November 2019 weather log

November 2019 weather log

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
CL = Church Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link
PWS = Personal weather station

Sat 2nd another deluge much of Wales, many places over an inch, above 3 inches locally, especially some hilly areas...rain at times also Midlands..the low gave the lowest pressure of the year to date, low 970's, here at Lwn lowest 972mbar as the low crossed Wales during the morning, lowest pressure reading since Feb 2014 (963mbar) 

Sun 3rd 24 hour rainfall totals, here at Lwn 38.8mm was the wettest November day recorded (beating 35.5mm 13-11-09); totals to 0600 Aberdaron 43.4mm, Trawsgoed 41.2mm, Aberporth 28.2mm, Shobdon 19.2mm, CL 5.4mm

Sat 9th frost sharp in places, min Lwn -5.2c, Shobdon -4.9c, Tirabad -4.4c, Mona -3.1c, MH +3.6c...snow for some areas of mid & N Wales & Marches, giving a covering of several cm's down below 200m such as Llangollen, Newtown, Powys & Oswestry. First cold day of the Season, maxima below 5c much of Midlands, less so SW Wales, maxima CC 3.5c, Shawbury 3.7c, Watnall 5.1c, MH 9.9c

Wed 13th surprise snowfall: snow down to low levels across much of Wales during the evening as a low slid down from NW of Ireland, cold air on its NE flank and calm air caused evaporative cooling (here at Lwn 5c rain 1700 to 0c heavy snow 1900). 3cm covering here on the lawn, the earliest snow cover since Oct 2008 (below 1cm) and first proper November snowfall since late Nov 2010 (5cm). Hilly areas recieved much more depth...up to 15cm in the Brecon Beacons by morning..

Thu 14th further snow for hills of Wales and West Midlands, a raw, cold rather windy day, wet for much of the Midlands with front stuck there, widespread flooding with over an inch widely. Ross-on-Wye 42.8mm wettest in UK, Pershore 35mm, Shobdon 34mm, CL & Coleshill 26mm, Trawsgoed 18mm. Maxima  below 8c all locations, Porthmadog 7.9c, Newport. Salop 6.7c, CITE 5.5c, Lwn 5.1c, Tirabad 4.4c

Very wet start to November, rather cold too. Most places above the whole month rainfall average by mid month, here to 0900GMT 16th:


CC 164.8mm
Aberdaron 141.6mm
Trawsgoed 132.0mm
Llanwnnen 162.4mm
Pembrey Sands 75.0mm

Nottingham 110.8mm
Shawbury 52.6mm
Coleshill 70.6mm
Coventry 87.8mm
CL 91.4mm
Shobdon 99.4mm

Drier interlude mid month:

Mon 18th rare sunny day, widely 5 to 7 hours

Tue 19th frosty min Lwn -4.1c, CC & Shawbury -3.6c, CL -2.6c, MH 6.7c

Mild and unsettled towards month end:

Mon 25th mild Gogerddan 13.8c, ROW 13.5c, Lwn 11.5c, Coventry 11.0c, Aberdaron 10.8c, Watnall 10.3c; Coventry 9.6mm = wettest in Midlands

Tue 26th very mild, max Pershore 14.4c = warmest in UK, Hereford 13.8c, Pembrey 13.3c, VL 12.9c, Lwn 11.8c, CC 11.7c

Nature notes

Early month Longwood: Few Foxgloves in fresh bloom, Redstart and Fieldfare roost, Bats feeding still after dusk

Also a few Foxglove in bloom up at Llwyndrissi forestry, some Bats too, Redwing and Fieldfare roost too

Few garden Primrose in feeble bedraggled bloom much of month

Mid month Great Tit calling one afternoon as was Feb, another afternoon Wren singing in spite of chilly weather.

Mid month still Bats active Llwyndrissi forestry surprisingly

Late month AG, Coventry: a few Rose in bloom locally, garden couple of Welsh Poppies bloom and Fuschia; Willows holding leaves; Kingfisher seen Bedworth Black Bank Pool, note no hard frost as yet Coventry area



Nov 2019 summary

Wet, rather cool and dull

Rainfall twice the average much of Midlands, however locally below average rain N Wales

Rainfall totals Nov 2019

Valley 92.0mm (89%)
CC 224.8mm (77%)
Aberdaron 204.2mm (172%)
Trawsgoed c 160mm
Aberporth 153.2mm (141%)
Llanwnnen 196.4mm (132%)
Pembrey Sands 126.8mm (103%)

Nottingham/ Watnall 137.2mm
Shawbury 75.8mm (148%)
Coleshill 92.8mm
Coventry 127.2mm (203%) = wettest Nov since 1970 (137.1mm)
CL 121.0mm (201%)
Pershore 118.2mm (209%)
Shobdon 139.4mm (178%)
Hereford c 115mm


Sunshine

Aberdaron 48.8 hrs
Aberporth 43.9 hrs (70%)
Llanwnnen est 44 hrs (83%)

Nottingham 37.4 hours
Shawbury 42.7 hrs (75%)
Coventry 50.5 hrs (76%)
Shobdon 43.1 hrs



Autumn 2019

Very wet, rather cool; sunshine average or rather dull

Rainfall totals...

Llanwnnen 509.8mm (125%) = second wettest Autumn here

CL 321.2mm (168%)
Coventry 332.0mm (175%) = wettest Autumn since 1883

October 2019 weather log

October 2019 weather log

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
CL = Church Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link
PWS = Personal weather station

Unsettled and often rather cool start to the month:

Tue 1st widespread heavy showers with thunder in places (inc Cov mid afternoon), these giving 1-2 inches rain in just a few hours as slow moving downpours locally (CITE 26.4mm. Some warm sunny intervals for a time away from N Wales & N Mids where it was rather cool, Trawsgoed max 21.3c warmest in UK (Pershore 20.1c, Lwn 19.3c, Aberporth 15.4c, Watnall max 13.1c)

Wed 2nd widespread ground frost for inland Wales and Marches, first proper frost on the lawn here at Lwn (air min +0.2c); other minima Tirabad 0.0c, Trawsgoed 0.9c, Shobdon 1.5c, Pembrey 2.4c, Coventry & Watnall 4.1c, MH 8.6c..Proper cool but bright Autumnal day max MH & Pembrey 15.1c, Pershore 14.7c,  Lwn 13.7c, CL & Coleshill 12.5c, Valley 12.4c, CC 12.2c; Watnall 10.8 hrs sun (more generally 3 -6 hours)

Thu 3rd widespread grass frost and local air frost (min Tirabad -0.5c, Shobdon 0.0c, Lwn +1.5c, Coleshill 2.4c, Mumbles 8.7c). Ex-hurricane Lorenzo (a Cat 5 several days ago which affected the Azores and was apparently the strongest ever to effect the East Atlantic) tracked close to Ireland, brought nothing special weatherwise just some rain and breeze

Fri 4th Lorenzo died a death over Wales today, plentiful rain mid & N Wales in particular

Through to mid month remained unsettled with temperatures rarely much above average:

Thu 17th Widespread ground frost, minima Lwn 1.6c, Aldermans Green, Coventry c 2c; plentiful heavy and prolonged showers for WW, local thunder such as Carmarthenshire (sferics 6 miles away suggested thunder would have been heard at Lwn), only scattered showers Mids

Fri 18th another showery day, with local hail and thunder, especially Wales and SW Mids; over 50mm parts of S Wales

Quiet, mainly dry spell after mid month with some frost and fog

Fri 25th/ Sat 26th very wet for Wales and Marches in particular, widely over 2 inches, above 5 inches for some hilly areas in a 36 hour period. 60.6mm the 24 hours total to 0900GMT 26th here at Lwn being the second wettest day of any month recorded (80.6mm 12/10/18). Also to 0900 GMT Libanus, Brecon Beacons 101.0mm and Whitchurch, Pembs 66.8mm.

