In uk.sci.weather on Sun, 22 Oct 2006, Graham Easterling
wrote :

32mm of rain in Penzance 11:15-12:15. A30 flooded at the entrance to
Penzance (just passable)


Hi Graham,

Are you sure your raingauge is accurate, you must have imagined that figure.

The official highest 1800-1800 total was a mere 26mm according to Ceefax
page 407 who get their totals from the MO, don't they not! Perhaps if the
many stations weren't non-operational then rainfall records would be more
accurate.

Interestingly, since the start of autumn I have unofficially been wetter
than the official wettest in the whole of the country on two occasions. On
13th September, I achieved 45mm (1800-1800 13/14th) and Brize Norton was
awarded the max with just 39mm. The second occasion was on Friday 20th
October (1800-1800 19/20th) when I achieved 37mm and Lyneham got the award
this time with 33mm. It's got me thinking how many times a year is it that
each day is under-recorded in this manner. Obviously, there will always be
these situations (can't have sites everywhere) but if we're going to
understand the climate, we need to get it right. Alongside my two
discrepancies, the official figures show an actual error of in excess of
16mm and possibly much more over just three days of misquoted figures this
autumn alone.

Any thoughts?

Tony