SUMMARIES: 1990 to latest

A word of caution re: the 'warmest' and 'sunniest' data.

1. I have used the generally published figures from various Daily or Monthly Weather Summaries, and other sources. This means that sometimes, values are used that are later questioned: in particular, some stations have been found to be non-representative when careful later checks are made. I have used some of the 'roof-top' sites, (e.g. London, Cardiff), but remember that these are generally regarded as poor when set alongside the more 'standard' ground-level settings. Also note that these data (where known / given) are simply the locations we know of! They are not meant to be exhaustive: just giving the broad idea of where the warmest (or sunniest) spots were, and with what value. In some cases, I do not know the exact value, so the value to the nearest degC (temperature) or h (hours of sunshine) is listed.

2. Sunshine can be mis-reported for all sorts of reasons, and it is not unknown for coastal resorts to 'massage' the figures! Note that sometimes, sunshine from the previous day can be carried forward to the current one: this is a result of some reporting stations being required to return sunshine totals for the 24hr up to 6pm local time - therefore the previous evening's sunshine may well intrude. However, I have quoted all figures below without editing as long as they look reasonable.

1990: (13th - 16th April)
UNSETTLED - RATHER CHILLY AND WINDY. HEAVY SHOWERS MONDAY.
Warmest = 13.2degC (Malvern [Worcestershire]/13th and Bridlington [East Yorkshire]/15th):
Sunniest = 12.4h (Torquay [Devon]/15th).
SUNINDEX=102

The holiday weekend started with a west or northwest type, with unsettled weather, although rainfall amounts in the south were small until the 13th, Good Friday.
More fronts and rain followed eastwards across the country on the 14th (Saturday) as a deep depression moved east to the south of Iceland with a return to colder northwesterly winds and showers on the 15th (Easter Day). Showers were heaviest in the north with snow on high ground and there were more night frosts.
There were heavy showers in many parts of the country on the 16th (Monday).
For a relatively "late" Easter, day-time temperatures on the 'low' side: for example, Glasgow failed to rise above 10degC, and only achieved 8degC on the Monday, some 4C below average. Even in London, it took the whole weekend to achieve the long-term average of 13degC on the Monday, and that was given 9hr of sunshine - the cold/showery air mass was the culprit.
Many stations had their wettest 24hr periods of the month over this holiday weekend as follows: 13th (Good Friday): 7.5 mm in 24hr: Heathrow [London]; 5.9mm in 24hr: Cambridge; 13.7 mm in 24hr: Lowestoft [Suffolk]; 14th (Saturday): 12.3 mm in 24hr Hastings [Sussex]; 2.8 mm in 24hr Tynemouth; 16th (Monday): 10.0mm in 24hr Stornoway [Western Isles].

1991: (29th March - 1st April)
DOWNHILL RAPIDLY FROM GOOD FRIDAY. CYCLONIC/WINDY ON MONDAY. GENERAL LACK SUNSHINE.
Warmest = 17.8degC (Inchmarlo, SW of Aberdeen/1st):
Sunniest = 10.8h (Ventnor [Isle of Wight] and Bognor Regis [Sussex]/30th).
SUNINDEX=41

A strong anticyclone, centred over the north of England on the Good Friday, gave way progressively over the holiday weekend, allowing westerlies to develop, culminating in a very strong and locally stormy westerly on Easter Monday.
The first two days of April (including the Bank Holiday Monday) were mainly cloudy over England and Wales with some rain for most places, especially in Wales where Gwynedd was decidedly wet. Trawsfyndd [Gwynedd / Snowdonia] registered 32.2 mm on the 1st, (whilst on the Tuesday, Nantmor [Gwynedd] had 43.6mm). In eastern Scotland, amounts of rainfall were generally very small and, with around 4 hours of sunshine on the 1st [Monday], Inchmarlo was the warmest place in the UK with 17.8degC on the 1st.
The maximum temperature at Glasgow on the 30th (Saturday) was 14.6degC, and on the 31st (Easter Day) at Aldergrove [Belfast] was 13.1degC. Although London had 10hr of sunshine on Saturday, the weekend was notable for large amounts of cloud - reflected generally by the low 'SunIndex' above.

1992: (17th - 20th April)
NOTABLY WARM IN SOUTH; COOLER IN NORTH. LITTLE RAIN. INDIFFERENT SUNSHINE TOTALS.
Warmest = 20.3degC (Folkestone [Kent]/18th):
Sunniest = 12.4h (Ryde [Isle of Wight]/20th).
SUNINDEX=37 (one of the 'dull' ones)

A change to much warmer westerlies took place overnight 16th [Maundy Thursday]/17th [Good Friday] just in time for the Easter weekend. However, distribution of bright sunshine was highly variable (and for many distinctly lacking), but the temperature still reached 16 to 19 degC in several places in England on all four days of the holiday. Folkestone's 20 degC on the 18th (Saturday) was the highest temperature of the month at any station. London reached 18degC twice (5C above average), though as elsewhere, sunshine was 'hit and miss', though on Monday the capital fared very nicely, with 11hr of sunshine to go with the 18degC aforementioned. Manchester was also fine on Monday (17degC/6hr sunshine) with a gentle southerly wind.
Other notes: maximum 18.0degC at Lowestoft [Suffolk], 17.2degC at Cambridge on the 18th (Saturday); also 19.3 degC at Hastings [Sussex] on the 18th. Also a reading of 17.4degC at Lyneham [Wiltshire] on the 19th (Easter Day). Heathrow recorded a maximum of 18.5degC on Monday, 20th.
Stornoway [Western Isles], Aviemore [Highland] and Dyce [Aberdeen] all recorded their sunniest days of the month on either the 18th (Saturday) or 19th (Easter Day): 11.1 h at Dyce [Aberdeen] on the 19th.