24 hour totals to 1200gmt Sat 26th:

Tirabad 77mm

Hereford 64mm

Shawbury 53.0mm

Trawsgoed 51mm

MH 46mm

Aberporth 45mm

CL 26mm

Much cooler air behind the low bringing the wet weather, maxima the lowest of the Season to date with afternoon temperatures generally 6 -9c, it had been around 15c at midnight much of the Midlands. The summit of Snowdon had a decent snow cover

Mostly dry bright end to the month after the very wet blip:

Mon 28th widespread slight frost, minima Lwn -3.2c, Pershore -1.9c, Traswgoed -1.5c, Coventry +0.2c, Nottingham 1.3c, Aberdaron 4.8c...

Wed 30th front stuck over SW England past few days, rain down there, rather cloudy S Wales and SW Midlands, plentiful sun N Mids and N Wales; chilly east wind, maxima generally 8 - 11c

Nature notes:

Not many Apples this Autumn, perhaps a reaction to the drought last Summer (conserving energy) with maybe a bumper crop next year?

Quite a small (secondary) Foxglove in bloom early month; various different flowers seen in bloom inc Daisy, Daffodil, Campion, Pink Clover - in small numbers all these; surprised to see a few flowers on the Holly tree (perhaps a reaction to the heavy pruning it received last month?)

Mid month Song Thrush heard in song briefly Coventry; plenty of Wasp activity still AG, Coventry; red Holly berries AG too; first Redwings heard calling as flying overhead at night.

Holly berries turned red in our garden month end too


October 2019 summary

Generally rather cool, rather dull and wet; more definitely cool parts of Wales; -1.6c wrt average here at Lwn although 21st century Octobers have often been mild. Some places very wet at close to double the average rainfall, nowhere below average; all area below average sun, locally very dull

October 2019 rainfall

Valley 146.8mm (145%)
Aberdaron 182.4mm (171%)
Trawsgoed 204.4mm (141%)
Aberporth c 130mm
Llanwnnen 179.1mm (125%)
Milford Haven 174.2mm
Mumbles c 170mm

Nottingham (Watnall) 110.4mm
Shawbury, Salop 117.6mm (173%)
Coleshill 109.6mm (150%)
Coventry, Bablake 95.0mm (140%)
Church Lawford 107.6mm (179%)
Pershore, Worc 105.8mm (176%)
Hereford 143.0mm (183%)

Sunshine

Valley 95.7 hrs (95%)
Lwn est 56 hrs (about 64%)

Shawbury 76.1 hrs (84%)
Coventry 91.1 hrs (87%)
Wellesbourne 78.7 hrs

September 2019 weather log West Wales & Midlands

September 2019 weather log West Wales & Midlands

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen (this location)
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry (Aunts)
CL = Church Lawford (near parents)
ROW = Ross-on-Wye
CC = Capel Curig
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire
COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Rather an Autumnal start to the month appropriately with sub 20c maxima for most of the first week or so however:

Tue 3rd some warm sunny spells Midlands (Wellesbourne max 22.4c, Shobdon 19.4c) but cloudy with some rain and drizzle WW and quite cool (Valley 18.1c, Lwn 16.2c, CC 15.2c)..

Mon 11th local downpours with thunder parts of SW Wales afternoon (no thunder Lwn)

Tue 11th warm, humid air associated with a low near Iceland (former Cat 5 Hurricane Dorian that devastated The Bahamas last week) mostly dry and bright Midlands, much cloud with some light rain and drizzle WW, max Wellesbourne 24.2c, CL 23.2c, Watnall 19.8c; Lwn & Valley 19.1c, CC 16.3c..

Often dry and warm mid month:

Sat 14th virtually unbroken sunshine widely (Aberporth 12.0 hours, Lwn est 11.5 hrs, Valley 9.5 hrs; Shobdon 11.1 hrs, Watnall 9.4 hrs. Maxima warm: Hereford 22.6c, CL 22.1c, Trawsgoed 21.1c, Lwn 20.4c, Market Bosworth 20.3c, CC 16.6c

Wed 18th local ground frost, air min Lwn 1.1c, Shobdon 2.1c, CC 2.5c, Watnall 4.5c, Mumbles 11.3c. Unbroken sun widely (away from N Midlands) and uite warm, Aberporth 12.0 hrs, Lwn est 11.5 hrs, Shobdon 11.4 hrs, Shawbury 2.5 hrs, max above 20c in places Pershore 20.9c, Lwn 20.0c, MH 19.4c, Shawbury 17.0c, Aberporth 16.3c

Run of warm/ very warm and sunny weather continued to 21st, with temperatures above 20c for most along with virtually unbroken sunshine. Here at Llanwnnen each day 18th - 20th had an unbroken 11.5 hours:

Fri 20th maxima: Porthmadog 23.5c, Mona 23.2c, Pershore 22.4c, Aberporth 21.9c, CITE 21.5c, Lwn 21.2c (cf 21.4c 19th), Watnall 20.3c, Aberdaron 18.7c; sunshine Aberporth 11.9 hours, Wellesbourne 11.6 hours, Lwn est 11.5 hours, Coventry 10.5 hours...

A dry month to date for most areas (very dry much of Midlands), rainfall to 20th:

Mona 48.2mm

Aberporth 30.8mm

Llanwnnen 39.3mm

Mumbles 37.2mm

Nottingham 22.8mm

Shawbury 22.6mm

Coleshill 8.6mm

Coventry, Bablake 6.6mm

CL 4.4mm

Herford 14.2mm

Sat 21st the warmest and final day of the spell/ month for most, sunny but breezy and locally hot; max Valley 27.4c = highest in UK, Aberporth & Lwn 24.9c, MH 20.2c; Pershore 26.4c, CITE 25.1c, Watnall 23.8c

Unsettled and very wet end to the month more than redressing the deficits from the first 3 weeks so that all areas ending up wetter than average for the month:

Tue 24th plentiful rain and showers since yesterday, over two inches locally, thunder in some places inc Coventry and parts of Ceredigion (likely Lwn but away). Rainfall totals today: Winterbourne 40.2mm, Watnall (Nottingham) 38.0mm, Coleshill 35.4mm, Trawsgoed 22.0mm, Coventry 20.2mm

Sun 29th very wet overnight in most areas, widely 1-2 inches rain; 24 hour totals to 0900 this morning: Lwn 31.6mm = second wettest Sept day recorded (after 46.6mm 20/9/18); Coventry 33.6mm (wettest Sept day since 2010), CL 29.8mm; then in the 24 hours to 1200 Tirabad 55.4mm, CC 44.0mm, Pembrey Sands 36.4mm, Shobdon 28.0mm, Valley 10.4mm. Some of the hilly areas of Wales have received over 200mm rain in the past week (cf a mere 80mm here at Lwn on lower ground)

Nature notes

Few Swallow or House Martin from about 20th, although 15 or so Swallow over the University 26th..


Sept summary

Wet everywhere (locally over 200%); generally quite sunny; temperatures around average

It was dry first 3 weeks then very wet indeed!

Rainfall totals

Nottingham 127.2mm
Shawbury 118.8mm (208%)
Coleshill 113.8mm (184%)
Bablake 109.8mm (186%)
CL 93.4mm (144%)
Pershore c 88mm
Shobdon c 108mm

Valley 86.8mm (121%)
Aberporth 100.2mm (142%)
Trawsgoed c 163mm
Lwn 134.8mm (117%)
Tirabad (Sennybridge) 227.2mm
MH c 152mm
Mumbles 150.0mm (194%)

Sunshine Sept

Nottingham 160.2hrs
Shawbury 136.3 hrs (116%)
Bablake 165.8 hrs (121%)

Aberporth 159.7 hrs (112%)
Lwn 130 hrs est (104%)

August 2019 weather log West Wales & Midlands

August 2019 weather log

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
CL = Church Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link
PWS = Personal weather station

Warm, humid start to August with showers in places:

Fri 2nd surprisingly warm today, did not expect above 23c here yet it managed 27.3c (little wind so 1-2c too high in the garden cf open country). Scattered heavy showers affected parts of Wales pm, 1- 2 inches in a few hours very locally judging by the radar, notably in the hills east of Brynamman. Other maxima Gogerddan 25.7c, Pershore 25.4c, Milford Haven 25.1c, Trawsgoed 25.0c, Watnall 23.1c, Aberporth 21.1c..

