Llansadwrn (Anglesey) Weather

Latest Diary - 15th year

Wx-Retro   on these days 50-years ago in 1962, the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis and when Prime Minister Harold Macmillan sacked 7 of his Cabinet in what was to become known as 'The Night of the Long Knives'. £'s shillings and pence, feet, inches and Fahrenheit were still in use (And in the news on the 1st January: Severe cold weather halts return to work.     University College graduates wed at Swansea.     The Beatles' audition with Decca is unsuccessful.     Western Samoa gains independence from New Zealand.) 31st December 1961: The beginning of December was fairly mild, but from the 3rd week, with low-pressure 950 mb over the Baltic, very cold air moved S across Britain bringing severe weather to many parts. On the 30th a depression and frontal system approaching from the W on meeting the cold air from the N overnight nearly an inch of precipitation turned to snow in South Wales and southern England and on Sunday 31st there were 4 to 6 in of snow, over a foot in parts of the Midlands. Heavy snow in London brought travel to a standstill during the evening. [Greater London Pptn 0.7 in 18 mm; Max 31F minus 0.4C] 1st January 1962: It was back to work for many today after the Christmas and New Year's Eve festivities. It was not a Bank Holiday in Wales and England in 1962, being introduced after decimalisation on 15th February 1971. Temperatures had fallen to 3F in London and snow lay on the ground and there were major interruptions in transport particularly the railways, and telecommunications. The intense cold had frozen points and not being used during the holiday there were large icicles in many tunnels that had to be cleared before trains could be run. Trains got going later in the day with delays of over 4 hours in the journey from Swansea to Paddington. [Greater London Max 30.7F minus 0.7C; Min 3F minus 16C] On the 1 January 2012 Patricia and I celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary. We were married at St Mary's Church in Swansea at 11 am on the snowy 1st January 1962, The groom and bride arrived on time, but some guests from Gower and elsewhere did not make it through the snow. We had a day not easily forgotten. After a reception for family and friends at the Dragon Hotel, a long while drinking coffee in a café near the station waiting for the trains to start running again, we got to London about 1 am on the 2nd. We were not alone in choosing the cold 1 January, we were joined coincidentally by another newly married couple en-route, so we were treated to a second lot of confetti and rice!

January

  1st: Fifty-years on and it was a mild day with an overnight minimum of 9.1C 48F on Anglesey, 11.5C 53F in London rising to 13.1C 56F during the day. Pressure here 999 mb was falling slowly between complex low 992 mb over Iceland and high-pressure to the S (1032 mb Spain and 1025 mb Croatia). We were in a vigorous SW'ly airflow and there had been showers of rain at 0835 GMT in Llanfairfechan (18 mm/h) and here at 0753 GMT (10.6 mm/h), but at 0900 GMT the sky was showing signs of opening up. This was not to be as soon the darkening there were rumbles of thunder and heavy rain and some ice pellets falling at a rate of 52 mm/h at 1040 GMT. Most of the snow that fell on the Snowdonia Mountains in December had melted leaving a few small patches high up near Foel-goch. The first snowdrops were starting to appear between fallen leaves on the lawn, joining the early spring-like appearance of some of the Azalea bushes. A dull sunless day. {London 13.1C, Hawarden 11.5C, Llanfairfechan 11.2C, Capel Curig 28.4 mm, Kinloss 4.3h} [Rain 2.9 mm; Max 9.6C; Min 9.1C; Grass 7.9C]
