Forecast: slow-moving low pressure over the UK at T+240 on 16/05.Unsettled weather.
 

On May 16, 12:51*pm, Dick wrote:
I would also question whether the
drought really has been broken for many. Total rainfall here over the
last 8 days amounts to just 0.1mm, and I am sure there are many other
parts of England, at least, with still well below average rainfall.

I was going to make the same comment. While there may not formally be
a drought in the sense that certainly a little recent rain has fallen,
here in East Cambs for instance, total rainfall for May so far stands
at around 4mm and that after an extremely dry March/April period.

What's frustrating is that although there have been frequent episodes
of windy, largely overcast conditions - just like today so far in fact
- that threaten rain, it's just not materialising in any significant
amounts. An occasional 15-20 minute shower of light 1-2mm/hr rainfall
just doesn't make much overall impression.

Driving around the almost exclusively arable area yesterday, large-
scale irrigation could be seen all around, acompanied by significant
traffic delays as the farmers move the huge hose reels or pipeline-
sets, heavy-duty pumps etc from one field to another. With all the
irrigation, most crops probably aren't too threatened just yet, but
what is happening is that much the stored water reserve is bieng used
up relatively early in the growing season.

John Dann
www.weatherstations.co.uk