Weather log April 2021
Dry start to the month with some pleasant sunny spells:
Thu 1st much cooler and cloudier than the end of March away from SW Wales, max up to 15c below that of Wednesday for the Midlands, max CL and Coventry 8.3c (yesterdays max 23.0c at Coventry being a March record), CC 10.5c, Pershore College 11.0c, Trawsgoed 11.1c, Lwn 12.7c, Pembrey Sands 17.3c
Fri 2nd contrasting fortunes, mild and sunny for WW and West Midlands, just sunny intervals and cool E Midlands; maxima Lwn 15.2c, Porthmadog 14.8c, MH 13.5c, Newport, Salop 12.7c, CL 9.2c; sunshine Valley 12.2 hrs, Lwn 12 hours estimated, Aberporth 11.4 hrs, Shobdon 9.1 hrs, Nottingham 4.1 hrs
Sat 3rd similar contrasts to yesterday, unbroken sun for much of WW where temperatures close to average, but with the breeze off the N Sea still it was cool and rather cloudy E Midlands
Sun 4th reprieve from the chill N Sea breeze with the Midlands today rather warm and sunny; max Pershore 17.9c (warmest in UK), Hereford 16.8c, CL & Coleshill 16.1c, Nottingham 14.6c, Lwn 13.6c, Pembrey 12.2c, Mumbles 10.2c; Shobdon 12.2 hours sunshine, Lwn 12 hours estimated (third successive day of unbroken sunshine), Coventry 11.5 hours, Aberdaron 11.4 hrs, Nottingham 10.8 hrs
Mon 5th much colder Arctic northerly plunge brought much sunshine still but wintry showers in places, Midlands saw some light snow falling during the morning on the cold front. Max were 10c lower than yesterday parts of the Midlands, max 6.8c at Coventry for example being 9.8c colder; generally max were between 5 and 8c (CC 4.1c, Aberporth 5.4c, Shawbury 6.1c, Lwn 6.6c, Pembrey 8.1c, Pershore 9.1c).
Tue 6th another unseasonably cold and wintry day with widespread wintry showers, several inches of snow fell to some hilly areas. Here at Llanwnnen max 5.7c was one of the coldest April days recorded here (record 4.4c in 2013) and it was the lowest maximum so far into Spring. Other max CC 3.2c, Aberporth & Trawsgoed 5.9c, Nottingham 6.3c, Coleshill & Coventry 6.8c, Pembrey 8.3c, Pershore 9.8c.
Cold then eased for a few days only to return by the weekend with hard frosts and wintry ahowers in places:
Sat 10th min -5.3c here at Lwn was the lowest reading so far into Spring although we have had -5.0c in late April (2015); other min Trawsgoed -5.1c, CITE -2.5c, Newport, Salop -2.2c, Coleshill -2.0c, Coventry +0.3c, Aberporth 3.1c. Max generally 7 to 10c by day cool for April; Aberdaron 13.0 hrs sunniest in UK.
Sun 11th notably low April temperatures for Wales in particular, here at Lwn min -6.4c was the second lowest in April (after -8.5c 06/04/13) and the coldest so far into Spring, other min Tirabad -6.3c, Trawsgoed -5.3c, Mona & Pershore -3.1c, CL -2.4c, Shobdon +1.0c, Aberporth 1.4c; wintry showers scattered about with snow and hail falling, snow fell in Coventry while the Malverns had 6cm covering during the morning...maxima generally 7 to 9c (CC 6.4c, Lwn 7.9c, Coventry 8.2c, Pershore 10.4c).
Mon 12th snow fell overnight into the morning for parts of Wales and the SW Midlands giving a covering over the Brecon Beacons, Cotswolds and even several cm to low levels such as Oxford..
Extended dry and often sunny spell from mid month with day times milder but further frosty nights:
Mon 19th 11 air frosts now this month here at Llanwnnen has equalled the record for April (same as 2013 and 2016); generally a rather warm and sunny day with many areas topping 60f inland for the first time this month (this after a widespread frost minima generally 0 to -2c (Lwn -2.6c, Pershoire -1.7c, Aberdaron 6.2c).
