Weather log November 2021

Weather log November 2021

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Mids = Midlands

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Rather cool early in the month with the first fairly widespread  (though slight) frosts of the Season:

Wed 3rd & Thu 4th saw persistant streams of showers to parts of north & WW giving well over an inch in places...(Aberdaron 27.6mm to 2100 3rd being wettest place in the UK).

Thu 4th minima Lwn -2.6c, Tirabad -1.3c, Shobdon +0.5c, CL 2.2c, Coventry 4.3c, Nottingham 5.1c, MH 6.1c..

Fri 5th minima Pershore -2.8c, CL -1.8c, Pembrey Sands -0.8c, Coventry +0.7c, CC 5.3c, MH 7.6c.

A very dry first half to November for the Midlands in particular, just a few parts of WW up to average; WW dull with Midlands nearer average for sunshine so far; all areas have had a mild or very mild month to date:

November rainfall totals to 0900 16th:

Valley 26.4mm

Aberdaron 61.4mm

Trawsgoed 30.4mm

Llanwnnen 27.4mm

MH 48.4mm

Nott 3.6mm

Coventry 5.8mm

CL 7.6mm

Hereford 3.6mm

Pershore 8.2mm

Mild weather ended 20th as rather cold northerlies arrived, max widespread sub 10c for the first time since the first week of the month (late Nov average is 9 or 10c): 

Mon 22nd a fairly widespread frost, mid Wales seeing some of the lowest temperatures in the UK, minima Llanwnnen -4.5c, Trawsgoed -4.1c, Pershore -2.0c, Pembrey Sands -1.4c, Coventry +1.6c, Hereford 2.9c, Mumbles 4.5c. Nice sunny day (as yesterday) for much of WW, est 8 hours sunshine here at Lwn the equal sunniest November day estimated here (unbroken and bright); maxima average or somewhat below, Porthmadog 11.3c highest in the UK, Trawsgoed 10.2c, Astwood Bank 9.8c, Pershore 9.2c, Coleshill 8.0c, Lwn 7.5c, Tirabad 6.7c.

Tue 23rd another widespread frost, quite sharp in places, minima Llanwnnen -4.8c, Shobdon & Trawsgoed -3.0c, CL -0.1c, Coventry 2.3c, Mumbles 4.1c.

Fri 26th /Sat 27th Storm Arwen over the northern North Sea brought (unusual) northerly gales which were disruptive and felled trees. Winds overnight gusted to 81mph at Aberporth, 58mph at Llanwnnen and 43mph at Coventry in the more sheltered Midlands. A fallen tree blocked the road into Lampeter from Llanwnnen for a time in the morning causing holdups. Snow affected much of the Midlands 27th morning with reports of up to a foot deep in the Matlock area of the Peak District and 10cm in the Black Country; Coventry and Warwickshire had a thin temporary covering, while it was only hilly areas of Wales that saw a covering; a cold windy day maxima Market Bosworth & Tirabad 3.5c, Coleshill 3.6c, Llanwnnen 5.2c, Shobdon 5.4c, MH 6.8c, Scolton Park (Pembs) 6.9c.

Sun 28th snowfall Midlands afternoon with Coventry getting 2 or 3 inches and a slight covering over many parts of the Midlands away from the Marches, maxima widely below 4c Midlands.

Mon 29th hard frost in places, minima Sutton Bonington (Notts) -7.0c, Coleshill -5.9c, Tirabad -5.5c, Lwn -4.9c, Coventry -3.3c, Hereford -1.7c, MH 2.0c.

Tue 30th a mild, cloudy and for WW drizzly final day to Autumn.

Nature notes

Still the odd Raspberry; a few Orange Hawkweeds going and other flowers to past mid month.

Plenty of flowering and fresh growth (inc grass which is now too wet to cut!) mid month still. A spectacular display of Autumn colours this year. Plenty of insects feeding on the Ivy flowers.

15th - 20th last of the mild weather encouraged song from Wrens, Song Thrush and a Blackbird. Tortoishell butterfly chancing on coming into the house but then trying to escape, I put it in the cool utility room where it stands a better chance of hibernating the winter (most of them tend to die however).

Tue 23rd Lampeter, in spite of sharp frosts of late various flowers still ongoing, one Cherry tree blooming in the shelter of the Old Building near the Magnolia that had swollen buds (this has happened before in mild Novembers only for subsequent frosts to kill them off during Winter). Also the hedgerow along the steep road adjacent The Bryn having many shrubs with fresh leafing inc Hawthorn and Bramble.

A Hoopoe visited Ceredigion this month near Tregaron and also a Swallow was spotted (other peoples obs).

November 2021 summary

Dry/very dry and rather mild; sun varying from quite dull to quite sunny

Rainfall under a quarter of the average parts of the Midlands.

November rainfall totals

Valley 52.0mm (50%)

Aberdaron c 91mm

Trawsgoed c 74mm

Aberporth 48.2mm (45%)

Llanwnnen 66.7mm (45%)

MH c 78mm

Watnall, Notts c 19mm

Shawbury 22.6mm (37%)

Coventry, Bablake School 20.4mm (32%)

CL 25.4mm (42%)

Pershore, Worc 27.0mm (48%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 17.8mm (23%)

Hereford 10.8mm (17%)

COL rainfall totals:

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 100.2mm (75%)

Ludlow, Salop 23.0mm (30%)

Cosby, Leic 24.2mm (38%)

Hinckley 22.8mm

Warstock, Brum 30.7mm (39%)

Alvechurch 37.4mm (44%)

Towcester, Northants 22.7mm (31%)

PWS rainfall:

Pitsford School, Northants 26.5mm (44%)

Daventry 27.4mm

Sunshine Nov 2021

Valley 50.0 hrs (99%)

Aberporth 35.9 hrs (seems too low again)

Llanwnnen estimated 52 hours (99%)

Shawbury, Salop 50.5 hrs (89%)

Coventry 58.9 hrs (90%)

Shobdon, Hererforshire 72.3 hours

COL sunshine:

Ludlow 80.5 hrs

Cosby 63.9 hours

Alvechurch, Worc 54.7 hrs

Towcester 82.4 hrs

PWS sun:

Pitsford School 66.3 hrs (121%)

Autumn 2021 summary

Mild or very mild; rainfall generally around average, a few places rather wet; sunshine average to rather dull. Many places had the mildest Autumn for 10 years.

