Climate Data and Brief Summary for Spring 2003

Last updated 4th July 2003

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

SCREEN TEMPERATURES °c
                                        Anomaly*       Date
Mean                        9.0	  +1.4
Mean Maximum               13.3          +2.1
Mean Minimum                4.8          +0.8
High Maximum               26.1                        31st May (HIGH RECORD)
Low Minimum                -3.4                        10th April
Low Maximum                 5.9                        13th March
High Minimum               13.9                        30th May
Low Grass                  -6.1                        10th April
Air Frosts                  12           +1
Ground Frosts               28           -5 
Hours of Frost             39.0

Barometric pressure, 24 hour observations (mbar)
Mean                      1016.7        +2.1
Maximum                   1040.2                       16th March                               
Minimum                    992.9                       28th April

PRECIPITATION (mm)
Total                      164.8        -14.3                                           
Rain days (0.2mm or more)   38           -8                                            
Wet days (1.0mm or more)    28           -5
Maximum Fall                13.4                       22nd May
Rainfall duration (hrs.)   108.4
 
SUNSHINE

Sun Hours                  492.1       +117.2	       (HIGH RECORD)
Maximum day                 13.2                       30th May
Nil Sun Days                 4

HUMIDITY %

Mean                        77.1
Dry days (60% or less)      60                                                  

WIND (mph)

24hour mean                  5.4
09.00 mean                   5.8
Maximum gust                39.0                      9th March
%North                       2.2
%North East                  1.1
%East                        2.2
%South East                 33.2
%South                      10.9
%South West                 21.0
%West                       15.2
%North West                 13.0
%Calm                        1.2
Hours of calm              201.0

MISCELLANEOUS

Days with:

Sleet/Snow                   0           -7           (LOW RECORD)   
Snow lying (09.00)           0           -3
Maximum depth (cm)           0.0                          
Total snow depth (cm)        0.0
Hail                         6            0
Thunder                      3            0
Fog (09.00)                  3           -1

Brief summary of the month:
Spring 2003 was the warmest on record (1960-2003) with the highest maximum
temperature of 26.1c recorded on the 31st May. No snow fell for the first time
since records began. It was the sunniest on record (1969-2003) with almost 500 
hours of sunshine. Despite having below average rainfall it was the wettest 
since 2001. To sum up, it was a rather dry, very sunny and rather warm Spring.

All data taken at 220 metres above sea level


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