Weather log April 2024
Key
Unsettled weather continued start of April, plentiful rain for parts of Wales in particular:
Thu 4th Pershore College 19.8mm (wettest place in UK). Many NRW gauges across S Wales over 25mm inc Abergorllech 26mm and Pencader (both Carms).
Fri 5th Rather warm sunny intervals Mids and E Wales, maxima Cardiff Bute Park 18.1c, Pershore College 17.9c, Coventry 17.3c, Market Bosworth 17.0c, Shobdon 16.8c, Trawsgoed 14.3c, Lwn 13.8c, CC 11.7c.
Sat 6th Warm for April for the Midlands and parts of N Wales, ironically as named storm Kathleen brought strong winds in the west; minima Pershore 12.9c, Coleshill 12.4c, Trawsgoed 11.7c, Shobdon 11.2c, Lwn 10.6c, CC 10.2c. By day maxima Nottingham 18.3c, Wellesbourne 18.1c, Coventry 18.0c, Market Bosworth 17.9c, CC 16.7c, Trawsgoed 16.4c, Lwn 14.9c, Aberdaron 12.6c. Derek Brockway said that a PWS at Llanfairfechan on the Conwy coast recorded max 20.3c during the early hours a result of the Foehn winds no doubt. Kathleen unremarkable away from exposed locations (71 mph gust CC), generally highest gusts 40 to 50mph inland.
Sun 7th 25.5mm measured 0900 here at Llanwnnen was the second wettest April day here (30.2mm in 2019). 1 to 2 inches of rain parts of WW this weekend, rather wet for parts of the N & W Mids, but mainly dry much of the Mids bar the odd shower.
First week: 90mm here at Lwn for the first week of April, already well above the whole month average (61mm here and 77mm historically at Lampeter). In contrast, although still above average, just 21.4mm at Church Lawford. Pencader (NRW) 9 miles SW of here is above 120mm! Never seen it so wet and muddy in April!
Mon 8th the wettest April day here since records began 2006, 30.5mm most of which fell 04 - 0900 Tue 9th. Previous record wettest April day 30.2mm 2019. 112mm past 6 days (3rd - 8th) on par with the wettest weeks here (not on the scale of the 150mm in just 3 days in Oct 2018 though). Local rivers in spate, Grannell bank high, Dulas in the Uni spilled over across adjacent footpaths, while most of the Co-op car park under water (90%) with water touching the corner of the store by the Dulas. It had just begun to recede late afternoon when we were there from a slightly higher peak. Teifi into flood plains. Radar suggested around an inch fairly widely WW with a couple of inches for Snowdonia (CC 40.2mm officially wettest in UK).
Towards mid month drier and warmer, especially Mids:
Thu 11th Warm sunny intervals Mids, WW still mostly overcast with some rain or drizzle; it was a very mild night widely above 10c, lows Nottingham 12.0c, Trawsgoed 11.9c, Shawbury 11.8c, Market Bosworth 11.4c, Llanwnnen 11.1c, Valley 9.6c. Maxima Coleshill 19.9c, Coventry 18.9c, Nottingham 18.5c, Shobdon 17.4c, Trawsgoed 15.3c, Lwn 13.7c, Aberdaron 11.2c.
Fri 12th warm sunny periods Midlands, mild sunny spells mid and S Wales along with a good drying breeze. Maxima Cardiff Bute Park 20.8c, Pershore College 19.6c, Pershore 19.5c, Coventry 18.7c, Shawbury & Shobdon 17.9c, Nottingham 17.2c, Trawsgoed 16.1c, Lwn 14.9c, exposed Aberdaron just 10.8c.
Mon 15th active squall line passed through early in the day bringing several damaging tornadoes (N Mids), hail and thunder in places. Much cooler, at Lwn max 9.9c coolest day of the month to date.
First half of April: very mild, dull and wet; W Wales & Marches wettest. At Llanwnnen it is already the wettest April of the past 2 decades. Historical wettest hereabouts is 1920 with 221mm at nearby Falcondale, Lampeter.
Rainfall totals April 1st to 0900 16th:
CC 203mm (very wet)
Trawsgoed 89mm (very wet)
Llanwnnen 135.2mm (twice April average)
Pembrey Sands 80mm (very wet)
Mumbles 64mm (wet)
Nottingham 36mm (rather wet)
Coventry 46.2mm (very wet)
CL 40.2mm (wet)
Pershore 43mm (very wet)
Wed 17th some rain or showers about, local thunder N Mids, max 9.2c Llanwnnen the coolest day for 3 weeks contrasting with 14.4c at Pershore the warmest spot in the UK (Aberporth just 8.2c).