Autumn 2021 rainfall totals

Aberdaron c 403mm

Aberporth 315.8mm 

Llanwnnen 399.7mm (98%)

Watnall, Notts c 150mm

Coventry, Bablake School 215.2mm (113%)

Church Lawford, Warks 187.2mm (98%)

Autumn 2021 sunshine:

Valley, Anglesey 251.1 hours

Llanwnnen (estimated from webcam) 212 hrs (79%)

Coventry 301.0 hrs (99%)

Weather log October 2021

Weather log October 2021

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Mids = Midlands

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Unsettled start to the month:

Sat 2nd cloudy with spells of rain and cool; MH wettest in UK 39.2mm to 2100; other totals to midnight: Trawsgoed 26mm, Lwn 20mm, Coleshill 13mm, Valley 12.8mm, Pershore 5.2mm; maxima CC 11.8c, Nottingham 12.1c, Lwn 12.6c, Coventry 13.0c, Pershore 13.7c, Mumbles 14.7c.

Sun 3rd local grass frosts Wales & Marches, air min Llanwnnen +0.9c (first grass frost of the Autumn), Shobdon 1.8c, Tirabad 3.2c, CL 8.0c, Valley 10.2c.

Tue 5th heavy overnight for many places, over an inch quite widely; at Coventry 29.2mm total 24 hours to 0900, most of which fell between 2200 and 0200 BST with a PWS at Whoberley in the city recorded 37mm;  other rainfall totals to 0600: Pembrey Sands 37.4mm, Llanwnnen 29.1mm, Nottingham 25.0mm, CL 19.4mm, Shobdon 14.4mm, Aberporth 9.4mm..(and Market Bosworth 40.8mm, wettest place in the Midlands). Llanwnnen overhead thunderstorm briefly at dusk.

Rather warm, humid air for a time into second week however much cloud but often dry.

Mon 11th or Tue 12th Swyddfynnon min 1.6c coldest in UK; local grass frosts, also min Lwn 3.4c.

Tue 19th tropical air gave a very mild/ warm night, did not fall below 15c in places (what it should be in the daytime now); overnight minima Pershore 16.1c, CL & Coleshill  15.4c, Lwn 14.2c, CC 13.4c, Hereford 11.3c; very mild/ warm by day too, although it was mostly cloudy with rain or drizzle at times, especially WW pm..maxima Shawbury 19.3c, Coventry 18.0c, Market Bosworth 17.8c, Trawsgoed 17.7c, Lwn 16.7c (at 7am), Aberdaron 15.8c.

Wed 20th showery, hail and thunder in places, thunder, hail and lightning Coventry midday (Coventry 24mm wettest place in the Midlands 24 hours to 2100).

Thu 21st coolest day since May here at Llanwnnen max 10.5c; showers affected parts of WW, much of Midlands dry and bright if rather cool, other max CC 10.5c, Nottingham 11.0c, CL & Trawsgoed 11.9c, Pembrey 13.0c,  Pershore 14.1c.

Very mild towards month end but unsettled and sometimes windy:

Wed 27th very mild night, minima widely above what the average maxima are for late October (12 to 14c); max Pembrey Sands 14.9c, Aberdaron 14.5c, Shawbury 14.4c, Nottingham 13.5c, Capel Curig & Llanwnnen 13.3c. By day much cloud and wind but up to 17c in places, maxima Shawbury 17.1c, Trawsgoed 16.9c, Coleshill 15.7c, Lwn 15.1c, CC 14.4c.

Fri 29th much rain past couple of days, particularly Wales & Marches..locally 3 inches...Valley wettest in Wales with 54.8mm for 28th, Shobdon wettest in Midlands 17.8mm same period; Lwn 39.6mm 24 hours to 0900 GMT with 24 hour totals to 1200 today Shobdon 38mm, Coventry 8.2mm..

Nature notes

Sat 9th forestry, few Fieldfare (first ones) sounded like settling down to dusk roost; Blackbirds alarming towards dusk too.

c 11th 8 Red Kite observed from the house over the adjacent field (just about the most seen here in one go).

Wed 13th Aberystwyth a couple of thousand Starling murmurating at sunset, they seem quite early this year; some Redwing heard overhead after dark (first of the Autumn).

Wed 13th evening more Redwing heard over the house.

Thu 14th flock of Redwing heading south village daytime 

Fri 15th plenty of Redwing & Fieldfare in the forestry; patches of Liberty Cap (magic) mushrooms along some of the tracks and loads of Fly Agaric.

Still a few Raspberries coming late month...and new Hazel catkins (where trimmed a month or so back)..

Late month: still a few Orange Hawkweed (Fox & Cubs) blooming in the garden, a few Red Campion out again where hedges recently strimmed...

October summary

Mild for all; most places a wet month, locally twice the average, but parts of E Midlands  average; WW dull, Midlands near average sunshine.

Rainfall totals Oct 2021

Aberdaron 233.4mm (the wettest October recorded here according to Derek Brockway)

Trawsgoed 186.0mm (128%)

Aberporth 163.4mm (146%)

Llanwnnen 194.0mm (136%)

Mumbles, Swansea 157.6mm (128%)

Nottingham (Watnall) 85.2mm

Coventry, Bablake 127.0mm (202%)

Church Lawford 97.4mm (162%)

Sunshine

Valley 83.6 hrs (83%)

Aberdaron 84.9 hrs

Aberporth 56.1 hrs (54%) = seems too low?

Llanwnnen est 60 hours (68%)

Nottingham 85.2 hrs

Coventry 96.5 hrs (95%)

COL rainfall

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 249.1mm (193%)

Ludlow, Salop 113.5mm (137%)

Warstock, Bham 128.4mm (159%)

Alvechurch, Worc 140.0mm (168%)

Cosby, Leic 106.6mm (154%)

Hinckley, Leic 137.4mm 

Towcester, Northants 71.1mm (93%)

PWS rainfall

Daventry, Northants 68.1mm

Pitsford, Northants 73.5mm (112%)

COL sunshine

Ludlow 95.5 hrs

Alvechurch 94.9 hrs

Cosby 99.8 hrs

Towcester 105.6 hrs

Weather log September 2021

Weather log September 2021

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Mids = Midlands

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Mostly dry start to September though rather cloudy, warmed up from 4th to heatwave conditions:

Sat 4th start of a notable September very warm/ hot spell (Gogerddan 23.4c, Lwn 23.1c, ROW 22.3c).

Sun 5th max CITE & Wellesbourne 26.0c, CL, Lwn & Trawsgoed 25.3c, Shobdon 23.5c, MH 19.6c with a fair bit of sunshine.

Mon 6th very warm or hot, more refreshing on some coasts, max Astwood Bank, Worc 28.8c, CL & Coleshill 28.1c, Nottingham 26.6c, Lwn 25.4c, Trawsgoed 23.9c, Aberdaron 18.8c. Sunny periods especially Midlands.

Tue 7th hot or very hot and sunny; maxima reached 30c in places; for Wales it was the hottest September day since 1961 with Gogerddan, near Aberystwyth max 30.7c hottest in the UK. Here at Llanwnnen max 29.7c smashed the previous record for the month (26.9c in 2016 and 2020). Other max...CITE & Coleshill 30.4c, Trawsgoed 30.1c, Coventry 29.8c, Hereford & Shobdon 29.0c, Pembrey 28.4c, Mumbles 25.2c.

