Weather log May 2022
Key:
Bit of a mixed start to May, much cloud with some rain or showers but many places missing the worst of these:
Improved end of first week with a decent warm and dry weekend:
Sun 9th most places warm sunny periods, max Llanwnnen 21.2c, ROW 20.8c, Trawsgoed 20.2c, Hereford 19.6c, Coventry 18.7c, Shawbury 17.9c, Mumbles 16.4c.
Wed 11th first significant widespread rains of the month and for many since mid March...most areas receiving between 10 and 20mm, locally near an inch; Goggerddan 22.6mm, Nottingham 19.6mm, Lwn 15.2mm, Shawbury 14.4mm, Coventry 8mm.
Another warm weekend but with some rain and thundery showers about:
Sat 16th mainly dry and for the Midlands sunny, over 13 hours in places (Coventry 13.3 hours)...
Sun 15th Wales warmest and sunniest, humid too; maxima Lwn 23.2c, Porthmadog 22.8c (warmest in UK officially), Aberporth & Newport, Salop 22.1c, Coventry 20.1c. Thundery rain or showers gave almost an inch of rain parts of the Marches with much of WW escaping largely dry.
Mon 16th a very mild night, minima widely above 10c; Trawsgoed 13.8c, Pembrey 13.7c, Lwn 12.8c, Hereford 12.7c, Coventry & Shawbury 12.5c, CC 12.4c, Nottingham 11.4c. Rather warm and showery with local thunder, loud thunder reported from Long Lawford, Rugby 1430 this from a small cell east of the town that gave 5mm in 10 minutes at a Hillmorton PWS (Coventry and some other parts having a dry day).
First half of May has been warm with rainfall generally about the average, although most places rather dull; lack of late frosts has been appreciated by plant life!
Tue 17th very warm for May parts of the Midlands, maxima Nottingham 24.2c, CL & Coventry 23.8c, Llanwnnen & Trawsgoed 21.1c, Shobdon 21.0c, Aberdaron 16.3c.
Wed 18th thunder and lightning reported from Long Lawford, Rugby late evening this from a line of stroms tracking NNE across the south and east Midlands (thunder also audible from Coventry). These storms gave an inch or so rain in a few hours locally S & E Midlands (inc Daventry area).
Tue 24th sferics just north and east of Rugby 1500 BST (Dad heard a clap of thunder), so at least the third occurrence there this month.
It has been a mixed bit rather warm May with many areas rather cloudy. A pleasant sunny few days towards month end:
Fri 27th a rare sunny day here at Lwn for this month, many other places likewise, generally rather cool, nearer average Midlands.
Sat 28th sunny again for many but more cloud E Midlands; Lwn estimated 13.5 hours, Valley 12.9 hours, Aberporth 11. hrs, Shobdon 9.0 hrs, , Coventry 7.0 hours, Nottingham 4.9 hrs; generally rather cool but locally quite warm where sheltered from the north breeze, maxima Aberporth 13.3c, Trawsgoed 16.0c, Lwn 16.2c, Shawbury 16.5c, CL & Coleshill 17.4c, CITE 19.1c, Mumbles 19.7c, Pershore 20.1c.
Sun 29th cold night for inland Wales and Herefordshire, widespread ground frost, minima Lwn +0.2c (frost on back lawn 0530), Tirabad & Trawsgoed 1.2c, Mona 2.8c, Shobdon 3.8c, CL 6.9c, Coventry 8.5c, Mumbles 10.8c. It was the coldest night of a rather warm May here at Lwn. Sunny intervals and scattered showers by day, thundery very locally Wales (sferics around Harlech and Kidwelly early afternoon). These gave an inch of rain for a few spots judging by the radar, Swyddffynnon, Ceredigion officially wettest in the UK with 7.6mm.
Mon 31st scattered showers and localised thunder.
Nature notes
Mon 2nd driving back from Gateshead saw a Red Kite near York; only the one Swallow whilst in England but a more seen over Wales.
Thought I saw what looked like about 10 Swift briefly over Crickhowell but unlikely to see a chasing party such as this at the beginning of May and the light was poor so doubtful. Nationally few Swift reports as yet.
Tue 3rd quite a few Swallow Lampeter and a few H Martins; rather agitated Swallows locked out of their nest site adjacent the boiler room (door is usually left ajar) so I informed Mark in the hope it could be opened for them (note still locked later in week but at least too early for chicks).
Early May: still a few Celandines and Daffs out, wild Bluebells peaking, Ash leafs appearing, Oaks in some cases well into leaf. Fine blossoms this year of Hawthorn, Apple and Holly flowers with the lack of late frosts for a change so should be Apples and berries a plenty!
Sun 9th nice warm evening at the forestry; first Cuckoos of the Spring (likely 2 as heard a mile apart), plenty of WW and some Chiffchaff and Blackcaps singing, possibly a Wood Warbler too heard?
Tue 10th first Swifts of the year Lampeter late afternoon, first a single near the Uni then 3 or 4 over the High St, one making entry to the yellow apex nest site creating commotion amongst the Sparrows that may have been in occupance! There has been a large Swift influx across the country today.
Wed 11th Swifts have arrived here in Llanwnnen too, between 6 and 10 among the Swallow and H Martins midday.