2nd: A brighter morning today, but cloud was variable towards 09 GMT. Visibility was good or very good with relative humidity of 86% and a temperature of 3.3C after a touch of ground frost. The morning became mostly sunny and the afternoon had good spells of sunshine with the temperature rising to 6.1C before turning cloudier by 16 GMT The breeze was picking up by evening, but there was little change in temperature through to midnight 6.6C. There was rain from 2330 GMT. More snowdrops had appeared in the garden since yesterday, many showing white-tips, but not yet fully developed. [Jersey 9.6C, St Catherine's Point 9.3C, Capel Curig 34.4 mm] [Rain 9.4 mm; Max 10.9C; Min 2.7C; Grass -0.5C]
3rd: At midnight a vigorous deepening low 968 mb was to the NW off Mail Head and we were in warm sector air. The Oregon pressure alarm sounded during the night as pressure was falling rapidly. At 06 GMT the low was 952 mb off the Western Isles with pressure here 984 mb. The temperature reached 10.9C in the screen, 11.1C by the AWS registered at 0640 GMT and was the highest of the past 24-h. Storm force winds and very strong gusts had been recorded overnight, Malin Head 105 mph, Edinburgh 102 mph, Aberdaron 93 mph, Capel Curig 86 mph, Valley 69 mph, Llanfairfechan 47 mph. We seemed relatively sheltered here in the WNW'ly but a gust of 58 mph was recorded at 0650 GMT along with very heavy rain falling at a rate of 37 mm/h, the exposed Britannia Bridge was closed to HSV's with a 20 mph speed restriction in force. A very large ash tree had been blown down on a field boundary adjacent to the A5025 SW of Pedair-groeslon. There was considerable damage nationwide, worst affected were N Ireland and Scotland with thousands left without electricity for several days. A man was killed in Kent crushed by a tree falling on his van, a crewman died after being rescued from a tanker in the English Channel, and the Port of Dover was closed for a time. There was considerable disruption to travel especially in Scotland with problems at airports and curtailment of East Coast train services. Improving weather in the afternoon here becoming bright with sunny spells, but continuing breezy. There was a light blustery shower of wet snow pellets and rain at 2050 GMT (gust 35 mph) the temperature dropping to 3.9C as the wind moderated. {Trawsgoed 13.0C, Llanfairfechan 12.6C, Tulloch Bridge 24.6 mm, Boulmer 3.4h] [Rain 0.8 mm; Max 7.6C; Min 3.0C; Grass 1.6C]
4th: Overcast, ragged low cloud and misty with spots of rain on the moderate WSW'ly wind. Pressure was 1017 mb with low 986 mb over the Baltic. Spots of rain and light rain in the afternoon on a warm front, wind strengthening. By evening the W'ly wind had reach near-gale to gale force around Lleyn and the North Wales Coast as far as Liverpool. A branch of a tall sycamore was found on the ground on the leek patch not far from the Stevenson screen. This had been damaged by grey squirrels that had debarked critically more than half of the 12 cm diameter branch (photo left). Although the cambial layer had healed a strong gust of wind was sufficient to snap the branch. The trees hereabouts suffered a lot of damage in the tops before the greys were culled to help the red squirrel population that is expanding. Recent reports suggest that reds have crossed the Menai Suspension Bridge and set up a colony on the mainland. We have yet to see any here, although they were present here 30-years ago, we live in hope they will return! By 2200 GMT the wind was still gale 8/9 at Aberdaron and Liverpool, Crosby and moving northwards had reached force 12 with a maximum gust of 112 mph recorded on Great Dunn Fell before midnight. {Milford Haven 10.2C, Lake Vyrnwy 24.0 mm, St Athan 0.3h} [Rain 7.4 mm; Max 9.7C; Min 3.8C; Grass 0.6C]
