March weather third warmest on record

Last month was the third warmest March on record - outshone only by 1938 and 1957 - the Met Office has said.

It had an average temperature of 7.7C, compared with March 1938, which had an average of 8C. It was also the fifth driest and third sunniest March.

March saw a total precipitation of 36.4mm of rain and 156.5 hours of sunshine across the month.

The month began with a spell of mild and fine weather, though over the first weekend a short spell of unsettled conditions brought some rain.

From the 8th onwards it became settled again, as high pressure built, with much of England and Wales enjoying a pleasant taste of spring on Sunday 11th. By the 15th, more unsettled conditions arrived, but this lasted briefly and actually brought little rain.

From the 19th onwards it became settled again over most areas, and from 23rd to 29th many areas had several days of uninterrupted sunshine. This period was most notable, however, for record-breaking maximum temperatures, with some records for March being broken by as much as 4C.

The high pressure moved westward during the last two days, introducing somewhat cooler and cloudier conditions.

Records for temperature and rainfall began in 1910, while the measurements for sunshine began in 1929.