Many messages suggest this is the wettest August since 1912 but I'm
wondering how does it compare against 1992? Here (Southampton) I have
memories of that one being "worse" than the current one, as (if I
remember correctly) it was unusually cold as well as wet. Don't think
there were so many heavy showers, but there was more in the way of
autumn-style steady frontal rainfall, hence less wet but less
seasonable also? Any figures to hand?

As it is, subjectively speaking, since 1980 (though my memories of the
80s are a little slim) this would be the fourth-"worst" August, beaten
by 1992, and, if I recall correctly, 1985/86/88 (which were of similar
type to 1992).

Despite the reputation of August being the wettest and stormiest of
the summer months, this does not seem to be borne out in practice.
June really seems to be the month most prone to bad weather; aside
from the four examples of 1985/86/88/92/04, Augusts since 1980 in the
south of England have really produced a lot of good summer weather.

Nick

(Nick Whitelegg) wrote in message . com...
Many messages suggest this is the wettest August since 1912 but I'm
wondering how does it compare against 1992? snip

This August IMHO is more reminiscent of 1997 or (especially) 1999, in
this area (Shropshire) at least. The latter was the wettest August on
record thus far in places around here, the rain mostly coming from
short-lived but intense downpours, often thundery. I can't remember a
month so thundery as August 2004, so although it may turn out to be
record-breaking I wouldn't call it the 'worst'! (read 'least
interesting').
Yes, 1992 was (subjectively) an absolutely dreadful August. Front
after front as you say, but zero thunder. What I remember about that
month is that many days started sunny, then right on cue another band
of steady rain arrived in the afternoon.
Here's some figures from this area (Shawbury) from the Metoffice site:
August Meanmax rain sun
1992 18.9 107.9 165.5

1997 23.4 91.0 195.7
1999 19.9 128.1 153.2

1986 17.0 93.2 121.8
1980 19.7 75.0 118.8
1957 18.8 127.5 117.2

and finally:
1995 25.2 7.8 273.5

Sadly it doesn't give thunder statistics, but this August is certainly
a warm one like 97 and 99- mean max so far 22.1 according to
Weatheronline. August 1957 is interesting, it's way way before my time
but having searched around a bit it seems to have been thundery, with
lots of localised downpours around here ('The Severn was 10' over
normal at Shrewsbury on the 12th' according to Trevor Harley's weather
pages), and there was apparently a big flood in Cornwall that June-
anyone recall this summer?

As it is, subjectively speaking, since 1980
Don't remember much about bad 80s summers except for the appalling
July 1988 (just remember the snowy winters!).

"Nick Whitelegg" wrote in message
om...
Many messages suggest this is the wettest August since 1912 but I'm
wondering how does it compare against 1992? Here (Southampton) I have
memories of that one being "worse" than the current one, as (if I
remember correctly) it was unusually cold as well as wet. Don't think
there were so many heavy showers, but there was more in the way of
autumn-style steady frontal rainfall, hence less wet but less
seasonable also? Any figures to hand?

As it is, subjectively speaking, since 1980 (though my memories of the
80s are a little slim) this would be the fourth-"worst" August, beaten
by 1992, and, if I recall correctly, 1985/86/88 (which were of similar
type to 1992).

Despite the reputation of August being the wettest and stormiest of
the summer months, this does not seem to be borne out in practice.
June really seems to be the month most prone to bad weather; aside
from the four examples of 1985/86/88/92/04, Augusts since 1980 in the
south of England have really produced a lot of good summer weather.

Nick

Nick I agree with you very much regarding June. That is frequently a bad
summer month. June 1983 contrast that with July 1983. June 1995 prevented
that summer from smashing the hottest summer records. June 1995 had a CET of
only 14.3. The combined CET of July and August 1995 was a remarkable 18.9.
June 1976 had a CET of 17.0. If that had been repeated in 1995, that summer
combined would have had a CET of 18.27C. That would have trounced any other
summer quite comfortably.