The island had its wettest April for five years, the head of the weather service said yesterday.

But Mark Guishard, the director of the Bermuda Weather Service, added that the weather was likely to ease up for May and June as unusually harsh winter weather cleared.

He was speaking after the island saw 4.21 inches of rain last month – an inch more than last April.

Almost half the rain in April – 1.98 inches – came on April 21 when a series of thunderstorms swept across the island in the course of a single day.

Mr Guishard said heavy rainfall was typical when thunderstorms developed “extremely deep updrafts” and that they could occur with very little warning.

Nonetheless, this April paled in comparison with April, 1984 when the all time record was set with 8.62 inches of rain.

Dr Guishard said that the severe weather and gales seen over the winter and spring months were caused by “persistent cold air” from North America.

He explained: “When the US East Coast gets particularly cold and snowy, those are winters during which Bermuda experiences windier-than-average conditions and changeable conditions that occasionally produce heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

“Fortunately, we are in store for more seasonable conditions as we move into the driest average months of the year, May and June.”

But Dr Guishard warned: “Having said that, a frontal system is expected to approach the island late Friday, so more rain is likely on the way.”

For regular updates on forecasts, check www.weather.bm.