Weather log April 2025

Weather log April 2025

Key:

WW = West Wales

Mids = Midlands

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Nott= Nottingham

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

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

srb = since records began

CC = Chiffchaff
WW= Willow Warbler
ST = Song Thrush
BB = Blackbird

Fine, dry and sunny weather early in April:

Tue 1st unbroken sun some areas and warm, less so Mids with a cool east breeze; maxima Mona 18.8c, ROW 18.2c, Valley 17.7c, Lwn 16.7c, CITE & Pershore 16.2c, Trawsgoed 15.5c, Nott 14.6c, Aberdaron 13.2c; sunshine Shawbury 12.2 hrs, Lwn est 12 hours, Nott 10.3 hrs.

Wed 2nd rare occasion for whole of UK to see near unbroken sun, no station below 10 hours, and widely around 12 hours (Coventry & Shawbury 12.1 hrs, Lwn est 12 hrs). Warm for early April again, generally max 15 to 18c (Lwn 17.5c, ROW 17.4c, CITE & Cov 15.8c, CC 14.5c).

Thu 4th sun not unbroken as some cloud spread up pm, maxima Pembrey Sands 20.1c, ROW 19.3c, Lwn 19.1c, CITE & Coleshill 18.5c, Trawsgoed 18.3c, Nott 17.2c, Aberdaron & Mona 16.2c.

Fri 5th a little rain over much of Wales overnight not amounting to more than a few mm. Sun came out pm with a warmer airmass, max  Lwn 21.4c was one of the highest readings so early on cf 21.4c end of March 2021 (but with 26c mid April 2007). Other maxima Pembrey Sands 22.3c, Pershore College 21.5c, MH 20.2c, Market Bosworth 19.6c, Aberporth 19.5c (we were at a lovely warm Llangrannog nearby), Nott 18.3c, Mona 17.3c.

Sat 6th local frosts to start (Shobdon min -0.7c) and widespread grass frosts Mids; unbroken sun WW, sunny Mids, Lwn 12.5 hrs, other sun Aberporth 12.4 hrs, Shobdon 11 hrs, Cov 10 hrs. Rather warm generally with cool NE breezes though, sheltered SW Wales very warm; maxima Pembrey Sands 20.6c, Lwn 19.4c, ROW 18.3c, Aberporth 18.2c,Trawsgoed 17.7c, CITE 15.8c, CC 15.6c, CL 15.2, Mona 14.9c, Nott 14.2c.

Sun 6th again local frosts followed by plentiful sunshine.. North Sea breeze meant much of the Mids not so much above average cf SW Wales which was well above once more. Lwn max 19.1c, other Whitechurch 18.8c, Trawsgoed 17.6c, ROW 17.4c, CITE 16.1c, Coventry 15.2c, Nott 14.5c. Unbroken sun Lwn 12.5 hrs again also Aberporth & Shobdon 12.5 hrs, Nott & Valley 12.3 hrs, Cov 12.1 hrs.

Mon 7th widespread slight frosts, Tirabad -2.2c, CC -1.8c, CL -1.4c, Lwn +0.4c, Aberdaron 7.8c. Another very sunny day and again warmest for WW, nearer average Mids. Llanwnnen max 18.9c with unbroken sun for the third day in a row and now the sunniest April week (77 hours) here. Other max temps Trawsgoed 17.9c, cooler on the coast Aberporth 13.0c; ROW 16.7c, CITE 16.0c, CL 14.4c, Cov & Nott 14.1c. 

First week: Llanwnnen averaging 19c by day for the first week (some 7c above normal). 

Tue 8th widespread slight frosts, minima Tirabad -2.7c, Lwn -2.5c, CITE -1.3c, Shobdon -1.0c, Trawsgoed -0.2c, Cov +1.4c (grass frost). Sunny periods, warm WW, nearer average Much of the Mids (NE breeze still), maxima Lwn 17.8c, ROW 17.1c, CITE & Trawsgoed 16.3c, Pembrey Sands 14.3c, Coventry 13.8c (coolest spot in the Midlands today).

