Have you had any rain today?

[chazzpott]

In the light of the exceptionally dry weather in some parts of the country, I thought I'd start this thread off.

Watching the forecast for this area this evening, Peter Cockroft told us that the London area had only received 20 percent of average rainfall in March and only 10 percent in April. So far, May is following the same trend.

I live on the north side of the Thames estuary and this area is recognised as one of the driest places in England. Just over the river on the south side is Gravesend, which regularly tops the high temperature list for this area. Since the beginning of March, I can only recall 2 wet days, neither of which produced any useful rain.

The grass hereabouts is dry, brown and looks more like what you might expect in July or August. The ground flora in the woods is wilting and dying and although the trees are still OK, they will soon be showing signs of stress if the lack of rain continues.
Lack of rain also finished off the spring fungi weeks ago, before they'd even really got going.

So feel free to record your precipitation here, and if you've got any to spare, please send it down here. We really badly need it.

Charlie.

[Farplace]

Hi Charlie
We have had light drizzle on and off all day today. Feel free to borrow it.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Yes South Essex is in dire need of rain. The ponds are dropping in level so fast I think the temporary pond specialists like scarce emeralds are going to struggle to emerge before the water is gone.

[bigdave60dog]

No problem in the Northern Isles. ideal in fact it was dry to plant the barley but now frequent precipitation is watering the growing crops perfectly.
Incidentally I see "Otter Crossing" road signs everytime I go to the supermarket.
Dave

[~T~]

Glasgow has had almost constant rain for the best part of a week so feel free to borrow ours too. It feels like Winter again here hope yous down South get some rain soon though that does sound bad.

[chazzpott]

I know there has been ample rain in many places, particularly the West and North, but we have had virtually none down here for weeks and weeks.

Does anyone know any Shamans who can come and do a rain dance for us.

Charlie

[sunnydale]

It's raining in Bakewell right now!

[artdemole]

Had some showers in the last few days as recent as early this morning with more expected.No decent prolonged rain which is needed more than the showers.Saturday night heavy rain is forecast but that might change as time goes on.Here in North East Somerset my village is set on top of a hill and can get different conditions than the next village/town just over a mile a way and in a valley...aDm...

[chazzpott]

Well, the forecasters threatened my area with up to 1 to 1.5mm of patchy light rain for yesterday and last night, so I got the sandbags and pumps ready but as usual, by the time the clouds reached us they had been wrung dry and we got not a drop.
Click this link and see what us 'soft southerners' are having to deal with.

BBC - Weather - Rainfall continues to elude southeast England

Charlie.

[allyryan]

It rained for about 5 minutes last week, first rain in weeks . Yesterday the drizzle we had for a few moments didn't even reach the ground!! Liphook is parched .