5th: A heavy shower (68 mm/h) at 0352 GMT in Llanfairfechan and another breezy day, the Britannia Bridge was already closed to HSV's with a 20 mph speed limit. A gust of 88 mph was recorded overnight in Capel Curig. There was a blustery shower at 09 GMT with the W'ly wind roaring and swaying the trees, but somewhat sheltered in the garden force 5/6. Complex low pressure 964 mb over the Baltic with tight isobars on the chart and pressure here 1002 mb. Another stormy day with electricity supplies disrupted in parts of Wales. At Aberystwyth the metal clad roof of the National Library of Wales broke loose and users evacuated. Many trees and telephone lines were brought down closing some roads; in Cardiff a driver had a narrow escape when a tree fell on his car just after he had left it. Sunny spells and light showers of rain in the morning here, the afternoon less windy with some sunshine. The evening had broken cloud and a slight shower of rain and small ice pellets. The soil temperature today at 30 cm was 6.8C and (+1.2) of the January average. Soil moisture was 66% dry mass, a little drier than the 69 % on the 23rd December. {Swanage 12.3C, Okehampton 18.0 mm, Glasgow 5.5h} [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 8.5C; Min 6.2C; Grass 3.8C]
6th: Dull, overcast and damp, but the wind had moderated. Visibility was moderate and misty. With high 1039 mb off Cape Finisterre pressure here 1026 mb had risen in a ridge of high-pressure resulting in lighter winds. It did nothing for cloud cover that remained in place and thick enough for rain at times. Only in late afternoon was a clearance seen in the W and it was briefly bright before dusk. Mistle thrushes were very active around the woods today, singing from time to time with much chirring as disputes developed. [Llanfairfechan 10.7C, Hawarden 9.9C, Rhyl 9.5C, Sennybridge 3.4 mm, Manston 6.3h, St Athan 1.0h] [Rain 1.3 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 2.9C; Grass -1.2C]
7th: Mostly cloudy with some breaks developing by noon giving a little sunshine. The afternoon turned cloudier and the sky becoming overcast. There was little or no wind. {Cardiff 11.6C, Cluanie Inn 17.2 mm, Yeovilton 5.2h} [Rain 0.3 mm; Max 8.7C; Min 4.5C; Grass 3.0C]
8th: Moderate fog at 0900 GMT with the sky obscured. There had been light to moderate drizzle for the past hour and this had accumulated 0.3 mm in the raingauge. The fog was slow to clear, by afternoon it began to lift leaving cloud around the mountain summits. It has been days without a clear view. By 1620 GMT the sky was brighter in the W and spreading out altocumulus clouds and contrails were lit for a while with golden and purple colours. Light breezes all day continued into the mostly cloudy night. {Usk 13.0C, Kirkwall 18.4 mm, Yeovilton 2.8h} [Rain 1.8 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 6.4C; Grass 4.4C]
9th: A grey and rather dark morning with fine drizzle and slight rain at times. Pressure 1027 mb was rising slowly, but a weak cold front heading SE, associated with low 968 mb over Iceland, was slow moving over the Irish Sea. The front cleared during the afternoon and for a time there was some clear sky and a little sunshine. More cloud encroached later, broken for a while during the evening, then overcast again. {Shoreham 13.1C, Kinlochewe 29.2 mm, Leuchars 5.6h} [Rain 0.2 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 7.5C; Grass 6.0C]
10th: Overcast sky with low stratiform cloud over Anglesey and a fine wetting drizzle and very poor visibility towards the mountains, but it looked bright towards Conwy and there was sunshine on the Great Orme. The mistle thrushes did not seem to mind as they were singing and a great spotted woodpecker began drumming nearby. The drizzle cleared away by the afternoon as the breeze picked up,but it kept overcast. I saw a large flock of redwings on 'church field', the first this winter hereabouts. Five or six long-tailed tits turned up at the fat feeder today, they have been around in groups in the trees for a while, but this was the first time seen at the feeder this year. Light rain from 2100 GMT. {Hawarden 12.7C, Llanfairfechan 11.6C, Aultbea 53.2 mm, Leconfield 3.8h, Valley 0.5h} [Rain 2.9 mm; Max 9.3C; Min 6.3C; Grass 1.9C]
