Spring Weather

Spring Weather in Durham UK

May 2021 Weather Summary – Disappointingly cold

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Hefty showers in the first week of May 2021

May 2021 was notably cold in the first week. Night time temperatures were only a few degrees above freezing and the maxima were very disappointing. Along with this, rainfall was on the high side, resulting in the cold start to Spring continuing. The cold nights continued until the last 5 days of the month, when ‘normal’ weather returned. The maximum temperature was a very modest 22.2 degC on the 29th. The 6th was the coldest minima, coming within a whisker of an air frost, something we haven’t become familiar with in May. Overall, the month averaged 9.8 degC which was … [Read more]

The last 5 Mays in the UK according to Trevor Harley

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2016 After an unsettled start the rest of the month was largely anticyclonic, with winds generally from the easterly direction, making it particularly warm and sunny in the west, and cooler and cloudier in the east. There was a more unsettled spell midmonth. It was warmer than average, with near average rainfall (92%). Overall sunshine was 115% of average. The highest temperature of the month was 27.7C at Plockton (Ross and Cromarty) on the 9th, and the lowest -5.7C at Tulloch Bridge (Invernessshire) on the 14th. 2017 The first ten days were anticyclonic with easterly winds, and the widespread drought … [Read more]

April 2021 Weather at Durham – Cold but Dry

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Wow, what an extraordinary month! April 2021 has been a remarkable month in the long history of weather records. The month was notable for a) It’s frostiness and b) the lack of real rain. April 2021 Temperature in Durham April 2021 was actually colder than March 2021 at Durham by a significant sum. The mean for the month came in at 6.1 degC, a full 1.0 degC lower. In April last year, the mean was 9.6 degC. Snow on 11th April 2021. The mean minimum for April 2021 was 1.6 degC (mean is 3.7) and there were 9 days with … [Read more]

The last 5 Aprils in the UK according to Trevor Harley

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2016 The first ten days or so were unsettled; the rest of the month was cold and quite sunny. There was a notable heavy snowfall in the north on the 29-30th. The month was 0.9C beneath the CET average; it was also wetter on average (112%), particularly in the east. It was slightly sunnier than average. The highest temperature of the month was 20.3C at Porthmadog in Gwent on the 21st, and the lowest -5.6C at Kinbrace in Sutherland on the 28th. The greatest snow depth was 9 cm at Crombie Country Park in good old Angus on the 29th. … [Read more]

March 2021 Weather Summary – Dry and Warming

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#durhamwx #march2021 After what seemed to be a long winter, the weather in March 2021 eventually eased us away from the bleakness of February. The first week was still cold, as high pressure persisted, but things became more mobile for a short period after the 10th, with more cyclonic conditions bringing a rise in temperature and the month’s only ‘wet spell’. The two warmest days were the last two. Beautiful conditions let the thermometer peak at just shy of 20 degC. Sunshine was abundant and it was true shirt sleeve weather. It felt like Spring was truly here at last … [Read more]

Spring delayed for 2 weeks in 2021

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Here’s the thing. The winter of 2020-2021 was much colder than the previous one. We had a proper cold January this year, averaging just 2.3 degC, with 13 days of frost and some good snow events. This then continued into the first half of February. When winter is cold, it affects when things really start to grow. If the temperature stays below freezing, plants will just think, Nah! (Just like humans) But is there a way of measuring this? Can we say that on a particular day at the start of the year, our growing things will, well, start to … [Read more]

The last 5 Marches in the UK according to Trevor Harley

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2016 Low pressure at the start and end of the month sandwiching a ten-day anticyclonic spell from the 13th to the 23rd. The named Storm Katie brought strong winds to the south on the 28th. Overall temperatures were close to average, although it was colder in the south and more mild in the north. Rainfall was close to average (91%), although it was wetter in the east and drier in the north. It was sunnier than average, with 115% of the long-term average, particularly in the west. The highest temperature of the month was 18.7C at Braemar on the 17th, … [Read more]

May 2020 Report – Warm, Dry and Sunny Again

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The Weather in Durham in May 2020. May 2020 continued the Spring theme in that it was very dry overall, after the first few days, but they yielded some heavy hail showers on May 3rd. This picture was taken in Darlington, about 18 miles to the south of Durham. The weather soon calmed down though and the overwhelming feature was the anticyclone close to the UK, almost all the way through the month after the first couple of days. Sunny as well – according to The Met Office. Sunshine records were broken across the country in Spring 2020. Could this … [Read more]

April 2020 Monthly Weather Report – Very Warm and Dry

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April 2020 was an extraordinary month in more senses than just Weather. By now, you’ve probably noticed that we’re still in lockdown. The confusion of the second half of March continued into the first part of April, but I got the feeling that people were gradually getting used to it. The weather had also been tempting to those who were desperate to be outside. See some photographs from lockdown in Durham Although I don’t record it at Durham, the Met Office have said that April 2020 was exceptionally sunny. This was apparent to me because we’d spent a good deal … [Read more]

Incredible Red Sunset in Durham April 26th 2020

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Just had this photo sent of the incredible sunset of 26th April. The sun was setting under a shallow cloud cover and it produced this red sunset and double rainbow. The cloud produced the first measurable rain for 2 weeks, in what looks destined to be one of the driest Aprils on record in Durham. The driest April was in 1938. This month only received 2mm of rainfall.