Southerners are facing one of the dullest Marches on record – with London, the southwest and Wales limited to just 90 minutes of sunshine a day so far
- Gloomy weather is in stark contrast to the glorious sunshine of March last year
- It’s too early to say whether this month will go on to be duller than March 1984
If spiralling bills, Partygate resurfacing and a threat from Vladimir Putin wasn’t enough to dampen your spirits, then perhaps the uncharacteristically gloomy weather will.
The UK is enduring one of the dullest Marches on record, with London, southwestern England and Wales having a particularly miserable start to spring.
Britons have had less than half the spring sunshine it would usually have at this time of year, dragging the winter chill on longer than usual.
London, the South-West and Wales have had less than a third of their average sunshine hours so far in 2023, culminating in about 90 minutes a day, the Times reports.
The moody weather is in stark contrast to what the nation was welcomed with this time last year, when Brits basked in glorious record-breaking levels of sunshine.
The UK is enduring one of the dullest Marches on record, with London (pictured), southwestern England and Wales having a particularly miserable start to spring
March 2022: This time last year, Brits were basking in glorious rays of sunshine in stark contrast to this month
In fact, Britain had over 60 per cent more hours of sunshine than normal last March – the most since 1929.
The Met Office attribute the gloomy weather endured by Brits so far to low pressure, which has triggered frequent overcast conditions and plenty of showers.
It’s yet to be determined whether March 2023 will be duller than the same month in 1984, which currently holds the crown for the dullest on record.
However, forecasters predict that the poor weather shows no sign of stopping and Brits could be in for more of the same.
In March this year, Brits have had 45.3 hours of sunshine. It would have to reach 60.8 to become the dullest on record.
Usually for March the sun should be out for about 65 per cent of the usual number of hours, but it is currently floundering at 42 per cent in a bitter blow to Brits seeking that spring glow.
Wales has suffered the most with only 28 per cent of its usual amount of sun – for just over 90 minutes a day.
Meanwhile London and the southwest is at 29 per cent with those in the capital limited to just 34.5 sunshine hours across the first three weeks of March.
The Met Office attribute the gloomy weather endured by Brits so far to low pressure, which has triggered frequent overcast conditions and plenty of showers
London (pictured) and the southwest is at 29 per cent with those in the capital limited to just 34.5 sunshine hours across the first three weeks of March
Forecasters predict that the poor weather shows no sign of stopping and Brits could be in for more of the same. Pictured: Wimbledon Common
A spokesman for the Met Office said: ‘It has been a dull first half of the month for much of the UK, with areas in the south and west particularly dull compared with long-term averages.
‘With ten days of the month to go, there’s still plenty of time for sunshine figures to rise, so it’s too early to speculate on how this month might compare historically.’
Tonight there is expected to be strong winds moving east, with heavy showers also expected.
On Wednesday, the rain is expected to clear in the morning with some much needed sun lined up. However, in the evening there is risk of hail and thunder.
Heading from Thursday into the weekend, the unsettled weather is set to continue with thunder also possible.
There is currently a weather warning in northern Scotland due to strong winds, which could cause disruption to travel.
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