The year was statistically slightly wetter than usual, although Jan, Mar and Dec were very wet, while Jun and much of Jul were very dry.

Overall the mean temperature for the year was 0.9 degrees above average; from April through to July, and Nov to Dec, it was milder, while Feb to Mar were cooler than usual.

Jan/Feb/Mar were mostly wet and cool, while the combination of little rain and warmth made June/July challenging for growers at an important point in the growing season.  There were 222 frost-free days however, the 6^th highest.

11 days with snow falling, totalling 29cm; most snowfall in a day 12.5 cm on 18/3/18.

HUMIDITY                    86.9% at 0900
CLOUD COVER            61.5% at 0900

A mild month with mild start and finish, coolest 6^th to 9^th. Many nights had ground frost, but only 5 had an air frost (10^th fewest in 63 years).

Rainfall was a third higher than average, but the number of raindays was the 4^th equal highest. Wettest periods were 1^st-5^th, 15^th-17^th, 20^th-21^st, 24^th-29^th, with ground saturated. The only dry days were 8, 12-13, 19, 22.
Snow fell 20^th and 21^st, 1cm in all.  
Very windy 3^rd and 17^th.  Highest estimated gusts were 57mph on 18^th, 53mph on 3^rd.  
Sunniest days were 10^th, 7^th, 30^th, 19^th, 25^th, sunless days were 2^nd, 8^th-9^th, 13^th-14^th and 23^rd.

 7.1 mean max (C) 
 2.2 mean min (C) 
 4.6 mean (C)   +0.5 diff from av (C)

12.1 high max (C) on 28
  1.6 low max (C)  on  20 
  8.9 high min (C) on  29
 -1.9 low min (C) on    6
90.0 rain total (mm)  136 % of av 
Most rain was 13.0mm on 21^st

24 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
(=4^th highest number of raindays)

17 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
  5 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 22 days
Air frost on 5 days (10^th fewest)
1 day with fog 21^st   (vis 0.5km)
72% cloud cover percent
92% mean RH 

A cool month except for 14^th-21^st which was milder than normal.  A steep dip in temperature at the end of the month from 26^th, when it rarely went above 0C.
Rainfall was 81% of normal, the majority falling 3^rd and from 8^th-20^th.
Windy on 1^st  from NW, 8^th –15^th from SW quarter, and NE quarter 24^th-28^th.
Sunniest 23^rd-25^th, fairly sunny 15^th-17^th, dullest 3^rd, 13^th-14^th and 19^th.
Snow flurries gave 0.2cm on 6^th and 0.5cm on 11^th, but an extremely cold end to the month, temperature dropping to –6.5C on 28^th, and a 0.7cm snow falling 27^th-28^th.

  5.4 mean max (C) 
 -0.1 mean min (C) 
  2.7 mean (C)  -1.5 diff from av (C) was the 14^th lowest in 63 years here.

  9.9 high max (C) on 19
 -1.4 low max (C) on  28 
  5.0 high min (C) on  20 
 -6.5 low min (C) on   28

 37.8 rain total (mm)  80.8 % of av 
 15 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
  9 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
  2 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 24 days
Air frost on 14 days (15^th highest, there were 19 in 2013)
63% cloud cover percent
89% mean RH 

------------------------------
SEASONAL REPORT FOR WINTER  (Dec, Jan, Feb)

Mean temp 0.1deg below normal, but MeanMaxwas0.4deg lower, and MeanMin  was 0.1deg higher than normal.
Rainfall 126.9% of normal, with about 20% more raindays and wetdays.

            -6.0 MEAN            3.9           4.0          -0.1 
HighMin        8.9         11.7                
MeanMin       1.4          1.3          +0.1
LoMin           -7.0         -14.5                           
 
RAINFALL    251.6       198.2      126.9%
Raindays       62            50.4       +11.6
Wet Days       42            35.8        + 6.2
V Wet Days    15            14.3        + 0.7
Oktas             5.5            5.7
Bright Sun    167.0       160.0      104%

March was cold with a mean temp overall 1.7deg below normal. Although temperatures for much of the month were around normal, the periods 1^st-4^th and 17^th-19^th were cold.  Air frosts were recorded 1^st-4^th and 18^th-21^st.  The lowest minima were –6.9C on 1^st and –4.9C on 2^nd.

Total March rainfall was the greatest since 1981122.8mm (224% of normal).
25 days experienced rainfall, the wettest being 30^th when 22mm fell on already saturated ground, but 10 more days seeing more than 5mm daily rainfall. The number of raindays, wetdays and very wetdays are all new records for March.

