Manx spring was 'warmest and sunniest' on record

The Isle of Man has just experienced its warmest and sunniest spring on record.

Data published by Ronaldsway Met Office showed the average temperature across March, April and May was 13.7C (56.7F) - that's 2C (3.6F) above the 30-year mean.

Forecaster Gary Salisbury said the spring of 2025 had seen "above average" sunshine levels with a total of 708.1 hours "exceeding the memorable Covid spring of 2020, which previously held the top spot".

He confirmed 2025 was also one of the driest springs ever recorded on the Isle of Man, the result of "persistent high pressure" sitting above the island.

The highest temperature taken between 1 March and 31 May was 23.2°C (73.8F) on 12 May.

This is the fourth highest temperature ever recorded on the island in May.

Total rainfall was 3in (7.8cm), which the island's weather experts confirmed was 55% down on the average between 1991 and 2020.

Mr Salisbury said March in particular was "very dry" with only 0.5in (1.3cm) collected, making it the second driest March since records began in 1948.

In May 0.4mm of rain fell in the first three weeks of the month, and sunshine hours topped the all-time record at 319.4 hours.

The previous sunniest May came in 1977, when there were 303.6 hours.

Mr Salisbury confirmed temperatures were "well above" the long-term average, with the mean daily peaks reaching 16.7°C (62F).

He said this "comfortably exceeded" the previous highest of 16.1°C (61F) which had been recorded in 2008.

Mr Salisbury said: "Even with the more unsettled last week, total rainfall only came to 0.9in (2.4cm), which is less than half the average for May."

The previous warmest spring was 2024, but for "very different reasons".

Last year was "unusually wet" he said. Significant cloud cover caused "very mild" night-time temperatures, boosting the overall average.

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