THIS April was the third coldest April in almost 140 years, the Met Office has said, and had the lowest average minimum temperature since 1922.

April 2021 had the lowest average minimum temperature for April in the UK for almost 100 years, and early provisional figures show April had the third lowest average temperature since records began in 1884.

Air frost and clear conditions combined for frost and icy temperatures, even with long hours of sunshine and lower than average rainfall.

Average daily maximum temperatures were also below normal, but not by as much as the minimum temperatures, figures from the Met Office's National Climate Information Centre show.

April had its highest level of air frost for 60 years with levels more typically seen during winter, and there were 22 days of ground frost across the 30 days of April.

Despite the chilly weather, April saw almost 50 per cent more sunshine than average.

There was also only around 20 per cent of the average level of rainfall expected for April, making it one of the driest Aprils on record.

Senior Scientist at the Met Office’s National Climate Information Centre Mike Kendon said: “April has been an incredibly notable month in terms of the statistics.

"Despite temperatures remaining stubbornly low in many areas, long days of sunshine was the norm and well ahead of averages, especially in northern England.

“A long, prolonged spell of dry and settled conditions was only interrupted by a wet few days in western Scotland in the first half of the month, and cold nights have been the norm across the UK, especially in northern England and Scotland, with the lowest reading coming in at –9.4°C at Tulloch Bridge on April 12.  

“Areas of high pressure have become established over or around the UK, feeding-in cold conditions and creating clear nights allowing any heat to escape.

"The high pressure has tended to prevent April shower activity that we might more typically expect to see at this time of year.

"The clear skies by day have allowed temperatures to rise in strong spring sunshine, only to be lost again over night.

"Early in the month we saw a cold plunge of Arctic maritime air bringing wintry showers with lying snow in some locations, particularly northern Scotland.”