Summer Rainfall Stats

September 10, 2018

By Paul Homewood

We’ve looked at the temperature rankings for this summer. but what about rainfall?

Whilst it has been exceptionally dry in England, it has by no means been of record proportions:

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/actualmonthly

In fact it only ranks 5th driest, behind 1913, 1976, 1983 and 1995.

Note, by the way, that 1912 was by far and away the wettest summer, so the idea that big year to year changes are something new is patently absurd.

Spring was also wetter than average this year, while winter was close to normal, so YTD precipitation will only be marginally lower than average.

There will inevitable be regional variations:

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/anomacts 

But just looking at England South, rainfall this summer followed a similar pattern to the national one, with this summer ranking 6th driest, behind 1913, 1921, 1976, 1983 and 1995.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/about/regions-map

It seems that, as far as British weather is concerned, the old saying is still true – there’s nothing new under the sun!