As of this morning the England and Wales rainfall for December
stands at 42.5mm, which brings the total for 2003 to date to
719.0mm ... now wetter than 1921 and 1933 during the last
100 years.

We need 13mm to pass 1964, 23mm to pass 1973, and
36mm to pass 1996. So there's a reasonable chance that
this will end up being the driest year since 1973, possibly even
since 1964.

At a more local level, the biggest deficits this year are in eastern
Scotland, roughly from Fife up to Sutherland, where the annual
rainfall looks like being close to 60% of the long-term mean.

Philip Eden