11th: Intermittent rain until 0400 GMT. Another morning with moderate fog, a very fine drizzle with sky obscured. Very dull. By noon the fog had lifted a little and it was brighter briefly, but visibility was still very poor. Fog increased again in the afternoon and before dusk visibility was < 100 m, thick fog. {Hawarden 13.1C, Kinlochewe 30.8 mm, Camborne 6.5h} [Rain 1.5 mm; Max 9.9C; Min 7.2C; Grass 7.0C]
12th: A much brighter morning with the sky clearing at 09 GMT as frontal cloud began clearing in the last 15-minutes.. A complex sky including large expanding contrails overhead. A bank of cloud, with a sharp northern edge, persisted over the Snowdonia Mountains through the day, with the sky clear over Anglesey by 1000 GMT it was sunny. Later bright with sunny spells as cloud developed, later weak sunshine through thin cirrostratus clouds. I noticed lambs in 'kissing gate field' for the first time and several plants of lesser celandine in flower in 'black horse lane'. This is very early in the year to see the yellow flowers of lesser celandine and in such numbers. Some brilliant colours were seen in the sky after sunset this evening (photo left). Tawny owls were heard again at midnight. {Usk 13.7C, Cluanie Inn 45.4, Morecambe 5.5h, Valley 5.0h} [Pptn trace; Max 9.6C; Min 8.6C; Grass 6.6C]
13th: With clear sky overnight the temperature on the grass fell to -2.2C freezing moisture and dewdrops so that there was extensive 'white frost' on the fields. I had the drosometer out overnight and measured 0.11 mm deposition of frozen dew. There was smoke drift from the N, otherwise calm. Some patchy cloud with contrails overhead at 09 GMT then clearing again. A sunny morning then turning cloudier later in the afternoon with an orangy-red sky in the W at sunset. {Scilly 10.4C, Trawsgoed 9.0C, Benson -5.1C, Aberporth 6.6h} [Pptn trace; Max 8.2C; Min 2.0C; Grass -2.2C]

14th: An almost clear sky at 09 GMT, again extensive white frost on fields, there was ice on water, the grass minimum had fallen to -4.2C and there was 0.19 mm of dew/ frost deposition. Calm, with very good visibility and the morning sunny. Mostly sunny afternoon, cloudier by 1600 GMT with light breezes at times, clearing and becoming calm later. Clear at night with an orangy coloured moon rising over Carnedd Llewelyn just before midnight. {Scilly 9.7C/ Benson -7.4, Woodford 7.2h, Aberporth 6.9h} [Pptn trace; Max 7.3C; Min 0.0C; Grass -4.2C]
15th: Mostly clear and calm, with the grass minimum down to 5.2C there was the usual frozen dew and a little hoar frost on low standing vegetation. A slight air frost here overnight, minimum -0.9C, but at Mona was -3.5C. A heavier dew/frost deposition this morning of 0.24 mm. Pressure had fallen but was steady on 1023 mb, the high had drifted to be over the southern North Sea 1028 mb. Sunny all day with a little high cirrus cloud in the afternoon with light variable airs at times. One of my correspondents Brenda Johnson emailed to say it was -21C today in Brockville on the banks of the St Lawrence River in Ontario, Canada. The photo on the left was taken yesterday and the one above when the St Lawrence was frozen hard enough to support fishing huts. It had not quite reached that stage this year; people go about their normal business, in this type of weather. The bridge (click to enlarge to see the bridge) is the Ogdensburg–Prescott International Bridge crossing to the USA is about 12 miles east of Brockville. {Scilly 8.8C/Aboyne -9.4C, Woodford 7.1h, Aberporth 6.9h} [Pptn trace; Max 6.5C; Min -0.9C; Grass -5.2C]
