May 2019 Commentary

Although there was an overall increase in temperature as the month progressed, summer has been slow to arrive. It was the relative lack of rain that made the month of May tolerable and there seemed to be few comments about the state of the weather.

From the third week onwards, day-time temperatures quite regularly got into the low twenties but only during the last week did night-time figures start to improve as well.

High pressure prevailed overall during May but the four dips in pressure only brought one heavy fall of rain on the 7th.

The average temperature of 13.8C was a little below the average for May over the last decade while the rainfall total of 31.5mm. (just over 1 inch) was less than half the average for May, which is regularly one of our driest months.

There has been a fair amount of sunshine which seems to have encouraged many flowers to bloom quite early while the lack of rainfall has caused the cricket club to check on its watering system.

Philip Spray