Thu 1st after the exceptional April warmth yesterday (max 26.8c Lwn) a cool night to begin May (min 3.1c here at Lwn) so close to a grass frost, other minima showed a wide range, Aberporth 13.5c, Aberdaron 13.0c, Cov 9.2c, Nott 8.5c, Pembrey Sands 6.3c, Shobdon 5.0c, Tirabad 4.2c. This was the warmest recorded start to May for England & Wales, highs of 29.3c at Kew Gardens and 27.6c at Cardiff Bute Park. Other maxima ROW 27.6c, Pershore 27.0c, CITE & Coleshill 26.9c, Lwn 26.7c, Coventry 26.5c, Pembrey Sands 26.2c, Pennerley 23.8c, Aberporth 21.1c (we were at nearby Llangrannog where it was much cooler than inland but very nice). Near unbroken sun in places again (Nott 13 hours). Thundery showers broke out mid afternoon onwards with an inch very locally according to the radar; Pennerley 14.4mm wettest MO station and Bettws-y-Crwyn 21.2mm an EA gauge just inside England (Salop) wettest of any official site. Most places escaped dry however. Lightning from a storm near Leicester was visible from Coventry during the evening.
Fri 2nd less warm but still mainly dry bright day, maxima inland 18 - 22c (ROW 22.2c) cooler coasts 13 or 14c (Aberdaron max 12.8c).
Sat 3rd almost unbroken 14 hours here at Lwn, sunny WW, more cloud Mids at times, a cooler breezy day, Lwn max 15.6c, Aberporth 14 hours sunniest in UK but max 12.2c coolest place in Wales today.
Very little rain showing in the models for the next 10 days or so.
Sun 4th close to zero with grass frost overnight at Lwn (min +0.2c) also Capel Curig 1.6c.
Mon 5th widespread ground frost and for much of Wales air frosts, minima Bala -2.0c, Lwn -1.7c, Trawsgoed -0.8c, Pershore +0.3c, CITE 2.0c, Cov 3.2c, Nott 4.0c, Valley 5.6c. Fine day temperatures near average or rather cool (13 - 15c generally).
Tue 6th cold night widespread grass frost and air frosts in places, minima Tirabad -2.1c, Lwn -2.0c, CITE -0.4c, Newport (Salop) -0.1c, Trawsgoed 0.0c, Pershore & Shobdon +0.1c, Aberdaron 6.1c. Nice sunny day, more cloud E Mids; Porthmadog 18.7c warmest in UK. Other max Lwn 16.1c, CITE 15.9c, Cov 14.4c, Nott 14.1c, Aberporth 12.2c (sea breeze, cool sea). Valley 13.7 hours sun, Llanwnnen est 12.5 hrs, Shawbury 12 hrs, Nott 6.1 hrs.
Wed 7th another chill night ground frost in places, minima Lwn +0.7c, Pershore 1.8c, Trawsgoed 2.8c, Cov 3.7c, Aberdaron 7.2c.
Thu 8th many places have now been dry for around a fortnight (Church Lawford 15 days). Cool and mainly cloudy much of the Midlands, sunny intervals and less cool Marches while WW saw plentiful sunshine and temperatures average or rather warm; maxima Lwn 18.0c, Porthmadog 17.4c, Trawsgoed 16.5c, ROW 15.8c, Valley 15.1c (with 14.3 hours unbroken sun most in UK), CITE 14.0c, Tirabad 12.7c, CL & Nott 12.4c.
Fri 9th widespread ground frost and local air frost, minima Lwn -1.1c, CITE -0.3c, Tirabad -0.2c, Shobdon -0.1c, Trawsgoed +0.5c, Cov 4.3c (grass min -2.3c), Aberdaron 8.5c. Warm sunny periods for many, maxima CITE 20.9c, Lwn 20.8c, ROW 20.6c, Whitechurch 20.3c, Cov 18.6c, Aberporth 14.1c. 10 to 13 hours sun widely.
Sat 10th grass frost in places, Lwn & Shobdon min +0.4c.Warm or very warm sunny periods, maxima Coleshill 23.0c, Lwn 22.8c, Nott 22.6c, Shobdon & Trawsgoed 21.5c, Aberporth 16.6c. Sun: Valley 14.4 hrs, Cov 13.3 hrs, Lwn est 10.5 hours.
1st - 10th May remarkably sunny for west Wales, 127 hours at Valley and so a daily average of 12.7 hours, not much short of the maximum possible for the time of year (or about 90% of it). Other sun totals May to date: Aberdaron 115 hrs, Lwn est 101 hours, Shobdon 80 hours, Cov 76 hrs, Nott 74 hrs. Here at Llanwnnen days have averaged very warm (18.9c) but nights cold (ave 1.6c) thus far into May.
