Weather log March 2025
Key:
WW= Willow Warbler
ST = Song Thrush
BB = Blackbird
A dry and sunny start to Spring 2025 with frosty nights:
Sat 1st frosty night, quite hard one in places, minima Lwn -5.4c, Tirabad -5.3c, Pershore -5.1c, Shawbury -5.0c, CC & Trawsgoed -3.8c, CITE -3.1c, Cov -2.6c, Nott -2.1c, Aberdaron +4.2c. Quite a sunny day for many, rather mild maxima generally 10 - 12c (Coventry 11.5c mildest place in the Midlands); Shawbury 9.9 hrs sun.
Sun 2nd again hard frost in places, minima Tirabad -5.5c, Lwn -5.3c, Pershore -5.0c, Trawsgoed -4c, CL -3.3c, Pembrey Sands -3.2c, Nott -1.1c, Aberdaron 5.6c. Sunny and rather mild again, maxima 9 - 12c (Newport, Salop 11.9c, Trawsgoed 11.8c, Lwn 10.5c). Near unbroken sun here at Lwn (9.5 hrs) and no doubt unbroken at Shobdon & St Athan (near Cardiff) with 10.4 hours at these (also Cov 10 hrs).
Mon 3rd frost widespread locally quite severe, minima Pershore -5.6c, Lwn -4.2c, Shobdon -4.1c, Pembrey Sands -3.9c, Coventry -2.1c, Nott +0.7c, Aberdaron a rather mild 6.7c though.
Tue 4th sunny again, unbroken in places, Shobdon 10.3 hrs sunniest in UK (also Coventry 9.6 hrs), very mild Midlands (Hereford 13.2c, CL & Coventry 12.6c); 6.5 hrs after fog cleared here at Lwn (max 9.8c).
Unseasonably warm spell:
Wed 5th sunny again widely, Midlands in particular very mild indeed, touching 60f in places, maxima Shobdon 15.6c (60f), Coventry 15.2c, Pershore & Trawsgoed 14.4c, Lwn 12.7c, Aberporth 9.8c (we were at Aberaeron where the breeze was quite cold), CC 8.6c. Near unbroken 9.8 hrs sun at Wellesbourne (Warks). Hawarden in NE Wales reached 15.9c today.
Thu 6th big change here at Lwn with warm SSE winds and plentiful sunshine to early afternoon when clouded over, exceptionally warm for early March max 16.1c the highest reading since last October. This was the warmest in early March since 2013 (max 16c 5th) although note the exceptional warmth end of Feb 2019 when it reached a record 18.8c (26th). Other maxima today Trawsgoed 18.2c, Nott 17.5c, Pershore College 17.0c, CL 16.8c, Coleshill & Coventry 16.4c, Hereford 15.7c, Aberporth 14.4c, Aberdaron 12.3c.
Fri 7th warm for early March Mids with sunny intervals, WW rather cloudy but very mild, some rain; Pershore College 17.3c, Trawsgoed 15.8c, Lwn 14.1c.
Sat 8th very warm for the time of year, sunny Mids and parts of N Wales, more cloud SW Wales; maxima Porthmadog 18.2c, Nott 17.8c, Valley 17.7c, Coleshill & Shawbury 17.5c, Hereford 16.8c, Trawsgoed 16.7c, Aberporth 16.4c, Lwn 16.3c, MH 12.7c; sun Nott 9.7 hrs, Cov 9.6 hrs, Lwn est 2 hrs.
Sun 9th very warm, widely above 60f and the peak of the spell. Lwn max 19.0c warmest recorded so early on (ahead of 18.8c Feb 2019 while warmest March in a first half was 17c); other max Pershore 18.4c, Trawsgoed 17.9c, CL 17.7c, Market Bosworth 17.4c, Shobdon 16.3c, Mona 15.2c. Hawarden reached 18.7c today officially warmest in Wales.
Mon 10th mild WW & Marches (Porthmadog 16.3c, Newport, Salop 14.4c) but much cooler much of Mids, (CL & Coventry max 8.8c)
Tue 11th bright but rather cool generally although not so bad in out sheltered garden (max 9.6c); it felt cold in the wind at Newquay; other maxima CC 5.7c, Aberporth 6.0c, Nott 8.4c, Newport, Salop 9.6c, CITE & MH 9.8c, Pembrey Sands 10.1c.
Wed 12th wintry showers in places this morning with slight coverings parts of W Mids (just a bit of sleet here at Lwn), cool maxima generally 6 to 9c.
Thu 13th Lwn min -4.8c one of the coldest spots in UK (Tirabad -4.0c).