16th: A bright sunny morning with thin high cirrus and contrails overhead. Smoke haze was seen against the mountains cutting off at 2500 ft. The temperature here at 09 GMT was -0.5C (dewpoint -3.6C) and there was very cold air around the summit of Snowdon with temperatures as low as -10C. But, not as cold as in Ottawa, Canada, where the temperature in the morning was -27C. Frost duration here was 13.5 h in the 24-h to 09 GMT. The grass was white with frost and there was a little hoar frost on low vegetation; measured frost deposition was 0.21 mm with the grass minimum down to -6.1C. The sun had risen at 0848 GMT and set at 1620 GMT; the day was mostly sunny with Valley reporting 6.9h. At Tywyn Aberffraw most dune slacks including the 'willow slack' were dry (photo below left that also shows smoke haze on the horizon looking east), there was water in one hollow and wet area that had drained from higher ground . The Murray Grey cattle were grazing the dunes later in the afternoon and had been down to beach earlier. A few daffodils were spotted in flower on the roadside near Llangadwaladr and many more at Cefncwmwd near Rostrehwfa, there are none that I have seen around Llansadwrn yet. Flocks of 30 - 40 lapwings were also seen in the area. A clear frosty evening before turning cloudier around midnight. [Gogarddan 9.3C, Rhyl 7.3C, Aberporth 7.7h] [Pptn trace frost; Max 6.7C; Min -1.4C; Grass -6.1C]

17th: Mostly cloudy in the morning, but it had kept dry overnight. Despite being warmer the ground was still frozen especially in shaded parts with the soil temperature 0.5C at 5 cm deep, 0.1C down from yesterday. As it had not rained the drosometer measurement was valid and indicated a dew/ frost deposition of 0.17 mm. Pressure was 1025 mb with the high 1032 mb over France with a ridge towards southern Britain. Light variable breezes, brightening before noon it was sunny for a while in the afternoon then turned cloudier again The evening was overcast, but dry. [Plymouth 11.4C, Llanfairfechan 13.9C, Aberporth 3.6h] [Rain 3.2 mm; Max 10.0C; Min -0.5C; Grass -5.1C]
18th: In a SW'ly breeze of up to 24 mph the temperature at Gorwel Heights in Llanfairfechan at 0430 GMT was 13.9C and here 9.9C (AWS) at the same time. The result of a warm front associated with low 995 mb over Iceland passing over giving light to moderate rain from 0530 to 0730 GMT. At 09 GMT there was low cloud fog and a temperature of 9.5C and 100% relative humidity while at Gorwel Heights it was 11.8C and 68% RH. The fog began to lift during the morning with a following cold front with the afternoon brighter, but the sky remained overcast. There were quite long new shoots on Clematis montana, in the garden, that had completely died back for the 'winter'. [Shobdon 13.4C, Hawarden 12.4C, Llanfairfechan 11.8C, Aberdeen 3.5h, Valley 0.0h] Rain 5.1 mm; Max 9.8C; Min 3.7C; Grass 1.0C]
19th: Light rain from midnight until 0500 GMT and a slight shower at 07 GMT. Signs of the sky starting to clear at 0900 GMT, but there was rain in sight and with sunny spells there were showers of rain and small ice pellets before clearing and becoming sunny at 1045 GMT. The afternoon was sunny over Anglesey, but convective clouds with wintry precipitation continued over the Snowdonia Mountains. Buds were appearing on roadside daffodils on 'peacock hill' and redwings (about 40) were amongst starling (about 200) on 'church field in the afternoon. The starlings would fly up into trees, when passing traffic disturbed them, leaving the redwings on the ground. The evening was cloudier with blustery showers especially at Gorwel Heights at 1800 GMT (shower 14 mm/ h). We have had no sighting of bullfinches this winter, they were regular visitors at this time of year. {Exeter 12.5C, Cassley 22 mm, Leconfield 5.3h} [Rain 1.5 mm; Max 7.9C; Min 5.2C; Grass 1.8C]
20th: Overcast with the temperature rising to 7.9C at 09 GMT, the highest of the past 24-h. Although overcast the day kept dry, but rather dull. The SW'ly breeze picked up during the evening force 3/5. {Exeter 11.5C, Ballypatrick Forest 26 mm, Lake Vyrnwy 14 mm, Lerwick 2.0h} [Rain 0.6 mm; Max 9.8C; Min 4.1C; Grass 0.9C]
