The chance of a record-breaking dry and sunny April was dashed in the last 36 hours of the month.

We reported just two weeks ago that the island was on course for the driest April in four decades.

But the record remains following rainfall on April 29 and 30.

A Met Office spokesman said: ’High pressure dominated for nearly all of the month bringing plenty of sunshine, little rain and mostly light winds.

’There were 231.1 hours of bright sunshine recorded at Ronaldsway which was less than half an hour short of the all-time April record of 231.4 hours in 2007.

’Up until the morning of the 29th there was only 3mm of rainfall in the month, less than the record dry April of 1980 which saw 5.3mm.

’However the downpours on the 29th and 30th brought our monthly total up to 18.6mm, still well below the long-term mean of 55mm.’

The spokesman added: ’With a mean temperature of 9.8°C it was the third warmest April on record, behind 2007 ( 10.8°C ) and 2011 ( 10.6°C ).’

The warmest day of the month at Ronalsway was the 22nd when the temperature reached 18.4°C.

Clear skies and light winds meant some chilly nights though, with frost observed on the grass on nine mornings.

The mean wind speed measured 12mph, slightly below the April mean of 12.8mph. There were no gales during the month, with the highest gust of 45mph being recorded on the 12th.

There was no sleet, hail, thunder or fog observed.

The driest April on record at Ronaldsway was in 1980 when only 5.3mm fell in the whole month. That included part of an eight-week-long dry spell which was one of the driest on record.