Weather log August 2024

Weather log August 2024

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

Mids = Midlands

Nott = Nottingham

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

srb = since records began

TL = thunder and lightning

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

Changeable start to August, some rain or showers, but also warm sunny spells:

Thu 1st warm night Mids, lows Hereford 17.9c, Pershore 16.4c, Coventry 17.2c, Shawbury 15.6c, Trawsgoed 15.5c, Mona 12.6c, Lwn 11.8c. Local downpours and isolated thunder early hours into morning with over an inch parts of Brum (Sutton Coldfield (EA) 26.4mm and Short Heath (PWS) 36mm in one hour. Further thunderstorms broke out S & E Mids pm these locally torrential over 2 inches; one such storm affected the area between Coventry & Rugby early evening with much TL and localised flooding, King's Newnham (EA) gauge caught 18mm in one hour (total 23mm) while just 3 miles south Church Lawford (MO) escaped with just 1mm, a mile or so north of King's Newnham near Easenhall a PWS had 46mm. Another EA gauge at Kibworth (Leic) caught 34mm in the hour 7 to 8pm  (43mm total). It was another warm to hot day, last of a 4 day heatwave much of Mids (over 27c): maxima CL & Pershore 28.1c, Coventry 27.0c, CITE 26.7c, Nott 25.7c, Pembrey Sands & Shawbury 24.8c,  Lwn 23.6c, MH & Trawsgoed 22.9c, Aberporth 18.8c.

Fri 2nd still very warm sunny periods Mids close to 80f in places, maxima: Pershore 25.9c (79f), Nott 25.5c, CL, Coleshill & Coventry 25.2c, CITE 24.8c, Shawbury & Shobdon 23.3c, Trawsgoed 21.8c, Aberporth 21.6c, Lwn 20.5c, CC 18.1c.

Mon 5th warm night across WW, minima Trawsgoed & Pembrey Sands 16.8c, Lwn 15.9c, Shobdon 15.3c, CL 14.1c, CC 13.9c.

Fri 9th warm night Mids, minima CL & Pershore 17.1c, Nott 16.1c, Pembrey Sands 15.3c, CC 13.7c, Lwn 13.1c.

Sat 10th start of a rather brief warm/hot spell; maxima Pershore 26.3c (warmest in UK), Shobdon 25.2c, Sutton Bonington 25.0c, Coventry 24.9c, Llanwnnen 22.7c, MH 20.9c, Aberdaron 18.0c. Sunny intervals many places, here it became sunny pm.

Sun 11th widely very warm or hot after a relatively cool night (Llanwnnen low 7.2c). Sunny periods Mids, sunny spells WW, maxima Pershore 29.2c, Coleshill 28.0c, Hereford & Lwn 27.7c, CITE & Coventry 27.4c, Nott & Shawbury 26.8c, Pembrey Sands 26.1c, Aberporth 25.7c, Aberdaron 22.2c. The heat plume proper arrived during the evening (20c upper air temperatures at 850mbar level into south UK) with elevated thunderstorms over the Irish Sea, lightning visible parts of Wales. 

Mon 12th 'tropical night' (not below 20c) parts of Wales: here at Llanwnnen a record warm night, after a dip in temperatures 2100 to 19.8c, most of the night 21 or 22c; noted several PWS 23 or 24c WW during the early hours this is exceptional, also Aberporth & Trawsgoed 22 or 23c much of the night. The less warm air mass arrived dawn, minima 19.6c Lwn 0840 (beating 17.8c July 2014). Other minima Trawsgoed 21.0c, Aberporth & Pembrey Sands 18.7c, Pershore & Shawbury 18.5c, CC 17.9c, CL 17.1c, Nott 15.0c. Thundery showers in places overnight, lasting into day time parts of Mids (plentiful TL Brum morning also heard from Coventry). Hot sunny spells much of the Mids also localised thundery showers, particularly E Mids afternoon. For WW much cooler and fresher but with sunny spells. Some places cooler by day than during the previous night, e.g. Aberporth down to 17 or 18c by day (Llanwnnen managed 23.5c however). Other maxima (from 0900) Astwood Bank 28.8c, Coventry 28.7c, CITE 27.5c, Shawbury 24.5c, Trawsgoed 20.8c, Aberporth 19.1c. Cambridge NIAB the UK hot spot at 34.8c today.

Tuesday 13th still warm and sunny Mids, WW cloudy and became rather wet, over an inch in places, although NW Wales did not have much; maxima Wellesbourne 26.2c, Coventry 26.0c, Nottingham 25.5c, Shobdon 22.5c, Lwn 17.6c, Aberdaron 16.3c; rainfall Pembrey Sands 24.4mm (wettest in UK) although Tavernspite NRW gauge (Pembs) 34mm; Llanwnnen 15mm more typical of mid & SW Wales.

Wed 14th in contrast to yesterday most of WW had a fine day with plentiful sunshine, much of the Mids (away from brighter Marches) cloudy with light rain or drizzle in places; temperatures generally 18 to 21c (Lwn 20.4c felt warm) but MH max 23.8c and Newport (Salop) 22.0c; Aberporth sunniest and coolest place in Wales (max 17.3c, 12.5 hours sun).

First half August has been warm, variable rainfall with sunshine rather dull to average. Much of the Mids dry so far, WW more variable from rather dry to wet (a few spots in SW Wales over the whole August average).

Rainfall totals Aug 1st - 0900 16th:

CC 94.0mm (average for first half)

Trawsgoed 44.6mm (average)

Llanwnnen 50.3mm (average)

Aberporth c 33mm (average)

Pembrey Sands 67.0mm (wet)

MH 37.8mm (average)

Nott 11.6mm (very dry)

Coleshill c 22mm 

Coventry 9.6mm (very dry)

KN (EA near Rugby) 30.6mm (average)

CL 8.2mm (very dry)

Pershore 6.8mm (very dry)

Shobdon 20.6mm (dry)

Sunshine 1st to 15th:

Llanwnnen 64 hours (estimated, rather dull)

Nott 75.5 hrs (average)

Coventry 75.4 hrs (rather dull)

Shobdon (Herefordshire) 64.2 hrs (rather dull)

Sat 17th cool night widely, Llanwnnen min 4.1c cooler than lowest official UK reading (Shobdon 4.6c), other Swyddffynnon 5.1c, Hereford 5.8c, CITE 6.9c, Pembrey Sands 7.4c, Coventry 8.1c, mild 14.0c, at Aberdaron however.

Thu 22nd warm night (above 15c) much of S Wales and Mids, minima Pembrey Sands 15.9c, Pershore 15.8c, Coventry 15.2c, MH 15.1c,  Nott 15.0c, Trawsgoed 14.7c, Lwn 14.2c, CC 13.3c.

Fri 23rd named storm 'Lilian' brought strong winds overnight gusting to 70mph in exposed locations, highest gusts CC 73mph, Aberdaron 69mph, Aberporth 66mph, Shawbury 55mph, Trawsgoed 46mph, Coventry 37mph.

Tue 27th warm night WW, minima Pembrey Sands 16.8c, Trawsgoed 16.0c, Lwn 15.2c. In contrast rather cool and damp by day, max just 17.3c Lwn and 18.3c PS.

Wed 28th slow moving fronts stuck over Wales past 2 days bringing over an inch in places, isolated lightning sferics north of Llandeilo (Carms) this morning.

Pleasant last few days to Summer 2024:

Sat 31st warm and sunny WW, Lwn max 23.1c, Whitechurch (Pembs) max 23.5c warmest in UK; other max Pembrey Sands 22.3c,  CITE 21.9c, Pershore 21.3c, Coventry 19.8c, CC 19.0c.

