*Archive:* Daily weather statistics and Daily BBC Reviews

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By Jay Wynne

Some sun and not much rain

Overnight into the 13th May 2004 there was a good deal of dry but rather cloudy weather. Cloud amounts were quite variable and temperatures were held up where it lingered. Where the skies were that bit clearer, such as Leconfield (Lincolnshire), it got a little chilly with temperatures down to just 2C (36F).

The thicker cloud in northern and western Scotland brought some light rain and drizzle, Lusa (Isle of Skye) turned out to be the wettest place with just 2.3 mm of rain. A little bit of rain also crept into the far north of Northern Ireland but none of it lasted too long.

As things became dry there was still a good deal of cloud around, particularly in Northern Ireland, but even here we saw some sunny spells through the afternoon. Central and Eastern Scotland saw a few, mostly light, showers during the second half of the day and some of these continued into the evening. There were also a few further spots of rain late in the day for Northern Ireland and some of the Western Isles.

For England and Wales there was a little early mist which soon cleared away then it was a case of some warm sunshine for some and quite a bit of cloud for others. The best of the sunshine was in Herne Bay (Kent) where 9.7 hours were recorded but the highest temperatures were to be found further north. Leeming (North Yorkshire) enjoyed some sunshine and with 18C (64F) was the warmest spot in the UK. Quite a contrast when compared to temperatures in Cromer (Norfolk) just 10C (50F) here with cloudy skies and a bit of a breeze coming in off the North Sea.

There were a few light showers in the far northeast of England during the evening but generally it was a dry end to the day.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 14-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

London MET 5 metres 21.0°C

Gravesend 3 metres 20.7°C

Coningsby 7 metres 20.5°C

Leeming 40 metres 20.5°C

Disforth 36 metres 20.4°C

Linton-On-Ouse 16 metres 20.4°C

London/Heathrow 24 metres 20.3°C

Charlwood 80 metres 20.2°C

Aberdeen/Dyce 65 metres 20.1°C

Boulmer 23 metres 20.0°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Altnaharra 81 metres 0.2°C

Loch Glascarnoch 265 metres 2.2°C

Sennybridge 309 metres 3.0°C

Pembrey Sands 3 metres 3.3°C

Wick 39 metres 3.7°C

Aboyne 140 metres 4.0°C

Tain Range 4 metres 4.0°C

Trawscoed 63 metres 5.3°C

Stornoway 9 metres 5.4°C

Manston 55 metres 5.5°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Baltasound 15 metres 7.4mm

Lerwick 82 metres 6.0mm

Sella Ness 7 metres 6.0mm

Tiree 12 metres 3.0mm

Fair Isle 59 metres 2.0mm

Barra 3 metres 1.2mm

Skye/Lusa 18 metres 1.2mm

Kirkwall 21 metres 1.0mm

Leconfield 0 metres 1.0mm

Leeming 40 metres 1.0mm

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By Sarah Wilmshurst

A warm bright day for many

What a difference cloud cover makes at this time of year. As the sun gets stronger it has a huge effect on how the weather feels - and of course how warm it gets! That's what it has been like again today - for many of us it has been very pleasant with spells of warm sunshine, for others though there has been a lot of cloud and it has been quite chilly.

There was some patchy drizzle, mist and fog first thing; the visibility was as low as 100 metres in Bournemouth for example, but apart from some coastal fog in the west which lasted on and off all day all the murk had lifted by 9 o clock. And it was quite a chilly morning in some places, even a touch of frost in one or two prone locations - Altnaharra in Highland had a lowest temperature of 0C (32F).

Many of us had another taste of early summer today as the sun came out and the temperature rose. Southern England had the warmest and sunniest weather on the whole. Torquay in Devon had 12.4 hours of sunshine, and the temperature in London climbed to 21C (70F).

Most of England and Wales had a dry day, but late in the afternoon a shower developed in the East Midlands. It was not a heavy shower but with just light winds it did not move very quickly. For those stuck under this shower it was not a very nice end to the day, although for many of us the evening turned out to be pretty decent.