Sun 11th very warm sunshine again but clouded over west Wales pm with some rain or showers in places. 0.2mm rain sufficient to end the 15 day 'absolute drought' here at Lwn and the same amount at Church Lawford ended the 18 day run there. Maxima CITE 24.9c, Lwn & Winterbourne 24.6c, Nott 24.4c, CL 23.9c, Hereford & Trawsgoed 23.2c, Aberporth 16.9c. Thundery showers parts of SW Mids evening. Scolton Country Park (Pembs) 11mm wettest in UK.
Frost risk now receded with a warmer airmass towards mid month, still largely dry and sunny:
Mon 12th warm; thundery showers and storms pm, a couple of storms tracked by north of here late afternoon, much thunder, the first one affected Llanfair Clydogau then Cribyn (from where the closest sheet lightning 3 miles north was), second one moved across Tregaron & Llanddewi Brefi more distant than the first 7 to 10 miles off) with rolling thunder but no lightning seen. It then affected Aberaeron as seen on the webcam there. Just a few spots here when some nearby areas would have caught over an inch. Aberystwyth also had a little storm the same time. According to the radar accumulation Cribyn had an inch of rain from the first storm although the PWS there had only 10mm. The radar also suggested perhaps 2 inches fell this afternoon west of Bridgnorth. Thunder and lightning observed from Coventry & Rugby although not much rain fell. Warwick Racecourse (EA) caught 12.2mm in an hour mid afternoon. Very warm central & E Midlands, Marches & much of Wales warm; maxima CITE 26.8c, Winterbourne 26.0c, Nott 25.9c, CL 25.1c, Llanwnnen 23.6c, CC 22.8c, Trawsgoed 22.3c, Pennerley 21.7c, Aberporth 17.2c.
Tue 13th milder night, minima Aberdaron 13.2c, Pembrey Sands 11.5c, Cov 10.4c, Trawsgoed 7.8c, Shobdon 7.3c, Lwn 5.9c. Warm/ very warm day again with plentiful sunshine, showers and thunderstorms broke out from mid afternoon affecting south and SW Wales as far N as Cardigan. Missed them here again as did the Midlands. Maxima Porthmadog 25.6c (warmest in UK), Lwn 24.8c, Trawsgoed 23.9c, Hereford 23.8c, Aberdaron, Nott 22.2c, Aberporth 20.9c, MH 20.5c.. According to the radar an area north of Whitland (Carms) may have received 2 inches today, this corroborated by a PWS in that area having 41mm. Scolton Country Park (Pembs) 9.6mm wettest MO gauge in UK).
Mid month fantastic spell especially for WW where many days warm with unbroken sun, low cloud off the N Sea affected the Midlands at times:
Wed 14th warm/ very warm and sunny, maxima Lwn 25.0c, Porthmadog 23.6c, ROW 23.0c, Trawsgoed 21.8c, Aberporth & CITE 21.5c, Coleshill 20.2c, Nott 18.2c; widely 14 or 15 hours virtually unbroken sun (Lwn est 14.5 hrs, Aberporth 14.4 hrs).
Thu 15th contrast large today: warm and sunny Wales & Marches, mainly cloudy and cooler Mids; maxima Porthmadog 22.2c, Lwn 20.5c, Newport (Salop) 20.1c, Trawsgoed 19.5c, CITE 16.0c, Aberporth 14.8c, CL & Cov 14.6c; Aberporth 14.6 hrs sun, Lwn est 14 hours, Coventry 0 hours.
Fri 16th Clear cool night local grass frost (minima Lwn 1.6c) so a probable grass frost; widely 14 or 15 hours sun and warm, maxima Porthmadog 23.3c, Pershore 22.6c, CITE 22.2c, Pembrey Sands 20.8c, Lwn 19.5c, Trawsgoed 19.3c, Aberporth 14.0c (sea breeze no doubt). Sunshine wise Valley 15 hours, Lwn est 14.5 hrs.
First half of May exceptionally sunny West Wales, very dry and warm
Valley close to 200 hours in 16 days, Midlands very sunny. Some places having almost already attained the average for the whole month.
All areas very dry, the odd spot catching a storm but these missed the official gauge networks. Some places on 0mm.
Days have been very warm but nights with the largely clear skies cold, here at Lwn mean maxima averaging above 20c but nights just 2c.
