May 2014 continued this year’s theme of being milder than normal; the mean temperature of 13.9C was 0.9C above average, making it the 28th warmest May since 1797.

May was wetter than average, ending the dry theme of March and April.  71mm of rain fell over the 31 days – that’s 139 per cent of average.

The month wasn’t a complete washout with some very warm days during the third week, topped off with long sunny spells. The warmest day was the 19th when 26.7C was reached – the first ^80F temperature of the year – with 9 hours of sunshine. This followed the sunniest day on 18th when 14 hours of sunshine nudged the thermometer to 25.2C.

Of note this month was the number of thunderstorms with four incidents of daily thunder – one more than what we’d expect during a month in high summer. The most notable day of thunder was on the 24th when the temperature dropped over 6C in an afternoon shower.

May saw just 157.3 hours of sun, 87 per cent of average, making it the dullest for 10 years

and the 22nd dullest since 1881. Indeed May was on sunnier than March by 4 hours.

Some nights were chilly when the sky cleared but there was no air frost and only two ground frosts, on the 2nd and 3rd.

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