Col wrote:
"Dave.C" wrote in message
k...

Interesting how yet again the heavy rainfall heading directly towards
S.Essex as a solid thick band decided on the 18.30 radar to form a large
hole around us and then move North leaving only a light shower so far. This
has happened a lot lately and also to parts of Kent. No wonder the ground is
so dry. I think Sunday's rain will make it though as I am making the cricket
teas as well as playing. Usually does the trick1


But this is South Essex, as I understand it the driest part of the country.
Isn't the ground pretty bone dry for most of the time in spring/summer, anyway?

Col
Yes I believe the driest part of the country runs from Gravesend NE to
Clacton. I believe Great Wakering, just to the NE of Southend-on-Sea,
near Foulness, used to be in the Guinness Book of Records. My average
rainfall since 1978 to date comes in as 557.4mm or 21.95 inches in old
money. We get an addition rain shadow from the North Downs of Kent, plus
the coastal regions often escape the summer showers, which is also the
reason we get the higher sunshine values, although not as high as the
South Coast. Our only draw back can be the east winds in spring and
early summer, these can be raw to say the least.

--
Keith (Southend)

'Weather Home & Abroad'
http://www.southendweather.net