Thu 18th widespread frost with fog in places; here at Lwn min -2.2c the first air frost of the month; other minima Tirabad (near Sennybridge) -3.4c, Trawsgoed -1.8c, Shawbury -1.6c, CC & Pershore -1.3c, Coventry +1.4c (grass frost), Mumbles 4.2c.
Sat 20th it has been a mainly dry few days now, just a trace here at Lwn past 3 days and nice and sunny today. Overnight was a widespread frost, down to -2.5c here (also Tirabad -2.3c, Shawbury -1.6c, Coventry +1.8c with a grass frost, Aberdaron 5.8c). Est sun 12 hours here at Lwn (sunniest day since last September); others Aberporth 13.2 hrs (sunniest place in UK), Wellesbourne (Warks) 9.5 hrs, Nottingham 9.1 hrs.
Sun 21st much of Mids sunny, Nottingham 11.3 hrs, Coventry 9.5 hrs, Aberporth 7.1 hrs, Lwn est 2.5 hrs.
As of 25th Llanwnnen highest reading of the month to date just 14.9c (on 2 days), while in the past 20 years April has not failed to reach 16c (lowest absolute max 16.3c in 2012 and 16.4c the following year being the coolest). Still a chance of 16c by month end? In contrast the Midlands has had a few warm days this month with Coventry 18.9c on the 11th. 8 successive dry days now at Lwn making it the longest dry spell since last September (also 8 days).
Sun 28th Midlands widely around an inch falling last night into the morning, in contrast largely dry WW with the fronts on this occasion further east. Sutton Bonington (Notts) 27.6mm wettest in Mids (to 2100), Coventry 22.6mm (0900 BST).
A wet final 2 days to April for WW while much of the Midlands dry, bright and rather warm! Widely 1 or 2 inches last 2 days WW.
Mon 29th Llanwnnen 22.6mm (to 0900 30th).
Tue 30th Scolton Country Park (Pembs) 41.4mm (wettest place in UK); cool and wet WW, cloudy dry Marches, in contrast rather warm and sunny much of Mids; maxima Nottingham 19.7c, CL 19.2c, Coventry 18.8c, Shobdon 15.0c, MH 11.3c, Lwn 10.8c. Coventry 12 hours sun, 0 hours much of WW.
Nature notes
Chiffchaff end of garden singing much of the time start of month; also a Blackcap on and off.
Beginning April: Forestry good view of a Goshawk for a change it was at closest 40 metres and unhurriedly flew into trees.
Wed 3rd Aberaeron first wild Bluebells out especially path besides Craft centre down to river; Wood Anemones out look like they might be over next visit in a fortnight or so; first Red campions; Plenty of Chiffchaffs in song. Cormorant really close fishing in the river at 20 metres watched it catch plenty of Eels.
Thu 4th Lampeter Uni, plenty of Bluebells out now. Rooks have 30 plus nests several babies fallen to their deaths even before the strong winds arrived.
Sun 7th Neuadd lane, Lwn hints a few Bluebells about to flower, on the other hand Lesser Stitchworts going to seed (although apparently they can re-flower through the Summer). A few Chiffchaff singing on a windy afternoon.
Tue 9th Uni: could not see any fallen baby Rooks following the recent high winds and heavy rain surprisingly, one nest had come down but no chicks evident (unless eaten by something).
Thu 11th Chiffchaff at end of garden sings stridently and persistently past week or so in spite of often poor weather!
Fri 12th remarkably dried out enough to mow the lawns (just 2 days ago waterlogged quagmires).
Sat 13th Carmarthen thought I may have heard a House Martin but just one note and not seen. First ones are back at Bow Street.
Sun 14th midday first 2 Swallow flew over the garden twittering away.
Mon 15th 3 more Swallow flew over.
Tue 16th Forestry near Llanybydder, 2 Willow Warbler singing. Skylark (could not see it) along the lane.
Wed 17th Neuadd lane, Llanwnnen: Jack-by-the-Hedge out and much Greater Stitchwort, most Celandines going over, just a few Bluebells out along the lane. Hedgerows fairly well in leaf bar Beech. Grannell lane a few Wood Sorrel, perhaps snatch of Willow Warbler?
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| Jack-by-the-Hedge |
Thu 18th WW heard from back garden.
Fri 19th drove to Aberystwyth, Oak, Sycamore and Beech coming into leaf. Grey Wagtail in the storm ditch behind Morrison by the river. Also the first Orange Tip butterfly.
Sat 20th GSW drumming occasionally so far this month.
Mon 22nd possible H Martin Lampeter just a glimpse, may have been a Swallow.
Tue 23rd several Swallow over the garden along with about 4 more more at the Uni this afternoon.
Wed 24th Aberaeron Bluebells and Great Stitchwort all around now. Quite a few Chiffchaff in the woodland; Spotted Orchids out well at riverside picnic area. Dipper flew along the river at close quarters, Heron as often fishing towards the bridge. Cribyn a definite House Martin as driving home this evening.