Rainfall 1st - 0900 16th May:
Valley 5.4mm, Capel Curig 9.4mm, Aberdaron 1.2mm, Trawsgoed 2.6mm, Aberporth 1.4mm, Llanwnnen 0.3mm, Pembrey Sands 0.0mm; Nottingham 6.8mm, Coleshill 0.6mm, Coventry 1.2mm, King's Newnham (EA) 0mm, Church Lawford 0.2mm, Pershore 5.4mm, Shobdon 5.6mm.
Sunshine May 1st - 16th: Valley 198 hours, Aberdaron 184 hrs, Llanwnnen 164 hrs (estimated), Nott 140 hrs, Coventry 138 hrs, Shobdon 149 hrs.
Sat 17th clear with grass frost in places WW, minima Bala +0.9c, Lwn 1.2c, Trawsgoed 2.3c, Tirabad 3.2c, more cloud Mids, Shawbury 4.3c, Cov 9.0c, Aberdaron 9.8c. Sunny WW again, N Sea cloud affected the Mids am breaking up afternoon; maxima Porthmadog 21.5c, Lwn 21.2c, Nott 20.1c, Cov 17.7c, Hereford 15.8c (cloud stuck longest thereabouts), Aberporth 14.9c. Sun Lwn est 14.5rs unbroken again, Aberdaron 15.0 hours, Shobdon 4.9 hrs.
Sun 18th another ground frost here at Lwn (min +0.5c) followed by unbroken sun and warmth yet again!
Mon 19th rather warm sunny spells the odd isolated shower about.
Tue 20th rather warm again with sunny spells. showers or thunderstorms in places particularly W Mids whereas much of the E Mids & WW stayed dry. Monksmoor EA gauge in Shrewsbury caught 19.8mm today and a nearby PWS 25mm (most in one hour late afternoon), the wettest MO gauge in our regions being Newport (Salop) 6.6mm.
Wed 21st again thundery showers in places, most over the SW Mids. Most places again escaped dry.
Thu 22nd: King's Newnham (Rugby) no rain at all since April 23rd (a month of drought) while here at Llanwnnen just 0.5mm May to date and under 6mm since April 23rd, and so a month long 'partial drought' (15 or more days averaging below 0.2mm) This the last widely dry day as we approach a more unsettled finale to the month.
Fri 23rd some spots caught slight air frost overnight with more widespread grass frosts, minima Capel Curig -0.8c, Lwn -0.2c, CITE +1.0c, Wellesbourne 1.5c, Shobdon +1.9c, CL 2.0c, Mona 2.3c, Trawsgoed 2.6c, Coventry 5.5c (grass min -0.6c), Aberdaron 8.2c. Quite a late one here at Lwn although we have had a few well into June.
Sat 24th just spots of rain here at Lwn yesterday evening only a trace and so the 31st day of partial drought. More significant rain for the Mids overnight, 10mm in places ending the drought at King's Newnham (a dubiously low 2mm out of sync with neighbouring gauges).
Mon 26th first appreciable rain in well over month here at Lwn (13.2mm). A changeable and breezy end to Spring 2025:
Kings Newnham gauge faulty often 0mm so reported to EA (seems fixed 28th?).
Sat 31st warm finale to May for the Midlands with sunny periods; WW more cloud and a little rain in places; Pershore College 23.0c, Cov 22.9c, Nott 22.2c, Trawsgoed 19.8c, Lwn 19.2c, Pennerley 18.3c, CC 14.6c.
Nature notes
Thu 1st driving to Llangrannog a couple of Laburnums starting to flower which is very early (typically starts mid month). Whitethroat on the cliff of the second cove (Cefn Sidan). First Foxgloves on the steep south facing slope.
Sat 3rd forestry: Cuckoo calling on arrival (layby) there is one here each year. Plentiful Chiffchaffs & Willow Warblers. Nearing the car Cuckoo fairly loud then a good view as it was being chased by a Pipit (?) at 50 metres or so and more perching and calling.
Sun 4th 3 Swift feeding above the gardens with screaming at times. Starlings in next doors ready to go, hoping the cats don't get them!
Tue 6th Tregaron Bog: 2 possibly 3 Hobby putting on a fine display near south end boardwalk, Cuckoo heard not seen, 2 or 3 Winchat - heard birds in same location near hide several years could not ID, a man today from Liverpool knew what they were, also I had binoculars for a change. Also Garden Warbler heard, several Blackcap, plentiful Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, 3 Heron.
Had a look around Tregaron early evening: lots of Sparrows and numerous building with cavities. No Swifts seen. Then driving back a couple of screaming Swift Llanddewi Brefi. Final stop Lampeter towards dusk, 3 Swift.
Wed 7th half dozen Swifts afternoon the most so far.
Grass pollen in production from early in the month with the earliest ever hay fever experienced for some.
