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
Sun 2nd warm to hot, heatwave levels for a few as here at Lwn (max 26.1c) and ROW (28.2c), other max Usk 27.7c, Pershore College 27.5c, CITE 26.1c, Cov 25.6c, PS 25.4c, Shawbury 24.4c, Swydd 23.3c, Aberporth 19.0c.
Mon 3rd a hot day or 2 with most not qualifying for a heatwave this time. Here at Lwn it looked like being hot and sunny but after max 29.6c 1300 it went overcast with a some brief showers, Pembrokeshire looked like it was getting a decent drop at last but just missed that here. Other maxima Pershore 32.1c, CITE 31.1c, Wellesbourne, Winchcombe Sudeley Castle & Winterbourne 31.0c, CL & Cov 30.6c, Gogerddan 29.4c (the Wales official hot spot), Swydd 28.8c, Nott 28.5c, Pennerley 28.3c, Aberporth, CC & PS 25.6c, Aberdaron 23.2c.
Tue 4th a brief heavy shower early hours gave 1mm thus ending the 47 day partial drought at Llanwnnen. Warm night quite widely, minima St Athan 19.2c, Wellesbourne 19.1c, Cov 18.3c, MH 17.7c, Gogerddan, Little Rissington, Whitechurch 17.1c, Swydd & Trawsgoed 16.1c, Llanwnnen 14.6c, CC 14.3c, S Newington 13.6c. Some showers about today, some escaping dry still. Rugby area caught some sharp showers late in the day which missed Cov. More appreciable rain for NW Wales where Afon Colwyn (NRW) had 31mm. Hot Midlands in spite of much cloud, warm WW; maxima Sutton Bonington 29.7c, Coleshill & Wellesbourne 29.1c, CL, Coventry, Market Bosworth & Pershore 28.5c, ROW 26.5c, Trawsgoed 24.9c, Aberporth & Lwn 23.7c, Aberdaron 19.7c.
Wed 5th again a few showers but plenty of sunshine.
Fri 7th cold night rurally close to a grass frost, here at Lwn air min 2.1c would suggest grass frost however I put the sensor on the front lawn which only registered min +1.5c. Other minima Llysdinam & Swydd 3.0c, Shobdon 3.1c, CITE, CL & PS 6.4c, Cov 8.1c, Nott 9.3c, Valley though a rather warm 14.6c.
Partial drought back on 48th day now since June 21st (10mm in that period) although in a few days time this will extend further back to June 17th (13mm since then).
Sat 8th another very cool night rurally, this time put the sensor on the back lawn and the min was -0.3s a touch of grass frost and the first of the 'season'! Air minima, Tirabad 2.4c, Lwn 2.6c, Swydd 3.3c, S Newington 4.1c, Shobdon 5.6c, Astwood Bank 9.9c, Valley a warm 15.1c though. Up to heatwave levels locally WW and much of the Mids, maxima Astwood Bank 29.0c, Cov 28.1c, Nott & Sutton Bonington 27.7c, CL 27.3c, M Bosworth 27.0c, Shobdon 25.6c, Lwn 25.3c, Trawsgoed 25.0c, Swydd 23.8c, Aberdaron 19.7c.
Sun 9th After a cool night in places (down to 5c in places) minima Lwn 5.1c, Swydd 5.6c, Cov 13.1c but Valley 15.7c. Heatwave day more widely, parts of the Mids topping 30c, maxima Pershore 30.9c, Usk 29.4c, Cov 29.0c, Nott 27.5c, Lwn 26.9c, Whitechurch 25.4c, CC & Valley 20.3c (NW Wales nearer average).
Mon 10th it was warm after midnight here at Lwn at 17c bit a weak cold front with just a bit of cloud came down so minima 7.8c. As a result of this front a less warm day no locations attaining the heatwave thresholds. However plentiful sunshine a a nice breeze, maxima Astwood Bank 26.5c, Usk 26.1c, CITE 25.4c, Cov 24.9c, Hereford & PS 24.1c, Lwn 22.6c, Trawsgoed 21.9c, Aberporth 18.5c.
Tue 11th very warm to hot, hottest Wales & Marches, maxima Llanwnnen 30.0c (10th 30c of the year) ROW 29.6c (official UK hotspot), Astwood Bank, CITE, Pershore & Trawsgoed 29.1C, Swydd & Winterbourne 28.2c, Cov 27.4c, Valley 23.7c.