Wed 8th warm night for WW, min 16.4c the warmest night of the year here at Lwn, while the Marches got down to more pleasant levels; other minima Aberporth 20.5c, Pembrey Sands 20.1c, Coventry 14.8c, Mona 13.4c, Shobdon 10.0c...the drought ended with showers during the evening here at Lwn, the first measurable rain for 18 days.

Thu 9th warm sunny intervals but also thundery showers gave 2 inches in places judging by the radar; rain totals to 2100 Gogerddan, Ceredigion 37.6mm, ROW 20.0mm; totals to 0600 10th - Trawsgoed 26.6mm, Pershore 19.2mm, CL 7.2mm, Valley 1.2mm, Nottingham 0.0mm; here at Llanwnnen just 3.1mm in the 24 hours to 0900 10th with most of the downpours focused a few miles to our north.

Fri 10th another warm night, min 15.7c, thats 3 in succession above 15c here at Lwn (note none above 15c for the whole of the Summer!); other minima Pembrey Sands 16.9c, Nottingham 16.8c, Coventry 16.5c, Aberdaron 15.6c, Shobdon 13.3c..the Autumn 'heatwave' though now over with a lot of cloud and some showery rain in places and temperatures by day getting closer to average though still rather warm for many...

The average temperature so far this month is way above normal across the country and on par with the warmest of Summer months, mean temperature to date here on 17.6c way above the previous warmest whole Sept (15.5c in 2006), however with cooler weather now in the offing it is unlikely to end up that way. (Mean max 23.1c to 9th)..

Mon 13th Milford Haven 15.0mm wettest place in UK 24 hours to 0600, rain and drizzle affected much of Wales, N & W Midlands, rest of Midlands mainly dry; other totals: Lwn 9.2mm (09-0900); Shawbury 5.4mm, Valley 0.2mm, CL & Pershore 0.0mm. 

Tue 14th heavy rain for parts of Wales yesterday evening into the night with over an inch locally, here at Lwn 26.5mm measured this morning was one of the wetter spots although several PWS in the Cross Hands area of Carmarthenshire had 30m -35mm from the event...other rainfall totals to 0600 Aberporth 10.8mm, MH 3.8mm, Shawbury 3.2mm, Nottingham 0.0mm. Much of the Midlands had a good drop of rain during the daytime, when WW and Marches mainly dry and bright; CL 11.6mm

Often dry and bright from mid month, especially for the Midlands, many days still on the warm side too:

Sat 18th warm sunny spells for the Midlands, mostly cloudy with some showers WW; maxima Coventry 24.2c (warmest place in the Midlands), Coleshill 23.7c, Hereford & Shawbury 22.0c, Lwn 20.2c, Pembrey & Trawsgoed 19.8c, Aberporth 16.7c.

Fri 24th warm and humid with sunny intervals, maxima Pershore 25.0c, Coleshill 24.0c,  Llanwnnen 21.6c, Trawsgoed 21.4c, Nottingham 21.3c, Mumbles 17.6c.

Sat 25th a warm night for late September, minima widely above 15c; Shawbury & Trawsgoed 16.5c, CL & Coleshill 15.6c, Lwn 15.1c, Aberporth 14.5c, Shobdon 13.8c...

Much cooler unsettled end to the month:

Mon 27th heavy rainfall overnight WW which then affected Midlands morning clearing to showers, local thunder, as at Lwn 1600; Lwn 27.4mm (24 hrs to 0900);  24 hour totals to 1200 Valley 36.0mm, Aberporth 30.8mm, Shobdon 15.4mm, Coventry 11.4mm, Mumbles 10.8mm, Church Lawford 5.0mm; much cooler by day, temperatures had widely been above 15c in the early hours then dropped off with the frontal passage and barely exceed the midnight values during the afternoon, for example Trawsgoed 17c early hours only 16c afternoon.

Nature notes

Sat 4th Lampeter Uni pm, Kingfisher flashed by within 10 feet by the stream; 50 plus H Martin & Swallow seems like they had a good year! Also a Chiffchaff singing a bit...

Further Chiffchaffs heard  in the Uni and also from the garden (9th) early in the month...

Still some Swallows around mid month and a few House Martins..

Wed 15th: Nolton Haven, Pembs, Chiffchaff singing well from adjacent scrub and woodland along with plentiful Robin; 10- 15 Swallow above the lanes as we headed home early evening.

Mid month sounds: Starling singing one afternoon from next door aerial, Chiffchaff snatches still being heard, Great Tit 'teacher' calling, possible snatch of a Wren, as well as numerous Robins that will keep up until into New Year.

Mon 20th still some H Martins & Swallows active in Lampeter..

Late flush of Raspberries in the garden hedgerows (not had this happen before they are usually all over by August).

Thu 23rd female Sparrowhawk alighted on the patio bench observed for 2 minutes (it was watching for birds on the adjacent feeders) at just 3 metres distance as I sat by the window (best ever view of a BOP!).

Sun 26th several Swallows Llangrannog and Aberaeron; Starlings feeding in the harbour mud low tide with others singing from tops of boat masts!

September 2021 summary

WW warm, rather wet and quite dull.
Midlands warm, generally rainfall around average but with local wet spots; sunshine also around average.
Many places saw more rain in the last 5 days of the month than in the preceeding 25.

Rainfall totals Sept 2021

Valley 96.0mm (134%)
Aberdaron 79.2mm (121%)
Aberporth 104.2mm (147%)
Llanwnnen 139.0mm (122%)
Milford Haven 92.4mm
Pembrey Sands 99.6mm (128%)
Mumbles 86.4mm (112%)

Nottingham 46.2mm
Shawbury 55.0mm (96%)
Coleshill 52.0mm (84%)
Coventry 67.8mm (115%)
Church Lawford 64.4mm (99%)
Shobdon (Herefordshire) 68.6mm (112%)
Hereford 49.2mm (97%)
Pershore 77.8mm (149%)

COL/ PWS rainfall Sept 2021

Ludlow (Salop) 68.1mm (107%)
Alvechurch (Worc) 63.0mm (96%)
Warstock (Bham) 54.5mm (87%)
Cosby (Leic 38.4mm (66%)
Hinckley (Leic) 56.5mm
Daventry PWS (Northants) 42.6mm
Towcester (Northants) 52.8mm (86%)

Llansadwrn (Anglesey) 113.7mm (112%)

Sunshine Sept 2021

Valley 117.5 hours (89%)
Aberdaron 137.7 hrs
Aberporth 101.5 hrs (71%)
Llanwnnen estimated 100 hours (80%)

Shawbury 117.8 hrs (100%)
Coventry 145.6 hrs (106%)
Shobdon 130.3 hrs

Weather log August 2021

Weather log August 2021

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Mids = Midlands

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

A dry start to August with sunny spells but temperatures below average the first few days. Unsettled from 5th with showers and some longer spells of rain but also drier brighter interludes, temperatures still a bit below average on most days:

Mon 9th showery, thunder in places (Rugby had some thunder early evening), a persistent train of heavy showers affected Ceredigion through the afternoon with the radar suggesting 3 inches or so fell to the north of Tregaron (some parts of the county missed the showers though with Aberporth 0.2mm); rainfall totals 24 hours to midnight: Swyddffynnon (north of Tregaron) 32.4mm, Hereford 7.6mm, Trawsgoed 13.0mm, Llanwnnen c 8mm, CL 7.2mm, Shawbury 0.6mm, Aberdaron 0.0mm.

