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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| April weather set to break record | April weather set to break record |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UK Met Office has released figures showing that this month is set to be the warmest April since records began in England more than 300 years ago. | The UK Met Office has released figures showing that this month is set to be the warmest April since records began in England more than 300 years ago. |
| The data has been complied from observations that go into the Central England Temperature record. | The data has been complied from observations that go into the Central England Temperature record. |
| This series, which dates back to 1659, is the world's longest running temperature series. | This series, which dates back to 1659, is the world's longest running temperature series. |
| Ecologists say the unseasonable weather could leave wildlife vulnerable if the dry weather continues in the summer. | |
| The provisional mean figure for April 2007 is 11.1C - that is 3.2C above the long-term average. | The provisional mean figure for April 2007 is 11.1C - that is 3.2C above the long-term average. |
| Meteorologists say in addition, the 12-month rolling period ending in April 2007 is also set to be the warmest on record - nearly 2C above the long-term average for the period. | Meteorologists say in addition, the 12-month rolling period ending in April 2007 is also set to be the warmest on record - nearly 2C above the long-term average for the period. |
| Wales is also likely to set a new high. The provisional mean temperature for the month is 9.7C, 2.5C above the 30-year average for April. | |
| Wildlife concerns | |
| The past 12 months have seen a number of temperature records being broken. | The past 12 months have seen a number of temperature records being broken. |
| Shallow root species will be especially vulnerable if we do have a dry summer Dr Tim Sparks,Centre for Ecology and Hydrology | |
| Last July became the UK's warmest month on record, experiencing an average night and day temperature of 17.8C (64F). | Last July became the UK's warmest month on record, experiencing an average night and day temperature of 17.8C (64F). |
| In February, forecasters announced that the nation had experienced its second warmest winter on record. | |
| Tim Sparks, from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, said the below-average rainfall was causing concern among ecologists. | |
| "It has not been the month of showers," he told BBC News. "If it is this dry in April, it does not bode well for the summer. | "It has not been the month of showers," he told BBC News. "If it is this dry in April, it does not bode well for the summer. |
| "Shallow root species will be especially vulnerable if we do have a dry summer." | "Shallow root species will be especially vulnerable if we do have a dry summer." |
| Dr Debbie Hemming, a climate scientist at the Met Office's Hadley Centre, said temperature rises were being experienced on a global scale. | Dr Debbie Hemming, a climate scientist at the Met Office's Hadley Centre, said temperature rises were being experienced on a global scale. |
| "Many of the regions that are projected to experience the largest climate changes are already vulnerable to environmental stress," she observed. | "Many of the regions that are projected to experience the largest climate changes are already vulnerable to environmental stress," she observed. |