Sun 4th warm sunny intervals, thundery showers for parts of Midlands in particular from late afternoon...thunderstorms affected the Rugby area with 21mm at Lilbourne PWS 17-1800 while Church Lawford just a few miles away had no rain...

Radar accumulation 24 hours to Mon 5th Aug 1200 showing localised heavy rain in Rugby area; 21mm in an hour Lilbourne

Lightning sferics for Sun 4th Aug showing thunderstorms in the Rugby area late afternoon

Turned unsettled and cooler second week:

Fri 9th heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms overnight, over an inch in places especially parts of Wales and W Midlands, here at Llanwnnen 27.3mm was the wettest August day since 15-8-13 (28.5mm). Other totals 24 hours to 1200: Mumbles 39.0mm,  Pembrey 30.4mm, Shobdon 28.0mm, CL 23.0mm. Also a warm night min Mumbles 18.1c, Lwn 16.5c, CC 14.8c; Pershore 17.3c, Watnall 15.6c. More heavy showers and thunderstorms during what was a rather warm and windy day..

Sun 11th thundery showers affected S Wales & Midlands in particular inc Coventry & Leicester, over 17mm fell during the afternoon at Wood End, PWS in Coventry although much of the city had under 10mm (Bablake 6.8mm). Cooler air by now, few above 21c today (max Pershore 21.0c, Pembrey 19.5c, Shawbury 19.6c, CITE 19.5c, Lwn 17.6c, CC 16.0c)

Tue 13th cool late Summer night quite widely, min Lwn 4.8c, Shobdon 5.2c, Tirabad 5.8c, Watnall 10.1c,  Aberporth 12.7c

Still quite unsettled mid month but turned much drier and warmer after 20th with a short heatwave:

Mon 19th scattered showers and thunderstorms, thunder heard at AG from intense downpour south of Coventry which then tracked across Rugby. Dad saw forked lightning and minor flooding near Rugby. At Clifton-on-Dunsmore, Rugby 8mm fell in 15 minutes around 1330; AG, Coventry meanwhile had under 1mm.

Fri 23rd warning up maxima Wellesbourne, Warks 26.5c, Shobdon, Herefordshire 24.0c, Lwn & Trawsgoed 23.7c, Aberporth 17.7c

Sat 24th very warm or hot and largely sunny after a cool night for many inland locations: minima Shobdon 6.2c, Lwn 6.8c, Trawsgoed 7.4c, MH & Mumbles 15.7c. Maxima Wellesbourne 29.7c, Gogerddan 28.8c, Hereford & Pershore 28.6c, Shobdon 27.2c, Aberdaron 23.1c. Here at Lwn max 28.3c was the highest recorded in August (records began 2006) beating 27.9c from last year

Sun 25th heat more intense than yesterday for Midlands and sunny; WW generally warm with sunny spells: maxima Wellesbourne 32.5c, Bablake, Coventry 31.3c, CL 31.0c, Shawbury & Shobdon 28.8c; Lwn 24.5c, Tirabad 23.6c, Aberdaron 18.4c.

This has been the hottest late August Bank Holiday on record with temps today reaching 33.3c at Heathrow then 33.2c on the Monday same location:

Mon 26th (BH) hot again much of Midlands..maxima CL 29.1c, Shawbury 26.3c; still warm to very warm most of WW Lwn 25.3c, Trawsgoed 24.2c, Valley 19.3c

Tue 27th last day of the 4 day heatwave for much of the Mids (24th -27th all above 28c Coventry and Rugby); still warm much of WW too with some sunshine; thunderstorms affected Midlands late afternoon inc Coventry area. Maxima CL 29.2c, Shawbury, Salop 23.5c; Lwn 24.3c, Trawsgoed 22.0c, Aberdaron 18.3c

Cooler, changeable month end though still some rather warm days Midlands:

Thu 29th clear cool night for some, however some coasts rather warm in contrast: minima Lwn 3.8c,  Shobdon & Swyddffynon (Ceredigion) 4.5c, Pembrey 8.0c, MH 14.7c, Valley 15.1c

Nature notes

Fri 2nd Aberduar chapel, Llanybydder: inspected the chapel this evening, extensive droppings staining to chapel walls just beneath the 1 - 3 inch gap kindly made by the workers last Autumn to accommodate the Swifts. 6 or so main foci of the staining suggesting nest locations, these were only obvious through close inspection, as only one large stain was visible from the Surgery car park about 50 metres away across the road. A couple of Swift seen high above and heard to scream.

Onto the forestry, another Flying Ant evening, taking advantage of the warm, close and still conditions. 2125 as getting dark, we were inspected over and over again by a pair of 'chucking' apparently agitated Nightjar, flying round and round over our heads, sometimes perching in nearby trees and with some churring. Came withing a few metres again, gave brief impressive wing clap too, observed for half hour or so until almost completely dark as walked the half mile back to the car.

Driving back loads of moths, creating a constant 'snow flurry' in the headlights.

Mon 5th Nightjars gave a bit of a performance in spite of breezy weather

Tue 6th 20-25 screaming Swift quite high above Teifi as viewed from Lampeter campus after 2000 hrs, then dusk 2100, about 10 above OB, University, with one bird entering hole at chapel side of inner quadrangle

Fri 9th no Swifts or Nightjars on a damp and windy evening..

Tue 13th pleasantly surprised to find Nightjars presence still in the forestry above Llanybydder, almost gave up as starting to slowly walk back to car (with pauses) when at 2120 in near dark a short churr began, followed by another few minutes after. Then heading back to car once more (just 200m from car) one circled us twice within 10-15 metres! Weather cloudy, light breeze, 13c.

Wed 14th pleasantly surprised once more this afternoon to sit a the bench in the inner quadrangle of Lampeter Uni to see a Swift exit a nest hole, then a pair feeding over the building, likely feeding a late clutch of chicks..

Sat 24th Chiffchaff heard singing at AG (very briefly) and then at Long Lawford (close proximity and proper song and also saw this bird). It was a hot sunny afternoon (max 28c). Don't recall ever hearing one in August, so now I have heard them sing in each month from March to October (they often can be heard resuming their singing in September, even early October as they migrate south)..

Mon 26th mild, still evening at forestry above Llanybydder, unsurprisingly no Nightjars as most likely they have now departed on their journey south

Robins commenced their Autumn virtuosos month end, likewise have a few Wrens, all of which  thankfully breaks the August silence but not forgetting the contribution by twittering Swallows which seem to have been numerous this year!



August 2019 summary:

Rather warm; average to wet rainfall-wise; sunshine varied between rather dull and rather sunny:

At Coventry this was the warmest August since 2004 while here at Llanwnnen it was the warmest recorded since records began 2006 (previous warmest 2012, though note we have had no particularly warm August since moving here!).


Rainfall totals Aug 2019:


Valley, Anglesey 63.0mm (91%)
Capel Curig, Snowdonia >250mm (2 days data missing during wet spell so likely near 300mm)
Aberdaron 83.6mm (116%)
Trawsgoed c 107mm
Aberporth c 72mm
Llanwnnen 107.6mm (99%)
Milford Haven 93.2mm
Pembrey Sands 116.4mm (129%)
Mumbles, Swansea 88.8mm (136%)

Nottingham 98.2mm
Shawbury c 78mm
Coleshill 63.6mm (94%)
Coventry, Bablake 75.2mm
Church Lawford 80.6mm (130%)
Pershore 63.6mm (94%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire c 77mm
Hereford 72.6mm (152%)


Sunshine totals Aug 2019:

Aberdaron 185.7 hrs
Aberporth 181.5 hrs (102%)
Llanwnnen est 131 hours (81%)


Nottingham 193.5 hrs
Coventry, Bablake School 197.1 hrs (106%0

PWS rainfall August 2019:


Wales...