Tue 10th generally a warmer day away from exposed coasts with some sunny spells; maxima Wellesbourne, Warks 25.3c the warmest in the UK; other Pershore 24.4c, Coventry 23.7c, Nottingham 22.4c, Shawbury & Shobdon 22.2c, Lwn 20.9c, Trawsgoed 20.2c, Aberdaron & Aberporth 17.7c.

Towards mid month a little rain or drizzle but often dry, average to rather warm temperatures:

Sat 14th warmest night of the year to date here at Llanwnnen, although 14.6c is unremarkable and comes after 9 days that did not exceed 21c; other minima Mumbles 16.1c, Coleshill 15.2c, CL 14.0c, Shobdon 13.1c, CC 12.4c. A drizzly day did not top 19c here.

Mid month turned cool, cloudy and quite Autumnal for WW in particular rain or drizzle at times:

Fri 20th here at Llanwnnen a very dull spell for Summer, just 2 hours sun estimated in the past 7 days making it the dullest Summer week estimated here (srb only 2013 though), such dull weeks are more a feature of Winter. The dullest Summer week prior to this was an estimated 4 hours in late June 2017, while 10 consecutive days were sunless December 2019 to January 2019.

Sat 21st rain then heavy showers with local thunder in places, Gogerddan 29.0mm for the day, with 24 hours totals to 0600 22nd: Trawsgoed 24.8mm, ROW 11.6mm, Coleshill 10.4mm, CL 3.0mm, MH 0.6mm.

Just 46 hours sun for the first 3 weeks of August here at Lwn so a very dull month so far for most places..Coventry 81 hours though not quite so grim!

Sun 22nd parts of the Midlands had thundery showers overnight, thunder and lightning at Coventry & Rugby around midnight but only a few mm rain at these locations, while a PWS near Banbury, Oxon caught 32mm in one hour.

A largely dry final week or so to Summer 2021, variable cloud, some rather cloudy days but with other seeing decent warm sunny spells:

Tue 24th WW & Herefordshire the best of the warmth and sunshine, a lot of cloud and cooler Midlands, maxima Lwn 22.7c, Pembrey Sands 22.5c, ROW c 21c, Trawsgoed 20.9c, Hereford 20.5c, Aberdaron 18.9c, Coventry 18.8c, Shawbury 18.5c.

Fri 27th much cloud for most of the Midlands again, WW mostly sunny and rather warm, maxima Porthmadog 22.1c,  Lwn 20.8c, MH 20.7c, CITE 18.3c, Shawbury 17.9c, Aberporth 17.1c, Coventry 16.6c, Nottingham 16.3c; sunshine Aberdaron  & Lwn (est) 12.5 hrs, Shawbury 1.4 hrs, Nottingham 0.0 hrs.

Sun 29th an anticyclonic end to Summer but not necessarily sunny; Marches & WW fared best again today with warm sunny spells, Midlands mainly cloudy and rather cool; maxima Pembrey Sands 23.0c, Trawsgoed 21.9c, Lwn 21.2c, Shobdon 20.4c, CITE 20.3c, Aberporth 17.7c, Coventry 17.2c, Market Bosworth 17.0c.

Bank Holiday Mon 30th disappointingly cloudy and cool though mainly dry; maxima Shobdon 16.0c, Aberporth 16.4c, Coventry 16.8c, Newport, Salop 17.5c, Lwn 17.6c, Gogerddan 18.8c, CITE 18.9c, NW Wales getting some sunny spells.

Nature notes

As usual a significant drop in Swift presence at the start of August, however Swift chicks still audible from at least one nest in the Church hall up to 8th with a pair seen the following evening (half dozen screaming still last week at the University where there have been at least 3 nests this Summer as judged by birds going in and out of holes.

Tue 10th several Painted Lady butterflies on the wild flower meadows of the University, also quite a few Holly Blues. There have been a lot of Swallows nesting in the University grounds this Summer on various buildings where shelter is afforded.

Late Swifts:

Thu 19th briefly saw about 3 likely Swifts flying above the Swallows and Martins at the Uni this afternoon.

Fri 20th Aberaeron evening, c 8 Swift over the town were just about the latest I have seen...

Thu 26th Chiffchaff singing well by the river at the Uni this afternoon.

August 2021 summary

Generally dry but dull with near average temperatures

Note highest max pretty low for a Summer month  across the Midlands and WW, with only Wellesbourne achieving 25c (10th); Aberporth 19.6c the highest all month, Trawsgoed 22.1c,  Lwn 23.3c, Coventry 23.7c, Pershore 24.4c.

Rainfall totals August 2021

Mona, Anglesey 54.2mm 

Aberdaron 35.0mm (49%)

Aberporth 43.0mm (63%)

Llanwnnen 74.5mm (69%)

Milford Haven 43.8mm 

Mumbles, Swansea 41.0mm (49%)

Nottingham (Watnall) 52.0mm

Shawbury 34.0mm (57%)

Coleshill 28.8mm (42%)

Coventry, Bablake 27.2mm (43%)

Church Lawford 32.0mm (52%)

Shobdon 43.8mm (72%)

Hereford 25.8mm (54%)

Pershore 37.6mm (68%)

COL/ PWS stations rainfall

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 69.0mm (77%)

Ludlow, Salop 45.8mm (68%)

Cosby, Leic 34.8mm (54%)

Hinckley 32.2mm

Warstock, B'ham 43.5mm (62%)

Alvechurch, Worc 37.4mm

Daventry, Northants 28.4mm

Towcester, Northants 41.0mm (64%)

Sunshine August 2021

Aberdaron 172.6 hours

Aberporth 128.2 hrs (72%)

Llanwnnen 104 hours estimated (64%)

Nottingham 92.2 hours

Shawbury 105.0 hrs (65%)

Coventry 107.4 hrs (62%)

Shobdon 107.2 hrs

Summer 2021 summary

Generally rather dry and rather warm but quite dull

Most of WW had a dry Summer; rather warm but rather dull.

Midlands most parts quite a dry Summer but some spots locally managed average rainfall; again rather warm but quite dull.