21st: Slight shower of rain at 07 GMT then signs of the sky clearing as a patch of blue developed to the NE over Red Wharf Bay. Visibility was good, but very misty on the mountaintops. Pressure was 1012 mb and with low 971 mb N of Shetland and we were in a WNW'ly showery airstream. Bright spells with a glimpse of sunshine, and light showers of rain were the orders of the day. {Otterbourne WW 13.5C, Cluanie Inn 30 mm, Aberdeen 4.2h, Aberporth 0.9h} [Rain 2.2 mm; Max 8.2C; Min 7.5C; Grass 6.5C]
22nd: Some clear sky after midnight, but not enough to give a ground frost. Mostly cloudy in the morning with moderate visibility in thick haze. Pressure 1012 mb was rising slowly as low 994 mb N Scotland drifted SE over the North Sea with little change. A weak cold front was in the vicinity; the temperature at 09 GMT was 8.2C (dewpoint 4.3C). The morning brightened only a little, there was a glimpse of sunshine after noon with the temperature rising to 9.8C at 1300 GMT. The rest of the afternoon was dull; the evening and night remained mostly cloud covered. {Swanage 12.7C, Cluanie Inn 30.4 mm, Leuchars 6.2h} [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 9.8C; Min 4.8C; Grass 1.1C]
23rd: With signs of the sky starting to clear before 09 GMT it was a bright morning on Anglesey with a bank of cumulus cloud (base 1500 ft) persisting over the mountains. A quiet morning, the birds were twittering and lambs were bleating across the fields. With the low over the Norwegian Sea filling 998 mb, pressure here 1019 mb was rising as a ridge of high pressure from the Azores (1030 mb) moved across from the west. Bright with the odd sunny spell in the afternoon with a warm frontal cloud associated with complex low 980 mb Iceland encroaching later from the W bringing slight rain by 2300 GMT. {Scilly 11.6C, Leconfield 6.6h} [West Freugh 11.2 mm, Aberdaron 11.0 mm, Capel Curig 8.0 mm] [Rain 11.4 mm; Max 9.1C; Min 3.5C; Grass -0.2C]
24th: Moderate rain, heavy at times during the night, easing off to drizzle at 09 GMT. Fog early, the then moderate fog was decreasing. There were small pools of water around the station, the 11.4 mm of rain enough to saturate the surface soil, the ground was very soggy and muddy underfoot. Fine drizzle during the morning dying out, but keeping very dull and sunless. Intermittent slight rain from 1700, moderate to heavy from 1915 to 2315 GMT. On the upslope of Snowdonia a wet day in Nantlle, Gwynedd, with 24.9 mm, but in Llansadwrn 11.6 mm and at Gorwel Heights in Llanfairfechan in rain-shadow 5.2 mm (AWS 00-00z). {Usk No 2 13.5C, Porthmadog 22.6 mm} [Llanfairfechan 12.1C, Hawarden 11.9C, Rhyl 9.9C] [Rain 1.7 mm; Max 10.6C; Min 2.0C; Grass -1.6C]
25th: Overcast with spots of rain on the moderate and gusty S'ly breeze. Visibility was good to very good under the cloud sheet that was lower on the mountain slopes in the W, but towards Conwy the sky looked brighter. Pressure 1010 mb was falling slowly with complex low 983 mb Iceland and high 1026 mb Spain maintaining a warm sector airflow 8.8C (dewpoint 6.9C) at 09 GMT. On the summit of Snowdon the temperature was 4C and there had not been any snow this month so far. There were strong S'ly winds over the North Sea. The day kept mostly dull here, but there were broad crepuscular rays seen along the mountains from the Nant Francon Pass eastward in the morning with a brief glimpse of sunshine before a shower of rain at 1100 GMT. A cold front passed over during late afternoon with strong gusts 39 mph at 1613 GMT and at Gorwel heights 40 mph at 1724 GMT before heavy rain (45 mm/h at 1946 GMT) with ice pellets. [Hawarden & Llanfairfechan 12.1C, Capel Curig 17.2 mm, Valley 0.0h] [Rain 15.7 mm; Max 9.5C; Min 8.5C; Grass 7.5C]

¤

26th: A slight shower at 05 GMT, a moderate to heavy shower of rain around 07 GMT (10 mm/h) and again at 09 GMT (6 mm/h) and with wet snow pellets falling visibility was moderate. At higher levels sleet and snow above 1000 ft. Snow was lying on the mountains at 1800 ft, but was as low as 1250 ft on the SE-facing slopes of Y Garn. The ground again was saturated with pools of standing water on the fields. A passing showery trough was slow to clear, but the afternoon was brighter at times and kept dry. Another shower with ice perception at 2200 GMT (12 mm/h). [St Athan 8.8C, Hawarden 7.0C, Capel Curig 10.4 mm, Valley 2.5h] [Rain 2.6 mm; Max 5.6C; Min 2.3C; Grass -0.5C]