1993: (9th - 12th April)
CYCLONIC/COOL - SOMETIMES WINDY. LOCAL HEAVY RAINFALL. BETTER MONDAY IN SOUTHEAST.
Warmest = 15.8degC (Torquay [Devon]/9th):
Sunniest = 11.6h (Jubilee Corner [Kent], Worthing [Sussex] and Littlehampton [Sussex]/12th).
SUNINDEX=63

A notably cyclonic month: On the 9th, Good Friday, 41 mm fell at Dyce [Aberdeen]. Thunder occurred widely over England and Wales on Easter Monday afternoon (12th). Between the 3rd and 12th (which includes the Easter weekend), belts of rain (occasionally heavy) crossed the country, particularly 8th/9th (Maundy Thursday / Good Friday).
The whole weekend was cyclonic/cool, with several stations having the highest 24hr rainfall for the month on the 9th (Good Friday) (slow-moving vortex to the NW of Britain), e.g. Dyce (as above), Leuchars [Fife] (30.4mm), Tynemouth & Durham to name a few.
To off-set the general poor impression this might give, looking at some major conurbations in England, Monday was reasonably sunny (11hr in London), and temperatures climbed to 14 or 15degC, quite respectable.
[ Over the month as a whole, it was notably wet in the north and northeast. ]

1994: (1st - 4th April)
WET/WINDY/COOL - LOCAL STORM FORCE WINDS EARLY FRIDAY.
Warmest = 12.9degC (Folkestone [Kent]/4th):
Sunniest = 11.2h (Torquay [Devon]/4th.
SUNINDEX=68

A vigorous secondary depression tracked across England early on the 1st (Good Friday), introducing a very disturbed spell which lasted until the 9th. Active fronts crossed the UK at intervals with showery westerly or north-westerly winds in between. Heavy rain and gales (gusts to 100 mph at Cardiff WC during the early hours of the 1st), gave way to showery weather during the day, with hail and thunder, and snow over some Scottish hills.
Further rain-belts crossed the UK on the 3rd/4th (Easter Sunday/Monday); (54mm) at Davidstow Moor [Cornwall]. On the morning of the 4th [Easter Monday], 2-3cm of snow disrupted traffic in Cambridgeshire. Further north, day-time maxima in major population areas such as Glasgow and Belfast struggled at around the 5 or 6degC mark: these are some 5C below the long-term average, though at least on Monday, around 5hr of fitful sunshine was achieved in many northern areas.
Some minima: -0.1degC (Watnall [Nottingham]), -1.5degC (Elmdon [Birmingham]), -0.7degC (Heathrow [London]), and 0.0degC (Hastings [Sussex]) on the 3rd (Easter Day). -1.0degC at Stornoway [Western Isles] on the 4th (Bank-Holiday Monday);
The 3rd (Easter Day) saw the highest 24hr rainfall totals for a number of stations (for that particular month of that year), including 16mm at Glasgow, 20 mm at Eskdalemuir [Dumfries & Galloway], 10mm at Lowestoft [Suffolk], 13mm at Elmdon [Birmingham], 30.2 mm at Rhoose [Cardiff], 15 mm at Hastings [Sussex] and 20.3 mm at St.Mawgan [Newquay/Cornwall]. .

1995: (14th - 17th April)
FINE/WARM START THEN COLDER AND CLOUDIER.
Warmest = 19.1degC (Shobdon [Hereford & Worcester]/14th):
Sunniest = 11.8h (St.Mary's [Isles of Scilly]/14th).
SUNINDEX=50

A major change took place during the 14th/15th (Good Friday/Saturday) as an anticyclone rapidly withdrew to the mid-Atlantic, allowing a much cooler cloudier north-westerly flow to develop between the 15th (Saturday) and the 17th (Easter Monday). Sunshine at first, especially on the Friday, was quite promising, but by Monday, it was either fleeting or non-existent. A marked cold front (during the late 17th), then introduced a strong northerly air stream of Arctic origin. Some rain - the first for almost 3 weeks locally - fell in all areas around the 16th/17th [Sunday/Monday]: Durham maximum temperature on the 14th (Good Friday), 17.0degC. In London on Friday, a maximum of 18degC was replaced by Monday of a top-value of around 12degC, just below average for mid-April.
For a late Easter, another disappointment.

1996: (5th - 8th April)
GOOD IN PARTS. WINDY AND DAMP WEST & NORTH BY MONDAY.
Warmest = 17.2degC (Larne [N.Ireland]/8th):
Sunniest = 12.4h (Hunstanton [Norfolk]/5th).
SUNINDEX=95

The warmest day of the month at Glasgow occurred on the Bank-Holiday Monday, 8th, with 16.0degC, and many other parts of Scotland had their warmest day of the month the following day. However, as is usual this early in the year, there were some notably chilly mornings, Glasgow recording a minimum temperature of -3.8degC on Good Friday morning, along with -4.0degC at Eskdalemuir [Dumfries & Galloway] on the same day, and of note, a -0.5degC at Valley [Anglesey] the same morning. Aviemore [Grampian] and Stornoway [Western Isles] also recorded their coldest mornings on the 7th (Easter Day) and 6th (Saturday) respectively.
A strong ridge from an anticyclone over Scandinavia persisted until the first half of Easter Day, then declined markedly as it was attacked by an Atlantic frontal system from late afternoon/early evening on the 7th (Easter Sunday). Through the 8th (Monday), northern and some western areas had windy, damp weather, whilst the south-east of Britain benefited from the retreating ridge, with temperatures well above average, for example, London up to 16degC/5hr sunshine. Very low humidity occurred on the 4th and 5th, hence the air frosts. The 6th and 7th were dull, damp and cold under the 'easterly ridge' type over eastern, central and southern districts, but the west and north enjoyed warm sunshine by day, though still with night frosts. All areas were reasonably warm on the 8th (Monday) (and 9th), if rather cloudy.