Rainfall totals Summer 2021

Aberdaron 97.2mm

Aberporth c 95mm

Llanwnnen 167.2mm (60%)

Nottingham c 160mm (quite dry)

Shawbury 134.4mm (rather dry)

Coventry, Bablake 159.2mm (88%)

Church Lawford 131.6mm (74%)

Pershore c 150mm (near average)

Sunshine Summer 2021

Llanwnnen 440 hours estimated (87%)

Nottingham 413 hrs (dull)

Shawbury 455 hrs (dull)

Coventry 511.1 hrs (91%)

Weather log July 2021

 Weather log July 2021

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Mids = Midlands

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Sat 3rd after a generally dry, bright start to the month it soon turned more unsettled, scattered showers with local thunder as at Coventry and Rugby, radar suggested an inch for Brinklow ( cf CL 7.6mm, Coventry 1.2mm).

Sun 4th marginally the warmest night of the year to date here at Lwn, min 13.5c, nothing especially warm as yet; other minima Pershore 15.5c, Pembrey 15.4c, Trawsgoed 14.7c, CL 14.1c, Aberdaron 13.5c, Shobdon 11.8c. Further thundery showers affected the Midlands in particular, thunder heard again at Coventry & Rugby..several PWS in SW Coventry & Kenilworth had over an inch today, with the radar suggesting 2 inches fell at a few spots in the Midlands (Coventry 15.4mm, Pershore 15.2mm, Lwn 12.8mm, Trawsgoed 12.6mm, CL 11.4mm, Shobdon 3.4mm, Aberdaron 0.4mm).

Wed 7th another showery day, thunder in places Midlands where an inch of rain locally; CITE 24.4mm, Pershore 19mm, CL 8mm, Trawsgoed 0.8mm, Coventry 0.2mm, many places though escaped such as Hereford & Pembrey Sands 0.0mm.

Drier towards mid month with some pleasant sunny intervals and warmth at times, then mid month a heatwave commenced that was to last for a week:

Fri 16th very warm/ hot and sunny, max CITE 28.7c, Pershore 28.5c, Coleshill & Coventry 27.3c, MH 25.2c, Llanwnnen 25.0c, Shawbury 24.8c, Aberporth 19.4c.

Sat 17th even hotter for many...Llanwnnen max 28.7c just after noon, other max CITE 30.3c, Nottingham 29.7c, ROW 29.5c, Coventry 29.0c, Shawbury 27.4c,Trawsgoed 26.8c, Aberdaron 24.8c, Mumbles 22.4c.

Sun 18th warm night for coasts and urban areas, more refreshing in the countryside inland, minima Mumbles 18.8c, Aberporth 17.5c, Nottingham 16.4c, Coventry 16.3c, Shobdon 12.2c, CC 11.2c, Llanwnnen 10.9c; hot or very hot and sunny, quite a few places exceeding 30c including Lwn 30.8c...this is now the sixth successive year that has exceeded 30c here and quite likely an almost unprecedented run (compared with 6 years 2007-2012 a period that barely managed 28c). Other maxima Pershore 30.9c, CITE, CL & Coventry 30.3c, Trawsgoed 28.8c, MH 27.2c, Aberporth 25.5c.

Mon 19th again hot and sunny, locally very hot, maxima above 30c for much of the Midlands and all locations reached 25c or higher; Pershore 31.0c, Hereford 30.8c, CITE 30c, Llanwnnen 30.2c, Coventry 29.6c, Trawsgoed 29.1c, Shawbury 28.7c, MH 27.8c, Mona 25.1c.

Tue 20th repeat, although with some severe thunderstorms with large hail scattered across the E Mids pm, a PWS at Kibworth, Leic, recording 98mm in an hour early in the evening with large hail that damaged cars; maxima ROW 31.0c, Pershore 30.8c, CITE 30.5c, Coventry 30.1c, CL 29.9c, Lwn 29.1c, Trawsgoed 27.7c, Shawbury 27.4c, Aberporth 23.5c.

Wed 21st here in inland Wales we have blessed by relatively cool nights to ameliorate the unpleasant heat of the day, minima since the spell started at the weekend have been between 9 and 11c and amongst the lowest minima for England & Wales, this compares with many coasts and towns that have had lows of 13 to 19c. Again a hot day maxima ROW 30.5c, CITE 29.7c, Llanwnnen 29.6c, CL 28.3c, Valley 27.7c, Nottingham 27.1c, Aberporth 23.3c.

Thu 22nd notably high minima for some coastal locations, minima  Mumbles 19.5c, Aberdaron 18.3c, Pershore 15.2c, Shobdon 12.7c, CC 12.1c, Llanwnnen 10.9c; even hotter for west Wales today, here at Lwn max 31.0c the highest reading since June 25th 2020; other maxima Gogerddan, Ceredigion 31.2c - hottest in UK, ROW 31.1c, Trawsgoed 30.9c, CITE 30.8c, Pershore 30.6c, CL, Hereford & Shobdon all 30.0c, Aberdaron 29.0c, Aberporth 27.4c, Mumbles 26.0c; a few isolated thunderstorms developed during the afternoon, one passed close by to the south of Llanwnnen, there was constant thunder for almost an hour late afternoon but only a spot of rain, however just 2 or 3 miles to the south and west there was a deluge, the radar suggested 50mm fell in places. I drove into the affected area as the storm was clearing, there was only minor flooding although everywhere was sodden, notably the narrow lanes west and NW of Llanybydder were debris strewn with some sizeable branches up to 6 inches across and 15 feet long brought down across the lanes. Locals described to me 'rain so bad you could nt see' and 'winds like a hurricane' - it is likely that a microburst occurred with a sudden powerful downdraught, given the rapid storm development, that combined with the cloudburst was too forceful for these tree limbs (many of which were diseased Ash).

Fri 23rd another warm night in many places, minima Mumbles 19.4c, Aberdaron 18.7c, Pershore 16.5c, Coventry 15.8c, Coleshill 14.1c, CC 12.9c, Llanwnnen 12.7c; heatwave now over for most of the MIdlands, one more hot day for WW, maxima Lwn 29.4c (notable 7 day run above 80f 27c); other maxima Pembrey Sands 28.7c, Valley 27.8c, ROW 27.0c, Hereford 26.1c, Aberporth 24.9c, Coventry 22.4c, CITE 22.1c, Nottingham 19.9c.

More unsettled to end the month, some welcome rain after the recent dry and hot spell:

Mon 26th warm or very warm with a few thunderstorms about (most across S Wales and Herefordshire), it thundered for 2 hours here at Llanwnnen in the afternoon from storms 5 to 10 miles distant, then there was a bit of a storm in the evening with close forks of lightning; maxima Wellesbourne, Warks 27.3c (warmest in UK), Hereford 27.1c, CITE 26.9c, Lwn 26.7c, Llysdinam, Powys 26.0c, Shawbury 25.3c, Trawsgoed 25.1c, Aberporth 19.9c.

