Overall warm, sunny, and dry: the second sunniest year since records began in 1929. East Anglia had its sunniest year on record. It was a very sunny winter with 123% above the long-term average, being. the second sunniest winter since 1929. A glorious long, hot, sunny summer, particularly in the south. In some places the warmest on record, with particularly high average daytime maxima. Morecambe Bay in Lancashire recorded 113.7 hours of sunshine from 29th June to 5th July set a new record for sunshine recorded in a seven day period, beating the previous record of 105.4 hours at Colwyn Bay, North Wales, from 2nd to 8th June 1940; this Aldergrove would have set a new UK weekly sunshine record and also a joint record, along with Dublin Airport, for the British Isles. However the record didn't last long! Morecambe Bay in Cumbria recorded 111.9 hours of sunshine from 1st to 7th July, which is a new weekly sunshine record. Although a very dry first half of the summer, with a wetter August it was only the 12th record driest across the UK. Overall, on combined measures of sunshine, temperature, and rainfall, it was the fourth best summer since 1910.

January. Cool and sunny in the north, quite mild in the south. The 2nd - 3rd saw a gale across the south bringing wet weather; it was then relatively unsettled, but changeable from mid month. It was cold and occasionally snowy in the north, with Eskdalemuir recording a depth of 38 cm by the 17th. Parts of N and E Scotland were relatively dry, with Aberdeenshire seeing less than half the long-term average, while Northern Ireland and SW Scotland were wetter than average. The highest temperature of the month was 15.1 C at Monks Wood (Cambridgeshire) on the 28th, and the lowest -13.7 C at Kinbrace and Altnaharra on the 21 st. On the 14th - 15th 82.2 mm of rain fell at Alltdearg House, Skye.

February. A cold month (2.9 CET), making it the coldest February since 2010. The month ended with the arrival of very cold air from Russia on a strong easterly, nicknamed "The Beast from the East" by the press. Also a very sunny month, the second sunniest on record (137%, after 2008), particularly in the southwest (over 170% of the long-term average). It was quite a dry month, with 73% of average rainfall. The highest temperature was 14.2C at Cardiff on the 19th, and the lowest -11.7C at south Farnborough (Hants.) and -14.2C at Faversham (Kent) on the 28th. The 12-13th was a wet day, with 49.6 mm of rainfall at Loch Shiell (Argyle). On the 28th the snow depth was 21 cm at Copley (Durham).

March. A cold month, but not as cold as 2013. There was a very cold start to the month as the Beast from the East lingers in the north and Storm Emma hit the cold air in the southwest. There was deep drifting of snow, with roads closed, and communities cut off. The 1st was the coldest spring day on record, with a maximum of just -4.7C at Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, Wales, beating the 2001 record for a low high in March. There was another easterly outbreak midmonth, and another, and a less severe one at the end of the month over Easter. Rainfall overall was 110% of the long-term average, but it was very wet in parts of Devon, the Midlands, and the east, and it was relatively dry in parts of the west. It was a dull month, particularly in the east, with 83% of average. The higest temperature of the month was 16.6 Cat Colwyn Bay (Clwyd) on the 10th, and the lowest a miniumum of -10.7 C at Cawdor Castle (Nairnshire) on the 1st. The deepest snow depth was 57 cm at Little Rissington (Gloucestershire) on the 4th.

April The month had a cold start, with some snow. The minimum at Tulloch Bridge on the 1st was -8.8 C.There was a remarkable early heatwave midmonth, with 25.3C recorded in London (St James’s Park) on the 18th, and then 29.1 C at the same location on the 19th, just short of the 1949 record of 29.4. Temperatures of 24.1C recorded in London on Sunday 22nd made it the warmest London Marathon on record. It was then unsettled for the rest of the month. Overall warmer than average, particularly in the SE. The minima were particularly high. It was somewhat wetter than average (119%), although drier in N Scotland. It was a dull month, with 90% of average sunshine, particularly in the SW, although again it was sunny in N Scotland.

May. A very warm month across the country, being the equal second warmest on record. The mean maximum temperature for the UK as a whole was the highest on record (from 1910). It was the sunniest May on record across the UK (132%). It was particularly sunny in northern England and parts of Scotland, and apart from west and south Cornwall. An early heatwave in the south and easts gave rise to the warmest Early May Bank Holiday on record (it was introduced in 1978), beating 1999, with 28.0 C in central London (St James Park) and 28.7 C at London Northolt. High pressure generally ruled throughout the month, with winds mostly from an easterly direction, so some haar along east coast. The last few days saw thunderstorms, some severe, with flooding, across parts of the South and Midlands. It was a dry month (with 69% of the average rainfall), particularly away from the thundery south. The lowest minimum was -4.6C at Aboyne on the 1st. 81.0 mm of rain fell at Winterbourne (West Midlands) on the 27-28th. In terms of the CET 13.2 was equal with 2017 but behind 1964 (13.3), 2008 (13.4), 1947 (13.5), and 1992 (13.6).