Nature notes

Thu 1st sat in the Uni quadrangle  for 45 minutes during which 3 or 4 Swift made screaming visitations on 3 separate occasions.

Fri 2nd scream heard from within hall dusk, no chicks audible now.

Sat 3rd glimpse of a Swift flew over garden afternoon.

Early Aug: Forestry plenty of Grasshoppers one fine afternoon, hardly any in our gardens this Summer.

Lots of Large White Butterflies in the garden this month, also a few others such as Speckled Wood & Meadow Brown; June/ July there were few Butterflies about.

Sun 11th after a hot humid day 20 to 30 mostly House Martin and some Swallow above the gardens this evening feeding and calling constantly.

Mon 12th Aberaeron: Sparrowhawk flew over my head quite low and into a tree as I walked an alleyway.

Mid month plentiful hirundines most days (especially evenings, saw some House Martins prospecting a neighbours apex 16th.

Thu 22nd Kingfisher zipped past us along the river in the Uni this afternoon very close, it shot under the bridge by the Student Union building.

Month end plentiful hirundines still most days at times.

August 2024 summary

Temperatures average to rather warm, variable rainfall, rather dull to average sunshine

Much of Mids very dry (under half average), parts of WW in contrast almost double the average.

Sunshine rather dull to average.

Rainfall totals August 2024

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 218.8mm (115%)

Mona, Anglesey 74.4mm (average)

Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular 68.6mm (average)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 80.0mm (ave)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 54mm (rather dry)

Llanwnnen 83.4mm (82%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 109.6mm (115%)

Milford Haven, Pembs 75.2mm (ave)

Mumbles, near Swansea (no longer in operation)

Nottingham 20.6mm (very dry)

Shawbury, Salop c 25mm (very dry)

Coleshill c 33mm (very dry)

Coventry, Bablake School 21.4mm (34%)

CL, Warks 21.6mm (34%)

Pershore, Worc 15.2mm (25%)

Shobdon, Herefords 32.2mm (50%) 

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 44.0mm

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges August 2024

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 103.0mm (average)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 90.2mm (rather dry)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 372.4mm (wet & wettest location in UK)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 77.0mm (ave)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 211.4mm (ave)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 83.0mm (average)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 80.4mm (rather dry)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 95.4mm (rather dry)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 73.2mm (rather dry)

Pencader (Carms)  137.0mm (ave)

Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 156.0mm (rather wet)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 167.2mm (rather wet)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 139.4mm (rather wet)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 127.6mm (rather wet)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) 50.6mm (dry)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 181.4mm (rather wet)

Tenby (Pembs) 103.4mm (rather wet)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 72.2mm (rather dry)

COL stations rainfall August 2024

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 86.4mm (96%)

Ludlow, Salop 33.0mm (49%)

Alvechurch, Worc 33.0mm (44%)

Warstock, Brum 32.8mm (47%)

Cosby, Leic 43.0mm (66%)

Hinckley 27.4mm 

Towcester, Northants 31.9mm (50%)

Sunshine totals Aug 2024

Llanwnnen estimated 123 hours (76%)

Aberdaron 175.6 hrs

Nottingham 158.4 hrs

Coventry, Bablake School 162 hours (93%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 129.2 hrs (77%)

COL stations sun

Ludlow 137.4 hours

Alvechurch, Worc 121.1 hrs

Cosby 158.3 hrs

Towcester 192.1 hrs

Summer 2024 summary

Cool or average temperatures; dull/ average sun; rain varied from very dry to rather wet

Many places had below average rain this Summer, just half the average parts of the Midlands; WW varied from rather dry to rather wet.

Llanwnnen coolest Summer srb 2006 (mean temp 14.2c).

Bablake school, Coventry coolest Summer since 2015 although the mean temperatures was close to average illustrating how warm Summers have been of late.

Llanwnnen no thunder heard at all (previous least 1 day Summer 2011).

Rainfall Summer 2024

Mona, Anglesey 185.6mm (near average)

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 393.6mm (rather dry)

Trawsgoed 218.6mm (near average)

Aberporth c 164mm (rather dry)

Llanwnnen 193.9mm (72%)

Pembrey Sands 205.6mm (rather dry)

Milford Haven 171.0mm (rather dry)

Nottingham 150.6mm (rather dry)

Shawbury, Salop c 134mm (rather dry)

Coleshill c 114mm (dry)

Coventry 111.0mm (61%)

CL 89.0mm (50%)

Pershore 89.8mm (dry)

Summer 2024 sunshine

Aberdaron 561.6 hours (average)

Llanwnnen (estimated) 375 hours (74%)

Nottingham 491.6 hrs (average)

Coventry 550 hrs (98%)

Shobdon 448 hrs (rather dull)

Weather log July 2024

Weather log July 2024

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

Mids = Midlands

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

srb = since records began

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

Cool changeable start to July:

Sat 6th heavy downpours in places overnight, thunder in places such as Coventry (just a rumble or 2). Swyddffynnon (Ceredigion) 29.2mm wettest in Wales, also Pershore College 17.4mm.

Sun 7th scattered showers and isolated thunder today.

Mon 8th warmer day for WW, highest reading of the month to date here at Lwn (max 21.1c, this after  very cool July night min 3.2c); other maxima Porthmadog 22.5c, Nottingham 21.4c, Shawbury 20.9c,  Trawsgoed 20.6c, Coventry 19.5c, Market Bosworth 19.1c, MH 17.6c.

Tue 9th wet weather overnight, particularly Midlands where over an inch in places, Coventry 24.2mm (24 hours to 0900); MO wettest places (2100) Winterbourne (Brum) 29.2mm, Nottingham 27.8mm, also Cardiff Bute Park 37.2mm.

Mon 15th outbreaks of rain, heavy in places, some torrential locally, over an inch in places; Coventry 21.0mm (0900) while a PWS in the SW of the city (Canley) recorded 36mm (25mm of this in one hour late evening).

First half of July very cool and very dull; rainfall average to very wet.

At Llanwnnen the coolest and dullest start to July for decades, just a third of what we should have had to date sunshine wise, while mean temperature a poor 13.4c to 15th or 2c below average; Coventry has not managed 21c (70f) to date. Some places already exceeded their whole July average rainfall.

Rainfall totals July 1st - 0900 16th:

Mona 52.0mm (very wet)

CC 75.4mm (average)

Trawsgoed 60.6mm (wet)

Llanwnnen 50.5mm (near average)

Pembrey Sands 46.2mm (rather wet))

Nottingham 81.2mm (very wet)

Coventry 61.6mm (very wet having reached the monthly average)

CL 52mm (very wet)

Pershore 49.2mm (very wet)

Sunshine first half:

Llanwnnen est 32 hours (third of average)

Coventry 54 hours (very dull)

Shobdon 42 hours (very dull)

Bit of a warm/ hot spell just after mid month:

Wed 17th max Hereford 24.4c, Sutton Bonington 24.0c, CL & Shawbury 22.6c, Lwn 21.9c, Trawsgoed 21.5c, Aberdaron 17.3c.

Thu 18th  warm or very warm and humid, sunny Mids, sunny intervals WW, maxima ROW 27.3c, Pershore 27.1c, Coventry 26.8c, Cardiff Bute Park 26.7c, CL & Hereford 26.0c, Shawbury 24.5c, Lwn 23.8c, Trawsgoed 22.8c, Aberdaron 18.6c.

