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.
Of more significance, comparing with adjacent Beaufort Park (BP) record
(with which we seem to be comparable/within 4% by monthly rainfall), it
would be DRIEST September since *at least* 1971 (11.5mm in September of
that year).

2. Would be (if maintained), the DRIEST any-month in our short record;
driest was last month (August 2003) with 14.2mm.
For the BP record, if we are comparable, then this would be the driest
*any-month* since Aug 1995 (3.8mm), but note that in Feb 1998 BP had
just: 8.0mm.

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.
Often, if August is dry, then September makes up for it, or a wet summer
is followed by a dryish autumn.

4. Rainfall so far *this year* here at Tawfield = 340mm (~72% eLTA
1971-2000)

Still go three rain-days to go of course, and the cloud outside is
looking a bit threatening .....;-)

Martin.

--
Martin Rowley: data via:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/metindex.htm
Bracknell (Wooden Hill/Great Hollands), Berkshire.
NGR: SU 854 667
Lat: 51DEG23MIN30SEC(N); Long: 00DEG46MIN28SEC(W)
Height(amsl): 80 metres (262 feet)