"Nigel Paice" wrote ...
snip
While on a hike with a 20-strong walking group around
a depleted Bough Beech Reservoir (about 7 miles to the west
of Tonbridge), an ill-defined Cb cloud could be discerned right
infront of the lowering sun to the WSW, causing a thick orange
lining to the anvil. This would have been around 1800 local time.

Noticeable how parched that region looks, in contrast to the still
verdant fields here in the Romsey area of Hampshire. My lawn
needs another trim.

.... we're not doing too badly either, though the soil has dried out
rapidly since the ending of the July/early August 'wet' spell:
estimated 40% of the 'normal' rainfall since then .. and the ensembles
don't suggest much more to come this month.

For the 'growing seasons' of spring+summer (and including September so
far), the %age of LTA rainfall (using Hurn data) is around 85% of
1971-2000 values; nothing dramatic, though if you remove the
double-average PPN month of July, then that figure would drop of
course.

Martin.

--
Martin Rowley
West Moors, East Dorset (UK): 17m (56ft) amsl
Lat: 50.82N Long: 01.88W
NGR: SU 082 023