Fri 19th minima warm locally (over 15c): Pembrey Sands 16.0c, Nottingham 15.4c, Coventry 15.3c, Lwn 11.8c, Hereford 11.4c.WW very warm inland but cooler misty some coasts, Mids though hot and sunny all above 80f maxima: Wellesbourne 29.5c, Coventry &Nott 29.4c, CL 29.1c, Shawbury 27.3c, Trawsgoed 25.1c, Lwn 24.0c, Aberporth 21.1c, Aberdaron 18.5c.

Sat 20th warm night minima: Trawsgoed 16.8c, Pembrey Sands 16.5c, CL 16.3c, Lwn & Pershore 15.7c, CC & Shobdon 14.1c, Mona 14.0c. Still warm Mids but rather cloudy rain later, for WW became rather wet pm; maxima Pershore College 23.6c, Nottingham 23.2c, Market Bosworth 22.2c, CL & Coleshill 22.1c, Hereford 21/3c, Trawsgoed 20.4c, Lwn 19.3c, Aberdaron 16.5c.

21st to 24th: while we were in the Midlands it was mostly dry, warm and humid with sunny spells, west Wales had fared worse with much cloud and some rain or drizzle though rather warm at times. Highest readings while we were away, Coventry 24.7c ((23rd) and Llanwnnen 21.2c same day. Coventry has had 116 hours of sun so far this month(rather dull) but Llanwnnen less than half that with just an estimated 54 hours (very dull).

Tue 23rd surprised about some heavy showers early this morning at LL which were not forecast, just 2 or 3mm in the Rugby area while Warwick Racecourse (EA) caught 13.4mm; warm and humid Mids, maxima Pershore 25.8c (warmest in UK), CITE 25.1c, Coventry 24.7c, CL 24.1c, Lwn 21.2c, Aberporth 16.7c. Wellesbourne 12mm wettest place officially Mids today while Coventry was the sunniest with 8.5 hours.

Warm/ hot end to July:

Sun 28th warm sunny periods widely, maxima Astwood Bank (Worc) 25.8c, Coventry 25.4c, Nott 24.7c, Lwn 23.7c, Shobdon 23.5c,  Trawsgoed 22.9c, Aberdaron 18.4c.

Mon 29th WW widely very warm inland with sunny periods, hot much of Mids: Maxima Astwood Bank 28.7c, Pershore 28.4c, Coventry 27.8c, Hereford, Llanwnnen & Nottingham 27.4c, Shawbury 26.5c, Trawsgoed 25.8c, Valley 20.2c. Here at Llanwnnen the warmest and sunniest day of the year to date (13 hours sun estimated).

Tue 30th warm or very warm generally, and hot S Mids & SE Wales: maxima Pershore 29.2c, Usk 29.0c, CL 28.3c, CITE 28.2c, Hereford 27.0c, Nottingham 26.4c, Pembrey Sands 24.5c, Shawbury 23.8c, Aberporth just 17.9c with sea breezes.

Nights thus far this spell have been refreshingly cool in the Welsh countryside, minima 28th Lwn 5.1c, 29th Tirabad 4.9c (coolest in UK) and 30th Swyddffynnon 7.4c.

Wed 31st very warm, locally hot WW with sunny periods, Mids hot: Maxima ROW 30.4c, Pershore 29.2c, CITE 29.1c, Hereford 28.9c, Coleshill 28.7c,  Lwn & Nottingham 28.2c (Lwn hottest day of the year to date), Shobdon 27.5c, MH, Tirabad & Trawsgoed 25.8c, Aberporth 20.7c (we were at nearby Llangrannog where it felt several degrees warmer), Mona 20.5c. Usk max 29.5c hottest place in Wales.

Nature notes

Tue 2nd Song Thrush singing well dusk have been quiet of late. 2 Swift seen to enter hall silently 2200, first west side towards near end window then one the other side towards second from far end window. That makes just 3 nests evidenced to date (usually 6 or so). Chicks audible in both of these nests of entry.

Wed 3rd Aberystwyth: several Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing by the river at Morrisons. Evening 15 to 20 House Martin and the odd Swift feeding same location. Surveyed the estate opposite the council/ Welsh Government building, counted 16 H Martin nests most in apexes, several doubles, 2 were in the corner of window recesses of top flats. Could be a few more that I missed too.

Thu 4th Lampeter Uni late afternoon: a few Swifts, one entered hole in chapel silently.

Fri 5th screaming Swifts over the church hall evening (half dozen or so).

Llanybydder: quite a few Swifts this evening, about 15 screaming around the warehouse, another 6 or 8 around the old station. Also Blackbird singing nicely which have nt heard these past few weeks.

Aberduar chapel: nice to see a dozen screaming Swift over the graveyard, only one pile of droppings evidenced on the ground however.

Forestry (large clearing southern area) on a very cool evening after dusk: walked the dead end track with views over the clearing to listen for potential Nightjars. One obliged calling 2145 in distance then one churred for several minutes around 2155 in near dark from several hundred metres away the far side of the clear area by the track over there.

Sun 7th about 10 screaming Swifts briefly over the church hall dusk.

Mon 8th around 20 Swift feeding over the village for over an hour this evening, at times right above the garden accompanied by a dozen mixed HM and Swallow. The Swifts broke into mini screaming parties at times, they were mostly at tree top height. One of the highest counts seen here.

Sat 13th Forestry dusk: Nightjar churred briefly 2150 from west slope above main road where cleared regrowth are meets extant mature forestry. Back at car 2245 Grasshopper Warbler reeling continuously field adjacent to main gate where it usually is. Only other bird song a distant Blackbird.

Sun 14th hall evidence of only 4 active nests now these have fresh droppings on the ground beneath, chicks audible from 2 of these nests above. There are 2 nests each side of the hall.

Thu 18th Lampeter Uni saw a Swift enter then 5 minutes later exit its nest hole in the chapel side of the quadrangle. Then 8 or 10 Swift over the building.

Dusk a dozen or so screaming party around the church for almost an hour, also about 10 H Marin and 10 Swallow.

Sat 20th Chiffchaff was still singing well until a week ago but now quiet, garden largely silent now..

Sat 20th to Wed 24th Long Lawford: Swifts seen and heard daily sometimes over the garden:

Sat 20th greeted by a dozen or so screaming Swifts on arrival LL this evening.

Sun 21st LL hundreds of Rooks and Jackdaws along with a few Starling on fields adjacent the bridal path. Plentiful Gatekeeper butterflies. About 25 Swift evening.

Mon 22nd LL 8 screaming Swifts came fairly low over the garden at times this evening, total of 15 to 20 Swifts about today. House Martin nests barely under the steep eaves of houses near the church hall in Chapel Street flying up to nests in spite of the proximity of wide open bedroom windows!

Tue 23rd LL party of 8 screaming Swifts low over the park and adjacent the house on Townsend Lane that has 3 boxes with call devices. Swift seen to enter gable end of house besides the shops on the estate (this was observed here several years ago too). .Red Kite at close quarters on the edge of the estate.

Wed 24th driving back:

Abergavenny: 2 Swift seen from Morrison car park this evening.

Llandovery dusk 25 to 30 screaming Swift over the town, decided to check out the college as the gate was open, much of it being private, Swifts were around the front hall building which had suitable gaps beneath the eaves, then saw one enter a hole with a few other flying up to where the gaps were. Suspect this may be a substantial colony. We were only there 10 minutes and unsure whether we would get locked in or not!

Fri 26th village: evening farm start of Neuadd lane seems to have quite a few HM nests also saw a Swallow go up by the Sat dish in an apex and so nesting on the  bracket? Dusk 6 to 8 screaming Swift church one seen to enter nest towards far west end window, chicks audible from this one, others seemingly quiet and so may have fledged.

Sat 27th Forestry (S) evening many Foxgloves still have top section in bloom.

