April was a surprise departure from the mild months as colder second half completely undid the very mild first half of the month which is a rare event these days. Rainfall was again above normal with rain falling on most days. The month features one named storm although several other events could also have been named. The only named storm was Kathleen on the 6th to 7Th of April.
The month started on a mild note and continued this theme for the 1st 14 days with the warmest days 18.2C and 18C on the 6th and 11th respectively. The only time double digits wasn't reached was the 9th when 9.5C was the high. Night time temperatures were well above normal with 10.7C being the low on the 6th and 10.3C on the 12th. The weather started to cool down from the 15th and march from being well above normal to average started. The 15th saw the 2nd of three days which didn't reach double figures with 9.2C. Night turned colder with 0.7C being the low on 18th and then 0.1C on the 26th, the coldest night of the month and 0.7C on the 27th. The coldest day was on the 22nd when 8.4C was the high otherwise temperatures remained in the lower double figures. Showers brought temperatures down fairly quickly one day being 5.7C at lunchtime for example. temperatures started to recover slowly from the 28th but this was too late to push the final figure much above average.
The month was a very wet month with most days seeing rainfall at some point. The wettest days were the 4th, 15th and xxth when 11.4mm fell, 10.2mm and then xxmm. There were only xx days where rain didn't fall and only four days with a trace condition. Rainfall every day between the 1st and the 11th then again between the 13th to the xxth. Most of the time the amounts were small which was why the final total wasn't higher than it was with most of the months rain falling in the 1st half.
Sleet did manage to fall briefly on the 15th as a cold front cleared to the south east and showers fell as sleet before the temperatures recovered. Otherwise there wasn't any wintry precipitation.
The month failed to feature any thunderstorms.
The month features one named storm, Kathleen which managed to produce a max gust of 49mph on the 6th and 48 mph on the 7th. An unnamed system brought winds up to 47mph on the 15th.
May looks to continue in same theme of unsettled weather with rain, showers and sunny spells at times into the first week of the month. For the second week rainfall amounts look set to get less as it turns cooler. The cooler weather with some cold nights looks set to last past the 1st half of the month and could well last through the 2nd half of the month depending on the wind direction which will be from the E mostly. This will be due to northly blocking with high pressure to the N and low to the S. Slight alterations in the location of the high will dictate a ESE flow which will bring in warmer air from the continent or a slightly cool ENE breeze. Since the high will be closer rainfall is likely to be average to just below. Temperatures close to average. Sunshine below average as E tend to pull in cloud form the N sea at this time of year.
| April's Averages, Highs and Lows | ||
|---|---|---|
| Average Temp 8.8C | Last Months Average 8.7C | Difference from average -0.1C |
| Average Max Temp 13.3C | Last Months Average 12.7C | Difference from average -0.6C |
| Average Min Temp 4.4C | Last Months Average 4.7C | Difference From Average 0.3C |
| High Max 19.7C on the 30th | Low Max 8.4C on the 22nd | Highest Daily Range 14.7C on the 11th and 30th |
| High Min 10.7C on the 6th | Low Min 0.1C on the 26th | Lowest Daily Range 2.5C on the 15th |
| Number of Air Frosts 0 | Days of Thunder 0 | Days of Snow 0 |
| Days of Measurable Rain 23 Days | Days of Rain with trace 4 Days | Days with Gusts ≥ 50 mph 0 days |
| Average Rainfall 60.6mm | This Months Average 84.5mm | Percentage of Average Rainfall 150.6% |