APRIL certainly continued the very upbeat trend which started in March. With temperatures about 2C (3.5F) above average, it was widely the third mildest April in the past 30 years, after those of 1987 and the outstanding one of 2007 which was 1C (2F) warmer still.

Over the month, mercury levels during the day approached those expected in May and, for the week beginning the 20th, they were more typical of June. Even so, there were no really hot days, but neither were there any cold ones.

Here at Carlton, near Stokesley, the peak on the 20th, 19.7C (67.5F), was far short of that for any April in my 25-year record, 25C (77F) as early as the 16th in 2003.

The maximum on the coolest day, the 15th, 8.4C (47F), is my highest such value and much above the lowest, an abysmal 3.2C (38F) in the wintry April of 1986.

Although we had ten ground frosts, about our usual number, I registered no air frosts.

Again, only 2007 and 1987 in my data have managed this feat before during April. Also, it was just my fifth to be entirely free of snow.

Most parts had no more than a trace of rain up until the 5th and from the 11th to the 24th. However, the month’s attempt to be the driest April was well and truly scuppered by prolonged downpours on Monday the 27th and the Tuesday, when up to 50mm (2ins) fell in the Dales.

The month’s totals were boosted generally to between half and threequarters of normal.

So, it ended up being the driest April since only 2007, when barely 10mm (0.4ins) accumulated at Carlton. That amazing April sadly turned out to be the best month of 2007 – let’s hope this year doesn’t follow suit.

Not surprisingly, for much of this April, high pressure was in charge. It was situated largely to our south and, as a result, winds blew chiefly from a south-westerly quarter.

There were two main exceptions when the anticyclones drifted away into northern Europe for a time.

They included that wet interlude towards the end of the month and, almost inevitably, around Easter.

Fortunately then, it wasn’t until the Tuesday that the breeze swung into the northeast and brought in low cloud from off the sea.

There was mist and drizzle on occasions, especially close to the coast, and temperatures struggled to reach 10C (50F).

This persisted until the next weekend, when a remarkable recovery took place. Westerlies resumed, the sun reappeared and, from being the coldest area in Britain, by the Monday we were the warmest.

April figures for Carlton in Cleveland.

– Mean maximum: 14.2C, 57.5F, (+2.3C, 4F); mean minimum: 5.1C, 41F, (+1.1C, 2F); highest maximum: 19.7C, 67.5F, 20th; lowest minimum: 0.5C, 33F, 12th; total rainfall: 29mm, 1.15ins, (–30mm, 1.2ins); wettest day: 12mm, 0.5ins, 28th and number of rain days, with 0.2mm (0.01ins) or more: 10 (–5).

Values in brackets show the difference from the 25-year, 1984- 2008, means.