Wed 12th Warm night in places Minima Aberdaron 17.2, Aberporth 17.1c, Sudeley Castle 15.5c, Cov 13.8c, Lwn 10.6, Shobdon 9.9c, CC 9.5c.
Another historic weather day with Llanwnnen max 34.9c breaking its August record (32.7c same date in 2022) note prior to 2022 no day in August had exceeded 30c. Also the second hottest day here after 35.2c less than 2 months ago. The Welsh August record fell too max 35.3c at Gogerddan. Other maxima ROW 35.7c (UK hot spot), Astwood Bank & Hereford 35.0c, Whitechurch 34.9c, Pershore College & Porthmadog 34.6c, Aberporth & PS 34.2c, CITE 33.7c, Cov & Nott 33.4c, CL 32.9c, M Bosworth 32.4c, Pennerley 31.4c, MH 28.8c.
Thu 13th tropical night for some hilly areas, Pennerley min 21.6c, AB 18.8c, Aporth 18.2c, Cov, SB & Winterbourne 17.4c, Trawsgoed 12.9c, S Newington 11.7c, Lwn 12.2c. Hottest today Mids where many places had a record hot day for Augusts (beating 1990), Max Kew 38.1c (UK hot spot), Pershore & Pershore College 38.0c, A Bank 37.9c, Coleshill 37.1c, Nott 36.9c, Cov 36.6c, CL 36.3c, Shobdon 35.6c, Llysdinam 35.0c (Wales hottest), Pennerley 34.0c, Lwn 30.3c, Swydd 29.8c, CC 28.5c, Aberporth 21.9c.
Fri 14th warm night for most, minima S Bonington 19.5c, Cov & Winterbourne 18.7c, PS & Porthmadog 18.6c, Lwn 15.1c, Tirabad 14.8c, Shobdon 14.6c. Another hot day Mids, but less warm WW...max 26.3c here at Lwn in sopite of much cloud, plentiful sun Mids. Maxima Pershore 32.2c, Wellesbourne 31.7c, Usk 31.0c, Cov 30.5c, Nott & SB 30.0c, Shawbury 26.9c, MH 25.6c, Trawsgoed 24.6c, Aberdaron 19.4c.
Sat 15th Coventry area had some showers around midnight although nothing in the official gauges and even hard to find a PWS with 0.2mm.
First half of August very warm, very dry and very sunny
Here at Lwn mean max 25.6c = ex warm, mean min 8.5c = cool, MT 17.1c = very warm thus far.
Pershore mean max over 29c and Cov 27.5c. Rainless many parts of Mids.
Rain totals 1st - 0900 16th: CC 15mm, Mona 11mm, Trawsgoed 1.2mm, Aberporth 2.4mm, Llanwnnen 1.4mm, PS 2.6mm, MH 2.4mm; Nott 0.4mm, Shawbury 0mm, Coleshill 0mm, Coventry 0mm, CL 4.2mm, Pershore 3.4mm, Hereford 1mm.
Sunshine 1st - 0900 16th: Llanwnnen 132 hours, Coventry 142 hrs, Shobdon 137 hrs.
Mon 17th in the past 2 months since mid June Coventry has had just 1.2mm rain, CL 7mm, Llanwnnen 13.6mm. Warm night quite widely minima PS 18.2c, A Bank 17.5c, Cov 16.8c, Lwn 15.6c, Swydd & Watnall 14.4c. Quite hot today S Mids & SE Wales, generally warm elsewhere, maxima Pershore College 28.6c, ROW 28.4c, Usk 28.2c, Cov 26.5c, Lwn 24.4c, Shawbury 23.8c, Nott 23.3c, Whitechurch 22.8c, Swydd 20.8c, Aberdaron 19c.
Tue 18th some rain in places overnight, Ln 0.6mm not enough to end the partial drought that is now 62 days since June 17th! CL 3.8mm. Warm night again, minima Hfd & Pershore 18.3c, PS 17.2c, Lwn 16.5c, Cov, Gogerddan & Whitechurch 16.4c, Watnall 15.3c, CC 14.9c.
