Last night as I went out in the garden around midnight in still conditions
to look at the sky and glimpse at the temperature readings in the screen and
was alerted to the sound of a constant drop of leaves falling from trees and
shrubs. With only 6.7mm of rain so far this month and just 7.3mm since May
22nd Nature is beginning to shut down here. Rainfall since November 1st is
less than 57 per cent and with 8 days in a row above 25C, two reaching more
than 30C peaking at 31.8C, in contrast to many places in the north and west
of Britain, my part of Surrey is in desperate need of water.
Just recently the wind has been gusting to 30 mph with masses of leaves
blowing along my road and coming down from the trees but the area of
precipitation activity remains obstinately west of my part of Surrey with
radar echoes shrinking as they head east. As the pressure rises again over
the Weekend it looks like the Southeast, especially south of the Thames, is
going to continue to take on the appearance of the African savannah in the
dry season. That lovely fresh look we had in spring has now been replaced by
the withering spectre of drought. How I have looked in envy at all those
bright echoes on the radar screen in the west country and Midlands this
morning and longed for just one of them to hover over my beleaguered garden.

Ian Currie-Coulsdon
www.frostedearth.com

Just had a few spatters here in dartford Ian, but as you say, its back
to sunshine and heat again

Reminds me of Worcestershire in August 1995. Many of the shrubs, hedges and
smaller trees had all dropped their leaves, the grass and fields had turned
brown and the whole countryside had taken on a parched and dusty appearance.
Fires were common with many fields ablaze.

With some trees without their leaves and looking dead, you could have
thought it was winter. The following year everything recovered and was back
to normal.
__________________
Nick G
Thorverton, Exe Valley, Devon
50 m amsl

"Ian Currie" wrote in message
. uk...
Last night as I went out in the garden around midnight in still conditions
to look at the sky and glimpse at the temperature readings in the screen
and
was alerted to the sound of a constant drop of leaves falling from trees
and
shrubs. With only 6.7mm of rain so far this month and just 7.3mm since May
22nd Nature is beginning to shut down here. Rainfall since November 1st is
less than 57 per cent and with 8 days in a row above 25C, two reaching
more
than 30C peaking at 31.8C, in contrast to many places in the north and
west
of Britain, my part of Surrey is in desperate need of water.
Just recently the wind has been gusting to 30 mph with masses of leaves
blowing along my road and coming down from the trees but the area of
precipitation activity remains obstinately west of my part of Surrey with
radar echoes shrinking as they head east. As the pressure rises again over
the Weekend it looks like the Southeast, especially south of the Thames,
is
going to continue to take on the appearance of the African savannah in the
dry season. That lovely fresh look we had in spring has now been replaced
by
the withering spectre of drought. How I have looked in envy at all those
bright echoes on the radar screen in the west country and Midlands this
morning and longed for just one of them to hover over my beleaguered
garden.

Ian Currie-Coulsdon
www.frostedearth.com

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:35:56 GMT, "Ian Currie"
wrote:

...That lovely fresh look we had in spring has now been replaced by
the withering spectre of drought...

By contrast, Ian, everything here is almost 'unnaturally' green. I
don't remember the foliage looking so verdant at this time of the year
and the wild flowers are superb.

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Loch Goil and Loch Long in Argyll, Scotland.
Web cam and weather:- http://www.windycroft.gt-britain.co....her/kabcam.htm
Some walks and treks:- http://www.windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/walks/index.html

I feel for you Ian, it must be terrible to see that. You read my forecast no
doubt, there is hope at the end of next week, but alas that is still only in the
form of showers. No sign of any prolonged frontal spells which is what you
really need of course.

Cheers,

Will.
--

"Ian Currie" wrote in message
. uk...
Last night as I went out in the garden around midnight in still conditions
to look at the sky and glimpse at the temperature readings in the screen and
was alerted to the sound of a constant drop of leaves falling from trees and
shrubs. With only 6.7mm of rain so far this month and just 7.3mm since May
22nd Nature is beginning to shut down here. Rainfall since November 1st is
less than 57 per cent and with 8 days in a row above 25C, two reaching more
than 30C peaking at 31.8C, in contrast to many places in the north and west
of Britain, my part of Surrey is in desperate need of water.
Just recently the wind has been gusting to 30 mph with masses of leaves
blowing along my road and coming down from the trees but the area of
precipitation activity remains obstinately west of my part of Surrey with
radar echoes shrinking as they head east. As the pressure rises again over
the Weekend it looks like the Southeast, especially south of the Thames, is
going to continue to take on the appearance of the African savannah in the
dry season. That lovely fresh look we had in spring has now been replaced by
the withering spectre of drought. How I have looked in envy at all those
bright echoes on the radar screen in the west country and Midlands this
morning and longed for just one of them to hover over my beleaguered garden.