Sun 28th 8 screaming Swifts dusk around church.

Mon 29th Carmarthen on a very warm sunny day for a change: quite a few Swifts screaming over the St Peters car park, decided to have a look at the former Grammar school (now council offices) which is a Victorian building, as approached lots of House Martins and a dozen screaming Swifts. Looked up and all around there were House Martin nests (perhaps 20 in total) some with young being fed, also many gaps suitable for Swifts and so must be a joint Martin/ Swift colony thriving here! Amazingly a bird of prey appeared as I was walking back along the driveway amongst the Martins and Swifts, it was not a Hobby, Peregrine or Sparrowhawk and smaller than a Kite/ Buzzard and had an obvious white rump and longish tail and I thought Harrier just as a man then came long saying 'are you looking at the Harrier?' It was a female Hen Harrier! This building Grade 2 listed.

Still Martins feeding at some of the 4 or 5 nests in Merlin's Walk.

Wed 31st Cwrtnewydd driving through half dozen screaming Swifts this afternoon, usual place by houses on right just past chapel.

Wed 31st Llangrannog afternoon walked a mile or so south along the coast path and back: plentiful Gatekeeper butterflies (as there were in the Midlands last week). Don't think ever seen a Swift around Llangrannog the hall (meeting house) by the church has what look like suitable gaps under the eaves but not even Sparrows inhabiting it.

Month end quite a few Butterfly during the good weather to end the month, especially Whites, a few Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Tortoiseshells. 

Summary July 2024

Rather cool/ average; rainfall varying from rather dry to wet; generally dull, near average E Mids

After the remarkable wet spell up to Spring Llanwnnen has just had its third drier than average month on the trot. It was though another very dull July (not as dull as 2023 with 91 hours estimated). At Coventry it was a very average July overall, the dull, cool and wet first half made up for by the very dry, quite sunny and warm second.

Rainfall totals July 2024

Mona, Anglesey 77.4mm (rather wet)

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 105.4mm (rather dry)

Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular 85.4mm (wet)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 81.6mm (average)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog 70.4mm (average)

Llanwnnen, Ceredigion 64.5mm (70%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 60.2mm (rather dry)

Milford Haven, Pembs 67.8mm (average)

Nottingham (Watnall) 83.0mm (wet)

Shawbury, Salop 62.4mm (average)

Coleshill 56.6mm (average)

Coventry, Bablake School 66.4mm (slightly above average)

CL, Warks 55.8mm (slightly below average)

Pershore, Worc 61.4mm (rather wet)

Hereford 44mm (rather dry)

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 54.6mm

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges 

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 87.4mm (rather wet)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 116.6mm (wet)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 146.8mm (rather dry)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 53.6mm (average)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 100.4mm (dry)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 73.4mm (average)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 75.8mm (average)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 97.8mm (rather wet)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 77.4mm (average)

Pencader (Carms)  60.4mm (dry)

Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 86.8mm (average)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 77.6mm (rather dry)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 66.8mm (rather dry)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 78.6mm (average)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) 74.6mm (rather wet)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 127.8mm (rather wet)

Tenby (Pembs) 73.0mm (average)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 61.0mm (average)

COL stations rainfall July 2024

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 102.4mm (132%)

Ludlow, Salop 47.4mm (73%)

Alvechurch, Worc 78.1mm (113%)

Warstock, Brum 81.2mm (121%)

Cosby, Leic 57.5mm (92%)

Towcester, Northants 70.6mm (130%)

Sunshine totals July 2024

Valley 165 hours (rather dull)

Aberdaron 161 hrs (rather dull)

Aberporth 137.4mm (dull)

Llanwnnen estimated 103 hrs (57%)

Nottingham 171.7 hrs (near average)

Shawbury 140.6 hrs (dull)

Coventry, Bablake School 180.8 hrs (92%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 149.5 hrs (dull)

COL stations sun Jul 2024

Ludlow 129.1 hours

Alvechurch 134.1 hrs

Cosby 181.5 hrs

Towcester 191.5 hrs

Weather log June 2024

Weather log June 2024

Key

WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
CL = Church Lawford
LL = Long Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia
MH = Milford Haven
Carms = Carmarthenshire
Pembs = Pembrokeshire
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

EA = Environment Agency
est = estimated
inc = including
cf= compared with
srb = since records began
COL = Climatological Observers Link
PWS = Personal weather station
MO = Met Office
NRW = National Resources Wales

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

Sun 2nd nice sunny day, warm Mids & S Wales, cooler exposed Cardigan Bay max Pershore 24.0c, Coventry & Mumbles 22.1c, Lwn 18.8c, Trawsgoed 17.8c, Aberporth 14.5c. Wellesbourne 14.9 hours sun, Nottingham 14.7 hrs, Lwn est 11 hours (foggy start here).

Much of early June though was cool with sunny spells, not much rain and cold enough at night for local grass frost:

Wed 5th cool night, local grass frost inc Coventry where although the air minimum was just 5.2c the grass thermometer got to -0.2c; other air min Tirabad +1.3c, Lwn 2.7c (grass min +1.0c), Shobdon 2.6c.

Some nice sunny days of late here in WW albeit cool breezes, very nice at Llangrannog Fri 7th.

Sun 9th local grass frosts again, Lwn air min 1.2c, although we do get June grass frost in about half of Junes, grass minima Pershore -1c, CL, Shobdon & Tirabad 0c; other minima Tirabad 2.2c, Pembrey Sands 3.1c, Shobdon 3.8c, mild on Anglesey (Valley min 10.8c).

Mon 10th scattered showers Mids, isolated thunder.

Tue 11th local touches of ground frost, air min Shobdon +1.4c, Tirabad 1.6c, Lwn 2.0c (no grass frost), Pembrey Sands 2.2c, Nottingham 9.2c, Aberporth 9.5c.

Thu 13th very cool day with spells of rain and drizzle for Wales and later Mids. Scolton Country Park 25.2mm wettest in UK. Maxima below 13c in places such as Lwn (12.9c).

Fri 14th showery, thunder in places.

Sat 15th torrential downpour early morning Llanwnnen gave 12mm in 45 minutes. Showery day again, hail and thunder in places. A line of thundery showers crossed the Mids affecting Coventry & Rugby just after midday, at LL lightning was overhead and described variously as a "thunderbolt" and "explosion" it was so close. The radar showed a 1 km square of 20mm accumulation over Long Lawford most of which would have fallen within 15 minutes, although this deluge missed the adjacent rain gauge network which were only in the 3- 6mm range (KN 5.4mm just a mile from LL).

First half of June has been very cool with rainfall variable; sun rather dull to average. Llanwnnen rainfall slightly above average thanks to the 12mm downpour early 15th.

Quite a notable cool spell for June 3rd to 13th (11 days), here at Lwn mean temperature to 15th just 11.0c and so the coolest such June spell of the past two decades, with no day over 17c and 5 nights below 5c. Note: the last really cool whole month of June was back in 1991 when mean maxima just 16.2c at Coventry and Llanpumsaint (Carms) recorded -1.7c on the 4th that month. Further back in June 1972 Birmingham did not manage 20c all month! Coolest June of the past two decades here at Lwn is 2008 (13.1c) so it would take a very warm second half to top that this year.

Rainfall totals June 1st to 0900 16th:

Mona 15.8mm (dry)

CC 54.4mm (rather dry)

Trawsgoed 50.2mm (rather wet)

Aberporth c 31mm (average)

Llanwnnen 41.0mm (average)

Pembrey Sands c 27mm (rather dry)

MH 20.2mm (dry)

Nottingham c 46mm (wet)

Coleshill 24.6mm (average)

Coventry 21.8mm (rather dry)

CL 10.0mm (very dry)

Pershore c 13mm (very dry)

Hereford c 18mm (rather dry)

Sun 16th end of the prolonged cool spell (below 17c since 3rd) max 17.7c here today.

