Weather log April 2026

Weather log April 2026

Key

WW = West Wales

Mids = Midlands

Lwn = Llanwnnen

AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry

CL = Church Lawford

LL = Long Lawford

ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Nott= Nottingham

CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire

CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia

MH = Milford Haven

Carms = Carmarthenshire

Pembs = Pembrokeshire

COL = Climatological Observers Link

PWS = Personal weather station

MO = Met Office

NRW = National Resources Wales

EA = Environment Agency

est = estimated

inc = including

cf = compared with

srb = since records began

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

VW = very wet, W = wet, RW = rather wet, A = average, RD = rather dry, D = dry, VD = very dry

Mixed start to the month:

Good Friday (3rd) rather cloudy and breezy, some drizzle, max Lwn 13.3c. Rather warm parts of Mids (Coleshill 17.3c warmest in UK), Cov 16.7c.

Sat 4th named storm Dave brought strong winds for N & W, CC gusts to 93mph, est gusts to 50mpoh here at Lwn. Rain amounts small (below 10mm). Power outages parts of Wales.

Easter Sun 5th rather cool with sunny periods, Lwn max 10.9c. 

Easter Mon 6th rather warm with sunny periods after a widespread slight frost. Minima Shobdon -2.0c, Lwn -1.5c. Maxima Gogerddan 17.2c (warmest in UK), Lwn 16.9c, Trawsgoed 16.6c, Cov 15.2c.

Tue 7th exceptionally warm for early April for WW in particular, Lwn maxima 23.8c the highest reading this early in Spring (nothing above 22c in later March or early April before). cf 26.8c 30/4/25 and 25.2c 10/4/20. Other maxima Mona 24.8c (warmest in UK), Porthmadog 24.0c, Gogerddan 23.0c, ROW 22.7c, Aberporth 22.4c, Trawsgoed 22.1c, Pershore 21.3c, CITE 20.2c, CL 19.5c, MH 18.0c..unofficially Llanfairfechan PWS 26c. Sunniest Watnall & Wellesbourne 12.1 hrs, Lwn est 10 hrs.

Wed 8th sunny and very warm again for early April inland, a less warm day for coasts; maxima Cardiff BP 24.2c, Coventry 23.9c (warmest in Mids), Lwn 22.7c, CL 22.6c, Nott 22.4c, Trawsgoed 20.7c, Aberporth & PS 17.2c, PS 15.3c. Kew Gardens a remarkable 26.6c. Sunshine near unbroken 12 hrs Shobdon & Watnall, Lwn est 11.5 hrs.

Sat 11th showers with hail and thunder in places. Was in the Coop in Lampeter at 1805 poer cut briefly when at the till then immediately lightning flash and loud thunder. Back home had also had a brief cut as evidenced by the boiler settings being lost although not the time.

Sun 12th over an inch parts of Wales 24 hours to this morning, Lwn 24.2mm following the showers and longer spells of rain and hail. 

Wed 15th showery pm, a line with much thunder crossed W Mids late afternoon. Overhead short-lived  thunderstorm and hail for Coventry 1720 - 1730

 

First half of April 2026 mild with variable rainfall (very dry to wet); average sun to quite sunny.

Much of the Midlands below average rain thus far, while many WW gauges above.

Rainfall totals 1st to 15th April: Mona 27mm (ave), CC 190mm (ave), Trawsgoed 31mm (rather dry), Llanwnnen 55mm (wet), PS 30mm (ave), MH 37mm (rather wet); Coventry 14mm (very dry), CL 9.4mm (v dry), KN (EA) 6mm, Pershore 15mm (dry), Shobdon 25mm (ave).

Sunshine 1st to 15th:  Llanwnnen est 68 hrs (average), Coventry 76 hrs (quite sunny), Shobdon 72 hrs (ave).

Sun 19th start of a fine sunny spell and became very warm in the west. Aberporth 13.2 hours sun the sunniest place in UK (also ROW 11 hours). We were in the Midlands for the week, on returning home the webcam showed mist and fog this morning til 10am after which 9 hours sun.

Wed 22nd sunny periods, cool wind Mids but pleasant in the sun, warmer for parts of WW, maxima PS & Whitechurch 18.4c, Pershore 17.9c, Lwn 17.8c, CL 16c; Wellesbourne 12 hours sun.