Scotland and Northern Ireland did not have quite such a pleasant day on the whole, although Eastern Scotland and the eastern side of Northern Ireland did have some warm sun. It was really the North that caught most of the cloud, and the rain too. The temperature in Lerwick (Shetland) only got up to 10C (50F) - what a difference from last weekend! And a third of an inch of rain fell in Baltasound (7.6mm), this is also in Shetland.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 15-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Aboyne 140 metres 22.8°C

Cardiff Weather Centre 9 metres 22.4°C

Charlwood 80 metres 22.2°C

London MET 5 metres 21.9°C

London/Heathrow 24 metres 21.9°C

Boscombe Down 124 metres 21.7°C

Farnborough 65 metres 21.6°C

Gravesend 3 metres 21.6°C

Yeovilton 23 metres 21.6°C

Redhill 63 metres 21.4°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Sennybridge 309 metres 3.2°C

Trawscoed 63 metres 3.7°C

Aboyne 140 metres 4.3°C

Shawbury 76 metres 4.6°C

Pembrey Sands 3 metres 4.9°C

Benson 63 metres 5.2°C

Redhill 63 metres 5.5°C

Yeovilton 23 metres 5.6°C

Bournemouth 11 metres 5.9°C

Cardinham 200 metres 6.6°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Baltasound 15 metres 1.0mm

Lerwick 82 metres 1.0mm

Valentia 9 metres 0.7mm

Skye/Lusa 18 metres 0.6mm

Preswick rn 6 metres 0.4mm

Stornoway 9 metres 0.4mm

Fair Isle 59 metres 0.3mm

Ballycastle 68 metres 0.2mm

Ballypatrick Forest 156 metres 0.2mm

Benson 63 metres 0.2mm

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By Louise Lear

A taste of Summer across the UK

For many this morning it was a dry, clear start. There was a little coastal mist and fog particularly along the Cornish and Channel coasts and some thicker cloud and drizzle to the extreme north and west of Scotland.

It was a relatively mild start to the day as well with many people waking to a temperature ranging between 8 and 11 degrees Celsius, the lowest overnight value was 3 C in Sennybridge, Powys.

For mainland Scotland it was a simple west, east split. For much of the day the extreme northwest had a fair amount of cloud where as Aboyne in Aberdeenshire reached a high of 23C, 73F under clear blue skies, the highest day maximum across the country. The Lowest day max today was Fair Isle between Shetland and Orkney with 10C, 50F and Lerwick had the most rain 1.8mm.

In England and Wales it was a little more complicated, a sunny start for many developed into a partially cloudy day and I'm sure at times some what disappointing, particularly in Greater Manchester. Cloud cover for the east Midlands and much of Eastern England tended to come and go throughout the afternoon, dispersing somewhat to give a pleasant evening.

Ultimately it was a day of contrasts, the Isle of Scilly stayed in and out of fog and temperatures struggled to climb above 13C but Falmouth in Cornwall had the highest sunshine today with 13.4 hours. Further east holiday makers probably wondered why they were boarding a plane as Heathrow saw it's highest day maximum of this year with a high of 21.9C, 72F, this may surprise a few as there was a fair amount of cloud around from time to time across the Capital.

All in all it was a reasonable day and a pleasant evening with no doubt the smell of barbecue smoke and freshly cut grass lingering across the country. Don't worry if you haven't done either of these today, tomorrow promises to be even sunnier and warmer for most.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 16-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Cardiff Weather Centre 9 metres 23.4°C

Charlwood 80 metres 23.3°C

Great Malvern 46 metres 23.1°C

Northolt 40 metres 23.1°C

Chivenor 8 metres 22.9°C

London MET 5 metres 22.9°C

Shobdon 99 metres 22.9°C

Yeovilton 23 metres 22.9°C

Aboyne 140 metres 22.8°C

Church Fenton 9 metres 22.8°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Shap 249 metres 3.2°C

Capel Curig 216 metres 4.2°C

Redesdale 207 metres 4.6°C

Eskdalemuir 242 metres 4.8°C

Trawscoed 63 metres 4.8°C

Redhill 63 metres 5.2°C

Pembrey Sands 3 metres 5.3°C

Keswick 81 metres 5.4°C

Aboyne 140 metres 5.8°C

Llanbedr 0 metres 5.8°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Lerwick 82 metres 1.0mm

Sella Ness 7 metres 0.6mm

Kenley 170 metres 0.2mm

Scilly, St.Marys 31 metres 0.2mm

Skye/Lusa 18 metres 0.2mm

Stornoway 9 metres 0.2mm

Aberdaron 95 metres 0.0mm

Aberdeen/Dyce 65 metres 0.0mm

Aberporth 133 metres 0.0mm

Aboyne 140 metres 0.0mm

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By Louise Lear

Sunniest weekend of the year so far!

'Oh the sun has got its hat on, hip, hip, hip, hooray'.

That's probably the song most of you sang today. The weather could not have timed itself more perfectly this weekend, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures a good three or four degrees above average for this time of year.

Pretty much the whole of the country woke to gin-clear skies and beautiful May sunshine. The main exception was the Northern and Western Isles, the far northwest of the Highlands and Northern Ireland but even here the cloud nudged slowly back toward the Atlantic leaving just the extreme north and west on the dull side. There was hardly any rain from it but Lerwick in Shetland did record 1.6mm, the most across the country.