Wed 19th first day of June to top 20c with max 20.6c here today, last 20c back on May 21st (max 20.4c).

Thu 20th widely warm sunny periods, Maxima Hereford & Llanwnnen 23.8c, Pershore 23.1c, CITE 23.0c, Coleshill & Nottingham 22.1c, Trawsgoed 20.8c, Aberporth 18.0c.

Fri 21st still warm and sunny most of Mids, cloudy, cooler some rain WW, maxima Wellesbourne 22.9c, Lwn 16.8c in contrast.

Widely warm/ very warm towards month end:

Sun 23rd warm or very warm Mids with sunny periods, WW rather cloudy near average/ rather warm: maxima CITE 25.6c, Hereford 25.4c, Coventry 25.3c, Nottingham 24.8c, Shawbury 24.0c, Lwn 19.7c, Trawsgoed 19.3c, Aberporth 17.4c.

Mon 24th still rather cloudy mid & SW Wales, sunny spells elsewhere, warm or very warm Mids, rather warm WW, maxima Nottingham & Wellesbourne 26.0c, Coventry 25.5c, Shobdon 22.6c, Trawsgoed 21.9c, Lwn  21.4c, Aberporth 17.3c.

Tue 25th warm night parts of Mids, minima Nottingham 15.5c, Coventry 15.1c, MH 14.4c, Shobdon & Trawsgoed 10.9c, Lwn 10.2c. By day sunny and hot much of Mids and SE Wales, WW merely warm as cloud eventually cleared pm; maxima Pershore College 29.0c, CITE & CL 28.5c, Hereford 28.4c, Nottingham 26.8c, Shawbury 25.7c,Tirabad 24.5c, Lwn 22.4c, Pembrey Sands 21.7c, Aberporth though just 16.3c; Usk max 27.7c warmest in Wales.

Wed 26th widely very warm/ hot: Astwood Bank (Worc) 29.0c, Hereford & Pershore 28.7c, Coventry 27.8c, CITE 27.5c, Llanwnnen 27.3c, Trawsgoed 26.6c, Nottingham 26.4c, Aberporth 22.0c (in spite of occasional sea mist), Aberdaron 19.9c; Cardiff Bute Park max 27.8c hottest spot in Wales.

Thu 27th much cooler though still rather warm Mids: maxima Wellesbourne 22.7c, Coventry 21.4c, Nottingham 20.6c, Lwn 18.0c, MH & Pembrey Sands 178.2c, CC 14.7c. Aberporth sunniest in UK today with 13 hours cf just 3.5 hours (estimated) here inland.

Sun 30th cool/ very cool to end June, maxima CC 14.1c, Aberporth & Trawsgoed 14.4c, Lwn 14.5c, Shawbury 14.7c, Market Bosworth 15.1c, Pembrey Sands 15.9c, CL & Coventry 16.4c, Pershore 18.8c.

Nature notes

Sat 1st dozen or so screaming Swift around dusk, plenty of House Martin & Swallow too. Willow Warbler singing in the churchyard which is unusual as tend to be down by the river.

Tue 4th 4 mile evening walk from the forestry around Mynydd Pencarreg: a cool early Summer evening with little bird song, Laburnums at peak bloom, still some Hawthorn with full blossom and still a few Bluebells out up here; half dozen Willow Warbler singing, Redstart heard, Skylark; at the end of the walk a Grasshopper warbler in the usual field as it was getting dark past 2200. temperature 6c at 2215.

Sun 9th first Swift egg shell on the ground, hall east end front window.

Mid month: Bird song has been much more subdued than in a typical June could be the cool breezy weather, Chiffchaff still going well though end of garden! Grass growth seems to have slowed thankfully. Quite a few dead or near dead Ash trees around now (would estimate 10-20% completely dead or soon to be dead), such a shame, the ones that are close to death (like one in our garden) are only able to put out small leaves while the healthy ones a few yards away full of lush branches with big leaves. Very few insects, bees or butterflies about (there were more in May which was warmer).

Wed 19th Newquay: Swifts blocked by scaffolding Pier old warehouse building. I saw Swifts in the vicinity 1800 so went to look and they were trying to access nest holes on the harbour side near the corner. A man behind me was filming them as he too was aware of this problem. We saw one successful entry but this took them maybe half dozen attempts and so they are at risk of colliding with the poles and the chicks may not be getting fed. The man said the scaffolding went up the other day and he had contacted the scaffolding company, the owners (council) and also the BTO. He said the scaffolders were due to come tomorrow, so I advised that they should remove the cross rails and kick board at minimum and preferably the platform boards too. He works on the 'Wildlife Tour' boat trip and had to go to this now. I then notice someone had stuck a note to the pole with a diagram drawn stating that the 'Swifts cannot perch or hop into their nest and need 4 metres clearance to fly in'. I decided to phone the scaffolders too, the man said they would come tomorrow but was concerned if the work could be carried out (leaky roof) with rails removed. I said that several people were aware of this issue and that the only people not yet contacted were the police as they were likely to be committing an offence. Will monitor tomorrow on the webcam to see if they address this and the man said he will look out for the scaffolders

Also Newquay fewer House Martin nests than last year when half dozen on one house in Marine Terrace alone, this year so far just the 2 on that house with maybe half dozen more scattered about the parts of the town we covered. Briefly sited a couple of Dolphins 1800 too. Several Chiffchaff singing.

Thu 20th Newquay update been checking the Newquay Dolphin webcam than pans around most hours to the building and to my surprise the scaffolding which had been up still to 1100 had all gone by 1300! Thanked the scaffolding company.

Fri 21st 2 egg shells on the ground near the far corner west side of church hall.

Sun 23rd attended a 'Nature Trail' event organised by the Church which was nice if flower orientated, the secretary of the Church is a keen birdwatcher, I enquired as to the fate of the hall which is no longer in use (used to be for Youth Club and as a Polling Station) he said it will be put up for sale 'but don't worry the Church moves very slowly'.

Mon 24th evening Llanybydder several Swift over the car park seen to enter the former warehouse; Rhydybont chapel 3 or 4 Swift 2 of which seen to enter nest holes simultaneously (one in the NW corner and one a few metres along and both into small holes little more than an inch into the slanting wooden soffit boards.

Forestry dusk: had a walk from the main gate, several CC, WW, ST and BB singing. After sunset awaited a Nightjar by the usual place (slope on NW edge) and felt dubious as to whether they would still be nesting here as the conifer regrowth is now thick at over 10 years. Just past 2200 distant churring so walked back along track towards it some 300 metres. Stopped and listened for 5 minutes it was within 100m calling from a tree besides the track. It then alighted across the ride. Returned to the usual area but nothing so I guess they may now be using one of the extensive areas cleared of larch in 2020? Last of the Laburnums fading to seed.

Wed 26th a garden first Crossbills flew overhead (heard not seen).

Wed 26th Newquay: plenty of House Martin ever present through the 5 hours we were there, young fledglings practicing their flights. Chiffchaff singing loud and purposeful near the Sea Food factory. On the cliff top a few Chough, Whitethroat, also Kittiwakes around Bird Rock below. Half dozen distant Dolphin. Several swift briefly about then towards dusk around a dozen over the town, hoped to see activity over the Pier building but none, they were mostly above the town, saw one enter a gable end in Park St (viewed from adjacent car park) entered a gap between the chimney breast and roof.