27th: A mostly cloudy morning with a slight fall of snow pellets at 09 GMT. Snow was lying still at 1800 ft centrally on the Carneddau Mountains. Visibility was good, but slightly misty. Pressure 1017 mb was rising slowly with low 1007 mb N Scotland and high 1031 mb Cape Finisterre. A showery morning with brief sunny spells and wet snow pellets at 1215 GMT. A male bullfinch was spotted in the 'wild garden' the first seen for a while In the afternoon the temperature popped up to 6.7C (AWS 6.3C) between 1430 and 1500 GMT when the sun came out. Otherwise the temperature kept around 5C in a light WSW'ly breeze. During the late afternoon with further showery rain (fresh snow on the mountains) the wind backed NNE'ly and pressure 1019 mb at 1800 GMT continued to rise. {Swanage 10.5C, Cardiff 9.9C, Stoneyhurst 16.4 mm, Capel Curig 14.6 mm, Wattisham 7.9h, Valley 0.9h[Rain 4.9 mm; Max 6.7C; Min 2.4C; Grass -0.8C]
28th: At midnight pressure had risen to 1026 mb and with broken or scattered clouds the temperature on the grass fell to -1.8C by morning. The ground was not white with frost, but dew drops were frozen. Pressure 1032 mb was still rising slowly in a ridge from high 1032 mb Cape Finisterre; it was calm with occasional airs from the south-east. Pressure was also intensely high 1058 mb over NW Russia where it was also very cold, the temperature at Kojnas today -35.7C. Visibility was good, or very good looking towards the Lleyn, but there was smoke haze in the east and low-lying mist in the Menai Strait. The morning was bright with weak sunshine, the afternoon sunnier with sun shining on the white topped Carnedd Llewelyn (above right) with lying snow generally at 2000 ft, as low as 1600 ft in places and 1250 ft near Cwm Idwal. {Cardiff 8.3C/ Sennybridge -2.7C, Aberporth 4.0h, Valley 0.8h} [Rain 0.1 mm; Max 5.4C; Min 1.6C; Grass -1.8C]
29th: Overcast with light rain and/ or drizzle most of the day precipitation falling as snow on the Snowdonia Mountains. Pressure had fallen a little 1031 mb,but was still under the influence of the intense high 1059 mb over NW Russia; the temperature in Kalevala today was -37.2C. Dry during the evening, some clear sky for a while. No sunshine here, but 7.2h was recorded at Kinloss in Scotland. {Scilly 9.3C, Killowen 37.4 mm, Whitechurch 22.0 mm, Kinloss 7.2h} [Rain 8.2 mm; Max 4.1C; Min 1.1C; Grass -2.5C]

The month ended with a mean temperature of 5.9C (+0.5) & [+0.8] of average, highest since 2008 and ranked 9 since 1979. Rainfall of 86.4 mm was (81%) & [85%] of average and was highest since 2009, but ranked 33rd lowest since 1929. Sunshine was a little below average, provisional sunshine duration at Valley was 55.8h (92%) & [96%] of average, lowest since 2008. Sunniest day was on the 16th having 6.9h and there were 8 sunless days.

Select individual graphic below for 2011, or see most on a page . Hover your cursor over the icon for details   Some annual stats for 2011, or look at the annual report .

Latest AWS observations Diary 2011 to last month Snowdonia snowline for 2011/2012, usually updated twice weekly in season Daily Observations, usually updated bi-monthly Monthly summary and further analysis of the observations in 2011 Temperature graphs, daily and monthly rainfall histograms, accumulated rainfall total and more, all on a page for 2011 The observer's choice of forecasts, satellite imagery, severe weather, natural hazards and more Location map and satellite image (use mouse, left click and hold to drag the image) A rare cloud-free image of the British Isles captured by the NOAA 12 satellite at 1623 GMT on 8 April 2002.

These pages are designed and written by Donald Perkins: Copyright © 1998 - 2012 Disclaimer http://www.llansadwrn-wx.co.uk