June. Very warm and dry; in some areas the warmest and driest on record. It was the warmest June on record for Northern Ireland. There was a notable heatwave late on, with 30.0C recorded at St James Park in London on the 25th; 30.7 at Rostherne in Cheshere on the 26th; 31.3 at Aviemore on the 27th; 31.9 at Glasgow Bishopton on the 28th. There were some very high temperatures across the north and west on the 28th, with temperatures just above 31C recorded at Aviemore, and over 30C at Castlederg (Northern Ireland) and Trawscoed (Wales), including 30.5 deg. C. at both Thomastown and Derrylin Cornahoule, both Co. Fermanagh, on 28th June;. A provisional figure of 33.2C from near Motherwell was for a short time the new record high for Scotland, beating the August 2003 record; it was later found possibly to be affected by a car parked near by, so the 2003 record stands. It was the fourth sunniest June on record (with 142%, behind 157, 1940, and 1975, since 1929). It was very dry, particularly in the south and southeast, with 48% of average for the UK, and even drier in England and Wales. Essex had 1.7 mm of rain Dorset 2.0 mm, and Middlesex just 0.7 mm. A CET of 16.1 makes June equal with 2003 but behind 1950 (16.2), 1940 and 1970 (16.4) and well behind 1976 (17.0). East coasts were often cooler due to onshore winds and the position of the anticyclone. The highest temperature of the month was 33.0C at Porthmadog on the 29th. Thunderstorms broke out across the country in the final week. There was a severe wild fire at Saddleworth Moor, between Manchester and Sheffield, which broke out on the 26th.

July. Overall very warm: at 19.1C CET it was better than July 1976, but not as good as July 2006 or 1983. It was particularly warm in the South and East. The first half was anticyclonic and was dry, sunny, and warm everywhere. It was more unsettled in the second half, particularly in the north. There was a notable heat wave towards the end of the month. It was 33.3C at Santon Downham (Suffolk) on the 23rd. There was a maximum of 35.3 at Faversham and 35.1C at Wisley on the 26th, a minimum of 21.0C at London St James Park overnight on the 26-27, and a maximum of 34.1 at Gravesend on the 27th; and then down to 24.0 at Weybourne on the 28th. The passing through of the cold front came with some severe thunderstorms. 99 mm of rain was recorded at Belfast on the 28th. On average rainfall was 71%, but it was very dry in East Anglia. It was a sunny month with 138% of average (the sixth sunniest July since 1929). Morecambe Bay in Cumbria recorded 111.9 hours of sunshine from 1st to 7th July, which is a new weekly sunshine record.

August. A disappointing month to end a great summer. Overall slightly warmer than average, particularly in the southeast. The highest temperature of the month was 33.2C at Kew on the 3rd, the lowest -1.3C at Braemar on the 7th. Rainfall was 95% of average although there were wide regional variations, some places having half the the average and parts of the SE over 150%. Sunshine was 90% of average, but Shetland had 150% of average. The first week continued the fine, settled weather, but it turned more unsettled from the 8th on.

September. The month started fine in the south, but soon became unsettled everywhere. There was a notable gale midmonth. The end of the month was more settled in the south. Temperatures were very close to average; rainfall 108% (being particularly wet in the NW). It was sunny in the east, with London having 130% of average, and 108% of sunshine country-wide. The highest temperature of the month was 26.5 C at Cambridge on the 17th, the lowest -3.6 C at Katesbridge (County Down) on the 29th. 105 mph was reported omn the Tay Bridge, Dundee, during the storm on the 19th.

October. Another unsettled month. The second week was unusually warm due to southerly winds, and there was a northerly outbreak bringing very cold weather in the final month. Temperatures overall were close to average, but with milder days and cooler night. It was overall quite dry, with 82% of average rainfall. It was very sunny, with 122% of average, making it the fifth sunniest October since 1929. It was particularly sunny in East Anglia. The highest temperature of the month was 26.3C at Donna Nook (Lincs.) on the 13th, and the lowest -8.6C at St Harmon (Powys) on the 30th; the reading at Donna Nook is the highest maximum so late in the season on record. A hefty 159.8 mm of rain fell in the 24 hours 9-9 at Libanus (Powys).

November. A changeable month. The third week was cold with easterly winds. Overall it was milder than average. Rainfall was almost exactly average but with wide regional variations, being particular wet in southern and eastern Scotland and southern Devon, and unusually dry in NW Scotland. Overall sunshine was 110% of averagem but dull in eastern Scotland and northeastern England; in contrast it was very sunny in NW Scotland and East Anglia. The highest temperature of the month was 18.3C at Otterbourne (Hants.) on the 5th, and the lowest -6.7C at South Newington (Oxon.) on the 22nd. On the 15th Kinlochewe in the NW Highlands recorded 17.6C. 56.0 mm of rain fell in the 24 hours 9-9 at Keswick on the 29th.

>December. Changeable, and milder than average. There was a cold spell midmonth followed by snow, sleet, and widespread freezing rain on the 15th. The end of the month was generally more settled. Sunshine and rainfall were close to average, although it sunny and drier in the northeast. The highest temperature of the month was 15.9C at Kew (London) on the 2nd, and the lowest -8.8 C at Braemar on the 5th. 64.6 mm of rain fell at Cluanie Inn (Ross & Cromarty) on the 8th.