1997: (28th - 31st March)
MANY PLACES INCREASINGLY WARM/SUNNY. CLOUDIER NORTHWEST.
Warmest = 17.5degC (Barbourne - Hereford/Worcestershire/31st):
Sunniest = 12.5h (Bastreet - Cornwall/30th).
SUNINDEX=102

The 28th, Good Friday was sunny but with a cold, blustery wind and wintry showers in Scotland. The rest of the weekend was also quite sunny except in the north-west, and it became progressively warmer by the day, as the flow turned back from the NW to the W, although nights were frosty with minima locally of -4degC. The 15.9 degC recorded at Dyce [Aberdeen] on the 31st (Monday) was their highest temperature for March 1997.
They, along with the rest of the UK had had a notably warm month, with general anomalies some +2 to +2.5 degC and some northern and eastern areas well above +3.0. The Easter weekend was dominated by a slow-moving anticyclone, initially to the SW then to the S of the country, with the centre ending up over southern England/English Channel 30th (Easter Day)/31st (Monday). In northern areas, it was windy with a pseudo-open warm sector type, but that meant that areas leeward of main high ground had the potential to become warm/sunny.
All in all, not at all unpleasant, and prolonged sunshine across lowland England (the sunshine-per-day sequence in London was 11hr/7hr/11hr/12hr) helped things along.

1998: (10th - 13th April)
COLD/WINTRY SHOWERS. MOPPING UP IN MIDLANDS AFTER FLOODS.
Warmest = 12.1degC (Margate [Kent]/10th):
Sunniest = 13.0h (Shawbury [Shropshire]/12th).
SUNINDEX=112

Depression to SE of Britain slow-moving; by Easter Monday, this had moved to the north-east North Sea. The feature maintained winds from a north or north-easterly point and was quite strong at times (a 'raw' wind).
A notably cold holiday weekend, with wintry showers, or longer periods of sleet and snow in places.
Early on the 10th (Good Friday), the minimum temperature at Altnaharra [Highland] was -9.0degC.
Many stations had their coldest nights of the month over this holiday (values where known): 10th: Stornoway [Western Isles], Aviemore [Grampian] (-6.2degC); Dyce [Aberdeen] and Aldergrove [Belfast] (-4.3degC): 12th: Ringway [Manchester], Waddington [Lincoln], Shawbury [Shropshire] (-2.9degC), Aberporth [Cardigan Bay], Lyneham [Wiltshire] (-1.7degC), Heathrow [London] (+0.1degC), Swansea; 13th: Abbotsinch [Glasgow] (-3.8degC), Lyneham [Wiltshire] (-1.7degC), Swansea, Hastings [Sussex], Hurn [Bournemouth] (-3.2degC);
Sunshine was disappointing in the south, but much better in the north, although spoilt here by a cold and gusty northerly wind. Overall, with day maxima 8 or 9degC (many places no higher than 7degC on Sunday and Monday), and 'normal' maxima around 11 or 12 in the north, and 13 or 14 in the south, it will be remembered as a distinctly cold weekend, accentuated by the strength of the wind - and by people in the Midlands as the one where they had to 'mop-up' after the significant flooding which peaked on Maundy Thursday. Snow was also a problem especially on Good Friday across the Pennines/West Yorkshire & NE Wales, along with some spots in the West of England, mainly over the moors. .

1999: (2nd - 5th April)
MARKED LACK OF SUNSHINE BUT TEMPERATURES ABOVE AVERAGE.
Warmest = 19.2degC (Aultbea [Ross&Cromarty]/2nd):
Sunniest = 10.7h (Fair Isle [Northern Isles]/3rd).
SUNINDEX=39 (one of the 'dull' ones)

Maundy Thursday was a brilliantly warm & fine day, with close to 'record' maximum temperatures in some places (for early April). The Easter weekend therefore turned out to be another disappointment. However, not all bad news, after a miserably cold few days earlier in the week (easterly/haar-laden winds) along the English & Scottish east coast things perked up nicely here from Good Friday as the wind veered to come from a landward direction.
A good day on the 2nd (Good Friday) on the East coast, with many spots from Tynemouth [NE England] down to Margate [Kent] having over 6 hr sunshine, and temperatures up to 18degC in places. Not so good for the south coast of course, because now the wind was off the English Channel, with day-time maxima 13 to 15degC and a chill wind; sunshine was plentiful though - again quite a common feature for the south coast (sea temperatures too cold to generate cloudy 'infill'). Best of the weather inland e.g. London 18degC/6h of sunshine.
Saturday was a mixed day, with some places fine/warm e.g. Exmouth [Devon] 17degC/8h sun, but the east coast had cooler/cloudier conditions than on Friday. Fine in the Western Isles for the second day; Stornoway: 10h sun/Friday and 8h Saturday, with temps 15 & 12degC respectively.
Easter Day mixed again: areas of persistent cloud but also some fine, warm sunshine: Birmingham, Cardiff, London - not too good, and marked lack of sunshine; However, the east coast of England perked up again: Scarborough [North Yorkshire] 17degC (7h sun), Cleethorpes [Lincolnshire] 19degC (7h) and Skegness [Lincolnshire] 17degC (7h): pleased land-ladies all!
Easter Monday - another day with disappointingly small amounts of sunshine, and very few places exceeded 4 h of bright sunshine although temperatures well above average: e.g. Ross-on-Wye [Worcestershire] 16degC, but only 1 hr of sun! [ NB: Very wet SW Scotland .. Dalmally [Argyll]=50.6mm 48hr during 4th/5th.
It was a remarkably warm weekend though, despite the lack of sunshine; Averaged over the 4 days, Glasgow, Belfast & London anomaly + 4degC and Manchester +6degC. Also no great amount of rain taking the nation as a whole.

