8.85mm this month
The driest month i have ever recorded since 1988
Last March almost as dry at 13.75mm
Dry spring = wet summer??
The start of April could be quite wet (unlike last year) so let's hope that we can get the unsettled weather out the way next month to lead to a hot summer
10 days without any rainfall here. Only 2 days with >1mm of rain for the month.
A mere three days of rain have occured this month, which is similar to what I observed during March 2011.
There was 2.1mm of rain on 17th March and 1.4mm on 7th March - combined that gives 3.5mm which is only 0.5mm above the total for April 2011.
Then, however, comes 'the day that it rained proper' which saw a respectable 21mm. That's twice the total for March 2011.
The second wettest day this year was 3rd January on which 14mm fell. Behind that comes 4th February with 9.2mm, much of which fell as a sleety mix.
The nature of rainfall this year has been for it to come in short bursts, often featuring one notably wet day after which another long dry period is experienced. I'm currrently on a run of 11 dry days, following the 2.1mm on 17th March, before which was a run of 9 dry days. In the run up to the 21mm event there had been 14 dry days.
The last rain here was on the 18th..1.5mm ........ 14.4mm so far this month
The last rain here was on 18th March when we had 19.7mm, our wettest day since I started recording rainfall in January 2011. That brings my March 2012 total a reasonable 31mm, much more than March 2011, when we had only 8.2mm.
It's Day 12 with no rain measured at all here, usually the odd very dewy damp morning or drizzly start will mess up such records.The 17th was the last proper rain with 3.2mm, but it was already very dry then so the effect was far less than 3mm in mid-winter.It had practically all evaporated within 24 hours rather than soaking in.
12 days here as well, fortunatlt its not been too hot as its only early Spring, could have been much worse. Might be yet for that matter.
Possibly more key has been the lack of wind. Those strong easterlies that we sometimes get in Spring do some serious drying!
One thing that has been noticeable this March is just how light the winds have been for much of England and Wales I can't remember having any Gales here since early January.
As for rain there hasn't been any here since Saturday 17th
Apperently Researchers at Reading University say the South needs 16 inches of rain between now and August – twice the average – to get back to normal.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/311378/Winter-chill-set-to-return-after-flaming-March
Not sure that I believe anything, however true, that appears in the Express.
Some exceptionally low river flows in this weeks update from the enviroment agency.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Research/WE_270312.pdf
I wonder what next week with bring with regards to rainfall?
The report suggests a little light rain in the South East, that at least might top up my water buttes if nothing else
Driest month i have ever recorded records back to 1988
8.85mm
RIVERS LOWEST FOR 36 YEARSBRITAIN’S drought crisis has left river levels at their lowest for more than 30 years, environment chiefs said last night. Two in three rivers are “exceptionally low” after another week with virtually no rainfall.The Met Office says it will stay dry next week with no sign of sustained rain in April.The Environment Agency said rivers are at similar levels to 1976, a year of severe drought. Helen Vale, national drought coordinator, said: “It is more important than ever that we all use water wisely and use less of it.”http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/311649/Rivers-lowest-for-36-years
Not entirely sure about that!
What the Met Office actually says (as of yesterday) is.
6 to 15
"... generally unsettled weather looks likely to spread across the UK by the Easter Weekend. This will bring spells of persistent and occasionally heavy rain to most parts, but particularly the north."
"It will also be windy at times, particularly in the northwest, with a risk of gales here. Daytime temperatures will be largely around average during this period, but below normal by night for most, with the risk of frost."
16 to 30
"Conditions look set to remain on the unsettled side, with showers or longer spells of rain affecting most areas, giving close to average rainfall amounts for much of the UK, perhaps slightly above in some places. It is likely to continue to feel cool, if not fairly chilly.."
Why people read the Express is beyond me.
The South West, West Midlands and large parts of Wales are at risk of being declared drought areas the Environment Agency has warned. They would join parts of the South East, East Anglia, and South and East Yorkshire already in drought.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4230756/Drought-fear-for-35million-in-Britain.html