Ian Currie-Coulsdon
www.frostedearth.com

"Alan White" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:35:56 GMT, "Ian Currie"
wrote:

...That lovely fresh look we had in spring has now been replaced by
the withering spectre of drought...

By contrast, Ian, everything here is almost 'unnaturally' green. I
don't remember the foliage looking so verdant at this time of the year
and the wild flowers are superb.


Same here on Dartmoor Alan. It really has been a fantastic early summer spell.
Wild flowers galore with wonderful fresh smells. The garden plants are also
thriving, the only downside is that the grass just will not slow down growing.
It was cut yesterday and for a brief time it took on a pale green summery tinge,
but now after last night's storm you can almost hear it growing. Ah well, I
wouldn't want it any other way really. Completely overcast and dry now but the
sun will be back tomorrow.

Will.
--

" Forget the BBC, visit www.metoffice.gov.uk for UK weather information "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A COL BH site in East Dartmoor at Haytor, Devon 310m asl (1017 feet).

mailto:
www: http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk

DISCLAIMER - All views and opinions expressed by myself are personal
and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alan White wrote:

By contrast, Ian, everything here is almost 'unnaturally' green. I
don't remember the foliage looking so verdant at this time of the year
and the wild flowers are superb.

Same here, Alan. I've had to cut the grass *twice* already this year,
and it looks like I'm going to have to do it again in a week or so. If
it stops raining for an hour or two, that is.
--
Steve Loft, Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire. 1417ft ASL
Weather and webcam: http://www.wanlockhead.org.uk/
House for sale in Scotland's highest village
See webcam for view! Email for details.

Same here Ian

Horse Chestnuts especially. Leaves are turning red.
Small pic of my lawn with cracks nearly an inch wide in the clay soil
here. http://www.hernebaykent.fsnet.co.uk/pics/dry.JPG


Mark Chamberlain
Herne Bay, Kent

Yup its how green is my valley round Highland Perthshire too with the Red
Campions standing out against the green. I am on a twice weekly grass cut at
the moment and my snow patch on the lawers range is nearly gone!

brian

"Alan White" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:35:56 GMT, "Ian Currie"
wrote:

...That lovely fresh look we had in spring has now been replaced by
the withering spectre of drought...

By contrast, Ian, everything here is almost 'unnaturally' green. I
don't remember the foliage looking so verdant at this time of the year
and the wild flowers are superb.

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Loch Goil and Loch Long in
Argyll, Scotland.
Web cam and weather:-
http://www.windycroft.gt-britain.co....her/kabcam.htm
Some walks and treks:-
http://www.windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/walks/index.html

In message , Ian Currie
writes
Last night as I went out in the garden around midnight in still conditions
to look at the sky and glimpse at the temperature readings in the screen and
was alerted to the sound of a constant drop of leaves falling from trees and
shrubs. With only 6.7mm of rain so far this month and just 7.3mm since May
22nd Nature is beginning to shut down here. Rainfall since November 1st is
less than 57 per cent and with 8 days in a row above 25C, two reaching more
than 30C peaking at 31.8C, in contrast to many places in the north and west
of Britain, my part of Surrey is in desperate need of water.
Just recently the wind has been gusting to 30 mph with masses of leaves
blowing along my road and coming down from the trees but the area of
precipitation activity remains obstinately west of my part of Surrey with
radar echoes shrinking as they head east. As the pressure rises again over
the Weekend it looks like the Southeast, especially south of the Thames, is
going to continue to take on the appearance of the African savannah in the
dry season. That lovely fresh look we had in spring has now been replaced by
the withering spectre of drought. How I have looked in envy at all those
bright echoes on the radar screen in the west country and Midlands this
morning and longed for just one of them to hover over my beleaguered garden.

Ian Currie-Coulsdon
www.frostedearth.com


I know how you feel Ian.
It's been dry here (Knaresborough, N Yorks, May 34mm, June 17mm so far),
despite the flash floods 20 miles away last week, we were on the western
edge of the development of that storm and got a paltry 5mm. I laid off
watering the garden expecting a good deluge today. Well, we got 0.5mm so
far, and that's dried up now.
I was looking forward to a real cracking good display today. :-(



--
steve