Snow fell on 4 days,  with 2^nd –3^rd producing 12.5cm and 17^th – 18^th giving 13.5cm, making a monthly total of 26cm.  There was lying snow at 0900h on 6 days, 1^st- 4^th, 18^th – 19^th, greatest depths being 13cm on 3^rd and 13.5cm on 18^th.

Fog was recorded on 4^th, 12^th, 27^th and 30^th. Windiest days were 1^st, 2^nd, then 17^th, 19^th and 18^th.  Sunniest days were between 16^th - 26^th, and dullest 1^st – 3^rd , 12^th and 31^st. The mean pressure 1001.9mb was a new record low, beating 1002.4mb in 1981.

 8.2 mean max (C) 
 1.4 mean min (C) 
 4.8 mean (C)   -1.7 diff from av (C)

15.0 high max (C) on 25
- 2.1 low max (C)  on  1 
 6.2 high min (C) on  12
- 6.9 low min (C) on    1
122.8 rain total (mm)  224 % of av 
Most rain was 22.0mm on 30^th 

25 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
20 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
11 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 20 days
Air frost on 8 days
4 days with fog 4,12,27,30
77% cloud cover percent
91% mean RH 

Mean pressure was 1001.9mb (lowest in 63 years)

April mean temperature was the 8^th= mildest overall, but particularly warm from 14^th to 24^th. On 19^th a record max temp of 28.2C was measured here, and on 22^nd a record high min of 13.3C.
Although no air frosts were recorded (near miss on 1^st), which has happened in 8 of the last 63 years here, and there were ground frosts on 4 nights (the 8^th= lowest recorded here).
Rainfall was 39% above normal, having 20 raindays (8^th = highest), the month started with four rainy days, and 9^th-12^th were rainy too. The  8 very wet days rank 5^th= equal.
Thundery shower on 3^rd. Fog was recorded on 9^th, 11^th-13^th and 20^th (record highest number for April). Windiest days were 16^th-18^th.
Sunniest days were 5^th, 14^th, 16^th, 18^th-21^st, 26^th and 26^th. Most hours sunshine were on 19^th and 26^th.

13.7 mean max (C) 
 6.1 mean min (C) 
 9.9 mean (C)   +1.2 diff from av (C)

28.2 high max (C) on 19
  6.1  low max (C) on 12 
13.3 high min (C) on  22
  0.1 low min (C) on     1
87.3 rain total (mm)  139 % of av 
Most rain was 17.2mm on 1

20 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
14 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
  8 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 4 days, 1,2,5,30
Air frost on 0 days
5 days with fog 9,11,12,13,20
76% cloud cover percent
88% mean RH 

The statistics hide the varied and sometimes violent weather of May 2018.  

Temperatures on average were 2.4 deg above normal, there were no air frosts recorded, and just one night on the 1^st with a ground frost when the temperature fell to +0.1C. Statistically a record warm month with mean temperature 14.3C beating 14.1C in 2017. The mean max temp was also a new record 20.6C, beating 19.6C in 1992.

Rainfall was slightly above average for May, but the distribution of it during the month was striking.  21 days (between 3^rd and 24^th) were virtually dry, but 10 days had appreciable rain (9 were classed as wet, 5 very wet). Indeed 15mm fell during 1^st /2^nd, while 44mm fell during 24^th /25^th /26^th giving very heavy falls in a short time

The much reported thunderstorms began here late on the evening of 26^th with rumbles, then vivid persistent lightning (much appearing to be cloud to cloud).
These continued throughout much of the 27^th, with particularly violent thunderstorms here starting at 0215, then 0640 and also 1600.

Thankfully Halesowen was spared the late afternoon downpours suffered in the nearby Selly Oak and Edgbaston areas of Birmingham, we recorded around 5mm and they 59mm in an hour around 1730 .

There were many bright sunny days during the month (10 days with at least 11 hours good sunshine recorded), others with good sunshine for part of the day, contrasting with two really dull days on 25^th and 30^th (having no more than 0.5hrs sunshine recorded).

20.6 mean max (C) 
  8.1 mean min (C) 
14.3 mean (C)  +2.4 diff from av (C)
29.2 high max (C) on   7
13.1 low max (C) on    2 
13.7 high min (C) on  31 
  0.1 low min (C) on     1

71.7 rain total (mm)
123 % of av 
10 raindays (days with >=0.2mm), 12^th= lowest number of raindays
  9 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
  5 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 1 day
Air frost on 0 days
2 thunder days

Spring Stats
SEASONAL REPORT FOR SPRING 
Mar, Apr, May   

Spring was wet but mild.

The months of Mar, Apr and May produced 123mm, 87mm and 72mm of rainfall respectively, all above normal statistically, even though May was virtually dry between 4^th and 24^th. Overall we had 281.8mm (140% of normal) rainfall, 4^th highest on record here. Raindays were numerically 27% up, wetdays 32% up and verywetdays were 107% up (a record) on long term averages.