Wed 9th another widespread slight frost, minima Lwn & Tirabad -2.3c, Pershore -1.0c, Aberdaron 7.2c; sunny again, thick haze here this morning presumably from the fires in the north of the county, the air did smell slightly smoky too. Widely near unbroken sun again, temperatures ranging from average much of Mids to warm much of WW & Herefordshire; maxima Porthmadog 18.3c, Lwn 17.8c, Trawsgoed 17.6c, ROW 16.3c, Sutton Bonington 13.6c, Nott 13.3c, Cov 13.2c, Aberporth 12.4c; sun Shobdon 12.5 hrs, Aberporth & Coventry12.3 hrs, Lwn 11.5 hrs, Nott 9.3 hrs (early N Sea low cloud E Mids).

Thu 10th widespread slight frosts yet again, minima Pershore -1.2c, Lwn -0.6c, Cov 3.6c; near unbroken sun widely yet again (11 to 13 hours), Valley 12.6 hrs, Shobdon 12.3 hrs, Lwn est 12 hours, Nott 10.8 hrs, Midlands warmer as the N Sea flow was cut off, WW a cooler day with sea breezes, maxima Winterbourne (Brum) 18.2c, Coleshill & Nott 17.8c, Capel Curig 17.4c, Pershore College 16.2c, Lwn 14.9c,  Trawsgoed 13.9c, Pembrey Sands 11.7c & Aberporth 11.2c chilly (note well inland mid Wales was warm Llysdinam in Powys max 19.4c). 

10 day sunshine totals (1st - 10th): Aberporth, Coventry & Nottingham all 111 hours , Shobdon & Valley 109 hrs, Lwn 108 hours.

Much of the UK bone dry so far this month. Milford Haven one of the wettest spots has had just 4mm to date (Lwn 2.2mm, whole of the Midlands 0mm).

Fri 11th last day of the fine dry spell across much of Wales: Llanwnnen max 22.1c one of the highest by this point in April (although note as above max 26c mid April 2007); other max Nott 22.6c, Astwood Bank (Worc) 22.4c, Cov 22.0c, Aberporth 17.5c, Porthmadog 16.9c; Aberporth 12.8 hrs sunniest in UK, many places above 12 hours once more (here at Lwn a foggy start so just 10.5 hrs).

Sat 12th last day of this prolonged early Spring dry and exceptionally sunny spell for the Midlands too. The next week or so looking decidedly unsettled and at times cool. Rather cloudy with some rain today WW but still warm inland (rather cool Pembs), very warm sunny periods Mids; max  Coleshill 22.2c, Nott 21.0c, Cov 20.9c, Lwn 18.8c, Shawbury & Trawsgoed 18.6c, Shobdon 17.9c, MH 11.9c.

Sun 13th just a few showers so still hardly any rain (2.5mm here at Lwn) temperatures around average to mild (Lwn 13c, Cov 15.7c, Pershore 16.9c); still plentiful sun for some areas (Valley 10.4 hrs sunniest in UK).

Mon 14th rain at times WW with a slow moving band from Pembs through Cardigan Bay and the Lleyn to Anglesey giving over an inch in places (MH 26.4mm wettest in UK). Meanwhile parts of the Mids still on 0mm for the month (inc Coventry).

Tue 15th copious rain for SW Wales today, many parts of 'Dyfed' over an inch, locally 2 inches by midnight. Totals modest for the rest of Wales where generally under 10mm; Whitechurch 50.2mm wettest place in the UK (to 2100). A few showers for the Mids but yet again some spots stayed dry such as Coleshill. A very cool day for Wales under the rain, parts of Mids just above average in contrast; max 8.2c here at Lwn the coolest day since mid March; other max Aberporth 7.6c, MH 8.6c, Trawsgoed 10.4c, Shobdon 12.5c, CITE & Pershore College 15.9c.

First half of April  very sunny and mild/ very mild; rainfall variable; SW Wales heavy rains 14th and 15th making places here already over the whole April average, while the Mids & Snowdonia missed these rains and very dry still, a few Midlands spots 0mm still. Here at Lwn days have been very mild (thus far averaging 17c, nights near average (mean 2.5c).

