[jonathanwebb]

So besides the prospect of having some real weather, another good reason to hope for a change in the blocked pattern soon....not to mention air quality etc!

[scrapemedic]

This is a bit of a rerun of last year, first the cold and snow, then the rain, then the long dry period, (Dec/Jan, Feb, March to july 2010 respectively), only its a little earlier this year.

[Nigel Bolton]

This raw easterly is certainly lifting the moisture. Even the soil surface has dried, something not often seen in January. Surface water in my soakaway sump has also disappeared leaving congealed mud and leaves, suggesting the water table is already low. This is the first time I have seen this in January.

N.

[PK2]

Quote

scrapemedic - 26/1/2011 16:46

This is a bit of a rerun of last year, first the cold and snow, then the rain, then the long dry period, (Dec/Jan, Feb, March to july 2010 respectively), only its a little earlier this year.

That has been my thoughts. Which is a shame because I'd like the March -> July period a little later in the year :( .

[Andy Mayhew]

Water company warns customers to prepare for drought

[Ian Williams]

Not sure where Stithians reservoir is getting its water from. Certainly not from the sky! [hehe]

Week ending:	30th January 2011
Week:	4
Total reservoir storage for the week:	96705 Ml (83.8%)
This week last year total storage was:	112465 Ml (97.5%)

Reservoir details			Historic Data
Reservoir	Net Capacity MI	Current Storage %	Last Year's Storage %	1995 Storage %
Roadford	34,500	77.6	94.0	90.4
Colliford	28,540	83.6	99.8	88.4
Wimbleball	21,320	77.6	100.0	100.0
Stithians	4,967	100.0	99.7	98.1
Burrator	4,210	87.8	93.1	100.0

 

[Ian Williams]

Having only had 47% of normal rainfall so far this month, reseervoirs although fairly healthy, still needing to keep an eye on, still dont understand Stithians data, maybe wrong?

Week ending:	6th February 2011
Week:	5
Total reservoir storage for the week:	96705 Ml (84.1%)
This week last year total storage was:	113307 Ml (98.2%)

Reservoir details			Historic Data
Reservoir	Net Capacity MI	Current Storage %	Last Year's Storage %	1995 Storage %
Roadford	34,500	77.3	94.9	90.8
Colliford	28,540	84.4	99.9	89.8
Wimbleball	21,320	79.3	100.0	100.0
Stithians	4,967	100.0	100.0	100.0
Burrator	4,210	85.5	99.1	100.0

 

[scrapemedic]

Well I would expect the soil to be thick and clagggy at this time of year, its not usually a good time to be digging, but today i found the soil light and very friable, possibly as a result of the earlier cold weather breaking up the soil and the lack of rain recently drying it out. Good for me at the moment, I can catch up on my belated digging, but it won't be in a few months time when i start growing things. I have one of those Trug things, (like a bucket and holds about 20 litres of water), thats been sitting out for about three months, it was only three quarter full of fluid and most of that was rotten brussel sprout leaves. Much as would be happy for a month more without gallons of rain, if we don't get march storms and april showers, it could be a drier start to this year than it was last year, and that was drier than a dry thing.

[Foxy2]

Heres an update on the situation locally. Listed are the driest winters in the series. Winter 2010 to 2011 is equal 3rd driest at present. Of the years listed, only 1976 had a dry spring and summer. 1989 had an average spring and dry summer. Otherwise, dry summers tend to follow wet winters.

1992 147.1
1976 150.6
2011* 203.2*
1997 203.2
1989 208.3
2006 217.3
1985 226.6
2005 231.9

(Year and rainfall in mm)

EDIT: Average winter rainfall over 46 years is 333.3mm!

[Ian Williams]

Unlike my temperature records which go back to Jan 1996, my rainfall records only go back to 2003, here they are for what they are worth, this is for my station in St Germans S.E Cornwall

This winter with 11 days to go i have recorded 238.8 mm so looks likely this winter will be the driest since 2005

[Foxy2]

Ian, I think your 2004 and 2005 winters are what I called 2005 and 2006! Mye quivalent figures for the two winters are 231.9 and 217.3mm. I see your winter and annual averages are similar to here. The persistent blockng over the southern UK at present does not bode well for spring rainfall!

[Ian Williams]

Yeah sorry Andrew, Yes where it says winter 2003 that means Dec 2003 to Feb 2004 for example

[Nigel Bolton]

Very dry March so far.

N.

[scrapemedic]

You know I am certain it has rained round here but to look at the garden you would have a hard time believing that. I have had to refit the watering system despite the risk of frost damaging it, the soil in the pots is so dry the plants are looking wilty and possibly dead! The plants in the beds are not much better.

[Bluebreezer54]

^^ Only recorded 2 days with measureable rainfall here this month Liz. Total accumulation 1.8mm ( Northwood )

[Ian Williams]

Reservoir levels are fairly healthy here in the SW, after a wet February which saw rain on 27 days out of 28 for my location St Germans. However its only rained 5 days this month on 3 days it were below 1.0mm, total sofar for St Germans is 14.9 mm. Plymouth Mountbatten total to date is 14.6 mm

Week ending:	20th March 2011
Week:	11
Total reservoir storage for the week:	101625 Ml (88.1%)
This week last year total storage was:	110442 Ml (95.7%)

Reservoir details			Historic Data
Reservoir	Net Capacity MI	Current Storage %	Last Year's Storage %	1995 Storage %
Roadford	34,500	78.4	91.3	97.0
Colliford	28,540	87.3	98.9	97.1
Wimbleball	21,320	92.9	99.4	100.0
Stithians	4,967	99.8	97.6	100.0
Burrator	4,210	91.6	92.9	99.9

 

[Howard Kirby]

Soil drying out around here after recent sun, rivers look very low almost mid summer level now.

Just 7mm here all month.

[Howard Kirby]

Jason Smith	Posted 23/3/2011 22:56 (#617920) Subject: Lack of Precipitation - Rain
Offline Moderator Location: Wick-Saint-Lawrence, Somerset	Has anyone noticed the small amount of rain we've had in the past month? It maybe worse in certain areas but I can vouch for the South West that we've had little and I bet some areas across the UK are worse or have had less than some too. I do recall someone stating that we were in for a dry year 2011 but can't remember where I was reading this and wondered if anyone else had seen this story?   I am well prepared though as my water butts are full from the Winter falls. ----- Jason Smith Weather Reference Library Moderator Wick-Saint-Lawrence - 51.3708°N 2.922°W Web Designer Weston
StephenS	Posted 24/3/2011 01:20 (#617931 - in reply to #617920) Subject: Re: Lack of Precipitation - Rain
	Same here, Jason - the river level is now the lowest it's been since we moved here last August. A few weeks ago, the reservoirs in this area were said to be about 75 per cent full. That's quite concerning at this time of year. -----
Dave W	Posted 24/3/2011 10:48 (#617952 - in reply to #617920) Subject: Re: Lack of Precipitation - Rain
Offline Executive Location: Brighton, E Sussex	To the 20th March, Roadford, the SW's largest reservoir was 78% full. Input has remained the same as output since mid January. (Message has 1 revisions) ----- Dave Wiseman UKww Executive/C & M Manager/Warnings team e-mail C&M team e-mail me

[BUTTERFLY]

After about twice the average rainfall in February and about the average for March already reached here this month, the recent dry warmer spell has been welcome (although sadly it is to get cooler this weekend). Saw my first butterflies of 2011 today (single Small Tortoiseshells in my garden and at 2 other spots around Portadown).

[Inga]

Well, we are having the first fire of the year on Winter Hill (above Bolton). The grass is tinder dry and evidently catches light very easily.