Thu 23rd very warm unbroken sun for WW, maxima Whitechurch 21.3c, Lwn 20.8c, PS 20.2c, ROW 19.3c, Aberporth 19.2c, Warwickshire 16 to 17c again. Lwn est 13 hours sun.

Fri 24th frost in places, South Newington min -3.1c, Tirabad -1.1c, CL 1.7c, Trawsgoed 2.1c,  MH 9.7c. Again very warm unbroken sun WW, warm and sunny Mids, maxima Lwn 22.6c, Whitechurch 22.5c (warmest in UK), ROW 20.6c, Trawsgoed 20.5c, Valley 20.2c, CITE 19.8c, Nott 18.8c, MH 17.4c, CL & Coventry 17.8c; Aberdaron 14.0 hrs (sunniest in UK), Lwn est 13.5  hrs.

Sat 25th fairly widespread frost, minima South Newington (near Banbury) -3.3c, Tirabad -1.6c,  Lwn -1.1c, CITE & Wellesbourne -0.6c, Cov 2.4c, Nott 2.8c, Aberporth 8.0c. Warm or very warm and sunny once more, maxima Lwn 22.8c, Astwood Bank & Whitechurch 22.5c (warmest in UK), ROW 22.0c, Trawsgoed 21.7c, Pershore 21.6c, CITE 21.4c, Cov & Nott 21.1c, CL 20.6c, Aberporth 17.0c.

Mon 27th largely fine and warm spell continues, plentiful sunshine, showers and thunderstorms tracked across the central Mids from the NNW early evening. One of these hit the Rugby area with very loud thunder, lightning and pouring rain at LL. This completely bypassed Cov where thunder not even heard. Radar suggested 20mm over Little Lawford and Bilton although KN only received 6mm. There are over half dozen PWS in the Bilton & Dunchurch areas most of which 8 to 14mm in an hour. A warm day away from Cardigan Bay, maxima Pershore 21.8c, PS 20.6c, Cov 19.9c, Market Bosworth 19.7c, Lwn 17.7c and 12 hours sun, Shawbury 17.5c, Aberporth 13.3c.

Thu 30th a very warm and sunny final day to April, maxima Valley 24.3c (warmest in UK), Lwn 23.9c (warmest of the month), Whitechurch 23.8c, Porthmadog 23.7c, ROW 23.3c, Pershore 23.0c, Aberporth & Trawsgoed 22.9c, Hereford 22.2c, CC & CL 20.8c, MH 18.8c. Wellesbourne 13.8 hrs sun, Lwn est 13 hours.

Nature notes

Sat 4th first few Apple blossom end of garden.

Mon 6th first Holly Blue garden.

Forestry utterly devastated now and still they fell more areas. Few Chiffchaff.

Tue 7th walking back from garage half dozen or so Chiffchaff, snatch of Willow Warbler I think heard from Alltyblaca chapel, 1 Blackcap.

Blackcap singing close by end of garden.

Wed 8th first Swallow heard then seen from back garden above the house (not especially early).

Neuadd lane Jack in the Hedge

Garden Bluebells seem to already be peaking in just the second week of April while country ones are just coming out.

Thu 9th Sand Martin above end of gardens.

Fri 10th 2 Blackcap have been singing, one from the tall holly the other right at the end of the garden.

Sun 12th Swallow seen driving past Alltyblaca then another in Llanybydder, then Willow Warbler heard towards the chapel.

Southern forestry: 3 Swallow, Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler and Whitethroat all not far from the main gate. Totals 4 0r 5 WW (1 seen close up), 3 Chiffchaff singing, Skylark.

Mid month: garden Bluebells at peak. The white ones seem to be taking over under the Apple tree only a few BBs there this year, mass of white. Beech leafing, first May blossom. Impressive Ash flowering ongoing.

Thu 16th Aberaeron lots of trees in leaf cf only a few still inland. Wood Anemone going over a bit. Perhaps 10 Swallow (7 or 8 of which near the camp site farm where they nest in a barn). 

Fri 17th several Swallow above the gardens, some of which were Sandys.

