Diary of Highlights

1st to 2nd
High Pressure brought good sunny periods and widespread overnight frost, severe in places, minus 11.7°C was noted at Redesdale/Northern England on the 1st.

3rd to 7th
A changeable spell, as Atlantic fronts crossed the region bringing occasional rain and showers. There was some fog later, persistent in places in Yorkshire on the 5th. Showers turned thundery in the east and southeast later.

8th to 10th
High pressure restablished itself then moved to Scandinavia. There were good sunny periods and some overnight frost, but the northerly winds veered easterly dragging in colder air and some snow showers later in the east.

11th to 14th
A deep depression swept fronts northeast across the region during the 11th and 12th preceded by sleet and snow in many parts especially over high ground.

There were several centimetres of snow in a number of places early on the 12th and some thunder reported from southwest England. Milder on the 13th and 14th but with rain and showers especially in the west. Showers turned thundery in the southeast on the 13th.

15th to 17th
High pressure sat nearby over Europe allowing weak weather bands to graze the region.

There was occasional light rain in western areas. It became exceptionally warm with Cleethorpes/Northeast Lincolnshire reaching 18.7°C on the 16th and there were good sunny periods especially in the east and southeast.

18th to 25th
More unsettled as deep complex low pressure to the north drifted to Scandinavia. Winds veered slowly from westerly to northerly with severe gales affecting many areas during the 19th to 21st, especially on the 20th when Aberdaron and North Wales had gusts up to 87 kts.

Eastern areas became very warm on the 20th. Showers were fairly widespread at times from the 21st, some becoming heavy with hail and thunder, however the sun shone in between. Generally rather cold later with some overnight frost, and a little sleet or snow in places on the 25th.

26th to 29th
Mostly dull with patchy mist and fog as a weak front moved very slowly southeast across the region. Some outbreaks of rain and drizzle gave way during the 29th to brighter drier conditions and higher temperatures.

30th to 31st
The closing days were very sunny dry and exceptionally warm over much of England and Wales after the quick clearance of any early morning patchy mist or fog. Northolt (London) reached 20.1°C on the 31st, however a brisk easterly breeze would have placed North Sea coastal resorts in the chilly category.