Fri 13th hard frost for inland Wales, minima Lwn -5.5c, Tirabad -5.1c, Trawsgoed -4.4c, Pershore -2.7c, Cov +0.5c, Aberporth 0.8c, Nott 1.2c, Aberdaron 2.4c. Maxima up a bit on recent days, Newport, Salop 10.1c, CITE 10.0c, Lwn & Shobdon 8.1c, CC 6.9c.
It has been a cool mainly dry week with sharp frosts (as low as -5.5c here at Lwn) maxima not too bad generally 6 to 9c. Just a few wintry showers about.
Sat 15th another widespread, locally hard frost, minima Lwn -5.5c, Trawsgoed -4.1c, Pershore -1.3c, CL, Coleshill & Hereford -0.5c, Nott +1.1c, Aberdaron 1.3c.
First half of March very dry, sunny and rather mild.
Much of the Midlands very sunny so far (close on 100 hours in places).
Here at Lwn days have averaged very mild (mean max 11.8c) but nights cold (mean min -0.7c).
Just 0.6mm so far at Church Lawford the driest spot. All places under 25% rain so far.
Rainfall totals March 1st to 0900 16th:
Mona 3.4mm
CC 10.6mm
Trawsgoed 7.6mm
Aberporth 10.6mm
Llanwnnen 12.5mm
Pembrey Sands 16mm
MH 12.4mm
Nott 6.6mm
Shawbury 8mm
Coleshill 3.6mm
Coventry 1.6mm
CL 0.6mm
Pershore 3.2mm
Hereford 2.0mm
Sunshine 1st to 15th March:
Aberdaron 77 hrs
Llanwnnen est 65 hours
Nott 95 hrs
Coventry 93 hrs
Shobdon 84 hrs
The mainly dry spell continued after mid month:
Sun 16th another widespread frost, min Pershore & Tirabad -5.1c, Lwn -3.7c, Mona -3.5c, CL -3.1c, Coventry -0.3c, Aberporth +3.4c.
Quite a significant run of March frosts here at Lwn now with last night being the fifth in succession (cf there was a run of 8 nights mid - late March 2015, although 3 of which only marginally below zero).
Tue 18th virtually unbroken sun with 10 or 11 hours widely today (Lwn est 11 hrs, Coventry 11.3 hrs). Milder maxima generally 11 to 13c.
Wed 19th widely a warm day with sunny spells, here at Lwn max 18.1c, officially Whitechurch 17.3c, Trawsgoed 17.2c, Wellesbourne 16.2c, Cov 15.6c, Shobdon 13.9c, MH 12.5c; we were at Aberystwyth where it felt cool and clouded over with a sea breeze and temps around 12c. N Mids and N Wales sunny (Aberdaron 11.3 hrs sunniest in UK).
Thu 20th even warmer topping 20c in places, sunny periods, maxima here at Lwn 20.6c this being the warmest so early in the year but not quite a March record (still 21.4c 30/3/21); other high readings Gogerddan, near Aberystwyth 20.5c, Pershore 20.2c, Whitechurch > 20c, CITE 19.1c, Coventry 18.8c.
Warm weather lasted a few more days:
Fri 21st rather cloudy with some rain in places later, still reached 17c in places, ROW 17.9c, Gogerddan 17.3c, Lwn 16.1c, MH 12.6c.
Sat 22nd Lwn sunny spells, max 18.7c was unexpected. Other maxima Whitechurch (Pembs) 18.6c (warmest in UK), Pembrey Sands 17.4c, Trawsgoed 16.7c, Wellesbourne 16.6c, Cov & Pershore 16.3c, CL & Mona 16.1c. Average for late March is 11 or 12c.
Thundery showers broke out over the Midlands in particular, with a slow moving area of heavy rain across S Mids evening; an inch or 2 in places, wettest I can find being Barford (PWS) 47mm (most of this in 2 hours.
Sun 23rd 0900 rain totals: Bilton (PWS) 30mm, Church Lawford 21.2mm, King's Newnham 11.2mm, Coventry 5.8mm; Bedworth area saw very little rain).
Still only small amounts of rain, plenty of dry weather for the final week:
Mon 31st a warm sunny last day, Lwn max 19.3c, Trawsgoed 18.3c, ROW 17.9c, Pershore 17.7c, Aberporth & CC 15.2c.
Nature notes
St David's Day (Sat 1st) quite a few Snowdrops still ongoing, some have died off. Daffs over the road starting to come out (normal time).
Wed 5th nice sunny day at Aberaeron, plenty of Snowdrops and Daffs out (the Snowdrops hereabouts inland going over by and large).
Thu 6th first Chiffchaff perhaps the earliest? Just called weakly for a few seconds this afternoon which was unseasonably warm for early March.
Sat 8th brief snatch of Chiffchaff again end of garden.