Temperature anomalies for the three months were –1.7deg, +1.2deg and +2.4deg respectively, giving the 11^th = highest mean temp for the Spring months with an anomaly of +1.0C. There was a new record HiMax set on 7^th May of 29.2C, and a new record LoMax –2.1C was set on 1^st Mar.  

                   this year   normal    anomaly

HiMax              29.2          29.2    
MeanMax        14.2         13.1          +1.1
LoMax              -2.1        -2.1              MEAN                 9.7         8.7            +1.0 
 
HighMin            13.7       14.7                
MeanMin          5.2           4.3           +0.9
LoMin               -6.9       -11.1                           
 
RAINFALL      281.8       173.7       140.4%

Another very dry month with just 6.6mm rain recorded in 6 raindays, 4mm of that on the 7^th, and light rainfall between 13^th and 17^th. This is a new record low rainfall for June here, beating 10.9mm in 1975 which only had 5 raindays. This June also is a new record for wet days, having just the one.

Temperatures have been above normal but peaked on 25^th reaching 30C and remaining high to the end of the month.

The only dull days were 4^th, 17^th and 19^th, other days being mostly bright and sunny, and from 24^th to 30^th virtually cloud free.

Very pleasant month for being out and about, but hard work keeping all the allotment fruit and vegetables watered using watering cans!

23.6 mean max (C) 
11.4 mean min (C) 
17.5 mean (C)  +2.7 diff from av (C)
32.9 high max (C) on  25
17.6 low max (C) on   17
15.7 high min (C) on    1 
  7.6 low min (C) on    22

  6.6 rain total (mm)
  11 % of av 
   6 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
   1 wetday (days with >=1mm)
   0 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 0 days
Air frost on 0 days

0 thunder days

July was a hot month until 28^th and 29^th the only days having little sunshine..

Mean temperature reached 20.4C (2^nd highest in 63 years here, being surpassed only by 21.3C in 2006). Mean Max temp was 27.3C (2^nd highest beaten only by 28.9C in 2006). Mean Min was 13.%C (4^th= highest, beaten only in 2006, 2010 and 1983).

Rainfall was 52% of normal (ranking 13^th lowest) with the only significant rain falling on 13^th, and 28^th-31^st.  Of the 7 raindays (6^th= fewest), there were 4 wet days (3^rd= fewest) and 3 very wet days.

Taking rainfall for June and July combined, there was 37.3mm (3^rd lowest, as 1976  had 36.4mm, and 006 had only 27.0mm).

27.3 mean max (C) 
13.5 mean min (C) 
20.4 mean (C)  +3.5 diff from av (C)
32.0 high max (C) on   8
19.1 low max (C) on   28
16.7 high min (C) on   23 
10.6 low min (C) on    17

30.7 rain total (mm)
  52.4 % of av 
   7 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
   4 wetday (days with >=1mm)
   3 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 0 days
Air frost on 0 days
0 thunder days
46% cloud cover percent
72% mean RH 

August was slightly milder and slightly drier than usual. Many dry, sunny and warm days, although temperatures tended to fall during the month. Dullest days were 14^th, 20^th and 28^th.  Most rainfall fell 10^th-12^th and 23^rd-26^th, with a thunderstorm on the afternoon of 10^th. Windiest days were 19^th , 11^th/12^th, 16^th, 24^th and 26^th .
The month continued the summer’s warm and dry pattern, although less extreme than June and July.

22.3 mmax (C) 
12.2 mmin (C) 
17.3 mean(C)  +0.8 diff from av (C), the 11^th highest here in 63 years.
30.4 high max (C) on 6^th  
16.0 low max (C) on 24^th  
16.4 high min (C) on 3^rd
  5.9 low min (C) on 25^th/30^th

57.0 rain total (mm)
86.0 % of av 
10 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
  6 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
  6 very wet days (days with >=5mm)
Thunderstorm on 10^th 
No Ground or air frost recorded.
59% cloud cover percent
86% mean RH 

Summer Stats
SEASONAL REPORT FOR SUMMER 
Jun, Jul, Aug 

  Summer has been very pleasant, very warm (mean and mmax temps ranking 2^nd in 63 years here), and very dry (ranking 5^th driest), with rainfall and raindays half the statistical normal.
A challenging summer for growing fruit and vegetables, some crops benefiting, other less happy with the exceptional conditions.

                this year  normal    anomaly
HiMax              32.9          34.9
MeanMax        24.4         20.6          +3.8 
LoMax             16.0           9.2                   MEAN               18.4         15.7          +2.7 
HighMin           16.7         21.5       
MeanMin         12.4         10.9          +1.5
LoMin                5.9         -1.1                             
RAINFALL         94.3      195.4        48.3%
Raindays           23          40.4        -17.4
Wet Days           11          30.3        -19.3
V Wet Days         9          12.5         -3.5

September was statistically a normal month, but while warm 1-3, 15-19 and 26-27, it became noticeably cooler 6-7, 21-25 and 28-30. 
Rainfall was normal for the month as a whole, but half of it fell on 20^th.  
It was particularly windy 18^th – 21^st.  
There were just 2 days with a ground frost, 25^th and 29^th.

