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| April weather set to break record | April weather set to break record |
| (20 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 compiled from observations that go into the Central England Temperature record. | The data has been compiled 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. |
| The provisional mean figure for April 2007 is 11.1C (52.0F) - that is 3.2C (5.8F) 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 (49.5F), 2.5C (4.5F) above the 30-year average for April. | |
| Ecologists say the unseasonable weather could leave wildlife vulnerable if the dry spell continues into the summer. | Ecologists say the unseasonable weather could leave wildlife vulnerable if the dry spell continues into the summer. |
| Wildlife concerns | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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 Sparks was one of the lead authors of a Europe-wide study, published last August, that provided "conclusive proof" that the seasons were changing. | Dr Sparks was one of the lead authors of a Europe-wide study, published last August, that provided "conclusive proof" that the seasons were changing. |
| Climate 'shifts springtime' | Climate 'shifts springtime' |
| The researchers found that spring was beginning on average six to eight days earlier than it was 30 years ago. | The researchers found that spring was beginning on average six to eight days earlier than it was 30 years ago. |
| He said that the latest figures from the Met Office came as no real surprise, and were consistent with climate models that projected a rise in temperatures. | He said that the latest figures from the Met Office came as no real surprise, and were consistent with climate models that projected a rise in temperatures. |
| "Certainly, this year is going to see a very early spring, there is no doubt about that. We have seen lots of things leafing or flowering a lot earlier that we would expect to see them appear. | "Certainly, this year is going to see a very early spring, there is no doubt about that. We have seen lots of things leafing or flowering a lot earlier that we would expect to see them appear. |
| "This spring has demonstrated that different species change at different rates to temperature," he added. | "This spring has demonstrated that different species change at different rates to temperature," he added. |
| "The most obviously sign of this at the moment is that oak trees have come out into leaf very well, but many ash trees are still quite bare. | "The most obviously sign of this at the moment is that oak trees have come out into leaf very well, but many ash trees are still quite bare. |
| This could present problems for local food chains, he observed. | This could present problems for local food chains, he observed. |
| "You may have a situation where an insect relies on a particular plant, and birds or other animals rely on that insect further up the food chain. | "You may have a situation where an insect relies on a particular plant, and birds or other animals rely on that insect further up the food chain. |
| "If there is a breakdown in the synchrony between them then it could be disastrous," Dr Sparks warned. "We may have a butterfly species, for example, whose caterpillars feed on only a very narrow range of plants. | "If there is a breakdown in the synchrony between them then it could be disastrous," Dr Sparks warned. "We may have a butterfly species, for example, whose caterpillars feed on only a very narrow range of plants. |
| "They must maintain synchrony with those plants; if they don't then that species will suffer badly." | "They must maintain synchrony with those plants; if they don't then that species will suffer badly." |