Exceptionally Dry and Sunny
Temperatures
The average maximum temperature during May 2020 in Shoreham was 19.3 Celsius (67F), and that was about 0.5 Celsius (<1F) above normal for the time of year. The average minimum temperature was 9.0 Celsius (48F), and that was around 0.5 Celsius (<1F) below the May normal.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 25.3 Celsius (78F) on the 30th, but the following day was only 0.2 Celsius (<0.5F) less warm. There were 7 other days when the temperature rose above 23 Celsius (73F). Most of these warmer days were after the 19th, but there were 2 exceptions, the 8th and 9th. On the 9th, the temperature peaked at 24.5 Celsius (76F). No particularly cold days occurred during May, but on 5 occasions the temperature failed to rise above 15 Celsius (59F). On the 3rd, a high of 13.8 Celsius (57F) occurred, and there were 4 consecutive cool days beginning on the 11th. On both the 11th and 13th maximum temperatures were 13.2 Celsius (56F).
No warm nights occurred during May, in fact, there were only 12 nights with minimum temperatures above 10 Celsius (50F). The mildest night was the 22nd with a low of 14.4 Celsius (58F). Only 2 of the milder nights occurred before the 20th, but on the 10th a minimum of 12.6 Celsius (55F) was recorded, a value matched on the last night of the month. The coolest nights occurred late in the second week and at the beginning of the third week. On 4 nights, these all occurring between the 11th and 15th, minimum temperatures were below 6 Celsius (43F), with 2 of these cooler nights having lows under 3 Celsius (37F). On the 12th, a low of 2.6 Celsius (37F) occurred, with 2.8 Celsius (37F) measured on the 15th.
The sea temperature was around 12 or 13 Celsius (54-55F) for much of the month, but it rose to 15 Celsius (59F) during the last week.
Frost
No frost occurred during May. The lowest grass temperature was 0.6 Celsius (33F) on the 15th.
Rain
Rainfall in May amounted to 0.4 millimetres (0.02 ins.). This was about 1% of the average for the month. There was only 1 day of measurable rain, and that was 9 days below average. This was the driest May on record in the area. In May 1989, the previous driest, rainfall in, and around, Shoreham was 3 to 5 millimetres (0.1 ins.), and in May 1896, although parts of southwest England had less than 0.4 millimetres (0.02 ins.), Sussex had 5 to 10 millimetres (0.2-0.4 ins.). Rainfall records prior to 1860 were sparse, but it’s probable that no May has been drier in Shoreham for at least 160 years. Although showers fell on the 1st, the measurable rain occurred before 0900 UTC and was added to the April total. Rain and drizzle fell on the 3rd and this produced the only measurable rain (0.4 millimetres (0.02 ins.)). There was light rain on both the 10th and 22nd, and a shower fell on the 23rd, but none of these events dampened the ground. Not only was it extremely dry, it was also unusually sunny. There were 15 days with unbroken sunshine from dawn to dusk. Preliminary figures suggest around 300 hours of sunshine for the month in the Shoreham area. For England as a whole, it was the sunniest month of any since records began in 1929, although it may well have been sunnier in July 1911 (before official records began)
Hail
No hail was observed in this part of Shoreham during May.
Thunder
No thunder was heard in this part of Shoreham during May.
Snow
No sleet or snow fell during May.
Wind
The month varied between northeasterly winds, these quite brisk at times, and mainly occurring during the first half of May, and northwesterly winds, that often became brisk southwesterly sea breezes during the afternoons. The sea breezes mostly occurred during the third and fourth weeks. At Shoreham Airport, southwesterly winds gusted to 32 knots (37 mph) on the afternoon of the 1st, but then winds became mainly northeasterly. On the evening of the 10th gusts of 38 knots (43 mph) were recorded, with 39 knots (45 mph) measured on the following morning. Southwesterly winds had returned by the 22nd, and sea breeze enhancement produced gusts of 32 knots (37 mph) on the afternoon of the 22nd, and 39 knots (45 mph) on the afternoon of the 23rd. These were the last significant gusts of the month.
Fog
There was no fog observed in Shoreham during May.
Statistics for May 2020
| Reporting Station | Highest Temp | Lowest Temp | Rain Total (mm) | Wettest | Rain days |
| Shoreham Airport | 23.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1 |
| Thorney Island | 23.9 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gatwick A/P | 27.5 | -0.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Herstmonceux | 25.3 | 1.3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Bournemouth (Hurn) | 25.3 | -0.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2 |
| Middle Wallop | 24.9 | -0.6 | 1 | 0.6 | 3 |
| Dieppe | 23.2 | 1.8 | 9 | 8 | 4 |