2000: (21st - 24th April)
DISAPPOINTING, GIVEN HOW LATE IT WAS. PART OF VERY WET APRIL.
Warmest = 18.0 degC (Shoeburyness [ Essex]/22nd):
Sunniest = 12.1h (Norwich WC [Norfolk]/24th.
SUNINDEX=92

A showery S to SW flow Good Friday but persistent rain returned overnight 21st / 22nd (Saturday) and the rest of the weekend was unsettled with showers or longer periods of rain.
Good Friday: Rain showers many areas - heavy Ireland, Wales & SW England, with gusty winds in the southwest; Thunderstorms also reported across some northern areas. Late afternoon, heavy rainfall across SW England.
Saturday: Heavy rain moved across much of England & Wales, followed by rain showers. Other areas bright/sunny with heavy rain showers or thunderstorms. Chaos to Formula 1 Grand Prix (practice/qualifying day) at Silverstone [Northamptonshire] with car parks waterlogged. Hail covered ground in Ireland.
Easter Sunday: Foggy start North Yorkshire & Midlands but cleared to mixed weather - a lot of cloud but some sunshine. A lot of showers/thunderstorms, some severe thunderstorms/damage:-funnel clouds observed Suffolk.
Monday: Bands of cloud/rain spread north to affect many parts of England, Wales & Ireland. Persistent rain over Northern Scotland came south. Thunderstorms with rain N. Ireland, S. Scotland and N. England afternoon & evening - some local flooding S. Scotland. An inch of rain (25mm) in some parts of the West Country, and half-an-inch (12mm) some northern and eastern areas of England.
Temperatures never spectacular, generally 15 to 18 degC (above average by a couple of degrees), and sunshine irregular and unreliable. However, East Anglia was notably sunny (with over 11 hr/day) on both Friday & Monday, and in general, East Anglia and other eastern lowland England had the best of the temperatures/weather. Average sun hours Norwich, Cromer and Eastbourne over holiday 7.5 to 8hr/day.

2001: (13th - 16th April)
OFTEN BRISK, RATHER CHILLY WIND. SHOWERS OR RAIN FOR MOST.
Warmest = 15.1degC (Hawarden [Flintshire] & Leuchars [Fife]/14th):
Sunniest = 12.0h (Aspatria [Cumbria]/16th).
SUNINDEX=62

Good Friday: mixed day of cloudier areas, bright/sunny spells - best of latter east coast resorts along with Aberdeen. Rain hit & miss, showers SW Scotland & N.Ireland - rain in west & north Scotland later. Temperatures not spectacular 7degC to 9degC inland areas, 11degC bigger cities and some coastal resorts.
Saturday: A lot of cloud - any sunshine fleeting. Rain/drizzle for most - but any significant rainfall north England & Scotland. A brisk wind - distinctly chilly after a cold start (Redhill airfield [Surrey] -2degC at start). Otherwise temperatures just about average.
Easter Sunday: bright, periods strong sunshine, but a brisk, chill wind bringing plenty of showers - most of the significant showers reserved for the north & hillier areas. Hail covering ground in parts of E. Anglia: with wind northerly, (ocnl gusts 30kn) best sunshine/fewest showers lee of major high ground.
Easter Monday: Mixed fortunes - towards W/SW, good breaks cloud with fine sunshine/mainly dry. Further E & N, cloud much more of a problem, with sharp showers, hail. Temperatures struggling, but sheltered south coasts of England, Wales did well, as did much of Central Belt Scotland, the Ayr Coast, and eventually Ulster. (Torquay 14degC)
(NB: It was hoped that with the Foot & Mouth epidemic showing signs of easing, this first Bank Holiday of 2001 would help home tourism towards recovery. Unfortunately, the weather didn't play ball & was hardly inspiring for a 'day in the country'.)

2002: (29th March - 1st April)
FINE/SUNNY START - GOING DOWNHILL WITH LIMITED SUNSHINE; NOT BAD IN SOUTHEAST.
Warmest = 18.3degC London WC (29th) & Gravesend [Kent] (30th):
Sunniest =  11.2h (Moel-y-Crio [ Flintshire ]/29th).
SUNINDEX=72

Good Friday: Fine, sunny, dry: temps several degrees above average most places. Early fog Northern England/Scotland & Northern Ireland - soon clearing (but still caused problems for traffic flow). Temperatures: 16/17degC Midlands/SE England, 15degC Central Scotland. (18.3degC London Central: warmest Good Friday in the capital in a reliable, long-period record)
Saturday: Mostly fine/dry & sunny - scattered heavy showers southern England into evening. Thickening cloud, bringing rain to Northern Ireland by late afternoon - into Western Scotland evening-tide. Warm over England & Wales; nearer average temperatures north & west. (Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother died 1515 this afternoon .. the rest of the weekend was rather 'lost' thereafter.)
Easter Sunday: Big change to mostly cloudy skies everywhere, some bright/warm spots, but these not general. East/SE areas & sheltered NE England/Scotland brightest. Rain/drizzle for many otherwise, becoming wet during the evening in western areas: for most of England & Wales, distinctly cooler/disappointing than yesterday.
Easter Monday: Reasonably fine/warm E Anglia/SE England - with periods of fitful sun: temperatures to 15 or 16degC (16.6degC at Gravesend [Kent]). Warmer than average but fitful sunshine. Elsewhere, disappointingly cloudy - showery rain for many W & N regions later: particularly. Wales, far SW England, NW England etc.
(NB: in official records, warmest 17.5degC/Northolt [NW London] on 29th - London CC & Gravesend not used)

2003: (18th - 21st April)
FINE/WARM START; SHARP CHILL SATURDAY, THEN SLOW RECOVERY
Warmest = 25degC Exeter [Devon] (18th):
Sunniest =  14hr Torquay [Devon] (18th).
(Quite a coincidence as this was the year that the Met Office moved its HQ to Exeter, and at the time, its College was in Torquay!)
SUNINDEX=118

Good Friday: Dry everywhere; a very warm day (away from much colder east & exposed southern coasts); typical maxima: 18 to 22degC, with up to 23/24degC favoured/sheltered W/NW areas - conversely, North Sea coasts 13degC or less: A significant wind-chill to the easterly wind southern & some eastern areas - strong/gusty from mid-morning enhancing fire-risk locally. (Warmest: Exeter 25C; Sunniest: Torquay 14hr)
Saturday: Much colder for most: England/Wales - cloudy, typical maxima 8 to 12degC, some 10C lower than previous day for many. Strong/gusty E/NE wind (near gales Channel: problems for 'weekend' sailors); patchy/light rain east/central counties. Scotland/Northern Ireland: sunny/dry, but also cooler. However, sheltered W/NW (some N) areas still warm; Stornoway [Western Isles], Aviemore [Grampian] & Kinloss [Moray Firth] all 17 or 18degC. (Warmest: Aviemore 18degC; Sunniest: Belfast 13hr)
Easter Sunday: A lot of cloud England/Wales, though becoming brighter/sunnier as day progressed across east/central England. Many parts Scotland, some Northern Ireland also bright/sunny. Patchy rain England dying out - showers/rain SW England and showery-rain moved north across southern Britain through evening/night. Warmer than Saturday. Maxima Scotland still 14-16degC, other western areas up to 15degC; still cold North Sea coasts. (Warmest: Lee on Solent [Southampton Water] 16degC; Sunniest: Lerwick [Shetland] 13hr)
Easter Monday: Ireland, most Scotland, N/NW England & N Wales mostly cloudy. South Wales & Southern England clearer - some sunshine. Scattered rain showers about, with isolated thunderstorms overnight Wales/Western England dying, but thunderstorms West Midlands developing; Heavy rain for NW England/SW Scotland in morning - further sharp showers/thunderstorms Northern England/Scotland in afternoon/evening. (Warmest: Weybourne [Norfolk] 20C; Sunniest: Guernsey [Channel Islands] 10hr).]

2004: (9th - 12th April)
QUIET - LARGE AREAS CLOUD, SOME SHOWERY RAIN. TEMPERATURES NEAR AVERAGE.
Warmest = 18degC Enfield [Middlesex/North London](12th):
Sunniest = 11.9hr Guernsey [Channel Islands](12th).
SUNINDEX=32 (One of the 'dull' ones)

Good Friday: Warm front moving slowly south or southeast across southern Scotland, Northern Ireland & Cumbria early had reached Yorkshire to St. Georges Channel by evening. Area thick cloud, with occasional rain/drizzle on this front, clearing southern Scotland, and eventually Northern Ireland, but brought cold, cheerless weather to Cumbria, Lancashire, North Wales and eventually the Midlands and central Wales. South of this, much of southern & central Britain (including S. Wales), had a fine, warm day with light northerly winds - once morning fog and frost had cleared. Quite cold at dawn, e.g. Sennybridge in Wales -4.0degC, Shawbury (Shropshire) -2.7degC, with a widespread ground frost, and other areas of air frost from Yorkshire to southern England (e.g. Ringway [Manchester] -0.7degC, Lyneham [Wiltshire] -0.3degC & Hurn [Bournemouth] -1.4degC . . the latter spot is notably cold, and someway outside Bournemouth proper! However, in bright, increasingly prolonged sunshine, southern areas also had maxima 13 or 14degC, with Great Malvern (Worcestershire) up to 16degC. Sunshine best in the West Country & South Wales, with around 10 or 11hr for many here (St. Athan, South Glamorgan 11.1hr), and Torquay (Devon) up to 11.8h. Over Scotland, after the hesitant start, cloud breaking up, some sunshine (4h at Tiree and Lerwick), and Leuchars (Fife) was the warmest place today with a maximum of 16.8degC. (Warmest: Leuchars [Fife] 16.8degC; Sunniest: Torquay [South Devon] 11.8hr)
Saturday: Open warm sector England & Wales with warm front moving south or southeast across southern Britain producing areas persistent rain; cold front moving from NE introducing less-gloomy weather, but also chilly, brisk breezes for a time to SE England. General rainfall amounts small, but 2 to 3mm for parts of southern England early in the day - the rain or drizzle slowly dying out, amounts during the day small, and most places in UK dry by mid-afternoon. Fine sunshine far north and west-coastal Scotland, also later in the day for parts of NE & Eastern England (e.g. Cleethorpes ~ 5hr); Temperatures not far from average for this time in April, but under extensive cloud-cover & temporarily brisk N/NE wind in southeastern Britain, feeling distinctly chilly. Thicker cloud bringing occasional rain to parts of West and NW Scotland through the evening. (Warmest: Torquay [Devon] 15degC; Sunniest: Tiree [Inner Hebrides] 6.2hr)
Sunday: For the country as a whole, a large amount of cloud (decaying frontal link Wales & Western England) but with significant variations as a weak ridge topples south: from the Celtic Sea to the Thames Estuary around midday. Areas fine sunshine East Anglia (6 to 7hr), Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland/Durham, far SW England (South Cornwall 5hr) & later SE England (Sussex coast 7hr). Cloud also broke-up, with occasional sunshine Highland & northern Scotland (but cloudier with occasional showery-rain in Shetland near a cold-front link). Elsewhere in Scotland, along with N. Ireland, occasional rain, though small amounts - some weak/irregular sunshine for some here. After a cold/frosty start for some (e.g. Marham (Norfolk) -0.9degC, Odiham [Hampshire] -1.2degC & Redhill aerodrome [Surrey] -2.3degC, temperatures achieved either 'average' or a little above average values: not a bad day, particularly with mainly light winds - though a brisker westerly in far north mainland Scotland (but often bright here). Coast/sea breezes make an appearance, so under cloud and near the North Sea & Channel coast, then distinctly chilly. Inland though (as often with spring holidays), then given even only a little sunshine, temperatures a couple of degrees above average, e.g. Malvern (see below). (Warmest: Great Malvern [Worcestershire] 16degC; Sunniest: Torquay [S. Devon] 9.6hr)
Easter Monday: Over Scotland & Northern Ireland, largely cloudy with sporadic rain - sharper bursts north & NE Scotland (5mm Dyce [Aberdeen]); light/patchy elsewhere. Some fitful bright/sunny breaks (Orkney & Shetland nearly 4hr sunshine, Glasgow 5hr), reasonably light winds. Wales & England: areas of cloud, but often thin/high & breaking for lengthy periods (allowing diffuse/warm sunshine - e.g. Wattisham [Suffolk] 3.8hr, Yeovilton [Somerset] 4.6hr & parts of SE England [e.g. inland Sussex] up to 8 or 9hr): temperatures inland up to or above average by a couple of degrees (broad swathe through Midlands, inland East Anglia & much SE & CS England 16 or 17degC: however, many coasts suffered cooling marine breezes, with temperatures for some hardly above 9degC (but also lengthy/strong sunny spells: Camborne [ South Cornwall ] 7hr of bright sunshine). Showers developed afternoon/evening, especially east/South Wales, Midlands, East Anglia & London/Home Counties - though generally amounts of rain not significant until well after nightfall. Overall, for England & Wales, not a bad day, but not a day for lazing on the beach! (Warmest: Enfield [ Middlesex / North London ] 18 degC; Sunniest: Guernsey [ Channel Islands ] 11.9 hr) ]

