UK weather review: March 2018

March was a rather cold month, overall. It started exceptionally cold with easterly winds and widespread snow as the UK experienced the tail-end of the ‘Beast from the East’. Indeed, many parts of the country failed to reach temperatures above freezing during the daytime. During the course of the first week, it began to turn milder from the south and became generally wet and cloudy as low pressure dominated until mid-month. There was a further outreach of cold, easterly winds and widespread snow in the 17th and 18th, though this was not as severe as previous episodes.  After a brief dry and sunny spell, milder unsettled weather returned for the rest of the month.

The UK mean temperature was 3.8 °C, 1.6 °C below the 1981-2010 long-term average.  Rainfall was 110% of average, and some places (Devon, the Midlands and some eastern coastal counties), had over twice the normal amount. Sunshine was 83% of average.

UK Weather Averages: March 2018 (Source: Met Office)