MIKE & JAN's GARDEN

The start of May was unsettled with low pressure dominant and showers or longer spells of rain. However it was drier in the south-east. This was followed by a brief spell of more settled weather in the middle of the month before a return to generally unsettled conditions. However, high pressure re-established over the last few days of May with warm, sunny weather and increasing temperatures. Overall, May was warmer than average, particularly across eastern parts. Rainfall was above normal in the north-west, but below normal in much of southern England. Sunshine was also above normal across most of England.

1st to 3rd: A generally unsettled westerly flow, with showers and longer spells of rain. However, this was interspersed with some fine weather, particularly in the south-east. These parts experienced a sunny, warm and dry day on the 1st with maximum temperatures of 21.5 °C at Weybourne (Norfolk) and 21.0 °C at Gravesend (Kent). Temperatures over much of the country were near normal for early May though feeling cooler in the breeze.

4th to 10th: The unsettled theme continued, with low pressure dominant, bringing windy conditions and frequent outbreaks or longer spells of rain. A set of fronts progressed southwards during the night of the 4th, but southern England stayed largely dry and clear with –1.0 °C recorded at Benson (Oxfordshire). Outbreaks of rain continued on the 5th, with strong gusty south-westerly winds, although bright or sunny spells developed further south. Maximum temperatures were 20.2 °C at London Heathrow and 19.7 °C at Manston (Kent). It remained unsettled on the 6th and 7th. On the 8th a band of rain moved southwards across England, followed by heavy thundery showers across northern England; the 8th was a windy day with widespread gusts of 40 to 50 m.p.h. Further rain and showers affected northern England on the 9th, but it became drier and more settled on the 10th.

11th to 17th: High pressure became established on the 11th and 12th. It was relatively warm in sheltered southern and western areas, with Hurn (Dorset) reaching a maximum temperature of 18.8 °C, but windy across the far south during the evening with 45 m.p.h. recorded at Culdrose (Cornwall). It was dry and largely clear overnight across northern England on the 13th with a ground frost as far south as the Midlands. Thereafter conditions became cyclonic and unsettled. Heavy and thundery showers on the evening of the 15th moved across northern England, and it became very windy across south-west England and the south coast with gusts of 45 to 55 m.p.h. A band of heavy and thundery rain spread into south-west England and progressed northward during the 17th, with some localised flooding in Southampton.

18th to 28th: Staying generally unsettled. Overnight on the 18th further bands of showery rain affected western parts of England, with heavy showers affecting the south-west and Midlands and winds gusting 40 to 50 m.p.h. Okehampton (Devon) received 23.6 mm in 24 hours to midnight of 19th. A heavy downpour on 19th caused local flooding in Doncaster. It continued showery until the 23rd when temperatures increased under a brief ridge of high pressure: London recorded 25.2 °C on the 24th. It was unsettled on the 25th and further rain fell on 26th; Wainfleet and Holbeach (Lincolnshire) recorded 25.8 mm and 23.6 mm respectively, and Marham (Norfolk) 18.6 mm. This was followed by a gradual return to more settled conditions during 27th and 28th.

29th to 31st: High pressure re-established itself, with warm, dry, sunny weather and unbroken sunshine over most of England. Solent (Hampshire) recorded a maximum temperature of 26.9 °C on the 31st.