CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire
COL = Climatological Observers Link
PWS = Personal weather station
MO = Met Office
NRW = National Resources Wales
EA = Environment Agency
est = estimated
inc = including
cf= compared with
A rather cool and unsettled start to August:
Wed 2nd showery, thunder parts of the SW Midlands pm.
Fri 4th Swyddffynnon, Ceredigion max 15.7c coolest place in Wales, generally 17 - 19c (Llanwnnen 16.9c, Coventry 18.8c and Pershore closer to average max 20.8c).
Sat 5th named storm Antoni brought gales to SW Wales & SW England today which warranted an amber warning from the Met Office, however not especially windy here at Lwn just 30 miles from the amber zone, estimated gusts not much above 30mph, and in fact even exposed parts only had 40 to 50mph (MH & Pembrey Sands max gusts 48mph); unsettled showers or longer spells of rain and cool (much of the Midlands very cool at 13 to 15c) with only coasts of S Wales near average; maxima Pennerley, beneath the Shropshire Stiperstones a November- like 11.2c, Market Bosworth 12.9c, Nottingham 13.4c, Coventry 13.5c, CC 14.5c, Pershore 15.6c, Lwn 16.7c, ROW 17.8c, Mumbles 19.7c.
Sun 6th scattered showers, fine afternoon WW; thunder for the Gloucester area afternoon.
Wed 9th first day above 22c for a month here at Lwn, illustrating the lack of warmth as well as it being a dull and wet 'High Summer'. It has been a dull start to August here although rainfall near average. Decent sunny spells Midlands but a lot of cloud WW. Other maxima Hereford 25.0c, Trawsgoed 24.5c, CITE 24.3c, Coventry 23.9c, Lwn 23.1c, Nottingham 22.5c, Aberporth 21.3c, Aberdaron 17.5c.
Thu 10th warmer still in most places, hot in a few, with more sunshine for WW; maxima Wellesbourne (Warks) 28.4c = warmest place in UK (BBC weather referred to this as and showed a photo of nearby Charlecote Park). Other max Gogerddan 28.3c, Nottingham 27.3c, Coventry 27.2c, Market Bosworth 26.2c, Trawsgoed 26.1c, Lwn 25.6c, Shobdon 25.5c, Aberdaron 20.3c.
Mon 14th rainfall for the first 12 days of August modest but the total almost doubled by 26.1mm here at Lwn for the 13th (to 0900 today) from periods of rain from the evening lasting to this morning. 1 or 2 inches for much of WW; other totals Mona 46mm, Pembrey Sands 34mm, Trawsgoed 18mm, Shobdon 10.6mm, Coventry 6.0mm, Coleshill 3.0mm.
First half of August has been rather dull with temperatures around average and rainfall average to quite wet. Parts of the Midlands have had a rather dry first half while parts of WW are already up to the whole August average. Little sunshine improvement on July here at Lwn with just a third of the monthly average to date -
Rainfall August 1st to 0900 16th: CL 21.6mm (rather dry), Pershore 23.0mm (rather dry), Coventry 28.0mm (average), Shobdon 39.0mm (rather wet), Llanwnnen 62.6mm (rather wet) and Mona on Anglesey 77.8mm (very wet).
Sunshine 1st to 15th August: Lwn estimated 46 hours (dull), Shobdon 70 hours (average) and Coventry 81 hours (rather dull).
Fri 18th/ Sat 19th named Storm Betty which mainly affected the Irish Sea, gusts to 66mph Capel Curig and a few other places above 60mph. It was a windy overnight for August estimated gusts here 40mph (Trawsgoed highest 39mph).
After the mid month period rather changeable with some rain at times but generally rather warm; Coventry for eg has had a decent spell of late being dry with sunny spells 19th to 25th , while each day 15th - 24th reached a rather warm 22 to 24c.
Fri 25th very cool night in places, Lwn min 4.0c (colder than any official UK station); other minima Shobdon 5.5c, Pembrey Sands 6.0c, Trawsgoed 8.0c, Nottingham 9.4c, Mumbles 12.5c; showers in places, thunder parts of Midlands late afternoon into evening.
Sat 26th WW affected by many showers today, more scattered these Midlands; here at Lwn showers were very heavy and prolonged at times making for the wettest day of the month to date, 32mm up to midnight and 27.2mm measured at 0900 for the preceding 24 hours; thunder for a few parts of the Midlands; Swyddffynnon (Ceredigion) 29.0mm wettest place in the UK, other totals Trawsgoed 12.6mm, CL 0.0mm.
Sun 27th max 15.9c, coolest day of the month here at Lwn, other maxima CC 14.0c, Nottingham 16.7c, Mumbles 17.7c, Coventry 18.4c, Pershore 20.1c.
Remainder of the month rather cool and dull WW in particular.
Nature notes:
Tue 1st 2 Swift from garden afternoon (these turned out the last sightings this Summer). First evening with no Swifts as far as I could tell.
Wed 2nd Aberduar chapel, Llanybydder no Swifts seen this evening but only there 15 minutes; evidence on the ground beneath the soffit, a broken egg shell and some but not much droppings.
Forestry: No Nightjars heard on a rather dull damp evening/ dusk.
