)
Shawbury 55.6 hrs (110%)
Shobdon 57.8 hrs


Nature notes:

Fri 5th Great Tit "teacher" call quite determinedly.

First week, quite a bit of fresh hedgerow foliage inc Primrose, Celandine, Foxglove (lasted from Autumn?).
Daff spikes emerged usual spot end of Bro Grannell, Llanwnnen; Bluebell spikes in garden

Mid month few Snowdrop in flower; first Daffs as usual just before Carmarthen; tits active (notice this and tends to mean no more real cold and Spring on the way); quite a bit of resh groth inc ferns and budding; first sole Celandine flower

Late month plentiful Snowdrop bloom; Blackbird snatches and some proper Song Thrush song; plentiful Hazel catkins, some since beginning of month. MIstle Thrush heard occasionally much of the month.