Tue 20th a pleasantly warm day for the Midlands in particular with some sunshine; max Pershore 18.6c warmest in UK, CITE 18.0c, Coventry 17.6c, Lwn & Shawbury 16.7c, Trawsgoed 14.7c, Aberporth 11.5c.
Generally rather warm and sunny for a time towards month end:
Fri 23rd rather warm and sunny, max Porthmadog 20.8c warmest in UK, Lwn 19.8c, Mona 19.4c, Aberporth 19.0c, ROW 18.5c, Coventry 16.7c, MH 15.2c; Aberdaron 13.8 hrs sun, Shobdon 13.3 hrs, Lwn est 12 hours, Valley 11.8 hrs
Mon 26th last day of the fine dry sunny spell, notably sunny here at Lwn with 65 hours in the past 5 days; mall bar one nights have also seen at least a grass frost since April 10th.
Tue 27th/ Wed 28th the prolonged dry spell ended for most places, Church Lawford had 20.2mm overnight and was one of the wettest places in the UK, prior to this the only April rain was a tiny 0.4mm back on the 8th. Here at Lwn a meagre 1.7mm fell so ending the 15 day dry spell this the longest since September 2014 (22 days).
Fri 30th a widespread frost to end April, min Lwn -3.4c, Pembrey -2.4c, Shobdon -0.8c, CL +1.2c, Shawbury 3.8c, Mumbles 5.1c; showers the past few days have been well scattered with many areas largely escaping dry with sunny spells, it was nice and sunny this afternoon in Aberystwyth.
Nature notes
Thu 1st Aberaeron lots of Chiffchaff, saw a few close up, quite a few Blackcap, saw one, possible Grasshopper Warbler, Treecreper at close hand, Dipper great view, much bird activity generally and easy to see without the leaves as yet; few Bluebells, carpet of Wood Anemone along the riversides and Celandines, first Stichwort flowers
Sun 4th forestry Willow Warbler briefly singing, plenty of Chiffchaff again, a couple of Swallow seen as walking back down the lane; unfortunately the puddle that homed the tadpoles had dried out but the one with the toad spawn was still quite deep (although this week is looking rather dry again!)..
Plenty of Willow Warbler by mid month (especially forestry).
Quite a few Swallow by mid month.
Much Stichwort in hedgerows by mid month.
Sycamores starting to leaf mid month.
Quite a few Butterfly and Bees seen in the past (milder by day) week inc Holly Blue in garden, also an Orange Tip while cycling.
Mon 20th Longwood plenty of WW and CC, some Blackcap and possibly Garden Warbler, also heard a Redstart.
Wed 22nd Sedge Warbler top of gardens probably on passage.
Sun 25th first House Martin above garden.
Tue 27th Grasshopper Warbler adjacent Lampeter University, calling well from field by the stream
Month end, although many hedgerows are now in leaf some have few as yet; many trees reluctant to leaf still, most Oaks barely started to leaf same with Ash (these dont usually until early May anyway), some Sycamore and Horse Chestnut are well into leaf though (Willows were in leaf at then University mid March).
Plenty of Orange Tips much of the month.
April 2021 summary
Very dry and sunny, but cool.
Rainfall totals April 2021
Valley16.4mm (30%)
Aberdaron 6.6mm (11%)
Aberporth 9.8mm (18%)
Trawsgoed 9.8mm (13%)
Llanwnnen 10.1mm (13%)
MH 10.8mm
Mumbles c 10mm
Nottingham 9.6mm
Shawbury 8.8mm (18%)
Coleshill c 11mm
Coventry 16.4mm (32%)
CL 22.0mm (44%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 18.8mm (31%)
Hereford c 15mm
COL stations
Ludlow 19.1mm
Alvechurch 18.0mm (30%)
Warstock, Bham 9.6mm (17%)
Cosby, Leic 2.5mm (5%)
PWS
Daventry 19.8mm
Sunshine totals
Aberdaron 282.6 hrs
Aberporth 255.4 hrs (148%)
Llanwnnen 237 hours (151% and sunniest April)
Nottingham 216.3 hrs
Shawbury 213.0 hrs (161%)
Coventry 211.5 hours (133%)
Shobdon 222.5 hrs
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