Sat 5th no Swifts past 3 days means the bulk have left us (quite early as usually see some decent numbers in early August).
Mid month: large flock of Sparrows inhabiting the garden hedgerows, when opening the back door they create a whooshing sound and there appears to be 40 or 50 birds the most ever seen in the garden. Many of them seem to have had 2 broods this year and some may well have managed 3 as chicks heard still in late July.
Tue 15th snatch of Chiffchaff song this afternoon garden.
Wed 16th Aberaeron Kingfisher seen for a few seconds along the river near the park.
Fri 18th Alltyblaca very brief snatch of Chiffchaff.
Much fewer Swallows and Martins after mid month suggesting they are migrating or at least feeding elsewhere?
Sat 26th Chiffchaff calling very briefly during sun after much rain this afternoon.
Sun 27th good numbers of hirundines back today, 20+ H Martin and 10 Swallow over the gardens.
Wed 30th Newquay good colony of H Martins, with 6 nests, several still active on one house in Ivy Lane, Marine Terrace; 30 to 40 birds feeding above the town during the evening. Earlier we saw 3 or 4 Dolphins visible at times for a 20 minute period at 200 metres as viewed from above the Sea food factory.
August 2023 summary
Mediocre at best, rather poor month West Wales
WW dull, rainfall average to wet; near average temperatures.
Midlands quite warm, rather dull; dry to average rainfall.
Here at Lwn very dull, as with July under 100 hours sunshine estimated.
At Coventry rather dry, sunshine a little below average (but double the Llanwnnen total)
Rainfall totals August 2023
Capel Curig, Snowdonia c 210mm (rather wet)
Mona, Anglesey 112.4mm (rather wet)
Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular c 115mm (wet)
Trawsgoed, Ceredigion c 80mm (average)
Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 55mm (rather dry)
Llanwnnen 137.9mm (126%)
Pembrey Sands, Carms c 140mm (wet)
Milford Haven, Pembs c 85mm (average)
Mumbles, near Swansea c 80mm (average)
Nottingham c 65mm (average)
Shawbury, Salop c 50mm (rather dry)
Coleshill c 40mm (dry)
Coventry, Bablake School 42.0mm (67%)
CL, Warks 36.4mm (59%)
Pershore, Worc 44.8mm (73%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 59.6mm (93%)
National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges August 2023
Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 142.0mm (wet)
Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 172.8mm (wet)
Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 252.6mm (average)
Corris (near Machynlleth) 194.4mm (average)
Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 91.0mm (average)
Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 118.2mm (rather wet)
Penuwch (Ceredigion) 95.8mm (average)
Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 154.8mm (rather wet)
Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 133.0mm (rather wet)
Pencader (Carms) 146.4mm (rather wet)
Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 167.0mm (rather wet)
Rhydargaeau (Carms) 152.8mm (rather wet)
Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 131.0mm (average)
Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 141.0mm (wet)
Ferwig (near Cardigan) 61.2mm (rather dry)
Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 143.6mm (average)
Tenby (Pembs) 100.4mm (rather wet)
Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 93.0mm (average)
COL stations rainfall August 2023
Llansadwrn 134.4mm (149%)
Ludlow, Salop 58.3mm (87%)
Alvechurch, Worc 51.7mm (70%)
Warstock, Brum 60.1mm (85%)
Cosby, Leic 26.0mm (40%)
Hinckley 41.4mm
Towcester, Northants 39.4mm (62%)
Sunshine totals August 2023
Llanwnnen estimated 86 hrs (52%)
Coventry, Bablake School 167.8 hrs (96%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 124.3 hrs (rather dull)
COL stations sun August 2023:
Ludlow 110.8 hrs
Alvechurch 161.2 hrs
Cosby 168.0 hrs
Towcester 160.4 hrs
Summer 2023 summary
Rather warm.
Dull WW & Marches, near average sun Midlands
Rainfall variable from rather dry to wet
June very warm, dry and sunny.
July dull and wet; average temperatures.
August average to rather warm temperatures and generally dull; rainfall varying from rather dry to wet.
Mean Summer temperature 15.9c here at Lwn and so the second warmest Summer here (after 16.2c 2018). This was down to the exceptionally warm June and that July and August were then not cool months in spite of perhaps being perceived otherwise!
Likewise due to how dry and sunny Summer started it did not end up too far from average generally in spite of the washout July. Certainly from late June though hot weather was at a premium, nothing above 80f here at Lwn after June 16th.
Rainfall totals Summer 2023
Capel Curig, Snowdonia c 605mm (rather wet)
Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular c 265mm (wet)
Trawsgoed, Ceredigion c 285mm (rather wet)
Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 160mm (rather dry)
Llanwnnen 331.0mm (119%) - note double that of Aberporth on the coast
Pembrey Sands, Carms c 295mm (rather wet)
Milford Haven, Pembs c 220mm (average)
Nottingham c 255mm (wet)
Shawbury, Salop c 200mm (rather wet)
Coleshill c 175mm (average)
Coventry, Bablake School 206.0mm (114%)
CL, Warks 201.0mm (113%)
Pershore, Worc 193.6mm (rather wet)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 185.6mm (average)
Sunshine totals Summer 2023
Llanwnnen estimated 413 hours (82%)
Coventry 565 hours (100%)
Shobdon 439.5 hrs (dull)