Coventry, Earlsdon 113.5mm
Clifton-on-Dunsmore, Rugby 78.5mm
Lilbourne, Rugby 91.5mm
Dunchurch, near Rugby 68.6mm
Crick, Northants 60.4mm
Daventry, Northants 68.1mm
Radford Semele, Leamington Spa 97.0mm




Summer 2019 

Rather warm, quite dull, rainfall varied from average to wet

Midlands in particular had a wet Summer with parts of WW slightly below average...
Coventry had its wettest Summer since 2012 (299.6mm).


Rainfall totals Summer 2019:

Valley 158.8mm (89%)
Trawsgoed c 293mm (119%)
Aberporth c 214mm (120%)
Llanwnnen 295.7mm (106%)
Pembrey Sands 263.6mm (110%)

Shawbury c 238mm (142%)
Coleshill c 292mm (164%)
Coventry, Bablake School 279.4mm (147%)
Church Lawford, Warks 251.0mm (141%)
Hereford c 219mm (159%)


Sunshine totals Summer 2019


Llanwnnen 414 hours estimated from webcam captures (about 82%)


Coventry, Bablake School 523.6 hrs

July 2019 weather log

July 2019 weather log

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
CL = Church Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye
CC = Capel Curig
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire
COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Dry start to July became warm and sunny for a time:

Fri 6th third sunny day for many, warm or very warm (max Hereford 27.0c, Watnall 23.2c; Pembrey 22.6c, Lwn 21.4c, Aberporth 17.2c: Wellesbourne 15.1 hrs sun, Aberdaron 14.9 hrs, Lwn est 15 hrs, Watnall 10.1 hrs)

Some showers towards mid month but still mainly dry and rather warm

Sat 13th a rather warm night followed by a cool, mostly cloudy day WW, Midlands nearer average with some sunny intervals. Lwn min 14.2c the warmest of the month to date followed by max just 16.1c the coolest of the month to date! Other maxima: Aberporth 15.8c, MH 18.1c; Shawbury 19.4c, Pershore 22.0c..

Resumption of warmth with some sunshine mid month..indeed a very dry first half to July almost everywhere..July 2019 rainfall to 16th:

Valley, Anglesey 3.8mm
Llanwnnen 2.2mm (just 14.0mm in the past month since June 17th)
Aberporth 2.0mm
MH 1.0mm
Pembrey sands 0.2mm
Mumbles 0.8mm

Shawbury, Salop 3.0mm
Coleshill 12.6mm
Coventry, Bablake 4.4mm
CL 3.4mm
Shobdon, Herefordshire 0.6mm


Fri 19th welcome rain just past mid month, many places getting around half an inch, with over an inch for a few (St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan 40.0mm; Wellesbourne 14.9mm, CL 12.0mm, Lwn 10.3mm)

Mon 22nd  warmest night of the year to date for some places e.g. Lwn min 16.7c; other minima Shawbury 18.4c, CL 16.4c; Pembrey 17.8c, Aberdaron 15.2c.. this heralding the start of a very warm/ hot week...

Tue 23rd very hot and mostly sunny, temperatures above 30c for much of the Midlands and parts of Wales: maxima Wellesbourne 32.8c, Sutton Bonington (Notts) 31.8c, Coventry 31.3c, Lwn 30.8c, Pembrey Sands 30.3c, Trawsgoed 30.0c, Aberdaron 23.5c. At Llanwnnen max 30.8c was only the hottest in July for one year (30.9c in 2018). Thunderstorms with spectacular lightning displays and locally torrential downpours spread up from the south late evening lasting into the night. No overhead storm here at Lwn but treated to several hours near constant lightning from storm cells tracking north across central Wales between 15 and 50 miles to the east. Coventry and much of the Midlands had even more spectacular (and for a time overhead) storms in the early hours of Wednesday

Wed 24th warm night again especially Midlands, minima CL & Coventry 18.3c, Shobdon 16.9c; Mumbles, Swansea 17.4c, Aberporth 14.4c, Lwn 14.3c...

Thu 25th another very mild/ warm night, minima Mumbles 18.6c, Lwn 14.2c, CC 12.8c; Nottingham 17.0c, Shobdon 12.6c. Very warm or hot with sunny periods WW; Midlands in exceptionally hot air with record temperatures in places. Max 35.2c at Coventry beat 35.1c from August 1990 to become the hottest day on record in the city (began 1892)! Other maxima Wellesbourne 36.2c, Nottingham 36.1c, CL 34.8c, Shobdon 30.0c; Gogerddan 31.2c, Trawsgoed 30.6c, Lwn 29.6c, Aberporth 27.0c, Aberdaron 23.1c. The UK record appears still intact with the highest reported thus far 38.1c at Cambridge (record still 38.5c Brogdale August 2003,,,BUT see below!). The record probably only prevented by patchy afternoon cloud cover and localised storms.

Fri 26th warm night, thunderstorms parts of Midlands, with TL reported from Coventry with very localised downpours, min Lwn 17.4c being the third highest recorded (all of these warm nights being in July). Other minima  Nottingham 19.5c, Coventry 18.6c, Market Bosworth 17.8c, Shobdon 13.1c; Mumbles 18.5c, Aberdaron 16.2c. Much less warm by day with inland temps generally 22 to 25c. Provisionally, Cambridge Botanic Gardens recorded 38.7c yesterday, which if accepted, and after scrutiny by the Met Office, would be the new UK record!

Sat 27th big change for much of the Midlands to cloudy and cool with rain at times; WW mainly dry and bright with average to rather warm temperatures (Pembrey Sands 22.5c, ROW 20.2c, Lwn 20.1c, Aberdaron 16.8c; Hereford 20.1c, CL 18.0c, Shawbury 17.1c)

Sun 28th very cool with spells of rain/ drizzle central and north Midlands, 1-2 inches rainfall for many places north of Coventry since yesterday. SW Midlands and much of WW in contrast dry with sunny periods. Still only 20.5mm rain has fallen so far this July at Llanwnnen, if we don't get much more it may end up the driest July here (30.4mm in 2006 to beat), however more unsettled conditions on the way before month end which may well thwart this. Maxima Mumbles & Pembrey 22.0c, Lwn 19.8c, CC 16.1c; ROW 22.7c, Hereford 22.6c, CL 14.9c, Market Bosworth 14.0c. Wettest place 24 hours to 2100 Market Bosworth, Leicestershire 42.4mm

Mon 29th nice dry, bright and warm day for most, temperatures generally 21-24c WW and 24-26c Midlands; Wellesbourne max 26.7c warmest in UK (also Lwn 25.3c). Cambridge Botanic Gardens reading of 38.7c on the 25th has been verified by the Met Office and so is officially a new UK heat record!

Tue 30th low pressure brought showers or longer spells of rain. Here at Lwn the rain prevented this from being the driest July (see above note ^). 1 to 2 inches of rain for much Warwickshire & the Birmingham area, as well as for parts of WW, although some places saw little rain.. At Bablake, Coventry 33.6mm was the wettest July day since 2007 (38.1mm) and over double the total of 16.2mm at Church Lawford just 10 miles east. Official MO regional highest rainfall totals: Astwood Bank (W Mids) 34.2mm, Market Bosworth (E Mids) 30.0mm & Swyddffynnon (Wales) 27.4mm.