A little cloud did develop towards lunchtime around the southeast of England but as temperatures were already at 22C this probably came as a welcome relief, providing a little shade for a lazy lunch. Highest values today were recorded in Saunton Sands Devon with a high of 24C, 75F, but the most sunshine was to the north in Scotland, Leuchars in Fife had nearly 15 hours (14.8 to be precise).

A beautiful evening was had by all; no doubt the supermarket shelves had been stripped of barbecue goodies in preparation for a good night.

The night started mild and calm but the cloud continued to thicken in the far northwest of Scotland producing a little light rain and drizzle.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 17-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

London MET 5 metres 24.8°C

London/Heathrow 24 metres 24.5°C

Gravesend 3 metres 24.3°C

Northolt 40 metres 24.0°C

Charlwood 80 metres 23.9°C

Redhill 63 metres 23.9°C

Odiham 123 metres 23.8°C

Great Malvern 46 metres 23.6°C

Wainfleet 5 metres 23.5°C

Farnborough 65 metres 23.3°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Redhill 63 metres 3.0°C

Eskdalemuir 242 metres 5.8°C

Redesdale 207 metres 5.8°C

Charlwood 80 metres 5.9°C

Gravesend 3 metres 6.4°C

Shoeburyness 2 metres 6.6°C

Bournemouth 11 metres 6.8°C

Benson 63 metres 6.9°C

Farnborough 65 metres 7.0°C

Pershore 32 metres 7.0°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Skye/Lusa 18 metres 7.0mm

South Uist Range 10 metres 5.0mm

Aultbea 11 metres 4.0mm

Barra 3 metres 4.0mm

Tiree 12 metres 4.0mm

Tulloch Bridge 237 metres 3.0mm

Stornoway 9 metres 2.2mm

Loch Glascarnoch 265 metres 2.0mm

Lerwick 82 metres 1.0mm

Aviemore 220 metres 0.8mm

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By Everton Fox

A taste of summer in May

Monday the 17th May was a beautiful day for much of the United Kingdom with long spells of strong sunshine. It also proved to be the warmest day of the year so far for some parts of southern England and Wales.

The day began on a chilly note across the southern half of the UK. Clear skies allowed the temperature to dip as low as 3C (37F) in Redhill in Surrey and there were a few mist and fog patches around early in the day. These did not last long once the sun got to work. However as has been the case over the last few days sea mist did flirt with some Irish Sea coasts from time to time.

Further north, the skies were heavy with cloud across parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland. During the early hours outbreaks of rain developed across northwest Scotland and that slipped southeastwards during the day, petering out in the process allowing clearer skies to follow on behind. The Western Isles had the wettest weather. Lusa on the Isle of Skye was the wettest place with 3.4mm (0.15 inches) rain.

Scotland also provided the coolest weather of the day. The temperature struggled to reach 11C (52F) in Sella Ness in the Shetland Isles. At the other end of the UK, London and Cardiff had their warmest day of the year so far with highs of 25C (77F) and 23C (73F) respectively. The London value topping the temperature league table of the day.

Much of England and Wales had long spells of strong sunshine. Margate in Kent had the best of the sun with 14.5 hours of sunshine.

There was little change during the evening with clear spells for much of England and Wales as thickening cloud brought patchy drizzle into the far northwest of Scotland.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 18-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

London MET 5 metres 23.9°C

London/Heathrow 24 metres 23.3°C

Charterhall 112 metres 23.0°C

Gravesend 3 metres 23.0°C

Odiham 123 metres 22.7°C

Northolt 40 metres 22.5°C

Redhill 63 metres 22.5°C

Boscombe Down 124 metres 22.3°C

Farnborough 65 metres 22.3°C

Great Malvern 46 metres 22.1°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Shap 249 metres 0.9°C

West Freugh 12 metres 1.5°C

Lough Fea 225 metres 3.2°C

Keswick 81 metres 3.3°C

Castlederg 51 metres 3.8°C

Topcliffe 25 metres 3.8°C

Glenanne 161 metres 3.9°C

Valentia 9 metres 4.0°C

Warcop 227 metres 4.0°C

Sennybridge 309 metres 4.2°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Baltasound 15 metres 9.0mm

Sella Ness 7 metres 8.0mm

Skye/Lusa 18 metres 8.0mm

Aultbea 11 metres 4.0mm

Lerwick 82 metres 2.8mm

Fair Isle 59 metres 2.6mm

Tiree 12 metres 2.2mm

Altnaharra 81 metres 2.0mm

Tulloch Bridge 237 metres 2.0mm

Kirkwall 21 metres 1.6mm

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By Susan Powell

Summer sun a winner for some....

