.... Rainfall for the month (so far/to 0900GMT 28th March) = 30.7 mm,
representing ~44% of the eLTA (1981-2010: it is now over 3 weeks since
we had any rain that was worth anything (i.e. to soak into the
soil/dampen vegetation) and since then we've had several days of strong
sunshine (average of over 9 hr/day during the past week, months' figures
now 125% of the LTA/all based on Hurn), a dry environment (RH60% for
several afternoons).

This will be the seventh month with below-average PPN, the 'running
anomaly' over 12 months being something like (minus) 200mm.

Looking at the pattern and ensemble output, not much relief there. The
GFES ensemble output don't (and haven't for several days) suggest
anything worthwhile in PPN for the next 2 weeks & Met Office GPC data
would indicate 'average' conditions at best over the next month or so,
and there is a weak signal for below-average rainfall (and above-average
temperatures).

It's somewhat surreal at the moment - sitting out, day after day in
very pleasant afternoon sunshine - yet the 'native' tree species (e.g.
English Oak, Silver Birch) have leaf/flower buds firmly closed
silhouetted against a clear blue sky.

.... regrettably it can only be a matter of time before we start hearing
(or experiencing) heathland fires hereabouts; school holidays have
already started ....

Martin.

--
West Moors / East Dorset
Lat: 50deg 49.25'N, Long: 01deg 53.05'W
Height (amsl): 17 m (56 feet)
COL category: C1 overall

"Martin Rowley" wrote in message ...
snip

.... regrettably it can only be a matter of time before we start hearing
(or experiencing) heathland fires hereabouts; school holidays have
already started ....

Martin.

============================

Very dry in West Somerset too, been able to walk footpaths without the usual
March muddiness - and to illustrate potential on the moors here, just
yesterday some swaling got out of hand up at Withypool and took 3hrs to
control.