April 2006 Summaries

[Andy Bown]

These are my details for Westbury, Wiltshire. Please add your own stats for April 2006.

Average max = 12.8c (highest : 18c on 22nd)

Average min = 4.3c (lowest : -3c on 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th + 10th)

Mean = 8.55c (0.31c cooler than 2005, 0.75c cooler than 2004)

Dry days = 18

Precipitation days = 13 (inc. hail on 2 days)

Rainfall = 27.5mm

Looking at the previous Aprils I have recorded the temp was below average, but by only around half a degree. The frosts were all -3c and all came within a week, there were many days of 12-14c max and 4-6c min.

Rainfall was 51mm less than 2005! However after 4 months of this year there has been 194mm, this is only 7mm less than at the same stage last year.

Edited May 1, 2006 by Andy Bown

[johnholmes]

My April data

The values in brackets refer to the Finningley data, approx 1942-1995 and my own in Cantley from January 1997 onwards.

Average Max=13.6C (12.6C) with absolute max of 19.0C on 27th

Average Min=4.8C (3.9C) with lowest overnight min of -1.5C on 5th

The coldest day was on the 9th at 7.4C

Mean temp=9.2C (8.3C)

Rainfall total was 24.6mm (41.5mm) with the most in a day (Davis=00-24 NOT 09-09) =5.8mm on 19th.

There were 19 days with rain of any amount (09-09) and 17 days with =/> 0.2mm and 6 days with =/>1mm.

Snow fell on 1 day and soft hail (graupel) on 2 days. Average snow falling days=2 and lying=1

Air frosts=2(4) and ground frost=8(11).

I described the month as another above average month with below average rainfall; a cold spell from 4-10th with Mean temp=5.6C

John

Ps

Can I make a plea to everyone; that the results for your site are entered in much the same chronological order? It then makes it easier to do comparisons rather than looking all over the post.

Many thanks

Edited May 1, 2006 by johnholmes

[Summer of '47]

April was only the 3rd out of the last 19 months with above average rainfall (112% of normal). Half of the month's rainfall fell in one 24 hour period when a passing cold front stalled over a localised area of E Surrey, W Kent and E Sussex; and that included a short lived 3cm snowfall (up to 15cm fell in Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough). Otherwise the month was typically showery with slightly above average temperatures. Sunshine was probably just slightly below average (considerably down from 2005) despite a sunny start to the month. By the end of April the max temp for 2006 here had (just) failed to reach 20ºC, but only for the first year since 2001.

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Highest max: 19.7 ºC on 21st

Lowest max: 8.0 ºC on 11th

Lowest min: -0.7 ºC on 11th

Highest min: 9.7 ºC on 1st

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Average max: 13.7 ºC (0.1 ºC ABOVE average*)

Average min: 5.7 ºC (0.6 ºC ABOVE average*)

Monthly mean: 9.2 ºC

Air frosts: 2

High THW Heat Index: 18.4 ºC (21st)

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Rain: 61.5 mm (112% of average*)

Wettest day: 15.7mm 10th

Rain Days (measurable ): 15 (9 with =>1.0mm)

High Rain Rate: 22.1 mm/hr (1st)

Snow Cover: approx 0.5 days, 3cm (am, 10th)

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Wind Speed: high gust 28mph, 13th

Wind Direction: SSW Dominant then N then W then NNW

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High Barometer: 1026.1 hPa (27th)

Low Barometer: 1002.2 hPa (15th)

Mean Barometer: 1014.5 hPa

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Lowest RH%: 23% (6th)

Lowest DP: -8.5 ºC (6th)

Highest DP: 10.7 ºC (23rd)

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Sunshine: 77.8 hours calculated with limited sensor exposure, estimate 135 - 145 hrs actual monthly total ( a little below average)

Sunniest Day: was 6th with 7.2 hrs recorded, probably >11 hrs actual.

* average at this site 1984 - 2005

Full monthly stats here: http://www.tonbridge-weather.org.uk/2006/apr2006.htm

[Polar Continental]

April 2006 Report.

With westerly winds for the first few days, April begun typically with April showers and bright sunshine at times, by the 4th winds veered more north westerly bringing colder weather and the odd wintry shower to Burton, a couple of frosts were also noted during the overnight periods. This cold showery weather intensified and continued for the next week with frost by night and heavy hail, rain sleet and snow showers, these were particularly noticeable on the 9th, although the temperatures managed 8c during the morning, temperatures fell rapidly in the showers and for much of that afternoon, the temperature hovered around 1c or 2c as the showers were very frequent and heavy.

By the 11th the temperature begun to pick up as winds backed more westerly, but this only herald the approach of low pressure from the Atlantic and a period of rain and strong westerly winds followed, the unsettled conditions continued until the 13th On the 14th (Good Friday) a weak ridge of high pressure gave Burton a beautiful sunny day, although the temperature only managed 13c, with lighter winds and strong sunshine it felt very pleasant indeed. The next couple of days through Easter were fairly quiet with bright periods and sunshine and average temperatures.

