"martin rowley" wrote in message
...
to 28/0900Z September 2003:

1. September rainfall .. 6.2mm (10% eLTA 1971-2000)
easily the DRIEST September for our short record (began 1999); previous
driest September 2002 with 26mm.

Martin, you're nearly the lowest in the UK ... 3.3mm at Bognor, but
I'm a bit suspicious of the 1.5mm on the 22nd there.

3. August and September rainfall (combined .. perhaps more interesting).
As at 28/0900Z, total rainfall Aug/Sep=14.2+(6.2 so far)=20.4mm (17%
eLTA):
Looking at the Beaufort Park record (since 1971), cannot find a similar
pairing of such-named months with less rainfall. The nearest I can find
is the August+September pairing in 1972 (another dry year), with 53mm.

Lowest totals to hand for Aug/Sept so far:
Bedford (Thurleigh) 13.2mm
Wattisham 15.6
Filton 16.2
Yeovilton 16.6
Holbeach 17.0
Middle Wallop 17.8
Royston 17.8
Lyneham 18.2
Heathrow 18.8
Redhill airfield 19.2
Andrewsfield 19.6
Herne Bay 19.8

England and Wales rainfall for Aug/Sept so far: 54.7mm.
Aug/Septs with 85mm were 1959 (46.0), 1947 (61.0),
1940 (63.6), 1972 (79.0), and 1778 (81.3).

Driest pairs in last 35 years:
Jun/Jul 1976 50.2
Jul/Aug 1995 51.3
Apr/May 1980 51.4
Mar/Apr 1997 52.6
Sep/Oct 1969 55.8
Apr/May 1974 56.6
Jul/Aug 1976 58.1
Mar/Apr 1990 58.8

Driest of all: Mar/Apr 1938, 23.6mm.

Philip Eden