Sunday among warmest early Spring days in Reading
Weather scientists at the university of Reading reveal data
One of the warmest early Spring days on record occurred this weekend, data from the University of Reading’s weather stations shows.
The warm weather came amid an exceptionally sunny start to the month - but the fine conditions are soon set to fade away.
Sunny
Dr Stephen Burt, of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, said: “Sunday's maximum temperature at the Reading University Atmospheric Observatory was 18.4 °C, which is 7 degrees above the norm for early March.
“It is not without precedent, however, for on the same date in 1948, the maximum temperature at the University’s former London Road observatory reached 21.8 °C. This is by far the earliest date on which the temperature has hit 20 degrees in our records, which go back to 1908. The record was almost broken six years ago, when the maximum temperature reached 19.5 degrees on 26 February 2019.
“In the first nine days of March, 76 hours of sunshine have been recorded, more than half of the monthly average, with only one day (Friday, 7 March) recording less than 6 hours.
“Unfortunately, our early spring has come to a grinding halt, with cold north-easterly winds bringing much lower temperatures and some rain. It was nice while it lasted!”