UK Review - April 2010

Ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland was brought to the UK on a north-westerly airstream.

April was a largely quiet month, with little in the way of adverse weather conditions.

On the 5th - Easter Monday - strong winds resulted in some disruption to Irish Sea ferry services and to traffic on the Skye Bridge.

Air travel was severely disrupted from the 15th to the 20th when UK air space was closed because of the risk to aircraft from volcanic dust.

This was brought towards the UK from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland on a dry, north-westerly airstream.

Statistics

The first week was unsettled, but thereafter high pressure became established and remained over or close to the UK for most of the month.

April was therefore mainly dry and fine, although Scotland was less settled during the second half.

Daily maximum temperatures were above average and places in England reached 20C on several days.

However, minimum temperatures were near normal and frost developed in some areas.

Overall, April was a dry month across England and Wales, with most areas recording less than 50% of average rainfall, but it was not as dry as April 2007.

Scotland and Northern Ireland received closer to average rainfall.

Sunshine totals in England and Wales were above the seasonal average. Enlarge Image

It was a sunny month, particularly over England and Wales where provisionally it was the fourth sunniest April in a series from 1929.

A maximum temperature of 22.0C was recorded on the 28th at Leeming (North Yorkshire).

A minimum temperature of -7.0C was recorded early on the 2nd at Braemar (Aberdeenshire).

In the 24 hours ending at 0900 on 6th, 46.8mm of rainfall was measured at Cluanie Inn (Ross and Cromarty).

As a result of the heavy snowfall at the end of March, 39cm of lying snow was reported from Aviemore (Highland) at 0900 on the 1st.

A wind gust of 68mph was recorded on the 5th at Capel Curig (Conwy).