Late month: Hazels in our hedgerows have been reluctant to leaf and have only just appeared. Quite a few Swallows back around their old nest sites in the village.
Thu 25th Lampeter Teifi walk: No Sand Martins (often would be seen here as nest in the banks), floods of early April would have washed out any nests but still plenty of time for them. Speckled Wood butterfly.
Sun 28th southern forestry: half dozen Willow Warbler, particularly heard along the small valley along the western edge, also several alarmed Stonechats here (appeared quite dark in silhouette. Also a Tree Pipit (?) quite close up, Chiffchaff or two.
First Swift back at Bow Street (near Aberystwyth)..
Month end some Copper Beech, Sycamore and Horse Chestnut in full leaf.
April 2024 summary
Rainfall varying from rather to very wet (much of WW very wet); average or rather mild; West Wales dull or very dull, Midlands dull or rather dull.
Over twice average rain parts of WW and where little over half average sun in places; after a very mild first half the cool second half made it close to average overall.
Wettest April here (178.6mm) at Lwn srb 2006 beating 127.5mm (2012) - well over twice the average. Historically April 1920 221mm at Falcondale, Lampeter still the wettest and seems to be the only April exceeding 200mm locally Also very wet was April 1998 when Lampeter Uni had 186mm, and so there have been a few wetter Aprils in this area than this one.
A remarkably and perhaps unprecedented wet 10 months here now, with 1742mm the July 2023 to April 2024 total, this being more than the wettest year (1737mm in 2020). It has been consistently wet with no large monthly totals, each month receiving over 100m, the wettest December with 225mm.
Estimated sunshine 81 hours was little over half average and the dullest April here (estimations only since 2014).
Near average in terms of recent 21st century April's but compared with those of the 20th century averages it would be classified a mild one. A signifier of mildness being lack of frost (no air frost at Coventry all month). In spite of the relative overall mild it was distinctly cool by day for WW though, nothing above 15c at Llanwnnen. April had not failed to attain 16c prior to 2024 here (max 16.3c in 2013 being the previous lowest maximum for the month). Also a very mild first half was followed by a cool second half (coolest second half for 33 years at Coventry) this quite rare given April sees rapidly rising temperatures on average as the month progresses.
Rainfall totals April 2024
Capel Curig, Snowdonia 254mm (163%)
Mona, Anglesey 84.4mm (rather wet)
Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular c 120mm (over twice average)
Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 105mm (wet)
Aberporth, near Llangrannog 100mm (very wet)
Llanwnnen 178.6mm (248%)
Pembrey Sands, Carms 108mm (wet)
Milford Haven, Pembs 107mm (wet)
Mumbles, near Swansea 88mm (rather wet)
Nottingham 74mm (wet)
Shawbury, Salop c 75mm (wet)
Coleshill c 80mm (very wet)
Coventry, Bablake School 80.6mm (155%)
CL, Warks 73.8mm (148%)
Pershore, Worc 68mm (wet)
Shobdon (Herefordshire) 79mm (wet)
King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 73.6mm
National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges April 2024
Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 91.2mm (wet)
Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 171.0mm (very wet)
Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 308.2mm (very wet)
Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 131.4mm (wet)
Corris (near Machynlleth) 208.4mm (very wet)
Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 72.2mm (rather wet)
Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 127.8mm (wet)
Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 167.4mm (twice average)
Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 160.0mm (very wet)
Pencader (Carms) 215.4mm (over twice average)
Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 191.8mm (twice average)
Rhydargaeau (Carms) 170.4mm (very wet)
Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 141.6mm (very wet)
Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 128.8mm (very wet)
Ferwig (near Cardigan) 95.4mm (wet)
Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 192.0mm (twice average)
Tenby (Pembs) 134.0mm (over twice average)
Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 116.8mm (wet)
COL stations rainfall April 2024
Llansadwrn 91.0mm (139%)
Ludlow, Salop 70.3mm (121%)
Alvechurch, Worc 90.0mm (150%)
Warstock, Brum 84.4mm (146%)
Cosby, Leic 80.4mm (162%)
Hinckley 77.4mm
Towcester, Northants 68.7mm (130%)
Sunshine totals April 2024
Valley 138 hrs (dull)
Aberdaron 139 hrs (dull)
Aberporth 115 hours (dull)
Llanwnnen estimated 81 hours (55%)
Nottingham 108 hrs (dull)
Shawbury (100 hours (dull)
Coventry, Bablake School 139.5 hrs (88%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 10 hrs (dull)
COL stations sun:
Ludlow 87.8 hrs
Alvechurch 114.5 hrs
Cosby 138.6 hrs
Towcester 124.8 hrs
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