2012 UK Drought

[Costa Del Fal]

Currently 330mm of rain so far for 2011. September delivered a poor 25mm and October looks like being very very dry. Good chance of ending up below 400mm at this rate especially if October is very dry.

[Weather Boy]

Yes, agreed. From memory, my last 12 month readings as against average are:

Oct 2010 - average

Nov - dry

Dec - dry

Jan - wet

Feb- dry

March - amazingly dry

April - ditto

May - very dry

June - average

July - dry

Aug - average

Sept - very dry

'very dry' being under 20ml. I think we've had no more than something like 280 mm so far this year, but we are a dry part of the country.

So of the last 12 months only one was wetter than average, January, and that was nothing of note being something like 20% above average I think.

[Aaron]

Currently 330mm of rain so far for 2011. September delivered a poor 25mm and October looks like being very very dry. Good chance of ending up below 400mm at this rate especially if October is very dry.

Similar here. Even if November and December deliver average rainfall, there is no chance in hell I will exceed 500 mm's.. it's going to take A LOT of rain to make up for this year.

[TonyH]

I would still be surprised if it is the driest year of the past 145 in Coventry (and the other rain starved parts of the Midlands/East, as it would take just one month of the remaining 3 (although admittedly October looks likely to be below average), to be wet, say with about 75mm, to prevent this. 443mm to beat in Coventry, with 314mm to date.

Edited October 4, 2011 by Tonyh

[I remember Atlantic 252]

Friday is looking like a shocker day for my neck of the woods, looks a washout, probably paying for the warm sunny weather of early 0ct

[Terminal Moraine]

Friday is looking like a shocker day for my neck of the woods, looks a washout, probably paying for the warm sunny weather of early 0ct

I very much doubt it'll be a washout. Probably a few showers during the morning with a fresh NW wind but the showers should die out during the afternoon as high pressure begins to build in from the south west and the wind decreases.

[Costa Del Fal]

I very much doubt it'll be a washout. Probably a few showers during the morning with a fresh NW wind but the showers should die out during the afternoon as high pressure begins to build in from the south west and the wind decreases.

Indeed, I cant see anything remotely near washout conditions. A couple of showers at most.

I dread to think what Snow? Norfolk N Chance calls a proper washout? The end of the world? :lol:

[Terminal Moraine]

Total rainfall to the end of September here is 557.9mm, the third lowest amount for the first 9 months in the last 35 years; only 1991 and 1996 were drier.

If October comes in with less than 60 mm it will be the driest first 10 months of a year in 35 years.

[I remember Atlantic 252]

I hope not, but for Staffordshire the wettest setup is generally when low pressure in charge, then high moves in from the SW, non stop stream of showers from cheshire gap

[Andy Bown]

I hope not, but for Staffordshire the wettest setup is generally when low pressure in charge, then high moves in from the SW, non stop stream of showers from cheshire gap

A very valid point and one which makes it important for everyone to realise that some members know their own local climate very well even if the general forecast suggests differently - similar can happen in my area on a WNW wind with HIGH pressure building as showers stream in off the Bristol Channel.

[picog]

Quite a few people running out of water now in Shropshire/Herefordshire, including those with boreholes. All getting a bit nail biting now for those with no access to mains water, and we are truly doing our rain dances!

[cyclonic happiness]

Here's a article from the enviroment agency....I think they are missing a few counties there, especially Warwickshire..

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/Drought_management_briefing_29Sept2011.pdf

[Aaron]

I bet many parts of Lincs have been relieved of their drought stress after their frequent torrential thunderstorms in the summer.. localised of course.

[Andy Bown]

I bet many parts of Lincs have been relieved of their drought stress after their frequent torrential thunderstorms in the summer.. localised of course.

Thunderstorms generally do little good. An hour of torrential rain will largely run off and quickly evaporate, whereas a good 6 hour steady rain would

gradually soak into the ground.

[The PIT]

The active cold front isnt bringing much rainfall here just 1.8mm so far may get a little more later as there's a second wave. However I'd be surprised to get 3 mm by tomorrow morning.

[Grimsby Snow Lover]

Things are looking very parshed again around here. We haven't had any rain for well over 2 weeks and prior to this we have only averaged around an inch each month since May. I was really hoping for some rain tonight but that band that is approaching is very fragmented, hopefully we will see some frequent showers tomorrow.

[picog]

All the rain going around us or fizzling before it gets here — just squeezing 10mm so far this month. Even last year when it was dry we ended up with about 45 mm, but not looking good for October 2011 so far.

[sunny scunny]

27MM of rain here so far this month, and maybe a bit more rain later tonight.

[BlueHedgehog074]

Apart from some rain last week followed by some light-moderate showers on Thursday and Friday, been reasonably dry here. Although having said that, the grass has been a bit on the damp side. The beginning of October particularly has been rather dry here thanks to the ridging of that High-Pressure to the East bringing in those rather dry, warm/hot conditions which made you feel as though Summer returned.

[TEITS]

Just been looking at the latest rainfall figures and since August 27th my location has only recorded 28mm. Only 8mm has fallen so far this month. At this rate we're going to struggle to reach 300mm for the entire year!

Edited October 12, 2011 by THE EYE IN THE SKY

[phil nw.]

Just been looking at the latest rainfall figures and since August 27th my location has only recorded 28mm. Only 8mm has fallen so far this month. At this rate we're going to struggle to reach 300mm for the entire year!

Yes it`s been pretty dry here too Dave for much of the year.

Nearby Coventry stats show Sept.contuined the dry story

http://bws.users.netlink.co.uk/

(click on link for last season and month`s stats.)

However next week looks much more unsettled and i think we will all get some much needed rain,although i wouldn`t be suprised if the lion`s share falls to the North and West again once the main fronts pass through.

http://www.wetterzen...cs/Rukm1441.gif

Edited October 12, 2011 by phil n.warks.

[TonyH]

As posted on a previous page:

I would still be surprised if it is the driest year of the past 145 in Coventry (and the other rain starved parts of the Midlands/East, as it would take just one month of the remaining 3 (although admittedly October looks likely to be below average), to be wet, say with about 75mm, to prevent this. 443mm to beat in Coventry, with 314mm to date.

Heading for one of the driest, if not the driest. Even 500mm would be an exceptionally low annual total, and that may well be out of reach. Only 13mm so far this month at Bablake, so still only on 327mm.

Edited October 12, 2011 by Tonyh

[The PIT]

Well the last four days have brought a rather impressive 20.4 mm of rain. Impressive because it's most of has been drizzle. Total for the month 35.8 mm 47.3% Could be the wettest month since Feb yet still end up below normal.

[sunny scunny]

31.5MM of rain this month, and all that has come in the last 5 days.

[Turnedoutniceagain]

I'm upto an immense 4.2mm of rain this month. My raised beds are a parched desert !!