2012 saw the wettest April on record but things have been majorly different this year. Met Office figures show that this year April has been slightly drier than average in the UK, which continues on from a relatively dry start to the year. The UK saw 64mm compared the average of 72.7mm where as last year there was double at 128mm. Scotland saw above average rainfall for April and Northern Ireland had the usual amount, but it was for England and Wales which saw the least amount on rainfall.
The start to the month was quite cool and dry following from March but it has only been slightly colder than average. Things began changing half way through the month when warmer winds rose temperatures and the jet stream moved across Northern Parts of the UK bring low pressure systems to these areas along with rainfall. But parts of England and Wales have escaped these systems and have been under high pressure rising temperatures. The highest of which was 25th April in Kent when temperatures reached 23.1°C. Overall temperatures were 1.1°C lower than average for April.
Despite the low pressure systems, Scotland was actually sunnier than the rest of the UK with 170.9 hours of sunshine and England at 167.7 hours.
May looks set to have a good start to the month with warm temperatures and usual Spring like conditions however, there still seems to be a lack of rainfall in some areas. The chances of a weeks worth of sunshine and heat are higher now but low pressure will bring cooler blasts and windy conditions.
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