Met Office weather records for April: How does 2025 compare historically?
This April, the UK experienced a range of weather conditions and while no new records were set, we take a look at how this April compares to years gone by
As we head towards the end of the month, we can use Met Office data to compare how the weather experienced in April 2025 so far compares to years gone by, and which years hold the records for certain extremes.
Temperature Extremes
In April 2025 so far, the highest daily maximum temperature was recorded at 24°C in Northolt, Greater London, on the 12th. This is significantly lower than the historical record of 29.4°C set at Camden Square, London, on April 16, 1949. On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest daily minimum temperature this year was -6.6°C at Tomintoul, Banffshire, on April 5. This is a stark contrast to the historical low of -15.9°C recorded at Newton Rigg, Cumbria, on April 2, 1917. These temperature differences highlight the variability in April weather, with this year being relatively mild compared to some of the extremes seen in the past.
READ MORE: A record-breaking March for sunshine
Rainfall and Wind
April 2025 to date saw its highest daily rainfall of 83.2mm at Otterham Station, Cornwall, on the 15th. This is less than half of the historical record of 181.6mm set at Seathwaite, Cumbria, on April 22, 1970. The highest wind gust recorded this April was 70 knots at Needles Old Battery, Isle of Wight, on the 16th, which is lower than the record gust of 100mph at Flat Holm, South Glamorgan, on April 1, 1994. These figures indicate that while April 2025 had some spells of unsettled weather, they were not as extreme as some of the historical records.
READ MORE: 2025 outlook: in top three warmest years on record
Snow
No Met Office weather stations recorded lying snow this April, however, historically, the deepest snow depth was 47cm at Glenmore, Inverness-shire, on April 8, 1975,
Sunshine
Sunshine statistics will become available at the conclusion of the month. Historically, the sunniest day on record saw 14.9 hours of sunshine at Kinloss, Moray, on April 29, 2012.
While April 2025 did not break any historical records, it still presented a range of weather that are noteworthy. The comparison with historical data underscores the unpredictable nature of weather and the importance of monitoring and recording these changes over time. This ongoing documentation helps us understand climate patterns and prepare for future weather events. Full Met Office statistics for April will be published on Thursday 1 May.
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