Wettest April since records began
| 16:57 UK time, Tuesday, 1 May 2012
The weather has been making the news recently with torrential rain, floods and gales causing disruption and damage across Wales. On Sunday strong to severe gale force north-easterly winds brought down trees and power lines.
The highest gusts recorded were 71mph at Mumbles Head in Swansea, 68mph at Aberdaron on the Lleyn Peninsula, 57mph at Aberporth and 55mph at Cardiff Airport.
In the UK it was the wettest April since records began in 1910 but some parts of the country had more rain than others. Northern Ireland was slightly drier than average.
While east and north-east England had two and a half times the normal April rainfall. This is a lot of rain but one wet month is not enough to end the drought in England given the lack of rain over the past year or two.
In Wales, around 150mm (6 inches) of rain fell in April. Making it one of the wettest Aprils for 100 years! And five times more rainfall than April 2011.
The average rainfall in April in Wales is 86mm. John Goodger who runs a weather station at Velindre near Glasbury in Powys has been recording weather for 40 years.
He's just recorded his wettest April on record with 235.6 mm of rain fell - nearly three and a half times the average of 68mm!There has been more heavy rain in Powys today. At the time of writing there are in force on the River Monnow and several flood alerts.
Tonight the whole of Wales will become dry and tomorrow will be much drier than today allowing river levels to drop.
Tomorrow night a few showers otherwise dry. However rain may spread into the south later in the night.
On Thursday the south could be wet with heavy rain for a time. The rain may spread into Mid Wales but northern parts may stay dry and bright with sunshine.
Friday should be dry apart from the odd shower and a little rain in the north. As for the bank holiday weekend, don't bank on it being warm. It looks like turning cooler.
Showers are likely but with some dry and bright weather as well and at night it may be cold enough for a touch of frost inland.
Derek
Comment number 1.
At 5th May 2012, Pedro wrote:Certainly filled up the rivers at last - much needed rain is welcome
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