Rainfall totals 1st - 15th: Capel Curig 18mm (very dry) Aberdaron 59mm (very wet), Trawsgoed 24mm (rather dry), Aberporth 60mm (very wet), Lwn 58.5mm (rather wet),  MH 88m (very wet); Nott 2.0mm, Coleshill 0mm, Coventry 0.2mm, CL 0.4mm, Pershore 1.2mm, Hereford 3.4mm (very dry).

Sunshine 1st - 15th: Aberdaron 125 hours, Aberporth 133 hrs, Lwn 128 hrs; Nott 140 hrs, Cov 143 hrs, Shobdon 132 hrs.

Wed 16th 24 hour total 0900 here at Lwn 45.9mmm making it the wettest April day (beating 30.5mm from last year) this being more rain than during the preceding 7 weeks. Other 24 hour totals to 0900 this morning (after a night of further heavy falls over Pembrokeshire and W Ceredigion): NRW gauges (selected, rounded up) Maenclochog (Preselis) 71mm, Llechryd (Cardigan) 59mm, Rhydargaeau (near Carmarthen) 48mm, Tenby 46mm, Cellan (near Lampeter) 43mm, Bow Street (Aberystwyth) 10mm, Corris (mid Wales) 3mm, Coleshill 0mm. A little snow fell covering the tops of the Preselis this morning. Whitechurch 35.8c, official wettest place in Wales for the second successive day making 86mm in 48 hours at this location. Very cool much of mid & N Wales & the Marches maxima Pennerley (Stiperstones, Salop) 6.4c, Trawsgoed 7.6c, Lwn 8.5c, MH & Shobdon 10.0c, Mona 12.5c, Nott 12.8c, Wellesbourne 14.2c (average). Lake Vyrnwy in Gwynedd max just 5.6c (higher up area).

Rather unsettled then for a time, although some nice dry days mixed in: 

Easter Sunday (20th): after the wet week across Wales (over 4 inches parts of Pembrokeshire) a lovely sunny warm day WW. Note still little rain this month Midlands (Church Lawford just 1.2mm and shown on Countryfile weather as the driest spot in the UK). Llanwnnen max 19.2c (warmest in UK unofficially), other Whitechurch 17.9c (official warmest),Trawsgoed 17.6c, ROW 17.5c, Gogerddan 17c, CC 17.1c, CITE 16.5c, Pershore 16.0c, Cov 14.8c, Aberporth 12.9c.

Wed 23rd significant rain across the Midlands during last night, KN 18.8mm, CL 17.2mm, Cov 15.6mm, many places 10mm inc Wales.

Thu 24th warm and sunny parts of WW & Shropshire, we were in Carmarthen where it was mostly sunny, it clouded over back home but max 18c (Trawsgoed also 18c today), much of Mids more cloud, cooler, other max ROW 16.5c, Pembrey Sands 16.3c, Nott 14.6c, CL &  Cov 13.5c; Valley 11 hrs sun, Aberporth 9.5 hrs, Lwn 5 hrs estimated.

April ended fine, dry and warm/ very warm:

Sun 27th start of the fine warm spell, Coventry 13.3 hours sunniest in UK. Above 20c much of the Midlands (Hereford 20.8c, Nott 20.6c, Cov 20.3c).

Mon 28th widely warm/ very warm and sunny, maxima Astwood Bank (Worc) 22.5c, Nott 22.3c, CL & Lwn 21.7c, Trawsgoed 20.4c, Aberporth 16.2c, Valley 15.2c. It was very warm in our garden early afternoon but rather cool by the sea at Aberaeron a little later. Bala 22.0c warmest spot in Wales. Again near unbroken 13 hour sun some places (inc Cov).

Tue 29th very warm and sunny; Llanwnnen max 25.7c highest in April since 2007 (26c), other max ROW & Trawsgoed 24.9c (official UK highest), Pembrey Sands 23.6c, Coleshill, Nott & Pershore 23.3c, Cov 22.8c, Aberporth 21.4c, MH 20.7c; unbroken 13 hours sun Cov & Nott (Lwn 12 hrs est).