2005: (25th - 28th March)
LARGE AREAS SUNLESS - SOME RAIN; SOUTH & WALES WARM SUNSHINE/MOSTLY DRY.
Warmest = 17.9 degC Cardiff MO [Wales](26th):
Sunniest = 11.2hr Kirkwall [Orkney/North Isles](27th).
SUNINDEX=35(Second consecutive Easter with large areas having little or no sunshine.)

Good Friday: Overall, most places dry and fair-to-fine; a largely cloudy start, but for south, southwest & central England, along with much of Wales, sunshine developed (or was there already), and some coastal areas has up to 8 or 9 h of bright sunshine (though it would have been chilly in any afternoon sea breezes). Northern England, Lincolnshire and parts of East Anglia always cloudier, with sporadic rain or scattered showers. Northern Ireland and much of Scotland cloudy, with a little rain about in the morning, but turning dry for most, with bright or locally sunny skies developing. Parts of central, SW & eastern Scotland had a very good day, with Prestwick having over 8h of sunshine; Leuchars (Fife) the warmest place in the UK, with 17.3degC. Elsewhere in the sunnier inland spots of England & Wales, widespread day maxima 16 or 17degC achieved. In the far SW, especially Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, a brisk (later strong/gusty) east wind and increasing cloud late in the day. (Warmest: Leuchars [Fife] 17.3 degC; Sunniest: Torquay [South Devon] 9.5hr)
Saturday: For many southern areas of England, along with much of Wales and the far west & NW of Scotland, this was a fine, sunny day, after a cold, locally frosty start (-1.3degC/Redhill airport). Many areas had over 7hr of bright sunshine, with Cardiff faring very well at nearly 11hr. Only in the far SW of England, mainly across the Isles of Scilly, did cloud persist, with sporadic rain, though even this latter died out. In stark contrast, most other areas of the country had a cloudy day, and for east & central Scotland, much of northern England, East of England and East Anglia, it was a cloudy, cold day; in some places on and near the North Sea coast, the temperature struggled to rise above 6 or 7degC with an onshore breeze. In addition, rain or drizzle added to the chill, and this cheerless, chill weather spread south and west late afternoon & through the evening as the east or NE wind became persistent. Ahead of this change, heavy showers and thunderstorms broke out in the afternoon, and some places in East Anglia & the Northern Home Counties had significant rainfall from these downpours: a widespread selection of stations recorded 4 to 8mm, with Northolt (NW London) having 12mm in a short period. (Warmest: Cardiff MO 17.9 degC; Sunniest: Cardiff MO 10.9 hr)
Easter Sunday: A good deal of cloud overall: particularly dull, damp and cold east & NE England, much of Central and east/NE Scotland, along with East Anglia & far SE of England: here, temperatures 6 to 8 degC at best, occasional rain (some lengthy spells - a wet evening NE England / SE Scotland) and accompanied by a dreary, persistent east wind off the North Sea. Elsewhere, a few bright spells, but temperatures in many western and central areas some 5 or more degC lower than the previous two days. Showers in the west too, especially Devon and Cornwall and parts of Wales. Two 'fine' areas: (1) the very far N of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland, where near-unbroken sunshine was spoiled by low temperatures and an easterly breeze; (2) much the best weather on this day was on the Isle of Wight, South Hampshire and parts of Dorset - with afternoon sunshine developing and the highest temperatures of the day - not bad with the east wind not being overly strong. (Warmest: Solent MRSC/Hampshire 14.7 degC; Sunniest: Kirkwall (Orkney) 11.2 hr)
Easter Monday: A notably wet day across southern Scotland & the Central Belt, along with parts of NE England - all accompanied by a cold east wind (temperatures no better than 6 or 7 degC for many) and extensive low cloud; over the two days (Sunday/Monday), Edinburgh recorded over 30mm of rain, with many other places in NE England / SE Scotland in the range 15-25mm. Upland areas would have been even wetter/colder - possibly some sleet: not pleasant for those camping & caravanning! Many other eastern & northern areas remained cloudy and chilly today - but across much of Northern Scotland, a bright or sunny day - with the Western Isles faring very well: Stornoway nearly 11hr of sunshine, though the day's high temperature just 10degC. The North Isles though returned to low cloud/fog after the fine day yesterday. By far the best weather was reserved for much of southern England along with Wales, where periods of bright sunshine allowed temperatures to rise to 4 or more degC above the late March average: coasts cooler, and the SW of England was also cloudier with a scattering of showers. With the wind light and variable across the south though, this made it 3 days out of 4 with quite respectable conditions, considering it was late March: the warming sunshine gradually spread across the Midlands and just into the Peak District and the Manchester area by the end of the day. Day maxima widely 14 or 15 across the inland south of both England and Wales. (Warmest: Northolt/Middlesex-NW London 16.1 degC; Sunniest: Stornoway (Isle of Lewis/Hebrides) 10.6 hr)

2006: (14th - 17th April)
SOUTH - WARM, LONG DRY PERIODS; NORTH - SHOWERY/COOL BUT OFTEN SUNNY.
Warmest = 16.6degC London [Central] (14th) & Farnborough [Hampshire]/Charlwood [Surrey] (16th):
Sunniest = 12.7hr Cromer [Norfolk] (14th).
SUNINDEX=71 (disappointing for a 'late' Easter)