Nature notes

Thu 4th fantastic Nightjars at Llwyndrissi forest above Llanybydder, first one landed just 30m away as we sat half way up the slope at the SW edge of the clearing, and at 2200 it churred loudly, the churring was then prolonged (up to 8 minutes continuous). Within a few minutes of this I witnessed a Green Woodpecker fly past within 10m and start laughing in the near dark from a dead tree trunk, screaming Foxes also nearby within 100m, a Song Thrush singing and Bats of various species flying just above my head - all as it was getting dark with a splendid red afterglow from the sunset! Walking slowly back along the track towards car in near dark (2245) and 300m beyond the original bird (now only faintly audible), two more Nightjars appeared in the gloom flying low above the track, then amazingly swooping down above Pippin and within a few feet of him (he was oblivious). It would seem that his white patterning of tail, nose and paws had them believe he was a rival Nightjar flashing it's white underwing patches! Also they were alighting on the track ahead of us and with Pippin still off the lead eventually he caught sight of one and chased it a short distance. However this did not deter the birds and the male churred again from within 50 m. 

Bird song fizzling out as it always does once into July...still the odd Song Sthrush, Chiffchaff, Blackcap though to mid month...

Sun 14th great performance Nightjar pair above Llanybydder on a calm, warm dusk..much churring, flight display and wing clapping..

Still notable Chiffchaff song to mid month, most other birds now largely silent inc Thrush..

Fine Swift displays with improved numbers mid month (max seen in one go about 25 above Lampeter University). The village Swifts seem to be doing well with at least 6 nests with chicks in, as evidenced by poo piles on ground beneath. Yet just a few days later (from 17th) much less evident, much less visible and no large screaming parties (departure of non-breeding 'bangers'?)..

Sun 21st much Swift activity at Aberduar chapel before dusk, 8-10 birds popping in and out of their refurbished nest site on a very dull, mild, windy evening. Some screaming but much less so than a week ago. Then onto the delapidated former woollen mill/ warehouse on Station ave, now at 2100 and near dark, no Swifts seen but some chicks and adults could be heard high above in the nests...not sure it can be many more years before this rather ruinous yet still utilised (lights on within the office room of Wilson's Building Supplies) building  is renovated/ demolished?

Tue 23rd what an evening! After the hottest day this year (max 30.8c) fine displays by the Swifts at Aberduar chapel (10-12) then an awesome low flying diplay by 15- 20 birds above Rhydybont chapel, also Llanybydder. Onto the Llwndrissi forest above the village and thousands of flying Ants on the trackways (red and black Wood Ants presumably, bigger than garden Ants). Nightjars put on a fantastic display once more after dusk, watched them for over half an hour as it got dark, churring as close as 30m, visible too at last from churring post on dead tree trunk 100m away, then a low flying bird just above Pippin and my heads, then two males heard churring at the same time, so at least 2 pairs. Territories seem to be 300 or 400m. Still some forlorn Ants along the track in the dark having failed to make take off at almost 2230!

Sun 28th Nightjars still active and churring (started 2145 as it was getting dark on a cool evening), also A Grasshopper Warbler calling from adjacent marchland

Bird song as ever died off second half of July

Mon 29th Swifts seem in low numbers now, however 6 above the village this evening with a bit of screaming, and some of the nests still have chicks calling

Wed 31st contrary to the last nature note, a magnificent screaming display of 25 - 30 Swift above Lampeter Uni at dusk, just about the largest congregation seen all Summer!


July 2019 summary

Rather warm; much of WW very dry, Midlands variable rainfall; rather dull to average sunshine

Rainfall totals

Valley 34.0mm (62%)
Aberdaron c. 40mm (72%)
Llanwnnen 38.3mm (38%)
Trawsgoed c. 48mm (57%)
Aberporth 21.8mm (35%)
Pembrey Sands 28.4mm (38%)
MH 20.8mm (30%)
Mumbles, Swansea 40.8mm (57%)

Shawbury, Salop 38.6mm (73%)
Coleshill c. 94mm (192%)
Coventry, Bablake 75.2mm (127%)
Pershore, Worc c. 58mm (116%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire c. 25mm
Hereford c. 39mm (87%)

Limited Personal Weather Stations (PWS) as Wunderground website faulty:

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 76.1mm

Daventry c. 62mm


Sunshine totals

Aberporth 204.2 hrs (107%
Llanwnnen 170 hrs estimated from webcam captures (about 95%)


Nottingham (Watnall) 159.4 hrs
Shawbury 162.2 hrs (98%)
Coventry, Bablake 176.0 hrs (88%)
Wellesbourne, Warks 159.2 hrs
ROW 164.2 hrs

June 2019 weather log

June 2019 weather log

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
CL = Church Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye
CC = Capel Curig
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire
COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Wed 5th appreciable rain in places, especially parts of Wales (Goggerddan 19.4mm, Shawbury 14.2mm, Bablake 6.0mm, Lwn 5.0mm to midnight)

Fri 7th end to the prolonged relatively dry spell courtesy of the Spanish Met named 'Storm Miguel', particularly wet for WW, over an inch in many areas here, the rain cleared Midlands later but with thundery showers for S Mids...Very cool June day for many, max 13.1c at Lwn (other max Milford Haven 11.6c, Aberporth 12.1c, Mon 15.7c; Shobdon 13.7c, Pershore & Nottingham 15.8c). Rain totals to 2100  Ross-on-Wye 29.0mm, Lwn c 25mm

Sat 8th Lwn total to 0900 45.8mm, the wettest June day here (beating 42.0mm, 6-6-09). Other rain total 24 hours to 0600 Aberporth 37.6mm, Pembrey Sands 37.4mm, Mumbles 31.6mm; while 24 hour total to 0900 GMT 20.0mm at Bablake, Coventry

Sun 9th scattered showers, local thunder,including at Ciliau Aeron as judged by sferics (not heard Lwn)

Very cool, dull and very wet spell mid month:

Mon 10th scattered thunder WW pm inc Lwn with downpours locally, more general rain Midlands where especially cool (maxima CL & Watnall 12.9c, Hereford 17.5c; Aberdaron 14.3c, Lwn 16.3c, Pembrey 18.1c)

Tue 11th exceptionally cool June day, some places below 10c max. Max 9.8c at Llanwnnen the lowest recorded (srb 2006) beating 11.7c from June 2014 and 2015..At Bablake, Coventry max 10.3c made it the coolest June day since 1985 (max 9.9c). Other maxima Tirabad 8.3c, Trawsgoed 10.7c, Mumbles 12.1c; Shobdon 9.9c, Pershore 11.3c). Wet for many areas away from SE Midlands where rain intermittent and light..1 to 2 inches falling widely across Wales and N Midlands as the rain persistant here (Wainfleet, Lincs 75.6mm, Nottingham 40mm, Lwn 26.5mm meas 0900 12th)

Cold June day max 9.8c Llanwnnen; max 10.3c Bablake coldest in June since 1985

Thu 13th further wet weather since yesterday pm and overnight gave over an inch in places (CL 26.8mm, Bablake 25.0mm 24 hours to 0900GMT; Coleshill 34.0mm, Nottingham 32.2mm, Hereford 29.8mm, Tirabad 27.0mm 24 hours to 1200. Many places over 3 inches past week, with Pennerley in Shropshire having had 150mm (6 inches). Here at Lwn there has been 100.8mm in the past 6 days..

Sun 16th weather still rather cool and unsettled making for a very wet first half of June. Figures to this morning (whole June averages bracketed):

Valley 42.6mm (54mm)
Capel Curig 127.6mm (134mm)
Trawsgoed 103.4mm (76mm)
Aberporth 98.8mm (58mm)
Llanwnnen 131.0mm (82mm)
Pembrey Sands 115.0mm (76mm)

Nottingham 115.6mm (63mm)
Shawbury 98.0mm (53mm)
Coleshill 104.8mm (63mm)
Coventry, Bablake 100.2mm (59mm)
Church Lawford 92.4mm (56mm)
Hereford 92.4mm (45mm)

Also its been a very dull and cool month to date:

Sunshine well below average so far, particularly so the NW Midlands and inland Wales (to 15th):

Valley 76.4 hrs
Aberdaron 81.9 hrs
Aberporth 60.7 hrs
Llanwnnen est 35 hours

Nottingham 38.3 hrs
Shawbury 33.8 hrs
Coventry, Bablake 61.6 hrs

Temperatures are running at between 1 and 2c below the 30 year average in most places. Most of West Wales has mean maxima below 16c thus far, ranging from 14.4c at Aberdaron to 16.0c at Mumbles, Swansea (Lwn 15.8c), while the Midlands is at 16 - 18c.