Tue 27th scattered showers with thunder in places; Coventry caught a storm that gave 17.6mm in one hour 15-1600bst with the daily total of 24.8mm making it wettest place in the Midlands, some nearby places though had hardly anything; other 24 hour totals (to 0600 28th): Coleshill 9.6mm, Mona 5.8mm, Lwn 0.6mm, Aberporth 0.4mm, CL 0.2mm.

Nature notes

As usual a marked decrease in bird song early in July although still a bit of Song Thrush and Chiffchaff to mid month.

Still a Blackbird sitting on a nest in the hedge mid month.

Ash dieback is very noticeable this Summer and would estimate 90% of trees either have it or dead. 

Plentiful Swifts in the village this Summer, often around 15 screaming about, one seen to enter house opposite the hotel.

Wed 14th Aberaeron evening: 3 sightings of a single Swift in the vicinity of the soon to be demolished former hospital (a fine example of a nineteenth century Workhouse). The plans now state that Swift boxes should be installed on the new flats after I alerted them to the presence of breeding Swifts. Driving back dusk Swift chicks audible clearly from the old house by the river where a screaming party was observed in June.

Wed 14th dusk Cribyn: mixed Swallows and Swifts near the bend by the former post office shop, suddenly much frenzy and alarming from the Swallows above the car then a small BOP (Merlin?) seen chasing them and almost caught a Swallow 10 metres in front of the car; pulled up and counted c 10 Swift (still not seen any entry made in this particular village but several buildings suspected of nesting).

Lampeter University has disappointed for Swifts this Summer, only a few birds and a couple of entries seen (usually 10- 20 screaming parties by now). Suspect that the renovations last year may have impacted the internal roof space in some way (pipes, cables, insulation?) so that they are now unsuitable even though access from the outside is still possible; nor have any droppings been seen (usually some just below some of the holes and on windowsills and ground). At least Sparrows have been using a couple of the Swift boxes since April. Swifts in Lampeter now seem more focused above the High St where many buildings have unrendered stonework with holes to the rears, also seen entering one of the yellow apexes here (as seen in recent years).

Sun 18th Lampeter Uni evening, in contrast to our usual afternoon reccies some 30+ Swifts present after this hot 30c day! Constant screaming parties for over an hour, towards sunset and 30 birds were together high above the quadrangle. However only 2 nest sites evidenced, one exit from central chapel pipe, one entry pipe E Inner quad (where also slight staining from hole with a few droppings on ground beneath). Nor could chicks could be heard apart from the latter hole. Also plentiful Swallow and H Martin.

Tue 20th some screaming Swifts in Llanybydder this evening (only up to 10 so many away feeding still?); could not get to the chapels due to the road being closed for culvert works.

Tue 20th forestry no bird song anymore; just about to give up on the NIghtjars as it was starting to get dark when one started up at 2150 some 30 minutes after sunset, it then gave a fine performance for over 10 minutes then more sporadically until we departed 2220, it was quite close and loud within 100m, made several brief flights but did not wing clap.

Wed 21st evening Aberaeron pile of Swift droppings noted below the apex (lean-to roof beneath) of the old house by the river. Up to 6 Swift above the town around sunset also plenty of feeding House Martins and Swallows (many nests of the former in the town),

Fri 23rd chapel  Aberduar, Llanybydder, 15 - 20 screaming Swift, dropping stains suggested 6+ nests while piles on sills/ ground at least 5, so looks like they have adapted well to the new soffits installed in 2018.

Summary July 2021

Warm with sunshine around average; much of WW dry away from the south; MIdlands variable rainfall due to localised storms, from slightly below average to wet.

Rainfall totals July 2021

Nottingham c 79mm (136%)

Shawbury 66.2mm (124%)

Coleshill 52.6mm (107%)

Coventry 92.0mm (147%)

CL 62.0mm (104%)

Pershore c 83mm (166%)

Hereford 67.8mm (151%)

Valley 28.0mm (51%)

Aberdaron 44.4mm (79%)

Trawsgoed c 60mm (74%)

Aberporth c 34mm (56%)

Lwn 70.7mm (69%)

MH c 85mm (122%)

Pembrey Sands c 63mm (84%)

Mumbles 91.2mm (127%)

COL/ PWS stations

Cosby, Leic 55.5mm (89%)

Warstock, Brum 65.0mm (98%)

Alvechurch, Worc 62.1mm (90%)

Daventry 40.1mm

Towcester, Northants 78.0mm (144%)

Ludlow, Salop 70.8mm (109%)

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 85mm

Sunshine July 2021

Nottingham 157.7 hours (83%)

Shawbury 187.1 hrs (113%)

Coventry 205.3 hrs (104%)

Aberporth 177.9 hrs (94%)

Lwn est 177 hrs (99%)

Weather log June 2021

Weather log June 2021

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford HavenMids = Midlands

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Tue 1st very warm and sunny start to Summer 2021; max Lwn 26.7c (cf max 9.5c less than a fortnight ago); other max Cardiff, Bute Park 26.1c, ROW 25.5c, CITE 25.4c, Pembrey Sands 25.0c, Pershore 24.7c, Nottingham 23.7c, MH 21.8c.

Wed 2nd very warm and mostly sunny Midlands but some rain or showers affected parts of WW and later Midlands; maxima Pershore 26.5c, CL & Coventry 26.2c, Hereford 24.0c, Trawsgoed 23.3c, Lwn 22.c, MH 17.9c.

Fri 4th local grass frost Wales & Marches, air min Lwn 1.4c, Swyddfyynon 1.8c, Tirabad & Trawsgoed 2.9c, Shobdon 3.1c, Coventry & MH 10.0c, Nottingham 10.7c.

Sat 5th very localised grass frost, air min Lwn 2.2c (touch of grass frost likely), Trawsgoed 4.1, Shobdon 5.3c, Nottingham 8.1c, MH 10.9c.

Some warmth and humidity towards mid month although initially WW rather cloudy and misty...

Sun 13th widely very warm and sunny, maxima ROW c 27c,  Hereford 26.7c, Coventry 26.5c, Lwn 26.4c, Trawsgoed 25.9c, Nottingham 24.9c, MH 21.9c Aberdaron 18.2c.

Very dry first half to June (to 0900 16th) with a few places on zero:

Coventry 0.0mm

Church Lawford 1.2mm

Nottingham 5.0mm

Hereford 10.0mm

Aberdaron 2.8mm

Trawsgoed 5.2mm

Llanwnnen 5.8mm

Milford Haven 15.0mm

Capel Curig 39.2mm

It has also been a warm first half to June with temperatures generally a degree or 2  above average.

