March 2003 - England and Wales

Dry and sunny overall. Changeable and mainly dry at first but mild and wet second week. Cold dry and frosty third week, followed by very mild sunny weather especially in the south.

1st to 6th
A changeable period, mostly warm with sunny spells and some rain at times. Thunder was heard in places on the 1st. A slow moving cold front gave a wet day in most areas on the 5th as a low passed to the north of the UK.

7th to 11th
More unsettled and windy as vigorous depressions passed to the NW. The 7th was particularly wet as bands of rain and showers, often heavy crossed the region, some places reported thunder later.

Thereafter there was rain at times mainly in the N and W, with gusts of 60 knots being recorded in exposed spots. It became mainly dry in the S from the 9th, and generally warm in most areas. There were some thundery showers in northern districts on the 10th.

12th to 19th
As high pressure took up residence over the North Sea, the weather became mainly very warm and sunny by day, especially inland. Dry conditions prevailed apart from some scattered showers in the NE at first on the 12th and 13th.

Fog affected coastal areas adjacent to the North Sea later in the period; this kept the temperature at Walton on the Naze/Essex below 5°C on the 19th. Calm and clear skies allowed overnight frost and patchy fog to develop, minus 6.6°C was noted at Redesdale in Northumberland early on the 19th.

20th to 27th
The anticyclone migrated to Eastern Europe but maintained its influence over the region. The dry sunny theme continued, interrupted only by some scattered thundery showers in the extreme N and NW on the 24th.

Most days were very warm particularly inland, however the clear skies allowed more sharp drops in temperature after dusk, with fairly widespread overnight frost, minus 6.6°C being registered at Redhill Airfield/Surrey on the 22nd.

Central London's temperature rose to 20.0°C on the 23rd. Coastal fog returned to counties adjacent to the North Sea during the 27th, while thundery rain broke out in the extreme SW.

28th to 31st
More changeable as weak fronts grazed southern districts at first, introducing a little rain before retreating. Dry sunny warm weather established itself again on the 30th and 31st as a ridge of high pressure rebuilt over the region.

North Sea fog continued to plague East Coast counties, which was slow to clear at times. Patchy fog also affected inland parts but generally dispersed quickly after the sun rose.

This month has been the sunniest March on record.

Statistical details

England and Wales Mean Temperature Series (series begins in 1961).	The mean value for the month was 7.2°C	2.0°C above the 1961-90 average, which is in the exceptionally above average category.
England and Wales Rainfall Series (series begins in 1961).	The total for the month was 39mm	54% of the 1961-90 average, which is in the well below average category.
England and Wales Sunshine Series (series begins in 1961).	The total for the month was 5.56 hours per day.	166% of the 1961-90 average, which is in the exceptionally above average category. Sunniest in the series, previous highest 1995, when 5.04 hours per day was recorded.

The period 1961 to 1990 is the current World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) period for taking climate statistics.