The cool, unsettled conditions eased after mid month turning to a fine, dry spell from about 20th...

Mon 24th weather model have been insisting on near record breaking 850hPa (upper) temperatures next week, in spite of which surface temperatures are modest when mid 30's c may have been expected, it will be interesting how hot it gets Thu - Sat and how much effect the east breeze has..I would presume WW would be favourable for heat and 30c would be assured:

Extreme upper air temperatures predicted for late June above 20c at 850hPa

Yet at the surface modest average temperatures expected. We will see!

Wed 26th warmth and humidity for WW with sunny intervals, Midlands remained overcast and cool with the keen North Sea breeze. Porthmadog max 24.7c warmest in UK (Lwn & MH 23.0c, Mona 18.4c, Hereford 17.9c, CITE 16.9c, Coventry 16.4c, Nottingham 15.2c)

Thu 27th sunny with ENE breeze, very warm WW (above chart way underestimated warmth here whereas more accurate for N Sea influenced Midlands). Max 26.2c, the warmest day of year to date here at Lwn ahead of 24.9c from back in April..other max Porthmadog 27.1c (warmest in UK), Pembrey 26.9c, CC 22.2c; Hereford 23.1c, CL & Nottingham 20.4c

Fri 28th  Heat WW, max Porthmadog 29.5c, Mona 29.2c, Lwn 28.8c, Aberporth 28.4c. Midlands generally reached a more pleasant 22 - 25c

Sat 29th cooled down WW, heat now for Midlands with wind turning more south, max Pershore 32.0c, ROW 31.7c, Astwood Bank 31.6c, cf Lwn 22.1c, Aberporth 16.6c. This spell has given record heat for France, where up to 45c apparently!

Nature notes:

Wed 5th June, Allt-y-Mynydd forest: red and black ' Slave-maker' Ant , first one I ever noticed, it kept hiding from me under stones, they raid similar but differing spp of Wood Ant and take away the larvae and eggs to their own nests, the babies then hatch and behave like the 'Master' Species!

http://www.woodants.org.uk/species/bloodredant

Cuckoo briefly called as leaving 1800 (and the last time heard 2019), still fair few Chiffchaff, WW and Blackcap to be heard...

Thu 13th bleak, very cool damp Allt-y-Mynydd forestry: Splendid show of Labernum along the adjacent lane, just passing peak bloom and has withstood the 'June Monsoon' past week.
Nightjar calling 2150 as getting dark, only for few minutes until disturbed by Crows when I glimpsed it flying away in the half-light. It was in the same area that was clear-fell in 2016 when me and Sophie saw the Nightjars last..

Mon 17th Allt-y-Mynydd (Llwyndrissi) forest: Sought Nighjars at dusk, not disappointed much calling by at least one bird and 2 seen between 22-2230

Plenty of bird song still towards month end, especially in the woodland at dusk




June 2019 summary

Generally dull and very wet; temperatures near or slightly below average

Much of Midlands and parts of Wales over twice the June average. Here at Lwn it was the wettest June since 2012 (218.3mm), however NW coasts of Wales managed average sun and were much less wet..parts of mid Wales and Marches under 75% sunshine.


Rainfall totals:

Valley 61.6mm (119%)
Aberdaron 65.0mm (111%)
Trawsgoed 137.6mm (180%)
Aberporth 120.6mm (206%)
Llanwnnen 149.8mm (220%)
Pembrey Sands 126.2mm (166%)


Nottingham (Watnall) 139.2mm
Shawbury 121.0mm (227%)
Coleshill 134.2mm (214%)
Coventry, Bablake 125.4mm (213%)
Church Lawford 109.6mm (195%)
Hereford 107.6mm (238%)


PWS

Talsarn, Ceredigion 109.7mm
Llanelli, Carms 93.3mm

Bulkington 143.0mm
Easenhall 134.1mm
Clifon-on-Dunsmore 88.6mm
Lilbourne 93.2mm
Daventry 97.3mm
Shirley, Solihull 171.2mm
Edgebaston, B'ham 110.0mm
Harbourne, B'ham 150.1mm
Alvechurch, Worc 154.4mm

Sunshine 

Valley 204.6 hrs 9114%)
Aberdaron 204.7 hrs
Aberporth 165.5 hrs (85%)
Llanwnnen (estimated from webcam captures) 114 hrs (70%)

Nottingham 124.2 hrs
Coventry 150.5 hrs (81%)
Hereford 111.7 hrs (72%)

May 2019 weather log

May 2019 weather log

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
CL = Church Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye
CC = Capel Curig
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire
COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Turned cool/ cold early month:

Sat 4th snow showers for high ground of Wales, an inch reported from the Brecon Beacons first thing, photos showed sprinklings in various parts of Wales inc. Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons

Sun 5th widespread frost, especially Wales where locally quite sharp. Min here at Llanwnnen -4.3c a May record (previous -2.9c 01/05/13). Other St Harmon, Powys -4.8c, Tirabad -3.8c, Trawsgoed -3.3c, Pembrey -2.5c, Pershore 0.0c, Nottingham 2.6c, Aberporth 5.8c)

Widespread May frost, min -4.3c Llanwnnen, a new May record

After the mostly dry start, useful rain 8th and 9th (Astwood Bank, Worc. 24.6mm 8th)

Fri 10th local frost Wales & Marches, another air frost here at Llanwnnen (min -0.6c) that's 4 for May so far (record 5 in May 2013). Other minima Hereford +1.7c, Pembrey 1.8c, Bablake 6.3c, MH 8.5c. Showers, thunder in places inc. Allesley, Coventry..

Sat 11th again frost in places, especially widespread inland Wales, fifth air frost of the month here (min -1.4c) equalling the May 2013 record but well short still of the 13 air frost that occurred at Llanpumsaint near Carmarthen in May 1996! Other min Swyddfynnon -0.7c, CC -0.6c, Trawsgoed -0.5c, Mumbles 6.5c; Shawbury & Shobdon 3.2c, CL 6.3c

Settled warmer spell mid month was welcome however some further frosty nights locally:

Sun 12th widespread frost, quite sharp and damaging locally, even at a least ground frost for many coasts of Wales. Llanwnnen min -3.5c, the coldest so far into Spring and the sixth air frost this month beating the May record. Other minima -4.4c St Harmon, Powys, Tirabad -3.8c, Gogerddan c. -2c, Pembrey -0.8c, Mumbles 6.2c; Shobdon -1.3c, CL & Coleshill 1.2c, Watnall 2.8c, Coventry 3.8c. May record for Wales is 6.1°C in St Harmon 14/5/84 and in Alwen, Conwy 3/5/67.  Lovely sunny warmer day, maxima Lwn 20.6c (seemed high) generally 15 - 18c (ROW 17.6c, CITE 17.4c, Aberporth 13.3c). 12- 14 hours sun widely Wales & Marches (Shawbury 14.6 hrs, Aberdaron 14.4 hrs, Lwn 14 hrs est, Coventry 7.6 hrs)

Mon 13th ground frost in places (minima Lwn 1.4c, CC 1.6c, MH 9.8c; Shobdon 1.7c, Coventry 4.8c). Warm and sunny day, maxima Lwn 21.1c seemed a bit high, Gogerddan 19.8c, Trawsgoed 19.3c, Aberdaron 16.3c, Mumbles 15.5c; ROW 19.3c, CITE 18.8c,  Hereford & Watnall  18.5c, Coventry 17.1c. Widely 13 to 15 hours sunshine (Lwn est 14.5 hrs unbroken, Aberdaron & Aberporth 14.1 hrs,  Shawbury & Wellesbourne 14.3 hrs.

