In message , Gavin Staples
writes

snip

My Comment:
Just look at some of those rainfall totals, some are
over 300 per-cent. No wonder there was severe flooding when that rainfall is
added to the prodigious quantities of snow lying. It is interesting to note
that Aberdeen had a mean for the whole month below zero and snow lying for
26 days of the month - nearly the whole month. That means that the thaw was
not entirely nationwide. That minimum of -17.2C was quite incredible.

By the time the rain and thaw set in in March 1947 the ground was frozen
hard to a considerable depth as a result of the prolonged cold spell
that had persisted since late January. Because of this, the rain and
melting snow could not penetrate into the ground. Instead, it all ran
off. This was certainly a significant contributory factor to the
severity of the flooding.

Norman.
(delete "thisbit" twice to reply)
--
Norman Lynagh Weather Consultancy
Chalfont St Giles
England