18.4 mean max (C) 
  9.4 mean min (C) 
13.9 mean (C)  +0.0 diff from av (C)
25.7 high max (C) on    2
10.8 low max (C) on   22
15.1 high min (C) on   18 
  1.6 low min (C) on    29

64.7 rain total (mm)
101.9 % of av 
 13 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
   9 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
   3 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 2 days
Air frost on 0 days
0 thunder days
59% cloud cover percent
90% mean RH 

Statistically a normal month, just slightly cooler and drier than usual. Temperatures typical for October, but a cold finish 26^th to 31^st with frosts. It was warmest on 4^th and from 9^th to 13^th. Sunniest days 3^rd, 4^th, 9^th, 10^th, 17^th, 19^th and 24^th.
Wettest days were between 11^th to 15^th, also 6^th, but rainless between 17^th and 24^th.
Windiest on 12^th and 13^th. 
On 27^th 1030-1100 a some snowflakes fell, a few large, very briefly amongst the rain although with the temperature at 9C they melted on landing. Snow has only been seen here in 3 Octobers in 63 years of observations.

A  fairly average November, slightly milder than normal overall, but milder 3^rd to 16^th and 28^th to 29^th, and cooler 1^st to 2^nd and 19^th to 27^th. Air frosts 22^nd , 23^rd , 2^nd  and 27^th . Rainfall normal, most falling 7^th to 9^th and 27^th to 28^th . Brief snow not settling on 21^st. Fog 5^th 23^rd and 27^th. Windiest days 3^rd, 28^th and 29^th. Brightest days 2^nd, 12^th to 18^th.

10.1 mmax (C) 
  4.7 mmin (C) 
  7.4 mean(C)  +0.6 diff from av (C), the 14^th highest here in 63 years.
14.1 high max (C) on 6^th  
  4.1 low max (C) on 22^nd  
10.7 high min (C) on 7^th
 -3.1 low min (C) on 22^nd

72.0 rain total (mm)
98.2 % of av 
17 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
13 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
  4 very wet days (days with >=5mm)
  8 days ground frost
  4 days air frost
  1 day with brief snow shower 21^st    from 1115 to 1130
68% cloud cover percent
93% mean RH  

SEASONAL REPORT FOR AUTUMN  (Sep, Oct, Nov 2018)

              this year     normal    anomaly
HiMax          25.7           28.4
MeanMax   14.2            13.8          +0.4 
LoMax          3.9            -2.0                            
MEAN          10.5            10.2          +0.3 
HighMin      15.1            17.1                            
MeanMin      6.8             6.6           +0.2
LoMin          -3.1           -8.1                             

RAINFALL  207.2         210.8          98.3%
Raindays       45             45.9          -0.9
Wet Days       33             33.6          -0.6
V Wet Days    12            13.9          -1.9 Oktas             5.0             5.4

December overall was milder than usual, although it was cooler 4^th, 13^th – 15^th, 24^th.
It was wet until 9^th, then dry, then wet 15^th to 25^th, then dry again to finish the month.
The wettest days were 18^th having 20.3mm and 21^st having 14mm..
Air frosts occurred 1^st and 14^th  , ground frosts 4^th – 5^th, 13^th, 16^th, 24^th – 25^th.
More brightness 7^th-14^th , a few days between 17^th and 24^th, but dull 1^st-2^nd and anticyclonic gloom over the Christmas period from 25^th –31^st 
It was windiest 7^th – 9^th , 15^{th ,} 18^th .


 8.7 mean max (C) 
 4.3 mean min (C) 
 6.5 mean (C)   +2.2 diff from av (C)

12.4 high max (C) on 2
  2.9 low max (C) on  14 
  8.7 high min (C) on  3
 -1.9 low min (C) on  14/15

105.5 rain total (mm)  146 % of av 
Most rain was 20.3mm on 18^th 
20 raindays (days with >=0.2mm)
15 wetdays (days with >=1mm)
10 very wet days (days with >=5mm)

Ground frost on 8 days
Air frost on 2 days, 14^th-15^th
3 days with fog 16^th (hill fog),  25^th, 26^th  
66% cloud cover percent
94% mean RH