Fri 28th southern forestry vicinity (circumnavigation of cleared scrubby area adjacent south side): Reed Buntings calling, also Linnets; lane back and Meadow Pipits and a Skylark (could not see it), then towards Caermalwas family of Swallows swooping over the fields with their young which are rather buff. 2 orchids further back along this wild lane.

Dusk Family of House Martin feeding above the gardens. Many Hirundine young airborne this past week.

Sun 30th squashed dead bird middle of the road near end of hall, think a Swift but not certain as poor condition. Only the second such road fatality noticed in 10 years, other fatalities in that time a dead bird on pavement opposite hotel, while over 15 years ago adult got stuck entering a nest hole perished, additionally perhaps half dozen chicks fallen to ground, so not so bad overall. One Swift made entry whooshing close to my head in to hole towards centre of hall. Dozen or so Swallows inc recently fledged chick over village some seen entering church tower where there are nests and have been in the past. No bird song at all dusk.

Month end: Bird song really dropped off second half of the month, disappointing as it usually quite good even into July. Chiffchaff at end of garden still going quite well although not as continuously as much of April & May! Not heard a single Grasshopper so far this Summer, usually very active on sunny days. Most insects notable by their absence this Summer so far.

 

June 2024 summary

Cool WW, rather cool Midlands; very dry to average rainfall; sunshine around average

First half very cool, last third warm: here at Llanwnnen the coolest June srb 2006 (beating 13.1c mean in June 2008). Nearer average parts of Mids. 

Most places a dry month, much of the Midlands and SW Wales less than half the average; Church Lawford had a very dry June. Just a few spots up to average .

Many places June sunshine around (within 15%) of average.

Rainfall totals June 2024

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 69.4mm (dry)

Mona, Anglesey 30.8mm (dry)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 57.0mm (rather dry)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 40mm (rather dry)

Llanwnnen 46.0mm (56%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 35.8mm (dry)

Milford Haven, Pembs 28.0mm (very dry)

Nottingham (Watnall) 47.0mm (rather dry)

Shawbury, Salop c 47mm (near average)

Coleshill c 25mm (very dry)

Coventry, Bablake School 23.0mm (39%)

CL, Warks 11.8mm (21%)

Pershore, Worc 13.2mm (very dry)

Shobdon (Herefordshire)  31.0mm (dry)

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 14.6mm 

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges June 2024

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 22.8mm (very dry)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 58.2mm (dry)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 123.2mm (dry)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 29.0mm (dry)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 90.8mm (rather dry)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 44.6mm (dry)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 60.2mm (rather dry)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 54.2mm (dry)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 51.8mm (dry)

Pencader (Carms) 50.0mm (dry)

Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 48.8mm (very dry)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 55.8mm (very dry)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 35.6mm (very dry)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 36.2mm (very dry)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) 31.2mm (very dry)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 67.6mm (dry)

Tenby (Pembs) 30.2mm (very dry)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 27.8mm (very dry)

COL stations rainfall June 2024

Llansadwrn 48.9mm (66%)

Ludlow, Salop 32.7mm (48%)

Alvechurch, Worc 31.1mm (44%)

Warstock, Brum 26.8mm (37%)

Cosby, Leic 24.7mm (38%)

Hinckley 20.4mm

Towcester, Northants 28.2mm (49%)

Sunshine totals June 2024

Aberdaron  225 hours (average)

Aberporth 183.4 hrs (near average)

Llanwnnen estimated  149 hours (92%)

Nottingham 161.5 hrs (average)

Shawbury 160.6 hrs (near average)

Coventry, Bablake School 207 hours (108%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 169.3 hrs (average)

COL stations sun

Ludlow 146.9 hours

Alvechurch 147.5 hrs

Cosby 204.0 hrs

Towcester 226.3 hrs 

Weather log May 2024

Weather log May 2024

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

Cov = Coventry

Nott = Nottingham

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

Mids = Midlands

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

srb = since records began

wrt = with respect to

Unsettled start to May, cool for WW but some warmth parts of Mids:

Thu 2nd slow moving warm front advecting warm air across central UK with WW on the cool side of it. The warm air aloft brought rain and thunderstorms in places (especially parts of WW and S Mids; here at Lwn a dull, misty, damp day, and so rather strange for a Summer- type storm to pass close by to the north amidst the murk, with some loud thunder cracks around 1.20pm as the line of thundery showers tracked just east and north of Lampeter and onto Newquay on the coast, giving 20mm according to the radar in just one hour near Llanarth. Just bits of drizzle here at Lwn, no lightning seen (closest sferics 4 miles north near Temple Bar). Very cool with all the cloud and damp for SW Wales, in contrast warm sunny intervals for far N of Wales and N Mids: maxima Scolton Country Park 9.8c (about 6c below the early May norm), MH 10.3c,  Lwn 11.6c, ROW 13.1c, Trawsgoed 13.2c,  Pershore & Shobdon 14.4c, Coventry 17.7c, Mona 18.5c, CITE 20.8c. Hawarden in Flintshire (NE Wales) had a very warm 22.8c today (about 6c above average).

Sun 5th near 20c parts of Mids and N Wales today with sunny spells (Aberdaron 13.3 hours was sunny), contrasting a front slowly edging north made it a rather cool and damp day S Wales. Maxima Porthmadog 19.8c, Newport (Salop) 19.7c, Coleshill & Coventry 19.4c, Trawsgoed 18.1c, Lwn 17.7c (max before noon before cloud), Shobdon 17.2c, MH 12.6c.

Mon 6th Rather a warm Bank Holiday Mids, showers and thunderstorms in places, Astwood Bank (Worc) caught 14.8mm under these. CITE max 21.2c warmest spot in the UK.

Tue 7th generally rather warm with sunny spells, heavy showers over some Welsh hills; however cool and misty parts of Cardigan Bay; contrast stark between inland Llanwnnen (max 21.6c) and coastal Aberporth (max 12.2c) just 20 miles west. Other maxima ROW 22.1c (warmest in UK), Usk in SE Wales also 21.6c was warmest in Wales today; Shobdon 20.1c, Trawsgoed 18.1c, CL 17.0c.

Wed 8th a cloudier and cooler day WW but warm sunny spells Mids (Coventry 9 hours); maxima Wellesbourne (Warks) 22.1c warmest spot in UK, Coventry 22.0c, CITE 21.7c, CL 20.9c, Shawbury 20.7c, Lwn 19.2c, Trawsgoed 16.8c, Mumbles 13.7c, Aberdaron 13.1c.

Thu 9th warm sunny periods more widely, Pershore max 24.0c, Cov 23.5c, Nott 22.5c, CL 22.3c, Lwn 22.1c, Shawbury 20.7c, Mumbles 20.4c, Trawsgoed 19.6c, Valley 15.2c.

Fri 10th widely very warm for May,  Llanwnnen 26.2c in our rather sheltered garden; officially though ROW 24.5c (warmest in UK), Cardiff Bute Park, Coleshill, Hereford & Nott all 24.1c, Trawsgoed 24.0c, CL 22.9c, Mumbles 20.5c, Pembrey Sands 20.0c.

Overnight remarkable Aurora display, however nothing like the iPhone photos as viewed with the naked eye here! Nonetheless spectacular shimmering curtains and pillars of diffuse light much of the sky 2300 to 0100 observed with large bright bluish sky to north. 

Sat 11th another warm/ very warm day with sunny periods: Llanwnnen 25.9c, Gogerddan (near Aberystwyth 25.1c, Trawsgoed 24.2c, ROW 23.6c, Pershore 23.5c, Aberporth 23.0c, Nott 22.8c, CL 21.6c, MH 19.6c.