Sun 11th Starlings next door flew I think this evening.
Mon 12th southern forestry around dusk: Laburnum by entrance in full show, early this year. Lots of birdlife this evening, Whitethroat singing in the scrub by the entrance, Wood Warblers, Willow Warblers, a few Chiffchaff, Stonechats, a family of robins. Cuckoo started up after sunset (2100) for 10 minutes over the western stream valley then flew over to be quite close but could not see it.
Tue 13th 5 or 6 screaming Swift Lampeter Uni this afternoon.
Mid month: most trees bar Ash now in full leaf. Bluebells generally going over in the countryside now. Great Cow Parsley display along the hedges.
Thu 15th Weston super Mare: several Swift obviously using a sea front property (Warwick?) that was up for sale however, House Sparrows and Starlings also using it's gaps. Later 10 swift near the Marine Lake.
Dusk Strowlands lane, Rooks Bridge (Somerset): Reed Warbler singing loud and near from bushes by a dyke along the lovely lane. The hotel grounds are good for birds with much trees and shrubs surrounded by thick out grown farmland hedgerows; Chiffchaffs, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Blackcap. Eco said she saw a deer from the window. Elder in flower hereabouts it is not yet back home.
Fri 16th Bedminster, Bristol quite a few properties with Sparrows in the area and a few Starlings. Dusk Strowlands: Reed Warbler again and possible Cetti's?
Fantastic show of Ox Eye Daisies along the roads and motorways, millions and millions a site to behold. Likewise it has been a fantastic show of Cow Parsley this month.
Sun 18th Starling family around (2 + 4 chicks) and seem well, adults checking in the nest hole still. Willow Warblers heard along a village lane, 10 House Martin and similar Swallows this evening. Still Bluebells in shady parts.
Tue 20th Forestry around Mynydd Pencader 5 mile walk along lanes and tracks: 3 Cuckoo heard and 3 sightings (of 2 or 3 birds) at 3 locations. One up by the TV mast on the telegraph wires chaperoned by 2 small birds, another nearing back at the forestry being chased off by a Blackbird at close quarters (40 metres). Cuckoos seem to be doing well up here. Much devastation from Decembers storm Darragh along the lanes, dozens of grand old beeches of 150 to 200 years downed, also many pines of a century or so. Notable that even lines of trees in what appear sheltered areas from the NW suffered perhaps greater damage than in some more exposed locations. Perhaps this due to eddying about or over the hills or funnelling around valleys? Worsts zones of destruction being the 'Laburnum' lane and towards the mast. Laburnums excepting a few specimens avoided this storm and those that were toppled remain connected to earth and nutrition hence still blooming. Other sightings Pipits, Skylarks, WW's and CC's, Redstart, Reed Warbler (many heard unseen).
Fri 23rd Lampeter: plenty of hirundines and Swifts screaming about. 7 Martin nests completed/ almost completed in the usual row of houses by the car park (St Thomas St) with a few more possibly starting construction. A couple of young rooks. One of them was trying to climb up a tree trunk and then did fly a short distance, the other was hardly moving on the ground alive but seemingly unable to fly yet so I picked it up and put up on a branch above it hoping the parents would attend, also found one dead one nearby.
Lots of dead chicks at the Church hall since returned from Somerset. What looked like a baby Wren, then noticed nearby on the ground a feathered Sparrow chick and then 5 recently hatched ones. While we were away a metal commemorative bench was installed in front of the hall which had been concreted into the ground, the dead birds close to this bench and the telegraph pole. Never had dead so many all at once before, do get the occasional perished Swift chick but not every year. Perhaps they had been turfed out by the Swifts and the bench installation a mere coincidence?
Tue 27th I found 2 dead Rooks in the shrubs where I had put the youngster above last week so it must have perished. There was another that had maggots nearby and looked like it had been there longer than a week. Overall the Rookery seems to have had a successful Spring with around 30 nests and chicks still now in late May.
Wed 28th southern forestry: Cuckoo calling regularly across a mile long area about the western valley, seen twice at close quarters. lots of Willow Warblers, also Wood Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Whitethroat heard. Still fresh Bluebells out up here. Laburnums are going over, usually late May would be their peak up here.
Llanybydder: thought I heard a Cuckoo from the car park, not sure though.
Month end Bluebells mostly over.
Chiffchaff that last year sung its heart out from the end of the garden all Spring into Summer gone quiet early this year by mid May (or gone completely).
May 2025 summary
Very sunny and warm; dry/ very dry for most.
All locations above 200 hours sun.
All locations below average rain.
Here at Llanwnnen days averaged a very warm 19.6c, nights a rather cool 4.7c.
