April 2025 Commentary

April averages out as one of our drier months though the total amount of rainfall can vary considerably from year to year.

This year's April rainfall was only a little less than average but what made it stand out was that twenty-two of the thirty days had no measurable rain at all. Instead of gentle April showers, we experienced two days and nights of very heavy rainfall which accounted for over eighty per cent of the total.

April also regularly provides the most obvious feel of winter changing to summer. There were only five or six cold nights while the day-time temperatures were warm towards the end of the first week, mild for the next fortnight and then actually hot for the last few days of the month.

The average temperature for April was 12.8C which is a degree and a half above the average for the last decade though there have been at least three warmer Aprils during the last twenty years.

The total rainfall for April was 59.7mm (just over 2 inches) close to the average of 62mm over the last ten years though these figures can be compared to 8 mm. or April 2011 and 248.5mm for April 2012.

Most deciduous trees turned green during the month while many gardens needed some watering by the end of April.

Philip Spray