Switcharounds wet to dry in Spring or vice versa

[damianslaw]

In line with changes taking place over northern hemisphere sometimes as a result of changes in the stratospheric profile, we often see a major shift in synoptic patterns in Spring. Once again we've seen a major flick of the switch after months and months of very wet atlantic dominated weather, around mid March we saw a switch to high pressure dominating and little atlantic influence - hence the recent dry sunny often warm weather (also uncanny how this switch has occurred with the start of the current crisis). Also NAO switching to negative after months of being positive.

Other recent switcharounds that have happened were in 2011 and 2012, April 2011 very dry, very sunny and warm, followed by an indifferent May (not significant but quite notable), the most significant shift I've experienced was March 2012 to April 2012 - what a switch, from very dry sunny and mild, to very wet and cold. 

The other classic switcharound scenario that happens in Spring in the space of 48 hrs, is the southerly to the arctic northerly or vice versa. That deserves a separate thread - again a symptom of the fact Spring is our most varied season synoptic wise, when the atlantic takes a back seat.

[hillbilly]

A change from wet to dry happened in end of  April 1989 and end of Marc 1984

1993 saw a dry Feb and March turn to a wet April and May

1995 saw a very wet winter turn at the end of March into a very dry April

1980 had a wet March change to a dry April and May

[damianslaw]

1 hour ago, hillbilly said:

A change from wet to dry happened in end of  April 1989 and end of Marc 1984

1993 saw a dry Feb and March turn to a wet April and May

1995 saw a very wet winter turn at the end of March into a very dry April

1980 had a wet March change to a dry April and May

Yes marked change winter 94/95 into Spring 95, wettest on record in many places followed by I think the driest 5 month period on record, it remained very dry for 2 years, with another marked change May 97 when we entered a very wet period after a dry March and April, copious rain in June and August.

 

 

[MP-R]

2007 saw some flips:

Mid March to end of April - very dry

May to July - very wet

August to mid November - mostly dry

 

On a greater scale. A very wet 2002 flipped to a much drier 2003. 

[cheeky_monkey]

1983 had a wet cool spring from memory followed by a hot summer.

Edited April 16, 2020 by cheeky_monkey

[damianslaw]

Another switch occurred in Spring 05, after a very lengthy wet period, culminating in a very wet winter 04/05 was exchanged for a generally sustained dry period, winter 05/06 being very dry culminating in the very dry hot summer of 06, then a switch to a very wet period from autumn 2006 onwards.. 

[Weather-history]

1788 and 1789 had a marked changed almost 500mm difference between the two years

1788 ended in one of the driest last quarters to a year on record. January 1789 was wetter than the three previous month combined