Provisional early figures for April 2016 (1st – 27th) show that so far, despite the chilly temperatures and snow seen by many, the month has been around normal with rainfall at 96% of average, sunshine 94% of average and the mean temperature just 0.7 C below average.
The fact that April (so far) is running at 0.7 C below the long-term average means it is likely to be not quite as cold as the Aprils of 2012 or 2013, though we cannot be sure about this until we have the complete month’s statistics.
Northern Ireland has been the coldest area at 1.1 C below the average and 14% less sunshine than is expected for April.
Mean Maximum Temperature for April 2016
Wales recorded the highest temperature of the month at 20.3 C in Porthmadog on 21st April and Scotland recorded the lowest temperature of -5.6 at Kinbrace on 28th April.
| EARLY | maximum temperature | mean temperature | sunshine duration | precipitation | |||||
| Apr-2016 | Actual | Actual | Actual | Actual | |||||
| degC | degC | degC | degC | hours | % | mm | % | ||
| Regions | |||||||||
| UK | 10.6 | -0.8 | 6.7 | -0.7 | 139.0 | 94 | 69.7 | 96 | |
| England | 11.7 | -0.7 | 7.5 | -0.6 | 146.8 | 95 | 58.0 | 99 | |
| Wales | 11.0 | -0.6 | 7.1 | -0.5 | 148.4 | 96 | 78.6 | 88 | |
| Scotland | 8.8 | -1.0 | 5.3 | -0.8 | 125.5 | 93 | 86.8 | 95 | |
| N Ireland | 10.4 | -1.2 | 6.5 | -1.1 | 126.7 | 86 | 69.8 | 93 | |
We have seen some snow across parts of the UK this month, some of it leading to severe weather warnings to be issued. The last time we had a snow warning in April for the UK was in 2013, however we did have some warnings for snow in May last year. Statistically it is more likely to snow in April than November (1981-2010 records), the average number of days of snow in April is 2.3 compared to 1.7 days for November.
Data from the Met Office’s UK digitised records dates back to 1910. You can explore our climate data on our website. With still 3 days of the month still to go it’s not possible to make claims about the whole of April.
As we head into the bank holiday weekend it is looking unsettled with Saturday looking like the better day for many. Keep up to date with the latest forecast information on our forecast pages, Facebook and Twitter sites and via our Weather App.
Please note these provisional figures, especially for rainfall and sunshine are subject to revision. Anomalies are expressed relative to the 1981-2010 averaging period.
Official blog of the Met Office news team 
You have to laugh. When the statistics show April 2016 has been one of the coldest on record recently, the Met Office claims it’s just “average”.
When the data doesn’t fit the global warming agenda, then ramp up the propaganda. It’s time for Slingo and the other alarmists running this organisation to be removed before it’s reputation sinks even further then it already has.
@jbenton2013
Q) Is this the coldest April on record?
A) The coldest April for the UK on record was 1917 which had an overall average mean temperature of 4.3C (40F). April 1 to 17 this year saw a mean average mean temperature for the UK of 6.9C (44F), half-a-degree below average.
When the data doesn’t fit denialists, time to make something up.
Q) Is this the coldest April on record?
A) The coldest April for the UK on record was 1917 which had an overall average mean temperature of 4.3C (40F). April 1 to 17 this year saw a mean average mean temperature for the UK of 6.9C (44F), half-a-degree below average.
well according to my weather station this April was even warmer than last April. Avg max 16C this year versus 15.3C last year. the long term average is 13.6C