Southern Forestry dusk put up a Woodcock returning to car main track. This happened same spot last time too although I was not sure it was a Woodcock but I saw it properly this time.
Sun 9th Neuadd lane Chiffchaff singing well on the bend by the track and first one seen.
Thu 13th Lampeter Uni Chiffchaff singing by river path to Coop.
Mid month most Snowdrops gone over, Daffs reaching peak, hedgerows leafing, buds opening, plenty of garden flowers out.
Fri 14th Chiffchaff singing in Carmarthen.
Wed 19th Aberystwyth a couple of Chiffchaff singing by the river at Morrisons also close up of a pair of Goosander swimming past. Daffs magnificent this year and still Snowdrops on some shady sides. Small murmuration of Starlings a thousand or 2 as many would have left by now.
Thu 20th Chiffchaff or 2 singing near the back garden yesterday and today, first heard since 8th here. GSW has been drumming loudly and frequently most days this month so far. Garden is dry now and having to water containers.
GSW has been drumming daily and loudly from the old castle trees but lessening off as we approach month end.
Sun 23rd first Bluebell coming out end of garden, quite unusual so early.
Tue 25th first Blackcap end of gardens.
Wed 26th Nant yr Arian around 150 Red Kites being fed on a fine afternoon. Visitor centre and café being closed by NRW next week.
Last week: more Bluebells coming out back garden, still a few Snowdrops lasting well. Daffs starting to go over. Swallow and House Martin reports Ceredigion.
Seen the odd Butterfly this month with a White and I think Speckled Wood on the last day, also Bees increasingly through the month.
Mon 31st Forestry: several Chiffchaff, expected more.
March 2025 summary
Very dry, mild and very sunny
Most locations only a quarter of average rainfall, few reaching half. Only Church Lawford (Rugby) above half the average (having been the driest spot at mid month!). No doubt a few unofficial stations managed average such as Barford (Warks) due to the downpour 22nd (Barford PWS March total 51mm).
Here at Lwn very mild days and near normal nights overall. Driest March since 2012 (24.5mm).
Coventry it was the sunniest March on record (beating 2009 176.4 hrs) and driest since 2011 (7.4mm). The city had mean maxima of 13.3c the highest since 1948, while the month was not exceptional due to cool nights.
For England & Wales as a whole this has been reported as the driest March since 1961, just 0.6mm at St James Park, London. Driest March Wales overall since 1944. It was the sunniest March for England and second sunniest for Wales overall.
Rainfall totals March 2025
Mona, Anglesey 20mm (very dry)
Capel Curig, Snowdonia 54mm (very dry)
Aberdaron, Llyn Peninsular 11.6mm (v dry)
Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 20mm (v dry)
Aberporth, near Llangrannog c 17mm (v dry)
Llanwnnen 24.3mm (29%)
Pembrey Sands, Carms 19.4mm (v dry)
Milford Haven, Pembs 22mm (v dry)
Nottingham 14.4mm (v dry)
Shawbury, Salop 12mm (v dry)
Coleshill c 11mm (v dry)
Coventry, Bablake School 11.6mm (25%)
CL, Warks 25.0mm (58%)
Pershore, Worc 14mm (v dry)
Hereford c 9mm (v dry)
King's Newnham EA gauge (near Rugby) 16.2mm
National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges March 2025
Note all locations very dry
Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 26.6mm (c 25%)
Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 35.2mm
Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 64mm (very dry c 25%)
Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 21.6mm very dry c 25%)
Corris (near Machynlleth) 39.6mm
Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 21.4mm
Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 17.8mm (16%)
Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 27.6mm
Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 23.2mm
Pencader (Carms) 33mm
Abergorllech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 31.4mm
Rhydargaeau (Carms) 41mm
Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 35mm
Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 27mm
Southgate, Gower 22.6mm
Ferwig (near Cardigan) 18mm
Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 35.8mm
Tenby (Pembs) 30mm
Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest) 18.6mm (18%)
COL stations rainfall March 2025
Llansadwrn 20.1mm (26%)
Ludlow, Salop 8.8mm (16%)
Alvechurch, Worc 10.6mm (19%)
Warstock, Brum 11.6mm (22%)
Alcester (Great Alne) 31mm (78%)
Cosby, Leic 12.6mm (25%)
Hinckley 9mm (20%)
Towcester, Northants 8.3mm (18%)
Sunshine totals March 2025
Aberdaron 163 hrs
Aberporth 168 hrs
Llanwnnen estimated 148 hrs (159 hrs)
Nottingham 197 hrs
Shawbury 170 hrs
Coventry, Bablake School 185 hours (147%)
Shobdon, Herefordshire 174 hrs
COL stations sun:
Ludlow 187 hrs (180%)
Alvechurch 163 hrs(145%)
Cosby 190 hrs (159%)
Towcester 197 hrs