Tue 14th frost much more localised with no air frost, min Tirabad 3.0c, Lwn 3.1c, Mumbles 10.3c; Shobdon 2.2c, Watnall 6.1c. Warm and sunny again, max Lwn 22.7c, Gogerddan 21.5c, Trawsgoed 20.6c, CC 20.2c, Aberporth 20.0c, Mumbles 15.9c; Shawbury & Watnall 19.5c, CL 18.1c

Wed 15th warm with plenty of sun, maxima Lwn 23.6c, CC & Trawsgoed 21.0c, Aberporth 16.9c; ROW 20.4c, CITE 20.0c, Coventry 18.4c

Mainly dry weather into last week of the month, as of 25th just 25.5mm at Llanwnnen, less than 39.8mm of 2018 which was the driest May, showers in the coming week should take it above that..Aberporth monthly total is just 7.2mm to date..

Sun 26th first warm night of 'Summer' minima Shawbury 14.5c, Trawsgoed 13.7c, Hereford 13.0c, Lwn 12.7c, Aberdaron 11.4c..a warm sector heralding though a cooler more unsettled end to the month, however rainfall amounts disappointingly small..

Mon 27th thunder heard AG about 2100, Coventry, just one rumble, there were a few sferics in the Wolvey area same time

Nature notes

Wed 1st 2 Swift above village (first one was yesterday evening)

Fri 3rd Cuckoo heard Allt-y-Mynydd forest with Julie & Richard

Sun 5th Blackbird feeding off persistent Holly berries, this after the coldest May night recorded here of -4.3c. This sharp late frost damaged new Hydrangea foliage and  flower buds quite badly and many fresh out Ash tree leaves perished which never seen before..

Sun 5th Lampeter 2 Swift late afternoon; House Martins heard not seen early evening..

Mon 6th visited Aberduar chapel, Llanybydder dusk, no Swifts..

Tue 7th 1/2 Cuckoo heard Allt-y-Mynydd forest; plentiful Chiffchaff and WW, some Blackcap/ Garden warbler

Tue 7th 1830 lots of Sparrow activity in and out of Aberduar chapel..no Swift

Thu 9th 1800 6 Swift LLanybydder Warehouse/ Station area; 1830 3 Swift Lwn; 1930-20 hr Lampeter 1 H Martin, 2 Swift above University; 2030-2045 Aberduar chapel 2 Swift, I making effortless entry above E most ( L) window (L edge of Arch)! Driving back delapidated white cottage with many holes few hundred metres  from chapel, Swift entered largish hole screaming softly..this property seems empty at present..

Fri 10th 1700 6 Swift Lampeter High St (suspect nests in Town Hall and other properties)

Sun 12th Newt in wheel eroded 'pool' along little used track down close to west edge of woodland, this water up to a foot deep so should survive most dry spells, also well shaded in there; several Redstart I think they were in the recently felled/ windblown area; plenty of WW, Chiffchaff..

Mon 13th Aberduar chapel 2010-2100, about 6 Swift, seen to make entry/ exit at 6 different points (most L/ SE end, few mid to R (NW); Sparrows also in and out (mainly mid and R); most entries direct, some preceeded by birds grabbing wall beneath soffit and edging up and in. Also much prospecting without entries. Most of the activity close to 2100 as it got darker. Further Swifts feeding over Teifi on my way back (4 -6 here).

Tue 14th Foxgloves out Llangrannog, surprised to see what appeared to be May frost damage seemingly on the cliff path to south, much Blackthorn browned off also newly unfurled bracken fronds (or from sea spray?)

Its a good month for Hawthorn and Cow Parsley, magnificent blooms throughout much of the month.

Countryside Bluebells assisted by cool spells staying in bloom through to month end pretty much; garden ones all over pretty much mid month...

Frost damaged Ash seem badly hit, possibly combined with die back does look like some will not produce much foliage this Summer

Still a few Holly berries hanging on to month end and into June! This even as new green ones are forming.



May 2019 summary

Dry to very dry, a few places up to average; rather cool to average temperatures; sunshine generally around average, locally rather dull

Rainfall totals

CC 69.4mm (52%)
Aberdaron 30.4mm (59%)
Trawsgoed c. 41mm
Aberporth 14.0mm (26%)
Llanwnnen 33.9mm (44%)
Pembrey Sands c. 25mm
Mumbles c. 35mm
MH c. 24mm

Nottingham 29.0mm
Shawbury 24.4mm (46%)
Coleshill 55.2mm (104%)
Coventry, Bablake school 38.6mm (69%)
CL 32.8mm (58%)
Pershore c. 38mm
Hereford 47.0mm (92%)



PWS

Talsarn 27.7mm
Llanelli 36.1mm

Bulkington 42.3mm
Cawston, Rugby 34.5mm
Bilton 34.8mm
Dunchurch 30.1mm
Clitton-on-Dunsmore 35.0mm
Lilbourne 29.2mm
Crick, Northants 32.2mm



Sunshine totals:

Nottingham 181 hrs
Coventry 197.4 hrs (104%)
Shawbury 168.6 hrs (103%)

Aberdaron 232.8 hrs
Aberporth 218.9 hrs (105%)
Llanwnnen 160 hrs (88%)


Spring 2019

Rainfall varied from rather dry to wet with local variation; average to rather mild temperatures; sunshine varied rather dull to quite sunny


Rainfall totals:


CC 731.8mm (138%)
Aberdaron c. 223mm (130%)
Aberporth c. 171mm (98%)
Trawsgoed c. 276mm (115%)
Llanwnnen 292.9mm (123%)
Milford Haven c. 166mm (79%)


Nottingham 167.0m100%)
Shawbury 116.0mm (75%)
Coleshill c. 155mm (100%)
Coventry 133.6mm (86%)
Church Lawford 113.6mm (75%)
Pershore c. 125mm (89%)
Hereford c. 174mm (113%)

Sunshine totals:

Aberporth 496 hrs (96%)
Llanwnnen est 378 hrs (89%)

Nottingham (Watnall) 474 hrs (111%)
Coventry, Bablake school 522.6 hrs (114%)

Weather log West Wales & Midlands April 2019

Weather log West Wales & Midlands April 2019

Key:

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
LL = Long Lawford
CL = Church Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye
CC = Capel Curig
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire
COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Big drop in temperature here from 1st (max 16.1c Lwn) also Trawsgoed 15.5c, Ross-on-Wye 15.2c, Nottingham 12.4c, Aberdaron max 8.9c,  to 2nd (max 8.4c Lwn) also Pershore 11.7c, Nottingham 9.2c, Trawsgoed 8.4c, Aberporth 7.1c

Wed 3rd cool/ cold day for April, here at Lwn max just 5.7c the coldest April day since 2013 (4th max 4.4c). Elsewhere max CC 4.6c, Aberporth 6.7c, Pembrey 9.3c, Shawbury 6.1c, Sutton Bonington 10.0c. Showers and longer spells of rain, sleet or snow, especially for Wales, accumulations above about 300m; parts of Midlands escaped the showers

Thu 4th still in the cold air- maxima CC 4.8c, Aberdaron 5.9c, Lwn 6.2c, Coleshill 6.4c, Mumbles & Ross-on-Wye 9.2c. Sleet or snow in many places, some hills of Wales and W Midlands seeing significant accumulations (14cm Brecon Beacons reported and the hills around Lampeter had a good covering). Here at Lwn sleet or snow each of the past 3 days, this has not happened before in April (2 days April 2008). Total rainfall to 0900 30.2mm here at Llanwnnen (often falling as sleet) was the wettest April day on record (beating 23.5mm 13/04/13)

Sat 6th much drier and milder, rather sunny much of WW & Marches but still lines of snow on Cambrians (drift remnants) above 300masl. Max Llanwnnen 15.0c, Pembrey 14.8c, Ross-on-Wye 13.5c, Trawsgoed 13.4c, Nottingham 12.0c, Mona 11.4c

Sun 7th fine and dry WW, mostly cloudy Midlands (Porthmadog 16.8c warmest in UK, Lwn 16.4c, Nottingham 13.9c, Newport, Salop 13.8c, Mona 12.4c, Coleshill 11.7c; Valley 11.5 hrs sunniest in UK, Aberporth 9.3 hrs, Lwn 9 hrs est, Shawbury 1.4 hrs, Bablake 0.5 hrs)

Mon 8th rain or showers in places, thunder and hail affected parts of Midlands in particular late in the day (inc Coventry & Rugby).