Well alright then, it might not be to everyones taste but it was working wonders for me...

First day back at work for me today after a weeks holiday. Ohh you poor thing I hear you cry - but you may well have the last laugh!

Having packed my bikini and boarded a plane only a week ago to head to Mallorca with a smug grin on my face for the early dose of summer in store for me I hit the tarmac in Palma to gale force winds and several buckets of rain...

On calling home though, true to form, the UK had begun to sizzle and it would seem there has been little let up yet...

At least then it was a gentle break back in to the UK to arrive to a mild and dry night at Gatwick. Indeed for many parts of England and Wales temperatures didn't fall below double figures overnight - London only falling to fairly sticky 14C.

Scotland and Northern Ireland were however somewhat cooler - there was even an air frost at Katesbridge in County Down where the mercury dipped to -1C (30F).

For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, following the clear spells overnight, the day got of to a very sunny start. There were though just one or two exceptions to the crystal blue skies and they were to be found around the coasts of Devon and Cornwall where stray patches of sea fog drifted in from time to time. Torquay however stayed in the clear and totted up a total of 14.4 hours of sunshine.

For me sitting on my balcony trying to top up the 'Med wash out tan' in London the sun was doing a very respectable job and certainly it got to work on the temperatures. Central London was the days hot spot - the top temperature here 24C (75F).

The day however had far more mixed fortures for Scotland. For many there was a good deal of cloud around - especially in the west where it was also raining too. The soggiest spot was to be found on Shetland at Baltasound with a total of 9.4mm (0.37inches) of rain. The grey damp scene also held the temperatures back - Lerwick only made a high of 10C (50F). Ahh - it almost takes me back to last Tuesday...

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 19-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Tain Range 4 metres 30.0°C

London MET 5 metres 25.3°C

Gravesend 3 metres 24.9°C

Charlwood 80 metres 24.2°C

Redhill 63 metres 24.2°C

London/Heathrow 24 metres 23.9°C

Northolt 40 metres 23.8°C

Great Malvern 46 metres 23.7°C

Shobdon 99 metres 23.5°C

Farnborough 65 metres 23.4°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Trawscoed 63 metres 4.7°C

Redhill 63 metres 5.1°C

Benson 63 metres 5.6°C

Wick 39 metres 6.2°C

Baltasound 15 metres 6.3°C

Shoreham 2 metres 6.6°C

Loch Glascarnoch 265 metres 6.7°C

Yeovilton 23 metres 6.7°C

Lerwick 82 metres 6.8°C

Pembrey Sands 3 metres 6.8°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Fair Isle 59 metres 5.3mm

Baltasound 15 metres 5.0mm

Lerwick 82 metres 5.0mm

Sella Ness 7 metres 4.4mm

Kirkwall 21 metres 3.0mm

Tain Range 4 metres 3.0mm

Stornoway 9 metres 2.8mm

Tulloch Bridge 237 metres 2.8mm

Aultbea 11 metres 2.2mm

Skye/Lusa 18 metres 2.2mm

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By Penny Tranter

Another hot one for southern Britain

Wednesday was another hot one for southern Britain. Again there was virtually no cloud across south England and south Wales giving wall to wall strong summery sunshine with temperatures soaring into the 20's Celsius for many. Central London took the honours once again though with a hot high of 25 degrees Celsius/77 F, while just down the road in Eastbourne in East Sussex we had 14.7 hours of sunshine. High pollen counts were the bane for hay fever sufferers, but relief was to be found again on the coasts due to sea breezes bringing in cleaner air. Those sea breezes also kept coasts a little cooler, and also brought in a little sea fog to the Channel Is and the coasts of Cornwall, Devon and Pembrokeshire.

Further north it was a very different story. A band of fragmented cloud across Scotland and Northern Ireland gave a little rain before dawn and into the morning. As it moved away, cooler and brighter weather came from the north in these areas, with a scattering of blustery showers, primarily over Northern Scotland. The rain and showers did not amount to much, but 6mm was measured at Lerwick in Shetland making it the wettest spot in the UK on Wednesday. In the cooler northerly wind Sella Ness in Shetland was the coolest place during the day with just 9 degrees Celsius/48F.

For north England and north Wales clear spells in the early hours of the morning led to a chilly dawn in parts of central Wales. Trawscoed in Ceredigion had a temperature low of 5 degrees Celsius/41 F making it the coolest spot. The morning brought sunny spells, but the cloud increased during the day, with the odd spot of rain on it. By late Wednesday evening, this band of cloud had reached central parts of England and Wales, and by this time all the rain had fizzled out.