Fri 13th Lwn 4 Swift over the gardens; first Laburnum in bloom along Drefach lane, Cowslips in the graveyard; shade Bluebells still going on well.
Sat 14th c 12 Swift above the University Old Building, no H Martins seen today, still not so many about.
Mid months Horse Chestnuts well into flower.
Mon 23rd Forestry Upland Laburnums starting to show their splended yellow drapes (a fortnight behind the first lowland ones to do so). Cickoo heard again 100 - 200 metres off. Plenty of Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers also Stonechats and a few Wood Warblers (I think).
Tue 24th workman renovated the scaffolded rear of the Principality in Lampeter said he knew the Sparrows were nesting in the rear apex and that they would not block them off. He also showed me a photo of a 'Blackbird' sat on its nest deep down in the chimney stack and grateful that they had also left alone (actually a Jackdaw!). I said it was possible that Swifts and Starlings also nested in the walls as they have nests in various surrounding High Street buildings.
Wed 25th Aberaeron first Foxgloves seen out. No Swifts seen what with the hospital now demolished and the house still scaffolded (Sparrows are in this though).
Fri 27th first village Foxgloves.
Sat 28th driving to Tregaron via the lanes there are plenty of Bluebells going fresh and strong still - I attribute this to May being a rather dull month with no early heat as we quite often get in Spring of late - hence they have lasted longer this year. Also plenty of Stitchwort, Cow Parsley and Red Campion along the lanes. Good to see that few lanes have been strimmed as yet (most leave it until early Summer now). Also much May (Hawthorn blossom).
Sat 28th Tregaron Bog, nice and sunny if rather cool afternoon: distant Cuckoo heard; also plenty Willow Warblers, few Chiffchaff, Tree Pipit ( I think), few Garden Warblers too.
Late month: quite a few Bluebells still in bloom especially along more shady, grassy banks (as above 28th). Seems that very few Ash trees that have escaped the disease now, certainly over 90% are stricken with perhaps 5% completely leafless and therefore completely dead. Lack of bottom of the gardens Chiffchaffs this month after they were singing quite a bit back in April (predated?). I have heard a Willow Warbler from the earthwork trees several times though.
Month end: boiler room Swallows at the University have built a nest on the outside of the door (which is in a secluded but low down spot (no eggs as yet)) - poor things frustrated at not being allowed back in to their much more safe location inside!
May 2022 summary
Warm; dry to average rainfall; rather dull.
Most places on the dry side but a few spots attained average rainfall.
Long Lawford, Rugby 3 days thunder heard, only 1 at Bablake, Coventry.
Warm Midlands and rather warm W Wales.
Many areas saw a dull month but for some sunshine close to average.
Rainfall totals
Valley 51.4mm (98%)
Capel Curig 108.8mm (77%)
Aberdaron c 57mm
Trawsgoed c 72mm (103%)
Aberporth 39.0mm (71%)
Llanwnnen 46.5mm (60%)
Pembrey Sands c 52mm
Mumbles 34.6mm (54%)
Nottingham c 51mm
Shawbury c 55mm
Coleshill 45.4mm (84%)
Coventry, Bablake School 35.4mm (60%)
Church Lawford 36.0mm (63%)
Pershore 54.4mm (101%)
Hereford 35.6mm (67%)
COL stations rainfall May 2022
Llansadwrn 66.5mm (98%)
Warstock, Brum 42.9mm (66%)
Alvechurch 57.3mm (87%)
Cosby, Leic 44.4mm (77%)
Hinckley 49.9mm
Towcester 43.1mm (72%)
Daventry PWS 55.4mm
Sunshine May 2022:
Valley 187.3 hours (80%)
Aberporth 147.4 hrs (66%)
Llanwnnen 138 hours ( est 75%)
Coventry 177.4 hrs (91%)
Shobdon 131.6 hrs (62%)
COL stations:
Alvechurch 135.2 hrs
Cosby 155.0 hrs
Towcester 166.7 hrs
Spring 2022 summary
Dry and quite warm; sunshine generally average to quite sunny (March very sunny WW)
In many locations all 3 Spring months below average rainfall (such as Llanwnnen, Coventry & CL) although really dry months were the exception (such as Coventry with April just 8.4mm). Coventry had just half of its average Spring rainfall.
Here at Lwn March was very sunny then April & May rather dull months.
March was mild, April near average and May rather warm.
Spring 2022 rainfall totals
Aberdaron c 133mm (dry)
Trawsgoed c 191mm (rather dry)
Aberporth c 118mm (70%)
Llanwnnen 160.6mm (68%)
Pembrey Sands c 124mm (dry)
Mumbles c 99mm (very dry)
Nottingham c 117mm (dry)
Shawbury c 113mm (dry)
Coleshill c 97mm (dry)
Coventry 78.4mm (51%)
CL 92.0mm (61%)
Pershore c 98mm (dry)
Shobdon, Hereford 113.8mm (dry)
Spring 2022 sunshine
Valley 560 hours (near average)
Llanwnnen 444 hrs (est 104%)
Coventry, Bablake 528.8 hrs (113%)
Shobdon 433 hrs (rather dull)