Sun 12th warm or very warm again, thunderstorms affected central and E Wales and the W Mids pm, thought I heard a distant rumble here at 1400, checked and nearest sferics 15- 20 miles east with towering Cumulonimbus visible. Maxima Pershore 26.2c, CITE 26.0c, Coventry 25.6c, Lwn 24.4c, Shobdon & Trawsgoed 24.1c, Mumbles 17.7c. Cooled off across WW later.

Wed 15th plenty of bright and rather warm weather around, scattering of showers and local thunder; Rugby caught a little storm mid evening with torrential rain (Bilton PWS 9mm in half hour), it then tracked between Bedworth & Nuneaton with thunder and lightning observed from Coventry although most of the city missed the rain.

First half of May warm with variable rainfall with parts of Mids and N Wales very dry but parts of S Wales wet; rather dull to average sunshine-wise.

Rain totals May 1st - 0900 16th:

CC 39.0mm (dry)

Trawsgoed c 28mm (rather dry)

Aberporth c 28mm (near average)

Llanwnnen 26.6mm (dry)

Milford Haven 43.2mm (rather wet)

Mumbles 56.4mm (very wet)

Nottingham c 15mm (very dry)

Coleshill c 13mm (very dry)

Coventry 10.4mm (very dry)

Church Lawford 17.6mm (dry)

Pershore 33.2mm (rather wet)

Shobdon (Herefordshire) 25.8mm (average)

Thu 16th showers or longer spells of rain for N Mids in particular, thunderstorms affected Snowdonia & areas close to S Wales coast afternoon. Almost an inch in places. PWS (Davis) near Pembroke Dock 40mm in under 2 hours.

Fri 17th warm sunny intervals and a few showers; maxima CITE 22.2c, ROW 22.1c, Pershore 21.9c, Nottingham 21.7c, Lwn 21.4c, Coventry 20.7c, Pembrey Sands 19.7c, Aberporth 15.6c.

Sat 18th another warm day, thundery showers affected parts of W Mids, mid & S Wales, very locally 1 to 2 inches. most of Pembrokeshire stayed dry. Heard a rumble from Carmarthen early evening. Max temps ROW 22.6c, Shobdon 22.1c, CITE 21.8c, Pembrey Sands 21.0c, CL & Lwn 19.5c, Aberporth 13.4c cool and misty however.

Sun 19th turning into a decent warm spell now, sunny widely, maxima widely above 20c...Pembrey Sands 24.1c, ROW 23.2c, CITE 22.7c, Lwn 21.9c, Coventry 21.5c, CL 21.1c, while at a misty Aberporth just 13.7c.

Mon 20th warm for Wales cooler Mids, maxima Lwn 23.3c, Gogerddan 22.6c, Trawsgoed 21.8c, ROW 20.3c, CITE & Mona 19.3c, Pembrey Sands 18.5c, Shawbury 17.3c, Nottingham 16.7c.

Tue 21st rather warm West Wales, thundery showers mostly affected the Cambrians, Snowdonia and the Swansea area, just isolated ones further west, a few sferics near Carmarthen (people in Carmarthen would have been able to hear hear thunder for 3 out of the past 4 days now); 1 to 2 inches locally according to the radar. Midlands mostly dry, sunny intervals with around average temperatures.

Wed 22nd a low pressure reached the UK from the east bringing a very wet day for the Midlands and N Wales, a little rain only for SW Wales; 24 hour totals to 0900 - Coleshill (MO) 55mm with EA gauges as follows: Birmingham Airport 51.1mm, Warwick Racecourse 38.3mm, Corley 34.4mm, Bablake, Coventry 23.6mm. Further rain through the afternoon Midlands with Coleshill up to about 60mm by 1800GMT. Most of the Mids over an inch today, over 2 inches also for parts of N Wales. All this rain putting a different slant on what was looking like a rather dry month for a change. Wellesbourne (Warks) 63.8mm (2100) officially wettest spot in the Mids today, with CITE 39mm wettest in the E Mids. Radar suggested accumulations above 100mm close to the N Wales coast in the Llanfairfechan/ Penmaenmawr area however local PWS only 30 - 40mm.

Sun 26th showery, hail and thunder in places, here at Lwn rather loud rumble 1410 from a cell 5 miles SE, then a few hours later a couple of more distant rumbles again SSE (note none of these evidenced by sferics).

Nature notes:

Fri 3rd first Swift observed from garden just briefly this dull damp afternoon.

Sun 5th single Swift again briefly morning then flew overhead with more leisure and lower down.

Early May: Holly flowering  with still with hundreds of red berries from last Autumn, a Blackbird was feeding off them a few days ago when it was very cool. Also Ash starting to flower and Apples blossoming. Hoverflies during calm sunny spells.

Mon 6th pair of screaming Swift towards the church. House Sparrows fledging from their nest within the insulation edge east side of house.

Tue 7th A Swift seen above Lampeter Hight St while driving.

I have had slight hay fever already = the earliest in my life.

Tue 7th Tregaron Bog: nice day, first Cuckoo heard as soon as got out the car then calling most of the next hour or so, quite close at first but then more distant towards the river (did not see it). Other: plenty of Willow Warbler singing along with quite a few Chiffchaff, some Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler. A couple of mysterious bird off the boardwalk heading back, unassuming short song bursts to each other, warbler like but they were hidden away in the grass or shrubs. They were where the Reed Buntings usually to be found (which are easily identified and visible but none this afternoon), also a Heron.

Driving back through Llanddewi Brefi just past the school a pair of Swifts one of which seen to enter a gable end hole on one of the two large houses on the right. As usual a great May Bluebell showing along the back lanes from Tregaron to Lampeter.

Sat 11th Aberystwyth: GSW drumming Arts Centre really loudly. Swift heard screaming from Buarth area not seen, suspect they nest in some of the buildings which are quite old. Laburnums flowering already Llanbadarn Road.

Around 20 House Martin above using the modern flats opposite the Welsh Government buildings. Had a look and they are actively nest building also evidence of former nests in the apexes totalling at least a dozen in the colony?

Sun 12th Heard a Cuckoo call briefly this afternoon which was a shock as never heard within 4 miles of Llanwnnen! Did not hear again and so either rapidly passed through or somebody was mimicking one or playing a call? Mystery.

Horse Chestnuts out in Lampeter by the schools.

Tue 14th southern forestry: Willow Warblers singing, Wood Warblers, Tree Pipits, a few Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Whitethroat (heard). The area felled recently has log piles the tree rings of which are over 80 years (thus dating from the original 1930s forestry?). Found even older ones on a large stump close on 100 years old!

80 year old log

Rhydybont chapel 2 Swift screaming as driving back.

Aberduar chapel 3 Swift observed there 10 minutes.

Station, Llanybydder 1 or 2 Swift only there 5 minutes.

Mid month garden Bluebells going over, countryside ones at peak. May blossom, Ash leafing,  Oak and Sycamore fully in leaf. 

Local laburnums in bloom.

Sat 18th Carmarthen: 3 Swift town centre late afternoon then a couple over Morrisons. 3 or 4 Chiffchaff singing from scrubland adjacent Morrisons.

Driving back Llanybydder 8pm about 10 Swift above and adjacent the car park, one seen going up to a hole in the old warehouse/ mill. 

Hay fever quite bad today, never used to get it until June.