For the next few days it will be much cooler and cloudier, especially across southern Britain, with a fair number of showers. But roll on the weekend, as the dry weather will return with some warm sunshine, although not as hot as of late….

Related Links: BBC - Climate Change

BBC Devon

BBC Weather Feature - Heat Effects

Global Warming

Met Office Feature - UK Climate and weather statistics

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 20-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Charlwood 80 metres 22.4°C

Bournemouth 11 metres 22.2°C

Northolt 40 metres 22.1°C

London MET 5 metres 22.0°C

London/Heathrow 24 metres 21.7°C

Thorney Island 4 metres 21.7°C

Farnborough 65 metres 21.6°C

Plymouth Wc 50 metres 21.6°C

Odiham 123 metres 21.5°C

Solent M.R.S.C. 9 metres 21.4°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Lerwick 82 metres 2.7°C

Kirkwall 21 metres 2.9°C

Sella Ness 7 metres 3.0°C

Baltasound 15 metres 3.2°C

Shap 249 metres 3.3°C

Spadeadam 285 metres 3.6°C

Redesdale 207 metres 3.8°C

Aboyne 140 metres 4.1°C

Stornoway 9 metres 4.1°C

Charterhall 112 metres 4.2°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Altnaharra 81 metres 14.0mm

Thorney Island 4 metres 13.0mm

Shoreham 2 metres 9.0mm

Aboyne 140 metres 8.0mm

Kinloss 7 metres 8.0mm

Aberdeen/Dyce 65 metres 7.2mm

Tain Range 4 metres 7.0mm

Tulloch Bridge 237 metres 7.0mm

Inverbervie 134 metres 6.0mm

Lossiemouth 13 metres 5.0mm

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By Jo Farrow

Last of the heat erupts in the southeast for May 20th

Much of the UK continued to be in cooler air filtering its way down from the north. However, southern England held onto the warmth for an extra day. There weren't the blue skies and sunshine of earlier in the week but it was a sweaty and humid day. The top temperature was 23 Celsius (73F) in Bournemouth, Dorset.

For southern England, it was a murky start for parts of Cornwall and Devon with mist and fog along the coasts first thing. Many of the southern counties started off fine and sunny but the cloud began to increase during the morning. By lunchtime the skies were beginning to look more ominous in West Sussex. From east Hampshire through Sussex into Kent there were several cracking thunderstorms during the afternoon and into the evening. These storms hardly moved from some spots and the Met Office rain gauges picked up around 15mm of rain for Shoreham and Thorney Island in just 2 hours.

To the north of this humid, warm air over much of the UK were cooler conditions. Baltasound in Shetland only managed 8 Celsius (46F). The segregating cold front manifested itself in a line of cloud from Wales across to the Wash with early showers for Lincolnshire and Norfolk. There were more showers for Northern Ireland and the northern half of Scotland. By midday there were plenty of showers over most of Scotland and a few in east Wales.

For the end of the day, most of the showers were over eastern Scotland. Altnaharra in Highland had a fair amount of rain with 14mm, just over half an inch. Away from the showers, there was still some fine weather about. Weymouth in Dorset had the most sunshine with over 14 hours.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 21-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Plymouth Wc 50 metres 17.5°C

Solent M.R.S.C. 9 metres 17.5°C

Mumbles 35 metres 16.7°C

Bournemouth 11 metres 16.6°C

Cardiff Weather Centre 9 metres 16.4°C

Odiham 123 metres 16.1°C

Yeovilton 23 metres 16.0°C

Chivenor 8 metres 15.9°C

Farnborough 65 metres 15.9°C

Llanbedr 0 metres 15.9°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Shap 249 metres -2.4°C

Warcop 227 metres -0.1°C

Trawscoed 63 metres 0.2°C

Sennybridge 309 metres 0.3°C

Wick 39 metres 0.5°C

Aviemore 220 metres 0.8°C

Altnaharra 81 metres 1.1°C

Lerwick 82 metres 1.1°C

Aboyne 140 metres 1.3°C

Eskdalemuir 242 metres 1.4°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Nottingham Weather Centre 117 metres 10.0mm

Aboyne 140 metres 8.0mm

Redhill 63 metres 7.8mm

Shoreham 2 metres 7.6mm

Kenley 170 metres 6.0mm

Charterhall 112 metres 5.4mm

London/Heathrow 24 metres 5.4mm

Church Fenton 9 metres 5.0mm

Inverbervie 134 metres 5.0mm

Newcastle Weather Centre 30 metres 4.4mm

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By Jo Farrow

A look at the weather from Friday 21st May 2004

Friday 21st May started off fine and sunny for many areas; Wales, northwest England, southern England and eastern Scotland. Elsewhere, there were early showers for southern Scotland, northeast England, the southeast and the Midlands. Watnall in Nottinghamshire had one hefty burst in the morning with 10mm of rain, which is just under half an inch. Through the morning more showers got going east of the Pennines and by midday there were plenty of showers through the spine of the country. Northern Ireland also had a peppering of showers, even a thunderstorm and there were more downpours for eastern Scotland and the Southern Uplands.

