August 2016 - Another dry one?

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Nicholas Gardner
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Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:11 pm
Location: Rural riverside valley location near the village of Newton Poppleford and 2 km from the sea.
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August 2016 - Another dry one?

Post by Nicholas Gardner » Tue Aug 09, 2016 6:32 pm

With just 5.9 mm of rainfall, July was the driest of any month I have ever recorded since before May 2005, though many have come close.

Then on the 1st of August, 25.5 mm of very welcome rain fell in one day and it has been dry ever since. The countryside did 'green up' a little but is now reverting back to its parched, brown appearance. Looking at the forecast there seems to be little rain predicted for here, especially as that Azores High seems to be ever present, ridging towards us in the South West.

As well as being dry since the first, it has also been warm and increasingly sunny. Today's sunshine, breeze and low humidity only adds to the browning of this part of Devon.

After a very wet June (though the majority of the rain fell during thunderstorms), a dry July and one wet August day, the total rainfall for the summer to date stands at 131 mm which is well above average! Don't rely on the 'normal' to give us an idea to how green the countryside should be....

August 2016 (1st - 9th):
Mean minimum = 12.7°C
Mean maximum = 22.8°C
Mean = 17.8°C
Rain = 25.5 mm
Sunshine = 62.1 hours.
Otter Valley Weather
Near Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth - Devon
50:41N 3:17 W; 20 metres AMSL; Station Grade B-BAAA37
http://www.ottervalleyweather.me.uk

Greg Gruner
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Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2015 7:36 pm
Location: Farnborough

Re: August 2016 - Another dry one?

Post by Greg Gruner » Wed Aug 10, 2016 8:10 pm

Hi Nick,
much the same here in Farnborough. Only 2mm in the second half of July, then 20.4mm on 1st/2nd of August, and nothing since. So I've been out with the watering can and occasionally the hose (trying not to use the hose as we are now on metered water).
Looks like a 2-day heatwave next week that may end with some thunderstorms.

Richard Hunt
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:16 pm
Location: Hornsea, East Yorkshire. 10m AMSL

Re: August 2016 - Another dry one?

Post by Richard Hunt » Sun Aug 14, 2016 8:24 pm

A dry August so far with only 8.0mm in the gauge to date.

My wettest day was 4.8mm on the 11th.

My mean for August is 59.3mm (1964-2016), so I'm -51.3mm down on the average so far.

The driest August for this area occurred in 1976 with only 14.0mm for the entire month, I'm sure it'll rain before months end and the 76 record will stand.



Rain days 6, wet days 2.

5" copper rain gauge.
COL Station: 25020

N 53°54'.185". W000°10'.235"

10m AMSL

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John Wilson
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Location: Mapperley Plains, Arnold, Notts.

Re: August 2016 - Another dry one?

Post by John Wilson » Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:10 am

Dry here on the edge of Nottingham as well. Until Thursday 18th I had recorded just 15% of LTA. Yesterday, Friday, brought 11.7mm, bringing August rainfall up to 21mm, 35% of LTA. I would prefer not to have too much more rainfall this month as my daughter and family are on holiday in Devon!
Seriously, the driest Augusts here since I started keeping records in 1993 are:
1995 (6.1mm, 10% of LTA)
1994 (13.1mm, 22% of LTA)
2003 (17.1mm, 28% of LTA).
So, not a record, but August this year has been quite dry so far except for yesterday.
Regards to all
John

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Nicholas Gardner
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:11 pm
Location: Rural riverside valley location near the village of Newton Poppleford and 2 km from the sea.
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Re: August 2016 - Another dry one?

Post by Nicholas Gardner » Sat Aug 20, 2016 6:10 pm

John Wilson wrote:Dry here on the edge of Nottingham as well. Until Thursday 18th I had recorded just 15% of LTA. Yesterday, Friday, brought 11.7mm, bringing August rainfall up to 21mm, 35% of LTA. I would prefer not to have too much more rainfall this month as my daughter and family are on holiday in Devon!
It seems that Devon is a county of many climates, so depending on where they are will today will mean the difference between a windy, cool day with frequent heavy showers (high ground such as the moors) or just a breezy, dry day with sunny intervals and a maximum of 21.5°C, i.e., here!

Yesterday's rain amounted to 6.8 mm and that cleared by midday to warm and very humid conditions with increasing amounts of sunshine.
Otter Valley Weather
Near Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth - Devon
50:41N 3:17 W; 20 metres AMSL; Station Grade B-BAAA37
http://www.ottervalleyweather.me.uk

Richard Hunt
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:16 pm
Location: Hornsea, East Yorkshire. 10m AMSL

Re: August 2016 - Another dry one?

Post by Richard Hunt » Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:34 am

August turned out not as dry as I first thought. After a dry three weeks I had a number of days of rain days which brought the total up to just below average.

Monthly Total: 55.7mm

24hr Maximum: 13.1mm -- Day 27

Rain Days >0.2mm: 14

Wet Days >1.0mm: 9


Standard 5" Copper Rain gauge
COL Station: 25020

N 53°54'.185". W000°10'.235"

10m AMSL

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