Wed 30th Minimum at Aberdaron 14.1c almost a Wales record warm April night apparently (record Hawarden 14.5c (1994). Note chilly inland overnight, min Lwn & Shobdon just 4.0c. April record warmth here at Lwn, max 26.8c beating 26c of April 2007. This was also the earliest 80f (previous being May 25th 2017). Officially Trawsgoed 25.8c warmest in Wales (pegged back by a mid afternoon sea breeze otherwise?) and so the Wales April warmth record remains Gogerddan 26.2c in 2003. Other maxima Astwood Bank 25.4c, CITE 25.2c, Pembrey Sands 24.3c, CC 24.2c, CL 24.1c, Pennerley 22.1c, Aberporth 21.8c. Widely unbroken sun, Nottingham 14 hours the maximum possible at the end of April (also Aberporth & Valley 13.8 hrs, Coventry 13.7 hrs, Lwn est 13.5 hrs, Shawbury & Shobdon 13.5 hrs).

Exceptional warmth April 30th west Wales

Nature notes

Wed 2nd Aberystwyth several Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing by Morrisons. Various trees leafing by the river, Daffs going over in Aberystwyth area.

Early April Ash flowering which is early, Ash before Oak perhaps which hardly ever occurs? Magnolias peaking, Hedgerows widely in leaf. Blackthorn in blossom from the start of the month. More and more butterflies especially Whites, Speckled Woods and an Orange Tip. More and more insects, flies and bees.

Fri 4th 10 Chiffchaffs counted singing along the final mile approaching Llangrannog, several audible from the village along with my first Willow Warbler.

Sat 5th heard a Sand Martin flying over the garden.

Sun 6th cycling the local lanes, Willow Warbler singing Neuadd lane by the track junction, fair few Chiffchaffs, Bluebells coming out, plenty of Stitchwort, Horse Chestnut tree in leaf near the farm. Many Daffs are now over. Blackthorn blossom out.

Mon 7th Cellan: quite a few Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler singing. 

Longwood: Warbler count (audible) Chiffchaff 25 (plenty also seen), Willow Warbler 15 (a few seen), Blackcap 6 (a couple seen), Garden Warbler 1.

Distant smoke NE various forest and moorland fires over the Cambrians, notably Cwm Rheidol and near Strata Florida, these have been burning for several days now.

Wed 9th first Swallow twittering above the gardens.

Fri 11th Chiffchaffs rather absent in the gardens so far this month, although they are numerous in other areas, until today when 2 singing from within 100 metres which is typical of their territories.

GSW drumming just on occasion and some days unheard now, he has been coming onto the nuts to feed then flying back to the castle earthwork trees and drumming.

Sat 12th single Swallow again twittering above the gardens.

Tue 15th birds singing their hearts out in spite of the incessant rain!

Mid month: Beech and Oak leafing, 'May' blossom starting. First Cuckoo reports from the county.

Thu 17th 3 Swallow Lampeter Uni. Always look around for perished baby Rooks beneath the Uni Rookery trees, thought they were doing well this year until came across 4 dead babies no more than a few days old, reckon the nest had fallen down as twigs strewn about them. There have not been any bad winds so far this Spring.

Sun 20th 4 Swallow above the gardens this afternoon.

Mon 21st first Swift = my earliest ever. Feeding above the earthwork trees this morning, I had looked up at the Swallows and could not believe my eyes! Checking on the Ceredigion Bird Blog Tony in Bow Street beat me as had one yesterday evening (equalling his earliest ever April 20th 2015). Other very early sightings gleaned from the blog being (all April) 16th 2015 Llanrhystud, 17th 2014 Glandwr, 19th 2013 Pencarreg lake, 20th 2018 Cwrtnewydd.

Late month: Holly flowering, Apple blossom, garden Bluebells peaking, Daffs virtually all over. Quite a few Butterflies, Orange Tips, Whites, Holly Blue, Horse Chestnut 'candelabras'.