In Rugby Sat 18th to Fri 24th: Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Swallows, Yaffle heard Newbold. More trees in leaf cf back home inc Horse Chestnut, some Oak, Willow, Birch. Countryside Bluebells showing well. Hedgerows fully out with some May blossom. Some butterflies inc Holly Blue, Orange Tip.

Wed 22nd reports of the first Swifts Ceredigion.

Fri 24th took a wrong turn ended up in Usk which is very nice and probably has Swift colonies, plenty of HS about. First Swift early evening over the town. Earliest was April 21st last year from the garden.

Sat 25th Holly flowering with Bees enjoying. Some BBs going over. 3 Swift early afternoon made a silent arrival amongst the plentiful Swallows. One of the earliest sightings here should think.

Late month: some May blossom locally, Holly in flower, Ash & Oak leafing (Oak a little ahead), holly Blues, Speckled Woods and Orange Tips seen even at the same time. Many Damsel fly wild garden one warm afternoon. 

Mon 27th a couple of House Martin and a Swift over the garden this morning. Thought a heard a snatch of HM yesterday but these were the first definite.

Carmarthen a Swift seen once and heard twice first near the church then Merlin's Walk (so maybe 2).

Tue 28th Starlings chicks heard next door could be a week old and so will fledge mid May.

S Forestry first Cuckoo heard not seen about 100 m, plenty of WW and a Bullfinch.

Wed 29th Carmarthen HMs at Merlin's Walk going up to nest sites one of which still intact from last year. Many Swallows en route.

Back home several HM late afternoon.

Thu 30th 5 screaming Swift this morning.

Month end many of the garden Bluebells going over (they have became an April feature here). Wild Bluebells close to peaking. Cow Parsleys the earliest, tallest (some over 5 feet) and most vibrant ever seen

Summary April 2026

Warm or very warm and sunny; rainfall between very dry and average

Most of Mids and S Wales very dry, most of Wales below average.

Rainfall totals April 2026

Mona, Anglesey 32mm ( dry)

Capel Curig, Snowdonia 127mm (r dry)

Trawsgoed, Ceredigion 36mm (v dry)

Llanwnnen 58.0mm (85%)

Pembrey Sands, Carms 32mm (v dry)

Milford Haven, Pembs 40mm (dry)

Coventry, Bablake School 16.4mm (32%)

CL, Warks 14.4mm (29%)

Pershore, Worc 16mm (34%)

Shobdon 27mm (47%)

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

National Resources Wales (NRW) rain gauges April 2026

Llyn Cefni, Ynys Mon 41mm (dry)

Bethesda Quarry (Gwynedd) 83mm (r dry)

Cwm Dyli (Snowdonia) 132mm (dry)

Abersoch (Llyn Peninsular) 30mm (v dry)

Corris (near Machynlleth) 104mm (ave)

Bow Street (near Aberystwyth) 20mm (v dry)

Pontrhydfendigaid (near Tregaron, Ceredigion) 47mm (v dry)

Rhos Ymryson (near Gorscoch and 5 miles NW of Lwn) 59mm (dry)

Cellan (2 miles NE of Lampeter) 55mm (dry)

Pencader (Carms) 84mm (ave)

Abergorlech (Brechfa Forest, Carms) 89mm (ave)

Rhydargaeau (Carms) 73mm (r dry)

Garnswllt (near Ammanford, Carms) 48mm (v dry)

Felinfoel (near Llanelli, Carms) 42mm (v dry)

Southgate, Gower 23mm (v dry)

Ferwig (near Cardigan) 31mm (v dry)

Maenclochog (near Preselis, Pembs) 82mm (r dry)

Tenby (Pembs) 38mm (dry)

Bolton Hill (near Haverfordwest, Pembs) 42mm (dry)

COL stations rainfall 

Llansadwrn 

Ludlow, Salop 32mm (54%)

Alvechurch, Worc 22mm (36%)

Warstock, Brum 21mm (37%)

Hinckley 24mm (49%)

Towcester, Northants 8.5mm (16%)

Sunshine totals April 2026

Llanwnnen estimated  196 hrs (131%)

Coventry, Bablake School 203 hrs (128%)

Shobdon, Herefordshire 182 hrs (110%)

COL stations sun April 2026

Ludlow 187 hrs (25%)

Alvechurch 190 hrs (137%)

Towcester 240 hrs