Climate Data and Brief Summary for April 2003

Last updated 13th May 2003

*Anomalies are based on averages for the period 1971-2000

SCREEN TEMPERATURES °c
                                        Anomaly*       Date
Mean                        9.2          +2.1
Mean Maximum               13.7          +2.9
Mean Minimum                4.7          +1.2
High Maximum               24.3                        16th (RECORD)
Low Minimum                -3.4                        10th
Low Maximum                 6.1                        10th
High Minimum               10.1                        14th
Low Grass                  -6.1                        10th
Air Frosts                   4            0
Ground Frosts                7           -4
Hours of Frost             16.0

Barometric pressure, 24 hour observations (mbar)
Mean                      1015.9         +1.7
Maximum                   1033.9                        5th                               
Minimum                    992.9                       28th

PRECIPITATION (mm)
Total                       49.4          -6.4                                          
Rain days (0.2mm or more)    9            -5                                            
Wet days (1.0mm or more)     7            -3 
Maximum Fall                11.9                       21st
Rainfall duration (hrs.)    31.8
 
SUNSHINE

Sun Hours                  180.1         +56.5
Maximum day                 12.8                       16th
Nil Sun Days                 0

HUMIDITY %

Mean                        73.3
Dry days (60% or less)      23                                                  

WIND (mph)

24hour mean                  5.6
09.00 mean                   5.4
Maximum gust                36.0                       27th 
%North                       3
%North East                  3
%East                        3
%South East                 47
%South                      10
%South West                 10
%West                       10
%North West                 10
%Calm                        4
Hours of calm               75.5

MISCELLANEOUS

Days with:

Sleet/Snow                   0           -3
Snow lying (09.00)           0           -1
Maximum depth (cm)           0.0   
Total snow depth (cm)        0.0
Hail                         1
Thunder                      1
Fog (09.00)                  0

Brief summary of the month:
April 2003 was another month with temperatures well above average, with the 16th 
recording the highest April maximum on record. It was in fact the warmest April since
1987. Rainfall totals were just below average with 89%, making this the driest April 
since 1997. Sunshine totals were well above normal with 146%, the sunniest since 
1984 and the second sunniest on record. To sum up, it was a rather dry, sunny and 
warm month.  


All data taken at 220 metres above sea level


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