By the afternoon, the distribution of the showers had subtly changed, slipping further west, over northwest England, just into east Wales with an evening thunderstorm for Cheshire. The movement of the showers left a glorious end to the day for western Scotland, the Moray coast, across the Grampians, also much of Northern Ireland, East Anglia and southeast England. The southwest also did particularly well with Falmouth in Cornwall up to 19 Celsius (66F) and Saunton Sands in Devon having nearly 15 hours of sunshine.

A hint of a change though by Friday evening for the far north of Scotland as more cloud nudged in and the winds turned rather gusty.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 22-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Castlederg 51 metres 18.2°C

Leuchars 12 metres 17.9°C

St.Angelo 47 metres 17.9°C

Solent M.R.S.C. 9 metres 17.8°C

Strathallan 35 metres 17.7°C

Glasgow/Bishopton 59 metres 17.4°C

Great Malvern 46 metres 17.1°C

Keswick 81 metres 17.1°C

Edinburgh/Gogarbank 57 metres 16.9°C

Omicron Persei 8 28 metres 16.8°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Redesdale 207 metres -1.4°C

Eskdalemuir 242 metres -1.0°C

Shap 249 metres -1.0°C

Tulloch Bridge 237 metres -0.7°C

Spadeadam 285 metres -0.5°C

West Freugh 12 metres -0.5°C

Drumalbin 245 metres -0.4°C

Strathallan 35 metres 0.1°C

Topcliffe 25 metres 0.3°C

Church Lawford 107 metres 0.6°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Eskdalemuir 242 metres 4.0mm

Lerwick 82 metres 3.6mm

Fair Isle 59 metres 3.0mm

Sella Ness 7 metres 3.0mm

Baltasound 15 metres 1.6mm

Crosby 8 metres 1.0mm

Altnaharra 81 metres 0.8mm

Kirkwall 21 metres 0.8mm

Spadeadam 285 metres 0.8mm

Hawarden 10 metres 0.6mm

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By Jo Farrow

Fine and sunny for much of the UK to start the weekend

With high pressure lingering across the UK, there was more fine and settled weather for the weekend. Saturday 22nd May was fine and bright for many areas with more promising weather in the forecast for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday did start off rather cold, with overnight temperatures just down below freezing in some spots. There had been a touch of frost and with a northerly wind over eastern England the morning was a bit chilly. However, much of the United Kingdom had a fine and sunny morning, just a little bit of cloud across the Peak District and the far south of the Pennines. The cloud was thick enough over eastern Kent and the Isles of Scilly to give a few spots of rain, in the morning. Glasgow had some fog to begin the day with a little mist near to Birmingham and over Anglesey, so a few murky places.

The northern half of Scotland also had some cloud, which was reluctant to clear from Shetland through most of the day. In the end it brought just over 3mm of rain.

By the middle of the day there was more cloud over East Anglia, southeast England, Yorkshire and much of Wales. Inland Wales actually had quite a lot of cloud about and this thicker cloud gave just a few spots of rain to east Wales and there were also a few spots for western Scotland and the far north of Aberdeenshire.

Along with the damp weather over the Northern Isles, it was pretty breezy, as it was at the opposite end of the British Isles with gusts of 40 miles per hour for Jersey.

The overall picture for Saturday was a sunny one with Scarborough in North Yorkshire having the most sunshine with 16 hours worth and the top temperature was 20 Celsius (68F) for Falmouth in Cornwall.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

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Nationwide extremes for 23-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Great Malvern 46 metres 20.1°C

Redesdale 207 metres 20.0°C

Topcliffe 25 metres 19.9°C

Church Fenton 9 metres 19.7°C

Leeming 40 metres 19.7°C

Linton-On-Ouse 16 metres 19.7°C

Disforth 36 metres 19.6°C

Leuchars 12 metres 19.5°C

Aboyne 140 metres 19.4°C

Church Lawford 107 metres 19.4°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Eskdalemuir 242 metres -0.4°C

Shap 249 metres -0.4°C

Tulloch Bridge 237 metres -0.4°C

West Freugh 12 metres -0.2°C

Benson 63 metres 0.1°C

Redhill 63 metres 0.1°C

Sennybridge 309 metres 0.5°C

Redesdale 207 metres 0.6°C

Capel Curig 216 metres 0.8°C

Church Lawford 107 metres 1.2°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Lerwick 82 metres 1.4mm

Sella Ness 7 metres 1.0mm

Baltasound 15 metres 0.4mm

Barra 3 metres 0.2mm

Crosby 8 metres 0.2mm

Dundrennan 114 metres 0.2mm

Kirkwall 21 metres 0.2mm

Fair Isle 59 metres 0.1mm

Aberdaron 95 metres 0.0mm

Aberdeen/Dyce 65 metres 0.0mm

[highcliffe2]

By Matt Taylor

A super Sunday for many.

