May 2002 started rather chilly and changeable with slight overnight frost from time to time and scattered showers. Best sun was to get around the west. More unsettled later with a short-lived heatwave mid month, when Jersey had a pre-summer day with temperatures climbing above 28°C. Rather wet and windy, with thundery showers and rain around the end of the month.

Central England and Wales temperature was 11.9°C, which was slight 0.7 degC above the average temperature of 11.2°C, taken from the 1961-1990 period. However this has been the coolest May since 1997. May 2001 recorded 12.6°C; 2000 12.1°C; 1999 12.9°C; 1998 13.1°C and only 1997 was slightly colder with 11.5°C.

Rainfall was 81mm, which was 124% of the average precipitation, showing that rainfall during May 2002 was well above average. May 2001 had only half the rain with 42mm; 2000 recorded 98mm, 1999 55mm and 1998 35mm.

Sunshine was at 6.04 hrs per day, which is 101% of the 1961-90 average. However, beside 1999 which recorded only 5.71 hrs, all of the last fiove Mays have been significantly sunnier. For example, 2002 7.54 hrs per day; 2000 6.93 hpd; 1998 6.78 hpd and 1997 7.78 hpd.