Good Friday: Over much of Wales, together with Midland and all southern England, a cloudy morning & early afternoon, with sporadic rain - the rain persistent & quite intense for a time in the south; however, through the afternoon, warm sunshine developed for most here, with the rain dying away - a few coastal & hilly areas in the SW retained misty low cloud. Elsewhere, a fine day, with a brisk westerly breeze: showery over Northern Ireland, west & northern Scotland - but even here, the showers decayed: prolonged sunshine for many away from the far south - 8 to 11 hours quite common. With less wind than recently, and the strong sunshine it was a very pleasant afternoon for many; afternoon maxima widely 15 or 16 degC southern & Midland England. (Warmest: London [Central] 16.6 degC; Sunniest: Cromer [Norfolk] 12.7 hr)
Saturday: A fine, but locally frosty start across NE Scotland, with the dawn temperature at Aboyne (Aberdeenshire) -5degC. Here, a sunny start, though clouding up later. Elsewhere, a lot of cloud as various frontal links moved across the country, bringing bands of rain - fairly light, but heavier & more persistent rain affected central-southern & parts of SE England afternoon & early evening. A strong SW wind blowing across northwestern UK, and here it was chilly for mid-April, as it was elsewhere across northern Britain. A brisk easterly in the rain area over SE Britain as well. In between, lighter winds, and with a little watery sunshine, temperatures up to 15 or 16 in places. (Warmest: Woodford [Gtr. Manchester] 16.5 degC; Sunniest: Kinloss [Morayshire] 3.2 hr)
Easter Sunday: Scotland & Northern Ireland: bright or sunny - prolonged sunshine for many, though with showers in places, mainly over & downwind of regions exposed to the northwest; eastern & central regions were largely dry. A strong & chill wind: near-gale exposed N & NW Scotland (ferries suspended). Northern England, North Wales, the north Midlands & East Anglia had the best of the weather, with bright or sunny skies & largely dry weather. Remaining southern areas of Britain, after a misty start, experienced a lot of cloud, with rain about, mixed with lengthy dry spells; some southwestern coastal/hilly areas kept low cloud & sea mist. The highest temperatures occurred in this region, with many places over SE England & East Anglia (inland) up to 16degC. Elsewhere (including many coasts) temperatures average at best, and below average in the windy north. (Warmest: Farnborough [Hampshire] & Charlwood [Surrey] 16.6 degC; Sunniest: Ronaldsway (Isle-of-Man) 10.0 hr)
Easter Monday: Scotland had a windy, chilly but very sunny day - spoilt in the north & west by showers on the gusty west to northwest wind. Northern Ireland, North Wales, northern England and the north Midlands had a rather mixed day of large areas of cloud, a brisk west wind but some sunshine too: sporadic rain about, persistent for a time in NW England and over Ulster. Remaining southern parts of Britain had a largely fine, sunny, breezy day - any cloud tending to break up or move away. It became warm too, except on coasts with an onshore wind. Overall, the best day of the extended weekend. (Warmest: Charlwood [Surrey] 15.9degC; Sunniest: Leuchars [Fife] 12.0 hr)

2007: (6th - 9th April)
DRY, SUNNY FOR LARGE AREAS; RATHER WINDY IN NORTH. WARM SOUTH & EAST.
Warmest = 20.2degC Lee-on-Solent [Hampshire] (6th):
Sunniest = 12.5hr East Malling [Kent] (8th).
SUNINDEX=104 (under-represents sunshine in this case)

Good Friday: Apart from sporadic rain or drizzle over the Northern Isles (& the far north of Scotland first-thing), it was dry everywhere. Northern Ireland, Wales and England (except the far north & much of the NE & Yorkshire) had a fine, sunny day after a chilly, locally misty start (Air minimum temperature at Katesbridge, Co. Down [NI] -2.6degC). It became warm in the south, with temperatures in the range 17 to 20degC by mid-afternoon & the wind was reasonably light: many places across southern & central Britain, together with Northern Ireland had between 9 and 11 hours of often strong sunshine. Further north, skies were much cloudier (though with fitful sunshine), with a moderate west or northwest wind, and here it was much cooler. (Warmest: Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire 20.2degC; Sunniest: Southampton 12.2 hr)
Saturday: For the great bulk of the nation (UK), another fine, sunny day - after a locally chilly, misty start; it was foggy for a time early morning at Manchester airport. Sea-breezes developed around many coasts, and here it felt rather chilly, but inland, it was a pleasant-enough day. Only in the far north of Scotland was the wind (westerly), rather strong, with a period of rain during the morning also affecting Orkney & Shetland. During the late afternoon, as the Shetlands entered cold air on an easterly wind, there was a short period of sleet and snow. (Warmest: Chivenor (NW Devon) 17.9degC; Sunniest: Aberporth (West Wales) 12.2hr)
Easter Sunday: Another fine, dry & for most, sunny day, only spoilt across northern areas by a rather brisk, gusty west wind. There were larger areas of cloud across Northern Ireland during the morning, but this was relatively thin & often well-broken & cleared for the most part in the afternoon. Once again, the weather was different across northern Scotland & the North & West Isles, with a strong (near-gale force) wind for many, with rain across Orkney & Shetland, though the rain eased to patchy drizzle and became confined to Shetland. A wet 24hr across Shetland (up to 18GMT/Sunday), with over 25mm of rain (or melted snow). After a locally chilly start (air minimum -1.1degC Hurn airport, nr. Bournemouth), it became a warm day (away from windward coasts & hills), but near-average temperatures in the cloudier, windy NW. (Warmest: Great Malvern (Worcestershire) 19.8degC; Sunniest: East Malling (Kent) 12.5hr)
Easter Monday: A foggy start across Wessex & the SW of England & cloudier than recent days across much of the north & west of the UK. In some of these latter spots, some hill / coast drizzle, with some parts of NW England & N. Wales having dull, damp (& decidedly chilly) conditions throughout. Otherwise, another fine, sunny start to the day and for many, once again it remained dry all day. However, unlike the previous few days, large areas of cloud built up across southern & central areas, though it remained fair & bright. A brisk westerly wind across the northern half of the UK, with sea-breezes elsewhere. Reasonably warm inland, despite the cloud cover, but chillier along coasts and in the hills. NE & E Scotland, despite a gusty wind, achieved afternoon maxima to 17 or 18degC. (Warmest: East Malling (Kent) 18.1degC; Sunniest: Aberporth (W. Wales) 10.5 hr)

2008: (21st - 24th March)
WINTRY/STRONG WIND. SNOW N & E; COLD, BUT SUNSHINE FOR MOST.
Warmest = 11.7degC Solent MRSC [Hampshire] (21st) & St. Mary's [Isles of Scilly] (24th) :
Sunniest = 9.1hr Glasgow [Bishopton] (21st).
SUNINDEX=74 (not bad considering how early this Easter was).