Wed 19th dribs and drabs of rain this week yet to end the very prolonged partial drought - now at 63 days since June 17th (15.1mm total since then averaging 0.24mm/ day). Past 3 days all 0.5 - 0.9mm only. Scattered showers, isolated thunder N Mids, most places little rain generally under 5mm and mainly dry S Mids.
Thu 20th more organised areas of showers overnight and this morning gave torrential downpours in places. 24 hour totals an inch in parts, Pwll Peiran (Pont-rhydy-groes 22mm, Cellan 16mm 24 hours to 1100). Here at Lwn a brief torrential shower after 10am, 24 hour total 7mm to 1100. Proper end to the partial drought that was limping on - 15mm in 63 days averaging 0.24mm per day. Driving to the Midlands pm some fine convective cloudscapes with downpours end of M5 to Hopwood. Thunder in places today, still many missing the showers.
Sat 22nd Llanwnnen min 1.7c so a very likely grass frost there (we in Rugby). Other min Tirabad 1.9c, Swydd 2.5c, Shobdon 3.5c, Trawsgoed 3.8c, Coleshill & M Bosworth 7.6c, Cov 8.9c, Aberporth 13.1c.
Sun 23rd again likely grass in a few spots, minima Tirabad 1.9c, Lwn 2.5c, Swydd 2.8c, Trawsgoed 3.6c, Shobdon 3.9c, CL 8.2c, Cov 9.0c, Aberporth 11.4c. Sunny periods today, Aberporth 13.2 hours sun (sunniest in UK); Lwn est 12 hours.
Mon 24th warm, locally very warm sunny periods, maxima Whitechurch 26.6c (warmest in UK), Usk 25.0c, Lwn 24.7c, PS & ROW 24.6c, Aberdaron 21.6c, Watnall 20.4c.
Wed 26th very warm or hot, scattering of thundery showers (mostly Mids and much of WW remained dry). Thunder heard from Coventry several times during the afternoon, possibly audible from Rugby too, as close as 6 miles to south, Mum and Dad did not hear any. Radar suggested 20mm west of Nuneaton this afternoon, gauges only picking up small amounts (below 4mm). Todays heat was a surprise as only 25c was forecast. Maxima Pershore College & Winchcombe Sudeley Castle 28.6c, Lwn & ROW 28.3c, Usk 27.9c, CITE 27.5c, Gogerddan & Whitechurch 27.1c, CL 26.7c, S Bonington 25.6c, Shawbury 25.3c, Aberporth 23.0c. Lots of thunderstorms affected Brum & W Mids during the evening, lightning visible 2100 on the Draycote cam to the NW from a distant storm over 30 miles away in the Brownhills/ Lichfield area. Walsall Wood EA gauge caught 28mm in 2 hours this evening with the radar suggested 2 inches near Brownhills.
Thu 27th another band of rain and thunderstorms moved up from the south late in the night through this morning. Distant rumble heard from Lwn 0650 (sferic Abergorlech 10 miles SE). Thunder again heard from Coventry this morning. Worst of the rain/ storms affected central & N Mids, with Lichfield EA getting 68mm in 24 hours to 10am (also Walsall Wood 48mm). Atherstone & Hinckley EAs 25mm same period with Coventry 13mm, in contrast Knightcote (near Southam) just 0.6mm. Radar tied in with these and some PWS having over 2 inches since midnight. In 24 hours some PWS that area well over 100mm. Bontgoch, inland from Aberystwyth 40mm today.
Thunderstorm here mid afternoon: first distant rumbles south and SW. Gradually line approached became near continuous rumbling getting louder. Outflow breeze from SW (was NE F1) prior to arrival as storm diminished to a rumble every few minutes with short spell of very heavy rain 1600. Reactivated just to NW some flashes and loud bangs. Closest at 2 miles NW very loud bangs. Only gave us 2mm. Incredible storms Cov and Warks mid eve Henley in Arden 34mm one hour to 8pm..near constant flashes on the Bablake and Draycote cams.
Fri 28th MO wettest yesterday 2100: CITE 48.6mm, Hawarden 38.6mm, Coleshill 31.4mm. Showery again with thunder over the Midlands in particular. Coventry & Rugby caught downpours with TL afternoon. Finham EA 12mm and CL 11mm in the hour to 1700 BST.
Sat 29th showers or longer spells of rain, Lwn caught very downpours afternoon with 10mm in the hour to 1645. Thunderstorms affected SE Mids Bicester to MK. CL caught 9mm in an hour late evening.
