The May Day Bank Holiday was fine and warm but the 3rd saw a dramatic switch as the maximum was only 47F, with drizzle and cool winds. The next two days were milder but much warmer air filtered northwards from France on the 5th, making the weather warm and sunny between the 6th and the 9th but the 10th was cool and overcast. The fine weather continued from the 11th. Glorious conditions were seen between the 12th and the 16th. Temperatures increased notably on the 14th and 15th with highs of 78F and 80F, but from the 15th the weather turned humid as the wind changed to the South and South-West. 80F on the 15th was the warmest May day recorded since 1953, surpassing high May temperatures recorded in May 1989, 1990 and 1992.

On the 17th the wind changed to the West and thus began an unsettled spell of weather. The maximum temperature didn't reach 60F on any day until the 22nd. There was a fine and sunny day on the 24th but the low pressure deepened on the 26th, which was a cool day and the 27th was very wet with thunder at 4.30pm. However, there was some improvement as the remainder of the month was rainless, along with being fine and sunny, as air pressure rose. Good sunshine totals were recorded on the 29th, 30th and 31st.

Sunshine was above average but there were general sunny spells between the 6th and 16th and during the final 3 days and dull spells between the 3rd and 5th and 17th to the 21st. Rainfall was around average though again, only 0.03 inches of rain fell in the first 16 days. Overall the month was warmer than average and you have to go back to 1996 to find a cooler than average May.

Kevin Phillips - 12.10pm - Saturday 3rd June 2000.