Some wet weather about after mid month but largely confined to the Midlands and SE Wales with W Wales missing most:

Fri 18th cool and wet central and in particular E Midlands (locally over 2 inches here); in contrast Marches dry, and WW saw pleasant sunny spells and also a dry day; maxima CL & Coleshill 13.7c, Aberporth 14.8c, Shawbury & Shobdon 17.1c, Llanwnnen c 19c, Pembrey Sands 20.8c; ranfall totals to 0600 19th CL 15.2mm, Wales & Marches all stations 0.0mm.

Sat 20th  Welsh Marches did get significant rain overnight (widely over 10mm) and much of Midlands getting some more, but  WW only small amounts. Only 7mm all month so far here at Llanwnnen for example, whereas parts of the Midlands over 25mm.

Wed 23rd some cool nights recently with local touches of grass frost last night, minima St Harmon, Powys close to 0c, Llanwnnen 1.4c, Trawsgoed 1.7c, Pershore 3.1c, CL 4.8c, Nottingham 6.8c, Mumbles 11.1c.

Fri 25th very cool with some rain WW, max 13.5c here at Lwn being the coolest at this stage in June since 2017 (max 12.7c 29th); the West Midlands had some very heavy downpours and thunderstorms especially during the evening with 65.8mm falling at Monkspath, Solihull while the radar suggested over 100mm fell in the Dorridge area; Winterbourne, Bham 32.6mm the wettest place officially in the UK today; the M42 was closed for a time due to flooding and trains between Solihull and Leamington Spa were cancelled; much of the East Midlands had a largely dry day though rather cool; other maxima Aberdaron 11.6c, Aberporth 11.9c, Nottingham 14.7c, Shawbury 15.5c, Mumbles 15.7c, Pershore 18.8c; official MO rainfall totals 24 hours to 0600 26th: Shawbury 16mm, CC 13.2mm, Coleshill (not that far from Solihull) just 7mm, MH 0.6mm, CL 0.2mm.

A fairly dry end to June:

Nature notes

Fri 5th Tregaron Bog pair of Pied Flycatcher which hardly ever see around the area, disappointingly no Cuckoo heard.

Sat 5th first Foxglove flower Neuadd lane.

Shade Bluebells lasting well into June (unusual).

Oak & Ash belatedly attaining full leaf early month 

Mon 7th Llanybydder Swifts at Wilsons warehouse (former mill)/ old train station (10-12 combined) and Rhydybont chapel (5 or 6) but none seen at Aberdduar chapel (only there 10 minutes). 

Mon 7th forestry above Llanybydder, parked at main entrance for a change as late, Cuckoo calling not far away (almost sunset); first Nightjars (2 or 3 heard one seen), some decent churring at one point; still plenty of WW and CC in song.

Sat 12th 4 mile walk along lanes and tracks about Mynydd Pencarreg: 1 possibly 2 Cuckoo heard, Stonechats, Wheatear?, lots of Skylark and Meadow Pipit, CC & WW; still fresh well- shaded Bluebells in number; Laburnums beautiful caught them just right!

Sun 13th good showing of the village Swifts this evening much chasing and screaming by 15+ birds..

Fri 18th forestry cuckoo seen and calling quite a lot from close (within 100m), this is quite late now to hear one; plenty of bird song still; plenty of Foxglove out.

June 2021 summary

Dry and quite warm; sunshine around average generally.

West Wales most places very dry (under half the average) with Midlands below average too, although parts of the Birmingham area above average due to storms 25th.

Rainfall totals June 2021

CC 64.2mm (48%)

Aberdaron 17.8mm (30%)

Trawsgoed 30.2mm (40%)

Aberporth 17.8mm (30%)

Llanwnnen 22.0mm (32%)

MH 23.4mm

Nottingham (Watnall) 29.2mm

Shawbury 33.2mm (62%)

Coventry 40.0mm (64%)

CL 37.6mm (67%)

Pershore 29.0mm (58%)

Hereford 33.8mm (75%)

COL stations

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 44.9mm (61%)

Cosby, Leic 25.6mm (39%)

Hinckley 25.5mm 

Warstock, Bham 76.2mm (105%)

Alvechurch 37.8mm (54%)

Ludlow 32.4m (47%)

Towcester, Northants 57.3mm (100%)

PWS

Daventry, Northants 29.7mm

Sunshine June 2021

Valley 201.3 hrs (112%)

Aberdaron 202.0 hrs

Aberporth 139.5 hrs (72%) - this seems too low as usually more sunny than us inland)

Llanwnnen 160 hrs estimated (98%)

Nottingham 162.9 hrs

Shawbury 163.2 hrs (105%)

Coventry 198.4 hrs (104%)

Weather log May 2021

Weather log May 2021

Key:

WW = West Wales

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford HavenMids = Midlands

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

Sat 1st frosty start to May in many areas, minima St Harmon, Powys -5.4c, Pembrey Sands -3.1c, Shobdon -2.3c, Lwn -1.4c, CL +0.1c, Nottingham 3.5c, Mumbles 4.2c.

Mon 3rd first significant rain fell in most places for over a month, widely an inch or more for Wales with much of the Midlands having over half inch...also a very cool and windy day..gusts to 74mph at Mumbles Head and even 48mph Llanwnnen well inland; max below 10c in places such as Nottingham 9.1c and Coventry 9.3c.

24 hours rain totals to 0600 Tue 4th:

Capel Curig 65.4mm, Trawsgoed 30.4mm, Llanwnnen 25.3mm (0900), Winterbourne 20.4mm, Nottingham 20.0mm, CL 15.2mm, Coleshill 13.0mm, Mumbles 6.6mm

Tue 4th very cool and showery, hail in many places and thunder for a few...

First week often very cool with further frosts in places...showers wintry in places, snow settling for some high ground of Wales..most places having at least one day max below 10c.

Sat 8th wet day as milder humid SW winds arrived after a long absence, some hilly parts of S Wales received over 6 inches as judged from the radar, with a National Resources Wales rain gauge at Croeserw north of Maesteg recording over 100mm (Derek Brockway); other totals to midnight Tirabad 54.0mm, Pembrey Sands 53.8mm, Shobdon 30mm, Llanwnnen 26.0mm, Coventry 23.0mm, Aberporth 17mm, Coleshill & Pershore 16mm.

Sun 9th briefly warm for much of the Midlands in the warm sector associated with the yesterday's rain, maxima Pershore College 20.9c, Nottingham 19.7c, Coventry 19.6c, Shobdon 15.8c, Mona & Trawsgoed 15.4c, Llanwnnen 13.9c, Aberdaron 12.8c.

Showers and some longer spells of rain through the mid month period, these thundery with heavy hail locally:

Fri 14th (19.2mm) and Sat 15th (25.8mm) at Swyddffynnon in Ceredigion (just north of Tregaron Bog) was the wettest spot in the UK due to catching plenty of downpours. A PWS near Talsarn just 7 miles north of Llanwnnen recorded 49mm Sat 15th

A very wet first half to May most places having already exceeded the whole May average with some spots nearing twice the average:

Llanwnnen, Ceredigion May 2021 rainfall to date:

Mid month total (to 0900 16th May) 120.5mm.