Sun 30th Llanwnnen total 0900 21.6mm the wettest day for almost 3 months (June 1st 27mm), CL 18.2mm (now on 50mm for the month close to average!). Showery again, thunder in places, Brum caught several storms pm. TL Llanwnnen 2100 6 miles east (just one).
Mon 31st max 17.1c coolest day of the month here at Lwn at least mostly dry, CC 15.5c coolest in Wales today. In contrast warm S Mids (Pershore College max 24.6c).
Nature notes
Sat 1st dead Mole wild garden towards the gate, they are starving or dying of thirst with impossible to burrow due to hard soils. Flies, small Hornet (?) and a wasp feeding off the carcass. This has disappeared (scavenged) 2 days later.
Early month: large flocks of hirundines as typical late Summer (all the youngsters) especially around the churchyard. Still hearing a Swift or 2 moving from within the hall eaves.
Mon 3rd driving past Aberduar half dozen Swift, none though at nearby Rhyd y Bont. These turned out to be the last ones seen in 2026.
S Forestry: Pretty much dried up though still greenery to be had, still trickles of water coming down the slope towards main track, able to access the track to the lane to Rhydcymerau as the very boggy area has virtually dried up. 10 Swallow.
Thu 6th 50/ 60 hirundine over the gardens this evening.
Early month hardly a slug, snail or worm to be seen past few weeks. Apple trees: first one plenty of green Apples some dropping, middle one hardly an apple (never has many), bottom one, few and small, shrivelling on the branch and a few dropping. Loads of White Butterflies.
Pond below the church completely dried out for the first time (although it came close in 2018), the horses were in it getting muddy but not wet. Grannell is but a trickle and could easily paddle across.
Wed 12th partial solar eclipse (about 94% here) 1830 to 8pm significant dimming and eery orange light for half hour or so around 19-1930. Some barking dogs (not unusual), hirundines suddenly appeared overhead as they do closer to sunset but more confused, Doves fluttering around suddenly.
Thu 13th Longwood evening: the cleared area (after 2018 wind fall) regenerating nicely now, birches getting tall, plenty of variety with many Oaks and gorse, sallows, some Sycamore.
Fri 14th Aberaeron not as many HMs, plenty of nests 20+ although quite a few falling apart, only 2 seen with chicks still present. River very low a bit like 1995 as is the generally browned off landscape.
Sat 15th Lampeter Uni 3 Swallow chicks perched besides nest SU door canopy, opposite side of bridge doorway young in nest took fright of me and alighted, there must have been 3 or 4 and they were with the parents and another brood as more than 8 in total alarming over the stream.
Thu 20th driving to Midlands, lots of stresses trees and fair few succumbed. Most of the dead ones are smaller ones (under 10 years), a good percentage changed colour (gold, brown or yellow).
Sun 23rd LL: H Martin colony Lauderdale Close area just past Cherwell park, quite a few birds in the air and saw nests under the deep eaves of 2 houses (seemingly lots of similar sites available).
Wed 26th middle Apple tree again shedding (it did during the early July heatwave), so I gave it some water even though the forecast is for a good inch tomorrow!
Late month Beech mast from Copper by school very early.
Local history
Lady at S Forestry came by on horseback as we were exploring down the pronounced wide old track (presumed) in the NW corner just above the main road. She said it is a former drove road and that the NRW own the stretch I was on but past the next gate it was her property called Cader Inn (for the drovers). She told me a lot of interesting things about the local drove road network. She said back where my car was parked by the main gate was called Kings Cross it sounded like the drove continued ahead where the field is now to the cottage then the main rd (100 yards away). There was another drove called Williams road nearby, while the main road only came about it seemed about 1900 (this drove supposedly being the previous main road). Past her place she said was a ruin called Tal y Bont that may have been a toll house. The drove road came down from Llanybydder mountain and went to Llandovery (thence London?). The lane to Parc y Rhos was one as was the once to Esgairdawe somewhere along one of these was a place called Wem where the stone markers were still in place (she said there were markers too on her land).
Summary August 2026
Warm or very warm, rainfall highly variable ranging from very dry to wet, sunshine average to sunny.
Most of Wales below average, Midlands variable.
Temperatures 1 or 2c above average WW and 2 or 3c above Mids.
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