Easter Monday saw a bright start, but a deterioration set in early with heavy showers moving in to Burton by mid morning, this a result of low pressure and its associated fronts moving through the area, this was to set the theme for the rest of the week which saw heavy rain at times.

On the 22nd a ridge of high pressure pushed up from the Azores, this produced more settled conditions with a little sunshine and average temperatures. By the 25th temperatures were getting in to the warm category with the help of more good sunny periods, the temperature here in Burton managed a very pleasant 17c. The Azores high kept the fine weather going until the 29th when it moved away westward as pressure began to fall to the northwest, so the month ended rather cool and cloudy.

Summary

A typical start to April with showery conditions and bright sunshine, but also on the cold side with frost frequent during the first week, sleet hail and snow was also noted here in Burton on the 9th, although the mean temperature came in above average, daytime temperatures were only slightly above for short periods, infact most of April here felt decidedly cool, the above average figure was mainly a result of a long run of mild cloudy nights from the 13th.

Average maximum temperature = 12.1c

Average minimum temperature = 5.9c

Mean temperature = 9.02c + 0.92 Above the CET average.

Warmest day on the 25th = 17.3c

Coldest day on the 4th = 7.2c

Warmest night on the 25th = 11.1c

Coldest night on the 5th = -2.8c

Ground Frosts = 4

Air frost = 3

Days of snow = 1

Days of lying snow = 0

Rainfall total = 36 mm

Paul

[Osbourne One-Nil]

Just a quicky from me tonight (sorry girls).

Highest daily maximum 15.4º (15th)

Lowest daily maximum 6.0º (9th)

Lowest daily minimum -4.1º (5th)

Highest daily minimum 6.4º (16th aka my birthday)

Mean temperature 6.9º

Rainfall 36.6mm

[Scribbler]

My summary for April in Taunton.

Average maximum temperature = 16.6C

Average minimum temperature = 4.7C

Mean temperature = 10.70C or 2.60C above average.

Warmest day on the 27th = 23.3C

Coldest day on the 11th = 11.9C

Warmest night on the 25th = 10.0C

Coldest night on the 5th = -3.1C

Ground Frosts = 7

Air frost = 3

Rainfall total = 17 mm

Rainy Days = 6

Disclaimer

I do accept that…....

My garden faces south – but it’s a large garden.

It is sheltered – but my thermometers are suitably placed and shielded.

I do not have an automated weather station – but I do make regular check-ups.

I am not infallible – but I do my best.

[reef]

Hedon, East Yorkshire.

April 2006

Warmest Max: 17.4°C (on 25/04/06)

Coldest Max: 7.2°C (on 09/04/06)

Warmest Min: 8.0°C (on 27/04/06)

Coldest Min: -0.1°C (on 05/04/06 & 10/04/06)

Average Max: 12.74°C (+1.24°C Above 1971-2000 Average)

Average Min: 4.52°C (+0.02°C Above 1971-2000 Average)

Overall Average: 8.63°C (+0.63°C Above 1971-2000 Average)

Rain: 27.8mm (66% Of Normal)

Wettest Day: 2nd & 19th (4.6mm)

Air Frosts: 2

Days with Snow: 1

Snow lying at 0900: 0 days

Dry Days: 10

Wet Days: 20

Days With Rain >1.0mm: 11

Thunderstorms: 2

Year 2006 So Far (Jan - Apr)

Warmest Max: 17.7°C (on 26/03/06)

Coldest Max: 2.1°C (on 01/02/06)

Warmest Min: 9.9°C (on 27/03/06)

Coldest Min: -5.4°C (on 03/03/06)

Average Max: 8.84°C (+0.04°C Above Running 1971-2000 Average)

Average Min: 2.65°C (Equal to Running 1971-2000 Average)

Overall Average: 5.75°C (+0.02°C Above Running 1971-2000 Average)

Rain: 146.1mm (83% Of Normal)

Wettest Day: 30/03/06 (8.8mm)

Air Frosts: 21

Days With Snow: 11

Snow lying at 0900: 3 days

Dry Days: 45

Wet Days: 75

Days With Rain >1.0mm: 43

Thunderstorms: 2

An unremarkable month, aside from being very sunny and rather dry there were very few extremes. Most of the precipitation fell in shower-form, meaning that despite 20 days recording rainfall, totals only made 66% of the monthly average. As expected with this setup, the dominant wind direction was north-westerly.

Although temperature extremes were rare, there was a cold spell in the 2nd week and a milder period during the last week. During the colder spell, the maxima were only 7.2°C and 8.8°C on the 9th and 10th. The last week had some pleasant days, but the high maxima of 17.4°C on the 25th is the lowest monthly April maximum temperature Ive ever recorded, and also lower than March 2006 (17.7°C).

Temperatures on the whole were above average, but it was still the coldest April since 2001. Aside from a few snow showers late on the 4th, it was an almost completely snowless month. Like last year, there were two air frosts, but these were rather light, reaching a minimum of only -0.1°C on both occasions.