Sun 19th Forestry a nice warm evening: 2 or 3 Cuckoos: one calling quite persistently from across the road into the 'southern forestry' then a non calling bird (female?) alighted on a tree just 40m ahead of the main upper track we scared what with Dexter having a go off the lead and it flew past even closer mobbed by a small bird. Then another was calling just beyond NE corner of forestry and so birds heard a mile apart means either the same bird covering it's territory or possibly 2 different males (not heard simultaneously however suggest the one). Other birds: dozen WW, a Wood Warbler, half dozen Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Tree Pipit I think? Half dozen Newts in the deeper semi- permanent 'puddle along the southern ride back to main road, unlikely to be able to stay there as it always dries out in Summer for weeks at least. Small bird feeding a chick I think were Goldcrests? Laburnums just starting to flower up here which is the earliest seen.

Llanybydder driving back: 

3 screaming Swifts above the hall between the 2 chapels (don't think they nest in it) it was mentioned on Facebook that this hall has funding for renovations so I suggested Swift provision but the lady said 'only enough for the renovations'.

Aberduar chapel: half dozen or so screaming Swifts.

Old station: 3 screaming, one made entry to one of the small holes 3 feet below the roof line (nest height no more than 3 metres is low).

Old mill/dairy/ warehouse also known on the NMR as 'Felin Isaf Milk Cooling Centre' or the former 'Felin Isaf Woollen Mill'; 10 or so again in the car park vicinity.

Mon 20th Longwood another fine warm day: Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler around 20 singing birds of each just a couple actually seen (no binoculars), saw a couple of female Pied Flycatcher each at different nest boxes; also heard Garden Warbler and Blackcap half dozen (a couple seen), a few Wood Warbler heard, 3 or 4 Tree Pipit seen parachuting, also plenty of Blackbird and Song Thrush in song. Elder now in flower.

Wed 22nd  Lampeter 4 Swift above Bridge St teatime. 5 House Martin nests completed Harford Square, there have been nests under the sloping eaves at this location for at least 3 decades, and so some tolerant householders (nests spread across the front of 3 neighbouring properties). Not spotting many Martin nests elsewhere in the town though and much fewer Swallow nests around the Uni than usual when locate usually a dozen or so.

Fri 24th Aberaeron: 5 House Martin nests, most by the harbour. Several House Martin and a Swift by the harbour then half dozen HM above the Craft Centre early evening; plenty of Foxgloves out (but first ones I have seen, i.e. none seen inland as yet).

Sat 25th Chiffchaff from trees by the end of the garden has been at it virtually non- stop the whole of April & May! I wonder if this is one of a pair does it help with the feeding or perhaps a single bird trying in vain to get a mate? Foxgloves out in the village especially the churchyard; there are now some completely dead ash trees with no leaves in and around the village, also quite a few close to death with just a few leaves showing.

Mon 27th Forestry (south side): Laburnums magnificent up the lane past Caermalwas Fach. This house and its land were bought by Carmarthenshire Wildlife Trust a few years back purportedly so they could farm the land sustainably for wildlife, etc, house up for sale a month ago now sold but not the land as far as I can tell, they were trying to get funding to make the house fit for a tenant farmer. The Laburnums at this point overhang the dilapidated outbuildings and interleaf the large Sycamore and Horse Chestnut of the yard, one tree fallen over but supported by a barn roof continues to add to the remarkable display. I am guessing the trees will be cut down what with the new owners. Other obs: Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Meadow or Tree Pipits (I am never sure which). Bubbling Cuckoo alighted at the top of a nearby tree presumed a female but later down the track faintly heard the more familiar call. Hawthorn only just coming out up the lane, Rowan in flower.

Fri 31st driving a small bird went on the edge of the road towards Llanrhystud just ahead thought it was a Sparrow it only just got out of the way in time as I slowed and most surprised that it was a Redstart!

Aberystwyth: Dozen or so House Martin over the river and their colony nearby (at least a dozen nests); 5 Swift over the river by Morrison evening. Met a lady in the café who lives in Aberystwyth and has Swift boxes up currently unoccupied.

Month end: Ash mostly in full leaf- disease permitting. Bluebells almost all over excepting still some showing in well shaded areas.

May 2024 summary

Warm WW and very warm Midlands; variable rain; dull to average sun.

CET was the second warmest May (only 1833 warmer). Coventry had its warmest May on record (back to 1892). Here at Lwn warmest May since 2008. This was down to the very mild nights rather than especially warm days (although Lwn did record 26c mid month). Not perceived as a good May however what with the cloud and damp. 

No air frosts for the third successive May (record such run) although we are not out of the woods even in June (3 occurrences in the past 18 years).

Eleventh month on the trot that the EWP (England & Wales Precipitation) mean above average, here at Lwn however rainfall was below average and the first sub 100mm month since last July.

Rainfall totals May 2024

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 166.2mm (average)

Mona, Anglesey 71.4mm (near average)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 72.0mm (average)

Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 35mm (dry)

Llanwnnen 59.8mm (76%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 56.2mm (rather dry)

Milford Haven, Pembs 68.4mm (average)

Mumbles, near Swansea 87.6mm (wet)

Nottingham 88.2mm (very wet)

Shawbury, Salop c 90mm (very wet)

Coleshill 103.6mm (twice average)

Coventry, Bablake School 69.8mm (125%)

CL, Warks 70.0mm (123%)

Pershore, Worc 76.6mm (wet)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 62.8mm (average)

King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 64.4mm

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges 

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 68.6mm (average)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 129.4mm (average)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 213.6mm (wet)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 50.6mm (average)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 134.6mm (average)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 72.4mm (average)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 89.0mm (average)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 86.4mm (average)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 61.2mm (rather dry)

Pencader (Carms) 65.2mm (dry)

Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 88.0mm (average)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 86.4mm (average)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 65.6mm (rather dry)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 84.0mm (average)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) 45.0mm (dry)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 86.8mm (average)

Tenby (Pembs) 76.4mm (wet)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 66.0mm (average)

Note additional local variation in the Cambrians inland from Aberystwyth with Cwm Rheidol 61.0mm while just 5 miles SE Pwll Peiran 164.6mm no doubt due to local thunderstorms.

COL stations rainfall May 2024

Llansadwrn 87.6mm (129%)

Ludlow, Salop 79.8mm (125%)

Alvechurch, Worc 85.7mm (130%)

Warstock, Brum 98mm (153%)

Cosby, Leic 86.5mm (150%)

Towcester, Northants 70.1mm (116%)

Sunshine totals May 2024

Llanwnnen estimated 129 hours (71%)

Nottingham 126 hrs (dull)

Shawbury 156 hrs (rather dull)

Coventry, Bablake School 160.5 hrs (84%)

COL stations sun

Ludlow 148 hours

Alvechurch 117.6 hrs

Cosby 165 hrs

Towcester 155.1 hrs

Spring 2024 summary

Dull and wet/ very wet but warm

Dullest & wettest Spring here at Llanwnnen.

Warmest Spring since 2011 at Llanwnnen (10.1c) due to very mild nights (+1.8c wrt 2006-24) with days nearer average.

Coventry had its equal warmest Spring (10.8C) since before 1892 (equal with 2011).

Coventry the dullest spring (395.6hr) since 1991 (347.2hr).

Rainfall totals Spring 2024

Capel Curig 716.4mm (very wet)

Trawsgoed c 289mm (rather wet)

Aberporth c 245mm (wet)

Llanwnnen 388.7mm (154%)

Pembrey Sands c 307mm (wet)

Mumbles c 319mm (very wet)

Nottingham 246.8mm (very wet)

Coleshill 268.6mm (very wet)

Coventry, Bablake School 246.6mm (159%)

CL 225.0mm (145%)

Pershore 233.2mm (very wet)

Shobdon 270.4mm (very wet)

Kings Newnham, near Rugby (EA) 226.2mm