Sat 26th & Sun 27th a Swift perhaps 2 of them screaming from their nest sites in the church hall, no emergence seen.

Mon 28th heard the first House Martin above the gardens.

Mon 28th Aberaeron several House Martin and Swallows, the former building 2 nests opposite Hive by the harbour (endless supply of mud in the drained Pwll Cam inner portion while the sea defences continue to be done). A massive old Beech has been cut down near the allotments perhaps it had suffered storm damage and was deemed unsafe?

Tue 29th sole Swift heard and seen from garden this afternoon

Wed 30th southern forestry on a remarkably warm April late afternoon. First Cuckoo calling (however they were first heard in the county a fortnight back). Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Wood Warblers, Tree Pipits, Stonechats. Hint of flower on a Laburnum by the gate.

Llanybydder old school (gym): Under renovations since last year, concerned as a large piece of cloth covering one end up to guttering. Stopped and observed, Sparrows entering holes especially the opposite end and chattering away, none seen trying to get under the cloth so all seems well. I did mention to the lady via Facebook last year if they would consider the nesting birds she replied 'the funding was not enough for that'!

Llanybydder car park: also under renovations: 4 or 5 screaming Swift, several House & Sand Martin, half dozen Swallow. 

Month end, plentiful swallows, some of the garden Bluebells over already.

Summary April 2025

Very mild and sunny/ very sunny; rainfall variable from very dry to very wet

Wales had highly variable rainfall totals this month: Many places around average or rather wet, Snowdonia and mid Wales dry or very dry, SW Wales wet or very wet. Capel Curig one of several places to only receive half the average while parts of Pembrokeshire had twice average.

All locations over 200 hours sun. Coventry and indeed England as a whole has just had the sunniest March followed by sunniest April on record. 

Temperatures boosted by unseasonable warmth in the first fortnight and the final few days. Parts of West Wales had record April warmth right at the end.

Rainfall totals April 2025

Mona, Anglesey 79.2mm (rather wet)

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 63.6mm (very dry)

Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular 112.4mm (very wet)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 45.6mm (dry)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 90mm (wet)

Llanwnnen 95.4mm (147%, but just 124% of historical Lampeter)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 90mm (rather wet)

Milford Haven, Pembs 147.8mm (over twice average)

Nottingham 12.4mm (quarter average)

Shawbury, Salop c 21mm (very dry)

Coleshill 14.0mm (very dry)

Coventry, Bablake School 23.4mm (45%)

CL, Warks 23.8mm (48%)

Pershore, Worc 23.4mm (v dry)

Hereford c 26mm (v dry)

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 25.0mm

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges April 2025

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 76.6mm (average)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 95mm (ave)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 102mm (dry)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 92mm (average)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 71.4mm (dry)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 31.8mm (half average)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 43.8mm (half average)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 86.6mm (ave)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 93.6mm (ave)

Pencader (Carms)  102.6mm (ave)

Abergorlech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 104mm (ave)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 122mm (rather wet)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 110mm (rather wet)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 99mm (r wet)

Southgate, Gower 87mm (r wet)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) 110mm (very wet)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 166mm (very wet)

Tenby (Pembs) 133mm (over twice average)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 118mm (very wet)

COL stations rainfall 

Llansadwrn 41.3mm (63%)

Ludlow, Salop 29.6mm (51%)

Alvechurch, Worc 28.5mm (48%)

Warstock, Brum 26.3mm (45%)

Alcester (Great Alne) 24.6mm (52%)

Cosby, Leic 22.7mm (46%)

Hinckley 23.9mm (49%)

Towcester, Northants 27.4mm (52%)

Sunshine totals

Aberdaron 205 hrs

Llanwnnen estimated 212 hrs

Nottingham 243 hrs

Coventry, Bablake School 247 hrs (148%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 216 hrs

COL stations sun:

Ludlow 228 hrs (153%)

Alvechurch 243 hrs (176%)

Cosby 250 hrs

Towcester 255 hrs