If you enjoy the sunshine, but without the oppressive humidity and heat that can sometimes accompany it during late Spring, then this weekend was the weekend for you.

Fine, dry and settled conditions continued across most of the UK through the weekend, into Sunday 23rd, thanks to the dominance of high pressure. However, unlike the previous weekend where it was warm by day and night there has been some cooler air wrapped in around this particular area of high pressure.

This meant that after the sunshine on Saturday, with the clear spells overnight the temperature plummeted away fairly rapidly. At several spots in northern England, central and southern Scotland an air frost was reported as the temperature temporarily dipped below freezing. Even in the south, places such as Benson (Oxfordshire) and Redhill (Surrey) got pretty close with an overnight minimum of 0.1 Celsius (32 F). The coldest spot, however, was in Northern Ireland where -1 Celsius (30 F) was recorded at Katesbridge (County Down).

So it was a rather chilly start to the day across virtually the whole country. It was also a very sunny start as well. The sunshine continued to shine well into the afternoon for many. On the Isle of Man a total of 15.3 hours of sunshine was recorded, making it the day's sunniest place.

In almost a repeat performance of Saturday, during the afternoon some cloud started to bubble up in places. This was mainly fair weather cumulus cloud, with the bulk of this forming across inland areas of Wales and much of Northern Ireland. Despite the increasing cloud, many parts of the country still enjoyed temperatures that reached the high teens. Many places vied for the top spot, but it was Great Malvern (Worcestershire) that ultimately came out as the warmest with a temperature of 20 Celsius (68 F).

There was an exception to all this fine weather. Once more this was in the far north, where a weak weather front began to approach. Not only did this bring a more general area of cloud into the north of Scotland later in the afternoon, but there were also a few splashes of rain reported. Lerwick (Shetland) was the wettest place with just 2 mm (0.08 inches) of rain through the day, and it was also the coolest at 11 Celsius (52 F).

Related Links: Weather A-Z

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

[highcliffe2]

Nationwide extremes for 24-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Great Malvern 46 metres 20.7°C

Cardiff Weather Centre 9 metres 20.5°C

London/Heathrow 24 metres 20.4°C

Northolt 40 metres 20.4°C

Shobdon 99 metres 20.2°C

Brize Norton 88 metres 20.1°C

Gravesend 3 metres 20.1°C

London MET 5 metres 20.0°C

Boscombe Down 124 metres 19.9°C

Charlwood 80 metres 19.8°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Sennybridge 309 metres 0.2°C

Trawscoed 63 metres 0.8°C

Castlederg 51 metres 1.2°C

Redhill 63 metres 1.6°C

Capel Curig 216 metres 1.7°C

West Freugh 12 metres 1.7°C

Pembrey Sands 3 metres 2.0°C

Shawbury 76 metres 2.2°C

Benson 63 metres 2.3°C

Eskdalemuir 242 metres 2.3°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Lerwick 82 metres 3.8mm

Skye/Lusa 18 metres 3.6mm

Aviemore 220 metres 2.2mm

Kirkwall 21 metres 1.2mm

Aboyne 140 metres 1.0mm

Baltasound 15 metres 1.0mm

Inverbervie 134 metres 1.0mm

Sella Ness 7 metres 1.0mm

Kinloss 7 metres 0.8mm

Fair Isle 59 metres 0.7mm

[highcliffe2]

By Matt Taylor

Sun and flowers for Chelsea

The sun was certainly shining on the vast array of flower and foliage displays in west London today. It was of course the preview day for the Chelsea Flower Show, one of the largest horticultural events in the world. Today's opening was for the Queen, the press, and invited guests only, with the rest of the public (ticket-holders only) having access between Tuesday and Friday.

On site, there are over 600 exhibitors; including 23 show gardens, 8 chic gardens, 9 courtyard gardens, 4 city gardens, 8 Sunflower Street gardens, and more than 100 floral exhibitors. All of which will, I'm sure, have been pleased to see some pleasant sunshine to show their displays. At the same time they will also be kept very busy keeping the flowers and plants well watered. The predominantly dry weather looks set to continue at least until Thursday, before the risk of rain increases on Friday.

