No rain fell between the 4th and the 10th and from the 6th a south-westerly air stream prevailed. The weather was quiet, with fairly warm weather and sunny days during this spell. However, showers broke out between the 11th and the 14th as low pressure transferred eastwards across northern Britain, and a cool spell of weather occurred until the 18th. The temperature didn't reach 60F on any day between the 11th and the 17th. The 15th was bright and dry but the 16th was the wettest day of the month, under a disturbed south-westerly type, with 15mm of rain falling.

The weather remained unsettled until the 23rd. The 22nd saw quite heavy showers, but after the 24th a strong rise of pressure occurred, and an anticyclone developed over the British Isles and which held sway for the rest of the month. No rain fell at all during the final eight days but the weather grew progressively warmer. The 26th was sunny, and the temperature exceeded 70F in all of the final four days of the month, and rose to 81F on the 31st, which was the hottest May day since 1953. Incidentally though, despite the warm end to the month, there were few warm days during May apart from the 5th. Overall temperatures were 1C above average. Rainfall and sunshine amounts were around average.

No thunderstorms or strong winds were recorded this year, which could be summed up as consisting two unsettled periods (The 1st to the 3rd and the 11th to the 22nd) and two fine and dry periods (The 4th to the 10th and the 23rd to the 31st). Apart from the hot end and the heavy rain of the 16th, the month had few distinguishing features, and was very similar to May 2002 weather wise.

Kevin Phillips - 11.35pm - Sunday 8th June 2003.