Good Friday: Cold-frontal rain, accompanied by squally winds, cleared southern Britain before dawn and the Channel Islands by mid-morning. Showers were already widespread across northern & some western areas of the UK and showers quickly became the dominant weather type for much of the nation, increasingly wintry, with lengthier periods of rain, sleet or snow for northern & later eastern Britain: snow was confined to upland areas initially, but fell to lower levels as the day progressed - with some irregular impact on road transport by evening. Thunder was also reported in some places during the afternoon. The strong & gusty northwest wind steadily veered northerly - being notably strong in association with heavier showers (or shower clusters) & more generally across northern Scotland & the Northern Isles, where local gales occurred. Afternoon maxima were not too far from late March average values (5degC N & NE Scotland, 7 to 10 degC elsewhere north-to-south, locally 10 or 11degC southern England), but given the strength of the wind, it felt cold, particularly where sunshine was limited and showers frequent: at Braemar (Deeside) the day-time temperature only just climbed above +2degC. Worth noting though, many central southern parts of England & a few sheltered spots elsewhere (e.g. Central Lowlands of Scotland) had few showers and prolonged sunshine. (Warmest: Solent MRSC, Hampshire 11.7degC; Sunniest: Bishopton (Glasgow region) 9.1 hr)
Saturday: A lot of cloud & frequent wintry showers across central and eastern England - snow temporarily causing travel problems on minor roads, especially at altitude. Further north & west, showers were more classically scattered, with extended periods of strong sunshine in between. Through the afternoon, cloud broke up across SE Britain & the showers tended to decay in intensity, with many areas dry & clear by dusk. Clear skies during the evening over southern UK allowed temperatures to fall quickly, with a widespread frost by late evening. Meanwhile, cloud rapidly spread across northern UK, with rain (coastal), then sleet & snow spreading to N & NW Britain during the evening. A cold day with temperatures a couple of degrees lower [at least] than on Good Friday & across NE & the far north of Scotland, day maxima wee little better than 3 or 4 degC (2.2degC at Lerwick, Shetland). In eastern & central areas of England, the cold was enhanced by the continuing strong & gusty north or NNE wind, which was around gale-force through & adjacent to the Dover Strait for lengthy periods: indeed at Langdon Bay (Kent), a notoriously exposed spot, a gust of 70 knots (81 mph) was recorded. The wind was, however, less of a feature across northern, and later western UK than 24 hours before. (Warmest: Great Malvern (Worcestershire) 9.1degC; Sunniest: St. Athan (Vale of Glamorgan) 8.7hr)
Easter Sunday: Rain sleet & snow spread southward during the early hours, reaching most of southern Britain by mid-morning. Whilst lowland western areas only saw rain, upland districts in the north and east, and for a time many lowland eastern counties of England, experienced 2 or 3 hours of steady snowfall: amounts of snow mainly 2 - 5 cm (populated districts), but plenty of reports from Lincolnshire, East Midlands, the Fens & Peak District of 8 - 10 cm. Temporary traffic disruption as a result. By early afternoon, the rain & snow was clearing SE England (the Channel Islands second-half of the afternoon), as bright or sunny weather elsewhere took over, though there was rather more cloud in the north of Scotland. Despite a scattering of sometimes heavy wintry showers (hail, sleet and some snow), there was also a lot of dry weather, though once again with a chilly, rather gusty north wind. Towards evening thicker cloud extended south across many western areas. After a widespread frost overnight (except in the far west), temperatures during the day were well below average, though nearer-normal across southern England and along some windward coasts in the west. However, for large areass of east and southeast England, day maxima were no better than 4 or 5 degC (Kenley, Kent only 2.5degC), and although Shetland was the sunniest spot in the UK, the best temperature there was around 1degC with a biting north wind. (Warmest: Isles of Scilly, St. Mary's 9.8degC; Sunniest: Lerwick (Shetland) 6.6hr)
Easter Monday: The Bank Holiday Monday ended the extended weekend with the same northerly flow covering the country - essentially an ex-Arctic type. Across north and northeast Scotland, it brought bitterly cold, cloudy, showery conditions: where showers inland were frequent, and particularly in hilly and mountain areas, condtions were atrocious, with heavy snow & high winds. Elsewhere over the UK, though there was occasional sunshine (prolonged in across eastern & northern areas of England, along with the central lowlands of Scotland), there were also large areas of cloud streaming down the flow - bringing rain, sleet & snow showers (some prolonged) to eastern and northern districts, and rain or hail in the west & southwest. Temperatures barely exceeded freezing for much of the day across N & NE Scotland (Braemar [Aberdeenshire] day maximum only -0.9degC), and they were many degrees below average elsewhere in the east and north. However, relatively milder conditions persisted in SW Britain - with maxima into double-figures in some sheltered, sunnier spots. (Warmest: Isles of Scilly, St. Mary's 11.7degC; Sunniest: Leconfield (East Yorkshire) 8.8 hr)
[ NB: this Easter was within one day of being the earliest possible in the year, so the cold weather 'per se' was hardly surprising! However, a provisional look at the figures for eastern England, including the London area, suggests that it was one of the 2 or 3 coldest Easters in the last 100 years. Also, Philip Eden, writing in the 'Weather Log' (R.Met.Soc) states that for the nation as a whole, "The Easter holiday was one of the coldest on record ..." ]