On 24 May, 21:51, wrote:
Today's sunshine was15.20hhere (R&D recorder, correcting for 1-2%
overcounts). The last May day to have recorded 15hin this area was
over 40 years ago, 31 May 1966 with 15.1h.

Daylength (sunrise to sunset) 15h58 m, so this figure represents
just over 95% of 'astronomical' possible.

The R&D tends to be rather better at low sunshine than the Campbell-
Stokes, which was what was in use in 1966, but even so today's figure
is well in excess of any May total in the 8 years I've been using the
R&D (previous highest 14.41hon 31 May 2003). The highest daily using
my C/S here 1988-2000 was 14.1h.

It's also the sunniest day of any since 17 July 2006 (15.22h) but
that's not that surprising considering the past two summers of course.

--
Stephen Burt
Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire

Two in a week: today's sunshine (corrected for the slight 1-2% over-
recording typical of R&D sensor pulses) 15.10 h. Slight interruptions
due to Cu humilis at lunchtime mean that last Sunday's 15.20 h was not
beaten, despite slightly longer day length (16 h 14 m vs 15 h 58 m).
But they are still the first occurrences on 15 h sunshine in a day in
May in over 40 years local record. Skies also slightly less blue today
than yesterday afternoon.

--
Stephen Burt
Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire