Mild winter leads to hot weather

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Temperatures in parts of Wales on Tuesday came close to a record for February.

The weather was described as exceptionally mild in places by Derek Brockway, the BBC Wales meteorologist.

He said the temperature at Trawsgoed in Ceredigion soared to an "amazing" 18C, or 64F. The average for February is normally 7-8C, or about 45F.

That made it the warmest place in Britain, close to a record for February and warmer than Malaga in Spain.

Capel Curig in Snowdonia also recorded 17C while temperatures in Valley on Anglesey and Rhyl in Denbighshire reached 15C.

Top February temperatures 23 Feb 1990 at Velindre, Powys: 18.6C 28 Feb 1960 at Llety-Evan-Hen and Pen-Y-Fridd: 18.3C Feb 14 1998 at Cardiff: 18.3C Feb 15 1998 at Prestatyn: 18.1C

The reason for the unusually warm weather is a low temperature inversion combined with high pressure, he said.

He predicted more sunshine on Wednesday, but said it would turn cloudier and colder on Thursday and Friday.