University of Reading logs greatest monthly temperature range after May day record brokenpublished at 17:16 BST
17:16 BST
Joe Coughlan
Live reporter
Image source, Professor Richard Allan
This month has seen the greatest monthly temperature range in Reading in almost 120 years of records, according to data from the Berkshire town’s university.
The University of Reading’s atmospheric observatory recorded its hottest ever May day on Tuesday as temperatures provisionally hit 33.1C.
It follows a low of -0.1C on 12 May earlier this month – equalling a total range of 33.2C.
While the recordings still need to be verified by manual observations, both the May day record and temperature range record were also broken on Monday after the mercury rose to 32.8C, which gave an overall monthly range of 32.9C.
The previous highest monthly range of 32.8C in Reading was in May 1944, when the previous hottest May day was also recorded at 31.9C.
Professor Richard Allan, who works at the university’s meteorology department, tells me: “What is quite disturbing is the fact we have not only broken the weather record from May, we have smashed it out the park.”
The professor of climate science says hot days can increase in temperature more rapidly than in mild weather due to warmer atmospheres being “thirstier”, thus being capable of sapping more moisture from the ground.
Tuesday also saw the university recording its third consecutive day in heatwave conditions, the first time this has happened since May 1922.