2012 UK Drought

[reef]

We've only had 258.4mm so far here in 2011. The driest year in the last decade was actually 2010 with 515.8mm, so that gives you some idea how unusual this year is.

It would require a run-in similar to 2000 now to get us anywhere near average.

[Helvellyn]

i would think even the above map would contain some substantial regional variation (within the regions)

[azores92]

Just over 300mm for our location thus far. Bits of rain since Late August but never amounting too much. If we finish with less than 400mm this year then we really are talking a very dry year. The Midlands all over has had a very dry year. Generally its one of the driest regions in the UK along with EA and most of the SE.

it is generally one of the driest parts of the uk, but still has more rainfall than east anglia and the south east, which has faired significantly better from rainfall in the past few months, due to all the continental convection coming inland as far as parts of london etc. still, as has been said before, it does make me laugh when people talk about settled weather finally returning, it has barely rained at all here for goodness knows how long. 17mm so far this month, 350mm so far this year. really need a decent prolonged rainy spell.

[Arctic Hare]

The grass here was brown until a few days ago, but is now mostly back to green after the recent showers, many of which have had Bewdley in the firing line. It hasn't really felt like a drought year, but that probably has a lot to do with its being a relatively cool and (especially in August) dull period. The worst of all worlds for many people, I suspect: if it's going to be this dry, with all the problems that brings, it might have the decency to be a bit warmer and sunnier too!

[AderynCoch]

The grass here was brown until a few days ago, but is now mostly back to green after the recent showers, many of which have had Bewdley in the firing line. It hasn't really felt like a drought year, but that probably has a lot to do with its being a relatively cool and (especially in August) dull period. The worst of all worlds for many people, I suspect: if it's going to be this dry, with all the problems that brings, it might have the decency to be a bit warmer and sunnier too!

I feel very much the same, though it's worth pointing out that sunny and dry is worse than cloudy and dry for drought implications, due to the effect the sun has in drying out the surface moisture quicker.

[cyclonic happiness]

The latest BBC weather forecast on the telly, suggests that we are going to get rain for the greater part of tomorrow across the worst, drought stricken areas of the Midlands.

It will be interesting to watch it fizzle out as it gets near and if it does, then there has to be some sort of phonomenon to explain the rains' extra-ordinary ability to miss us.

[I remember Atlantic 252]

looks like being a horrid washout tomorrow for NW midlands, never arrives at night, looks worse after 1pm

[Costa Del Fal]

looks like being a horrid washout tomorrow for NW midlands, never arrives at night, looks worse after 1pm

Actually the NW Midlands will fair best out of the whole Midlands. Not really a washout either. Anyway the models will probably dive the rain south overnight or it will just magically fizzle as soon as it reaches our region.

Even if tomorrow does turn out to be a rubbish day, excellent model agreement on a return to Summer next week.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Blizzards

[Staffordshire]

Yeah was just gonna say! SE looks more like a 'washout', anyway it'll probably disapeer overnight!

Actually the NW Midlands will fair best out of the whole Midlands. Not really a washout either. Anyway the models will probably dive the rain south overnight or it will just magically fizzle as soon as it reaches our region.7

Even if tomorrow does turn out to be rubbish, excellent model agreement on a return to Summer next week.

[I remember Atlantic 252]

Actually the NW Midlands will fair best out of the whole Midlands. Not really a washout either. Anyway the models will probably dive the rain south overnight or it will just magically fizzle as soon as it reaches our region.7

Even if tomorrow does turn out to be rubbish, excellent model agreement on a return to Summer next week.

yeah next week could bring hottest temps of the year,

[Isolated Frost]

yeah next week could bring hottest temps of the year,

Quite unlikely, but also quite possible. 25C could be breached in Central Southern England but I don't see much more - HP to the East with cloud to the west as LP systems move SW to NE throughout the week, unless HP moves over us or near the SE for a good few days. My bet is on 25C in Hampshire or West Sussex.

On the drought in E Anglia and rain shortages in the W Midlands, I can see a bit tonight and tomorrow morning, but throughout this week it mainly looks like cloudy spells, sunshine to the south under a ridging Azores high (as usual you will get the odd ridge as part of the transitional pattern), and some rain associated with fronts and LP systems to the NW of the nation in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Lake District.

Very dry year up to October then, and if NW's Oct/Nov/Dec forecast is right - winter hosepipe bans?!

[Summer of 95]

The grass is still brown here, and the leaves started turning at the start of September. There's definitely been a shortage of rainfall, yet this dry period is unique in my experience for its associated shortage of sunshine. Apart from the odd sunny day (3 June, 2-3 July, 1 September, one thunderstorm (1am on 21st Aug), and that horrid warm humid dull spell at the start of August when London hit 30C,, it seems to have been dry, cool and cloudy almost without a break since the start of May.

[TonyH]

The latest BBC weather forecast on the telly, suggests that we are going to get rain for the greater part of tomorrow across the worst, drought stricken areas of the Midlands.

It will be interesting to watch it fizzle out as it gets near and if it does, then there has to be some sort of phonomenon to explain the rains' extra-ordinary ability to miss us.

5mm tops!

Actually the NW Midlands will fair best out of the whole Midlands. Not really a washout either. Anyway the models will probably dive the rain south overnight or it will just magically fizzle as soon as it reaches our region.

Agreed, mostly light rain for Staffs in the morning, dry in the afternoon.

yeah next week could bring hottest temps of the year,

Doubt the Midlands will beat the 26-29c achieved by many in the Summer; 28.7c in Coventry in June for example.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Tonyh

[Aaron]

No way will it be the hottest, the temperature here reached 30.5C in late June, highest for a long time.

[The PIT]

Well it has been raining this month on a regular basis but amounts small. However the rain has meant the grass has recovered and no longer brown the remaining trees in leave no longer looked stressed either.

[azores92]

well its not raining this morning, doesnt really look damp outside, what a surprise. i dont want to look at the beeb forecast as no doubt itll brighten up later without leaving a trace of rain

[I remember Atlantic 252]

well its not raining this morning, doesnt really look damp outside, what a surprise. i dont want to look at the beeb forecast as no doubt itll brighten up later without leaving a trace of rain

you wanna come to the horrid NW of the region, this is in for the day, wish I lived in the dry S midlands

[azores92]

heavy rain here now, hope it lasts for a while probably wont though

[Costa Del Fal]

heavy rain here now, hope it lasts for a while probably wont though

Indeed, was very heavy for a time in North Worcestershire but didnt last long. Front has passed now and a return to the dryness.

[azores92]

Indeed, was very heavy for a time in North Worcestershire but didnt last long. Front has passed now and a return to the dryness.

no surprises there lol, now the front is sinking south, its trying its very best not to rain here!

[picog]

We got a couple of mm out of that system today — still very dry in reality, and still watering the garden! We just get enough light rain to dampen the topmost soil, and that's it really.

[cyclonic happiness]

What's more depressing, imagine it's winter and the front was of snow, we'd have got around 1/2", which is what happened all of last winter and the rainfall patterns are the same.

So unless that changes, there's not much point in us having the cold winter that's coming up.

[TonyH]

3mm at Coleshill and 4mm at Church Lawford so far today, so not a bad prediction..

[azores92]

so flipping dry!

[Costa Del Fal]

Indeed, another pathetic attempt. A bit more rain will pass through shortly but that will be it then. I cant help but laugh how dry our region has become in recent years. After 2007 rain seems to be so hard come by!