This is 157% of the whole May average (77mm).

Wettest May historically hereabouts is 1967 when the closest rain station 1 mile away measured 194mm while another 3 miles away had 228mm and so these would be the next totals under threat!

Other rainfall totals 0900 16th:

Coventry 82.4mm

CL 51.6mm

Mean temperatures are running 2 or 3c below the May average (1981-2010) as of mid month!

Wed 19th a dry bright reprieve after all the recent showers, some places attained average May temperatures and it was one of the milder days this month so far..max Pershore 18.3c, Coventry 16.6c, Lwn 15.2c, Pembrey 15.1c, Shawbury 14.6c, Aberporth 12.5c (cool NW sea breeze here on the exposed coast).

Thu 20th - Fri 21st  a deep Spring low crossed the country bringing strong winds and heavy rain (particularly to W Wales). Winds gusted widely to over 50mph across Wales and up to 73mph at Pembrey Sands. This was one of the windiest May days here as we do not usually get gusts over 40mph by late Spring. Prolonged rain for Wales over the two days giving widely above 2 inches with over 4 inches for some higher ground...all this rain meant the May record has already been smashed at Llanwnnen (over 180mm for the month by afternoon 21st this some 30mm over May 2006 the previous wettest). Also two very cool days, especially so 21st with no locations above 13c and quite a few Welsh ones not topping 10c! Max 9.5c at Lwn the second coolest May day (8.2c 14/05/13) and the coolest day this far into Spring; other maxima Tirabad 8.7c, Aberdaron 9.6c, Trawsgoed 9.8c, Coleshill 11.2c, Market Bosworth 11.3c, Valley 12.1c, Pershore 12.4c

48 hour rainfall totals to 0600 22nd: Capel Curig 111.2mm, Trawsgoed 62.4mm, Llanwnnen 59mm, Nottingham 18.8mm, CL 16.4mm, Mumbles 11.2mm, Shobdon 10.8mm.

Sat 22nd May 2021 rainfall Llanwnnen so far:194.8mm (254% of the whole May average).

It has now become the wettest May in over a century hereabouts from what I can find (British Rainfall and other records).

May 1967 had 194mm a mile from here and 228mm 3 miles away (that may also  be topped with so many days remaining), however...

Much drier and warmer towards month end:

Sun 30th warm and sunny feels like Summer! Maxima Lwn 24.1c, Porthmadog c 24c, Trawsgoed 22.3c, ROW 20.7c, Shawbury 20.0c, CL & Hereford 19.3c, Aberporth 19.1c.

Mon 31st another warm and mostly sunny day, max Lwn 23.3c, Sutton Bonington (Notts) 22.9c, Pershore & Trawsgoed 22.7c, CL & Coventry 22.0c, Shobdon 20.9c, MH 18.7c.

Nature notes

Sun 2nd first Swift seen briefly from garden mid afternoon.

Wed 5th single Swift again here.

Thu 6th foresty first Cuckoo calling quite a bit, at one stage called almost non stop for almost 10 minutes at about 200m or so.

Fri 7th 4 Swift above the gardens teatime.

Early May and trees reluctant to leaf, few Oaks properly out yet with most Oak and Ash barely beginning to leaf; Sycamores are though well out and Horse Chestnut.

Tue 11th 4 Swift screaming Lampeter; 8 - 10 Swift here.

Wed 12th 2 Cuckoo forestry, many Willow Warbler (WW) and Chiff Chaff (CC), 2 Newts, Muntjac glimpsed.

Leaf burst now happening mid month as we have had much milder nights..

Bluebells peaking mid month.. the garden ones now going over with many having been flattened or gone soggy with all the rain. Last Daffs (those in the container by the garden wall) mid month are very late as rarely are they blooming into May..

Sun 16th GSW drumming heard from Neuadd Lane in the village (this is late).

Mon 17th forestry laughing Yaffle (Green Woodpecker), Redstart, one Cuckoo heard

Wed 19th Tregaron Bog nice sunny if rather cool afternoon, 2 Hobby (I think) as seemed too small and slim for Peregrines? Cuckoo heard but only faintly as distant; plenty of warblers (CC, WW, Blackap, possible Garden Warblers).

Most Oaks and Ash getting into leaf month end...Oaks are very late Ash less so..

Month end countryside Bluebells still going strong in shade; first Laburnums Maestir

Sun 30th Forestry I or 2 Cuckoos calling after sunset to 2200; no Nightjars surprisingly as it was a rather warm still evening; Fox; 3 Newts bottom track near main road that is often flooded.

May blossom out month end.

Very poor Apple blossom this year, it attempted to bloom mid month but too much rain and wind, so very little.

May 2021 summary

Very cool and very wet;  generally dull

Record breaking May rainfall in places with Wales especially wet, locally 3 times the average and where the wettest May srb 1862.  Coolest May generally since 1996.

Rainfall May 2021

Mona 124.4mm

Aberporth 144.0mm (266%)

Llanwnnen 215.6mm (280%)

Milford Haven 112.2mm

Pembrey Sands 131.4mm (189%)

Mumbles 120.0mm (191%)

Shawbury 117.0mm (218%)

Coleshill 105.8mm (200%)

Coventry, Bablake School 123.6mm (221%)

Church Lawford 99.2mm (176%)

Pershore 115.6mm (218%)

Shobdon 125.4mm (227%)

COL/ PWS  rainfall

Llansadwrn, Anglesey 140.3mm (207%)

Cosby, Leicestershire 91.0mm (158%)

Warstock, Bham 121.2mm (188%)

Daventry, Northants 84.3mm

Towcester, Northants 116.1mm (193%)

Alvechurch, Worcestershire 131.1mm (198%)

Ludlow, Shropshire 118.1mm (185%)

Sunshine May 2021

Valley 209.2 hours

Aberdaron 211 hrs

Aberporth 145.5 hrs (70%)

Llanwnnen (estimated) 131 hrs (72%)

Shawbury 139.4 hrs (85%)

Coventry 154.1 hrs (79%)

Shobdon 154.3 hrs

Spring 2021 summary

Cool and generally rather wet

March near average; April very dry, very cool and sunny; May very wet and cool.

Rainfall totals Spring 2021

Aberporth 192.8mm

Llanwnnen 290.6mm (122%)

Milford Haven c 176mm

Mumbles c 166mm

Shawbury 154.6mm

Coleshill c 142mm

Coventry 177.2mm (114%)

Church Lawford 157.6mm (104%)

Sunshine Spring 2021

Aberdaron 610.7 hours

Aberporth 495.6 hrs

Llanwnnen (estimated) 447 hrs (105%)

Shawbury 451.2 hrs

Coventry 473 hrs (98%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 478.2 hrs