Tue 9th nice and sunny WW and Marches rest of Midlands sunny spells, ENE breeze off N Sea here so felt more cool (Lwn 14.0c, Porthmadog 13.6c, Newport, Salop 12.2c, Mumbles 12.1c, Pershore 11.8c, CL 10.4c, Aberdaron 9.3c; Aberdaron 12.8 hrs sun, Lwn 10 hrs est, Shawbury 9.2 hrs)

Wed 10th widespread frost, quite sharp locally, minima CC & Shawbury -3.6c, Pershore -3.2c, Lwn -2.7c, Mumbles 4.4c. Sunny again WW and Marches, more cloud much of Midlands..

Sat 13th Porthmadog 12.8c mildest in UK, a rather cool bright day for many (Lwn 12.4c, ROW & CITE 11.4c, Aberdaron & Watnall max 9.2c, CC 9.0c; Valley 11 hrs sun, Lwn est 9.5 hrs); a few places in SE reported sleet showers..

Sun 14th frosty nights of late especially Midlands, more cloud last night WW (minima Wellesbourne -3.6c,  CL & Coleshill -3.1c, Shobdon -0.6c, CC 1.6c, Lwn 2.4c, MH 5.9c). Cool by day especially Midlands, maxima Aberdaron 7.6c, Market Bosworth 8.1c, ROW 9.9c, CITE 10.0c, Lwn 10.5c, Porthmadog 10.6c

Big warm up after mid month..

Thu 18th warm with sunny spells...max Lwn 20.9c, Porthmadog 20.9c, CITE & Pershore 20.3c, Pembrey 20.0c, Aberporth 19.5c, Trawsgoed 19.0c, Shawbury & Shobdon 18.8c, CC 16.5c

Fri 19th very warm and sunny, here at Lwn max 24.8c was one of the highest recorded for the month (record 26.0c in 2007). Other maxima Gogerddan 24.0c, Trawsgoed 23.5c, ROW 22.8c, CC 22.4c, Aberporth 21.4c, Mumbles 17.7c; Coleshill 22.5c, CL 21.4c

Sat 20th local ground frost  especially Midlands (Wellesboune min +1.5c, CITE 2.1c). Became very warm and sunny again, max 24.9c Lwn, the warmest April day since 2007 (26.0c). Other maxima Mona 23.3c, CC & Trawsgoed 22.9c, MH 22.3c, Pembrey 18.2c; Newport, Salop 22.8c, CITE 22.7c, Coleshill & Pershore 22.6c, CL 21.9c; Watnall & Wellesbourne 12.8 hrs sun. Lwn est 10.5 hrs, Valley 9.9 hrs

Sun 21st fairly widespread ground frost (min Lwn +0.6c, Tirabad +0.7c, Pembrey 2.1c, Valley 9.7c; Shobdon 2.8c, Watnall 6.7c). Again very warm and sunny maxima Lwn 23.6c, Trawsgoed 23.0c, Aberdaron 15.3c; ROW 23.5c, Hereford 23.4c, Shawbury 21.7c...Sunshine unbroken in many places, Lwn 13 hrs est, Aberporth, Nottingham & Wellesbourne 13.2 hrs, Coventry 12.5 hrs

Mon 22nd local ground frost (min Lwn 1.8c, CC 2.1c, Mumbles 10.6c; Shobdon 2.4c, Nottingham 7.4c). very warm again.. Lwn 23.8c, fourth day above 23c virtually unprecedented warm spell for April. Other maxima Pershore 24.0c, CITE 23.8c, Shawbury 22.4c, Valley 23.0c, Aberporth, Pembrey & Mona 22.4c, Mumbles 18.0c..

Tue 23rd another warm day (locally very warm WW) if more cloud (Porthmadog 24.8c = warmest in UK, Lwn 23.6c, Trawsgoed & Valley 22.6c, MH 18.2c; Row 20.7c, CL 18.5c)

Wed 24th thunder parts of W & N Midlands late afternoon (not Coventry)

Thu 25th April showers, some with hail and thunder (more especially Midlands inc Coventry)

Sat 27th 'Storm Hannah' crossed N Wales then N England bringing widespread gales, and to much of WW some heavy rain. Gusts above 80mph exposed spots of Wales (Aberdaron 81mph) the Lwn roof anemometer reported a dubious gust of 63mph however with no others above 45mph. Over two inches of rain for a chunk of mid and N Wales where the overnight rain persisted well into Saturday..(Capel Curig 98mm wettest in UK)



Nature notes:

Red Campion seen early month, just a very few.

Sun 7th Willow Warbler singing half-heartedly Longwood (first one heard); plentiful Chiffchaff. Also 2 Large Tortoisehell Longwood.
Thrush singing to near dark (2030) in village.

First Bats first week (medium sized tree-top flying ones)

Wed 10th first Swallow twittering above garden, lovely sunny day.
Song Thrush singing splendidly to near dark (after 2030) from earthwork copse, with another vying with it down the scarp line of trees a few hundred metres to south..

Thu 11th Allt-y-Mynydd forest plentiful Willow Warbler (at least 4 or 5 singing, 1 seen).

Sat 13th another Swallow over the garden, and another in Lampeter by Vets..; Common (?) Blue butterfly University.

Much Stitchwort in bloom by mid month and also Blackthorn. Good Spring for Forget-me-nots. Various Butterfly seen lately inc Red Admiral, Peacock, White spp, Orange Tip..

Oak leaf burst mid month

Fri 19th Cuckoo calling often adjacent to 'Allt-y-Mynydd forestry; 12+ WW singing vibrantly along with up to 10 Chiffchaff.

Garden Bluebells on the wane month end! Countryside ones generally not yet at peak.

Still fair few Holly berries hanging on, they have been dropping past month, and in spite of the flowering of the tree during May..

Tue 30th first Swift, flew out of Church hall nest hole and above the village



April 2019 summary: rather mild; much of WW rather wet and rather dull, much of Midlands rather dry and quite sunny


Rainfall:

Valley 68.0mm (123%)
Capel Curig 175.2mm
Aberdaron 98.2mm (169%)
Trawsgoed c 80mm
Aberporth c 75mm
Llanwnnen 106.7mm (138%)
Mumbles 72.6mm (124%)
Milford Haven c. 66mm

Nottingham 32.4mm
Shawbury 38.2mm (78%)
Coleshill c 28mm
Coventry, Bablake school 28.6mm (55%)
Church Lawford 17.6mm (35%)
Pershore 39.6mm (83%)
Hereford 62.4mm (121%)


PWS

Talsarn, Abermeurig Bont 78.5mm
Llanelli 62.5mm

Coventry, Earlsdon 27.2mm
Clifton-on-Dunsmore 29.2mm
Lilbourne, Rugby 21.1mm
Dunchurch 17.8mm
Crick 16.7mm
Daventry 24.1mm
Radford Semele, L/Spa 24.1mm
Shirley, Solihull 30.5mm
Harborne, Bham 32.8mm
Edgbaston 26.1mm
Alvechurch, Worc 41.9mm (63%)


Sunshine:

Valley 138.8 hrs (86%)
Aberdaron 148.5 hrs
Aberporth 145.8 hrs
Llanwnnen 124.8 hrs est (83%)

Nottingham 166.6 hrs
Coventry, Bablake 171.7 hrs (113%)
Wellesbourne 149.3 hrs
Shobdon 151.4 hrs