Across the rest of the country it has also been a largely dry and fine start to the new week. A weak weather front across the north of the country did, however, bring a few showers during the overnight period to northern most parts of Scotland.

Elsewhere, with clearing skies it was to be a rather cool night again. A few well sheltered spots just about managed a ground frost, but the coldest place was Sennybridge (Powys) where the temperature dropped to just a fraction above 0 Celsius (32 F).

In almost a repeat performance of the weekend's weather, much of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland got off to a gloriously sunny start. Despite some cloud bubbling up through the day, spells of warm sunshine continued for many. Both Saunton Sands (Devon) and Isle of Wight notched up the most sunshine with a marvellous 15.1 hours worth, perfect for a day on the beach.

In the sunshine, Great Malvern (Worcestershire) was once again the warmest spot as the mercury peaked at 21 Celsius (70 F).

It wasn't wall to wall sunshine everywhere though. Areas of thicker cloud in the far north gradually slipped southwards across much of Scotland, and into northeast England. The cloud was still sufficiently well broken to allow some sunny spells through, but there was an increasing chill in the air. Lerwick again remained the coolest spot with a temperature of 10 Celsius (50 F). It was also the wettest place with 4.2 mm of rain falling through the 24 hours to 1800.

Related Links: BBC Gardening - Chelsea Flower Show 2004

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website

[highcliffe2]

Nationwide extremes for 25-05-2004

WARMEST

Weather station Altitude Daytime Temperature

Chivenor 8 metres 20.5°C

Yeovilton 23 metres 20.4°C

Cardiff Weather Centre 9 metres 20.0°C

Jersey 84 metres 20.0°C

Plymouth Wc 50 metres 19.9°C

Great Malvern 46 metres 19.7°C

London MET 5 metres 19.7°C

Northolt 40 metres 19.7°C

Farnborough 65 metres 19.6°C

London/Heathrow 24 metres 19.6°C

COLDEST

Weather station Altitude Overnight Temperature

Altnaharra 81 metres 0.5°C

Shap 249 metres 1.3°C

Sennybridge 309 metres 1.8°C

Trawscoed 63 metres 2.2°C

Wick 39 metres 2.2°C

Capel Curig 216 metres 2.3°C

Islay/Port Ellen 17 metres 2.9°C

Shawbury 76 metres 3.1°C

Redesdale 207 metres 3.3°C

Tain Range 4 metres 3.4°C

WETTEST

Weather station Altitude Total Daily Rainfall

Baltasound 15 metres 1.2mm

Aberdeen/Dyce 65 metres 1.0mm

Sella Ness 7 metres 0.6mm

Aboyne 140 metres 0.4mm

Lerwick 82 metres 0.4mm

Wick 39 metres 0.4mm

Altnaharra 81 metres 0.2mm

Castlederg 51 metres 0.2mm

Dundrennan 114 metres 0.2mm

Lossiemouth 13 metres 0.2mm

[highcliffe2]

By Matt Taylor

Another dry day for most gardens.

The keen gardeners amongst you are probably starting to wonder when we are next to get some significant rainfall. Despite the development of some thundery showers at the end of last week, many places have seen very little in the way of rain since early May.

Despite some sunshine by day it has also been rather chilly by night recently. It was also another cold start to the day again for the flowers, this morning. Clear spells overnight in parts of northern Scotland and western England and Wales resulted in plummeting temperatures. At Altnaharra (Highland), for instance, the temperature fell to just under 1 Celsius (34 F).

A chilly start it may have been, but across much of England, Wales, and northern Scotland it was also another sunny one. However, for the rest of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and also northeast England, the skies were much greyer. This was linked in with a weak weather front, that was to slip south during the day. Not only did it introduce more cloud to eastern areas of England, in particular, but it also heralded the arrival of some slightly cooler air.

In that cooler air, Lerwick (Shetland) was once again the coldest spot at 8 Celsius (46 F). However, even as far south as Newcastle the temperature barely struggled to only 12 Celsius (54 F). This was a huge change for some compared to the warmth of Monday.

The sunshine held on in many western areas and returned once more to much of Scotland and Northern Ireland. On the Isle of Man we saw 15 hours of sunshine in total, with the warmest weather in the Channel Islands as Jersey peaked at 21 Celsius (70 F).

As for any rainfall - it was another predominantly dry day. Only 1.6 mm (0.06 inches) of rain fell at Baltasound (Shetland), and for much of the day this was the wettest place. However, during the evening an isolated shower developed over Cambridge (Cambridgeshire) with 2.4 mm (0.09 inches) falling within a couple of hours.

This I suspect may still be too little for the gardens, but more rain is on the way for the end of the week.

Information thanks to the BBC Weather Website